By MARK MOLINA | STAFF WRITER
In four seasons with the Lopez varsity softball program, Alex Castro left her mark as a power hitter and an all-around solid defensive player, helping lead the Lady Lobos to new heights and success.
Castro now will look to achieve the same type of success on the softball field at the next level after officially signing her letter of intent with Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri during a ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Lopez High School.
Getting to signing day was a long, strenuous process for Castro, but she felt a weight lift off her shoulders as well as a sense of pride come over her after finally signing on the dotted line.
“It was really tiring, but a lot of people helped me go through this and right now, I’m relieved that I have signed and I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life,” she said. “Signing today has just shown me that I can start a new life. I need to do what I have to do and, hopefully, just show people here in the Rio Grande Valley that they can also make it.”
Castro leaves behind quite the resume at Lopez after racking up multiple All-District 32-5A accolades as well as being named the Brownsville Herald’s Offensive Player of the Year three out of four seasons.
She, along with twin sister Lexi, was instrumental in pumping life into the Lopez softball program, leading it to its first postseason berth in 2017.
For head coach Jesse Martinez, watching Castro sign was a big moment for him and the program.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s a bright moment in the program. She worked so hard and we worked so hard with her to get her to this point. It was a goal as soon as she walked in here four years ago; she wanted to play college ball. She had to go through the program and do what she had to do for four years and she did it well. She’s an excellent student and phenomenal athlete…I know she’s going to be successful.”
Castro now will take her talents to Central Methodist, which plays in the NAIA Division II American Athletic Conference, and is capable of adding power to any lineup and is a versatile defensive player.
In her senior season, Castro recorded a .519 batting average with 32 RBIs, 26 runs scored and a pair of home runs. She also posted a 12-10 pitching record to go with 156 strikeouts, 4.136 ERA and a .963 fielding percentage at third base.
Martinez said Castro should be able to plug right in as a starter, but that will ultimately depend on her work ethic.
“She can probably start if given the opportunity,” Martinez said. “She needs to get in condition and work on her skills and start now. If she gets in good shape and maintains that throughout the fall, I think she’s going to be OK come spring. My opinion is that she will be a starter.
“Then again, I’m her coach and I’m a little biased,” Martinez joked. “Yeah, I think she’ll be alright.”
Castro knows sticking out at the college level will be easier said than done, but will be willing to use every part of her skillset to get an opportunity.
“Bringing something new to the table is really hard,” she said. “Hopefully I can bring anything that (Central Methodist) will need. If they need a third baseman or a pitcher — anything they need really. Hopefully, I can fill that spot in.”
While Castro is prepared for what awaits her on the softball field, she said finding her way is the what’s nerve-wracking, especially having to start from scratch after being one of the faces of the Lopez program.
“I’m nervous right now because I’m going to have to start all over again meeting new people and hopefully making my own path by not following anybody,” she said. “That includes being my own person and telling myself what I have to do.”