Though the program has a short history, the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers have spent most of it becoming one of the dominant softball programs in the Valley.
At the forefront of their meteoric rise has been pitcher Cassie Valdez.
In her junior season, Valdez put together another big season as she helped guide the Lady Chargers (26-8, 14-0 District 32-5A) to their first district crown and regional quarterfinal appearance in history, earning her The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro softball Most Valuable player award for the second year in a row.
For the third-year varsity player, Valdez’s latest accolade is just another chapter in her high school story.
“It’s truly an honor because there are a lot of great players out in the RGV,” Valdez said “To be named MVP is truly an honor because I’ve worked for it. Having a great team my freshman year, sophomore year and this year makes great memories — I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life.”
Valdez, who also was named the District 32-5A MVP, lit up opponents in the circle. She racked up 193 strikeouts and posted a sparkling 0.87 ERA in 96.1 innings en route to a 13-5 record.
Valdez was just as dangerous at the plate, where she recorded a .471 batting average behind 13 singles, 21 doubles, nine triples, five home runs and 55 RBIs.
She also served as the team’s third baseman, where she had 24 assists, 13 putouts and just five errors on the year to go along with an .881 fielding percentage.
But aside from filling up the stat sheet, head coach Ray Cardenas says Valdez’s impact on the team has made her the face of the program.
“Whoever thinks of Brownsville Veterans softball, they think of Cassie. She’s been here since she was a freshman,” Cardenas said. “That really helped us turn the program around. She has so much passion for the game and we don’t have to push her and (she) is self-reliant. Whatever needs to be done, she does it and goes above and beyond … she has that instinct of being a winner.
“It is a pleasure to coach her, it’s an honor to have her on our team and we’re blessed with her and her work ethic.”
With one more year left in her prep career, Valdez said she is going to cherish what she has done up to this point, but also will look to her teammates to continue putting a down a foundation for the program.
“I can’t take advantage of (these memories) because it feels great winning games and striking out girls — it’s something I wouldn’t trade for anything,” Valdez said. “As a team, we’re going to strive to be better than we were the year before. We’re all going to have goals. As for me, I’ll be looking for more strikeouts, RBIs and more hits — I’m sure the girls have the same kind of goals.”
And Cardenas has no doubts that Valdez will come back as an even better player next spring.
“Knowing her, I think she’s going to work extremely hard,” Cardenas said. “Everything she’s ever worked for, she has — here’s a kid who is never satisfied. I think she will tear it up even more. She will work on everything because that’s the type of kid that she is.
“She doesn’t really need to, but she has that instinct and passion to excel.”
2017 All-Metro Softball Teams
Most Valuable Player
Cassie Valdez, Brownsville Veterans
Offensive Player of the year
Alex Castro, Lopez
Defensive Player of the Year
Harley Morales, Brownsville Veterans
Pitcher of the Year
Mia Anzaldua, Brownsville Veterans
Newcomer of the Year
Reba Reyes, Los Fresnos
Coach of the Year
Jesse Martinez, Lopez
First Team
P – Christa Valdez, Port Isabel
C – Lexi Castro, Lopez
1B – Jianna Calvillo, Los Fresnos
2B – Lydia Fernandez, Brownsville Veterans
3B – Miranda Perales, Los Fresnos
SS – Tabitha Fernandez, Hanna
OF – Aliah Quiroz, Porter
OF – Naomi Barbosa, Brownsville Veterans
OF – Aileen Castillo, Lopez
DP/UT – Emily Ayala, Rivera
Second Team
P – Kassi Rubio, Lopez
C – Samantha Padilla, Los Fresnos
1B – Kianna Silva, Brownsville Veterans
2B – Melanie Loa, Los Fresnos
3B – Ariana Arceneaux, Hanna
SS – Leslie Solis, Lopez
OF – Leawny Rodriguez, Los Fresnos
OF – Sabrina Garza, Port Isabel
OF – Yvonne Ramirez, Pace
DP/UT – Becky Ibarra, Lopez