AUSTIN — It was a heck of a day for Rio Grande Valley high school softball, a historic one.

The Valley will have two representatives in a state title game in the first season for the first time ever after the Harlingen South Hawks and Weslaco High Panthers won semifinal games in Class 5A and Class 6A respectively and they did so Friday in Georgetown with everyone on the edge of their seats.

Harlingen South will meet Melissa in the Class 5A state title game at 1 p.m. and Weslaco High faces Waco Midway at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Harlingen South 1, Aledo 0

Thursday night and early morning Friday rains in Austin moved the games to Georgetown at East View High School from McCombs Field in Austin and it was Harlingen South to take the field first at 1 p.m.

Hawks junior pitcher Lexi Sandoval has been brilliant all season in the circle and continued with maybe her best game ever in orange. Sandoval struck out 10 Aledo batters after throwing six innings and picking up two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

The Hawks closed the game with Amira Rodriguez.

It was a crazy final out, the Aledo runner advancing to home from third got caught in a pickle thanks to an awkward throw, but Jaylin Mata was there to scoop it up. Mata and catcher Haley Vasquez ran down the runner to pick up the final out.

“We knew it was going to be a tight ball game, we just said, ‘hey continue to fight until the end,’ and we did just that,” Harlingen South head coach Joey Rios said.

Rios praised Sandoval for her performance in the circle. The junior was happy about hers, “a win is a win,” she said to reporters from KRGV and KVEO as fans shouted congratulations and words of encouragement to her during her interview.

“We are one game away, one game away,” she said. “Why not finish it off.”

It was a pitcher’s duel for sure. Sandoval picked up the win over Aledo’s Taylor McKean, but McKean was equally as good on the day. McKean was probably done in by the walks after finishing with 14 strikeouts.

The Hawks picked up six walks and only one hit according to the UIL’s live stats from the game.

Harlingen South benefited from a Yezenia Perez walk in the third. Perez was moved over by Rodriguez who officially got on base because of an error, but it was hard enough to force a bobble, they are strict with the scoring at state.

Hawks senior Emily Ruiz came up next to deliver the only hit of the game for the Hawks. Ruiz took a 3-2 pitch to right center to drive in Perez from second.

“I just really focus on calming myself down and just doing everything that I have been taught throughout the season,” Ruiz said. “I just try to and look for the right pitches.”

Ruiz battled an illness/stomach bug against Liberty Hill and into practice this week. Ruiz has come through clutch on multiple occasions during the Hawks’ run.

“One more game left, this is everything we have been working for – all season,” Ruiz said. “We are all really excited.”

The Hawks have their toughest opponent of the season in the state championship with Melissa.

Melissa defeated Lake Belton 4-0 and it does seem cliché to say Melissa is the best, but the Cardinals took down Aledo 11-2 early in the season. That was a long time ago and now they are going to face a Harlingen South team that have ice in their veins.

Weslaco High 5, Denton Guyer 3

If your heart was not done in after the South game, the Weslaco High game took care of you.

It was 13 innings of pure intensity as the newly No.1 ranked team in Texas, Denton Guyer, was taken into deep waters by the Weslaco High Panthers.

The Panthers, fueled by Wildcat tears (Gatorade), battled with the Guyer Wildcats for four hours in Georgetown to come out on top thanks to great pitching by Madelynn Cantu and some timely hitting by the Panthers’ offense to advance to the Class 6A state title game.

Cantu, a sophomore, has been terrific all season and has pitched double-headers this postseason already. Cantu went back-to-back games against Lake Travis in round four in temperatures well over 100 degrees in Beeville.

Georgetown was a lot cooler and Cantu looked fresh in the dugout even after giving up three runs in the sixth, she never looked like she would not get the job done Friday night for the Panthers.

Cantu struck out 12 and was especially good in pressure situations as the sophomore worked out of more jams than she probably should have. The Wildcats finished with 15 hits.

Weslaco High senior catcher Romy Nuñez started the Panthers off in the 13th inning with a single. Kalysa Izaguirre came into run and she was moved over to second by a nicely placed bunt by Andrea Ortiz. 

Senior right fielder Ema Galvan has been amazing at the plate late in postseason and she continued to deliver with the game-winning RBI by placing a line drive down the third-base line.

“Coming in when the moment is right … words can’t describe it,” Galvan said. “I was waiting for her to pitch me inside.”

Galvan was then driven in by Dayla Hinojosa for insurance. Hinojosa had a great game at the plate, going 4-for-6 with two runs scored as well.

Senior Elizabeth Craig chipped in with two hits, Nuñez also should have had two but it was scored an error by the UIL and fellow senior Alexis Soliz came through with a big hit to drive in Hinojosa in the sixth. 

Panthers second baseman Mia Rodriguez also drove in Hinojosa as well as Lola Reyes in the fifth inning when she picked up a double. Rodriguez’s hit looked to be a game-winner if not for the late rally by Guyer.

“We just kept fighting, and so did they, I give a lot of credit to Guyer – they never gave up,” Rodriguez said. “Neither did we. I am just glad we got the win in the end.”

Galvan and Rodriguez said they were not overly worried about rankings come into the game since they have already beaten Katy, who was the previous No.1 but was taken out in the regional championships, and they know what they are capable of.

Weslaco High will look to grab that No. 1 spot for good at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Final takeaways

Both sets of players and coaches have talked about being able to play at McCombs Field during practice this week, probably one of the biggest perks about coming to state is playing where the current No. 1 NCAA D1 team, the University of Texas, plays at.

So, the news this morning was kind of disheartening in a way, but one thing both teams also said during practice this week was that they are enjoying the fun times and memories they are making on the fields and in the dugouts.

Both teams will have one more game of that.

 

 

 

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Weslaco High head coach Mario Rodriguez and Harlingen South head coach Joey Rios have both said during their teams run to state that they are proud of how everyone has stepped up and have produced, especially offensively. 

The Panthers and Hawks head to state on Friday with deep lineups that have been extremely disciplined at the plate and will look to do the same in Austin. Both teams are coming off their best offensive performances to win region titles in Class 6A and 5A respectively. 

Harlingen South takes on Aledo at 1 p.m. Friday in the Class 5A state semifinal. Weslaco High plays Denton Guyer immediately after or at 4 p.m. in the Class 6A state semis at McCombs Field in Austin.

Weslaco High 

The Panthers have put up 50 runs combined in their last three games, 13 against Lake Travis and 37 in two games against San Antonio Brennan. 

Seven of the Panthers 10 playoff wins have come via the run-rule, outscoring an opponent by 10 runs or more by at least the fifth inning, and doing so with the lineup picking up huge hits and great base runners on the bench ready to pounce.

Rodriguez has the ability to move the lineup around, but lately he has gone with Alexis Soliz to lead off, followed by Lola Reyes, Mia Rodriguez, Clarissa Mejia, Elizabeth Craig, Romy Nuñez, Andrea Ortiz, Ema Galvan and Dayla Hinojosa with pitcher Madelynn Cantu flexed.

Panthers right fielder Ema Galvan bats in that eight spot and had a huge series against Brennan going 4-for-5 with seven RBIs, a walk and a home run. Galvan is not planning on playing college softball, so she is enjoying her last games with her teammates.

“I want to end my season knowing I played as hard as I could and with as much effort as I could,” Galvan said.

Reyes, a junior, is capable of picking up a run with her speed. She was driven in by sophomore Dayla Hinojosa to pick up the winning run in Game 1 against La Joya High in round three. The Panthers won 1-0.

“When I am on base I just have to take advantage of every opportunity I get,” Reyes said. “If the ball is thrown away I am going to take the extra base. I will take what they give because, at this point in the final four, they are not going to give many opportunities.”

Reyes scored five runs in the regional final series and Hinojosa drove in five runs.

The Panthers have a lot of power in the middle of their lineup. Mia Rodriguez, Mejia, Craig and Nuñez really put pressure on pitchers with their abilities to hit the deep ball, especially lately.

Mejia, a sophomore, has seven home runs this postseason. The Panthers have 18 total home runs during the playoffs.

“I have done my job on most of them,” Mejia said. “Most of my home runs I was just trying to get on base. I was not aiming for them, they come when you are not trying to hit them, so I have just been trying to get base hits and they go over.”

Mejia hopes to put one into the apartments near McCombs Field.

The senior batters for Weslaco High – Craig, Rodriguez, Nuñez, Soliz and Galvan all usually have quality at bats where they make pitchers work and come through with big hits as senior leaders.

Harlingen South 

Watch Harlingen South’s Game 2 Regional Finals Highlights on the HCISD Facebook page. 

The Hawks put up 28 runs in two games past Liberty Hill to capture their regional title and also their best output of the playoffs. Similar to Weslaco High, everyone was hitting or picking up quality at bats to easily outpace their opponent.

Harlingen South lineup starts with Yezenia Perez, followed by Lexi Sandoval, Amira Rodriguez, Emily Ruiz, Jaylin Mata, Kailee Silva, Kara Jensen, Natalie Martinez and Haley Vasquez.

Everyone in the lineup picked up a hit in the Liberty Hill series.

Martinez is the designated hitter for the Hawks and like Weslaco High’s Galvan, Martinez is not going to play college softball next year. Martinez has a similar mindset of enjoying the last few days of softball before going to college for academics.

Martinez wants to do as much as she can for her team and she has been another clutch Hawk. Martinez and most of her teammates struggled at the plate Game 1 in the fourth round against Leander and after going 0-for-3 that game, Martinez went 5-for-12 with three walks and two RBIs in the lead up to state.

“I have just been staying out of my head,” Martinez said. “I was really in my head, telling myself negative stuff, but recently I have gone up to the plate with a clear head and I feel calm, I feel good and I am remember who I am doing this all for.”

The Hawks have some heavy hitters in the top of the lineup with Perez, Sandoval and Rodriguez. Perez, the lone senior of the top of the batting order, has been another clutch batter recently.

Perez has been on fire after also going 0-for-3 in Game 1 against Leander. Perez is 8-for-17 with seven RBIs and a walk the last four games.

“I have been doing pretty well and have stepped it up compared to some other games,” Perez said. “I am just not trying to think as much. I am more calm in the batter box and it has helped me a lot.”

Ruiz and Mata have had walk-off wins. Sandoval and Rodriguez have had some deep shots while Silva, Jensen and Vasquez have been really smart at the plate, picking up walks and producing hits for the Hawks.

Both teams expect solid pitching from both of their state semifinal opponents, and possibly final opponents.

 

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SAN ANTONIO — Harlingen South clinched the first trip to the State Tournament in program history by sweeping Liberty Hill on Saturday.

The Hawks won the Class 5A Region IV title by winning 14-9 in San Antonio on Saturday after picking up the 14-7 victory in Game 1 on Thursday in Corpus Christi. 

Harlingen South overcame deficits in both games, but the leads Liberty Hill had did not stick long enough as the Hawks’ offense had their best series when it mattered the most. The Hawks combined total of 28 runs this series was 7 runs greater than their previous playoff-series best of 21.

That was way back in April in the bi-district round against Edinburg Vela.

The Hawks are playing late May for the first time ever, and maybe June, and will join Weslaco High at the tournament. This is the first time in history the Valley will have two teams in the state tourney.

“Credit to the girls, I can not say it enough – credit to them,” Harlingen South head coach Joey Rios said. “They trusted the plan, remained faithful and they did the little things right, an it shows.”

Rios was thankful for the community support for his team and also his staff, the administration and his family for all the backing.

The Hawks picked up 14 hits and six walks against Liberty Hill in Game 2.

Senior Yezenia Perez has been on fire lately and she continued that trend going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Another senior that has been hitting well late in the post season is Emily Ruiz. She went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk.

Junior Amira Rodriguez had some decent contact early in the game go straight to outfielders, but she bounced back with two crucial hits that yielded three runs to help put away Liberty Hill. Sophomore Jaylin Mata went 3-for-5 with three RBIs as well.

Every Hawk in the lineup either hit or walk. Only one batter did not pick up a hit, but was walked twice.

Rodriguez drove in two in the sixth to put the Hawks up 13-8. Harlingen South put up six runs in the top of the fifth thanks to a bases-clearing double by Perez and RBIs by Rodriguez, Ruiz and Mata.

Ruiz and junior Lexi Sandoval drove in runs to tie the game in the fourth after Liberty Hill took a 5-3 lead.

The Hawks head to state with a 10-2 playoff record and a total record of 35-4-1.

Extra photos by Andrew Cordero

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CORPUS CHRISTI — San Antonio Brennan looked like one of the toughest challenges for Weslaco High on paper.

It ended up being the easiest opponent for the Panthers as they cruised into the Class 6A-state tournament by sweeping the Bears.

The Panthers won Game 2 with ease, 21-2, and outscored the Bears 37-5 in the Region IV-6A finals. Weslaco High will play next Friday at Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin against a team and at a time that is yet to be determined.

Weslaco High returns to state for the first time since 2016 and — along with San Benito — is one of two softball programs in Rio Grande Valley history to make it to the state tournament. The Panthers have been close the past two years by making it to this round two seasons ago and Round 3 last season.

“This group started when we lost in the third round last year,” Weslaco High head coach Mario Rodriguez said after the game. “They have not stopped. I am talking weight room, all the unseen hours in the batting cages and things like that. They just have not stopped. What makes it really special is that all of them put in the hard work. It has not been a certain group, it has been all of them.”

Weslaco High scored all of its runs during the second and third innings. The Panthers put up eight in the second and 13 in the third.

Panthers right fielder Ema Galvan went 3-for-3 at the plate with five RBIs. Galvan started the Panthers’ scoring in the bottom of the second with a bases-clearing triple to give her team a 3-2 lead.

“It was a whole team effort,” Galvan said. “Runners got on and I came through, put the ball in play, and that is all we could ask for.”

Galvan also picked up a home run and is a senior on the team.

“Sophomore year we were here, and after that loss we wanted to come back by our senior year and just make it happen,” Galvan said. “We did.”

Weslaco High never looked back, picking up the run-rule victory in the fifth inning.

Senior Elizabeth Craig went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs. Sophomore Dayla Hinojosa went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and fellow sophomore Clarissa Mejia also brought in three runs on 2-for-3 hitting.

Senior third baseman Alexis Soliz went 3-for-4 as the Panthers picked up 16 hits in only four innings.

The lineup for the Panthers is crazy good offensively, they have a superb defense and a terrific pitcher in sophomore Madelynn Cantu that could make some noise next week in Austin.

Check out photos of the game from Andrew Cordero.

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CORPUS CHRISTI — Harlingen South spotted Liberty Hill five runs in the top of the first and then went on to outscore the Panthers 14-2, to pick up a 14-7 win in Game 1 of a potential three game series Thursday night at Cabaniss in Corpus Christi. 

The Hawks return to action at 4:30 p.m. Saturday with a chance to clinch a spot at the State Tournament. Harlingen South and Liberty Hill will meet at NISD Softball Field in San Antonio with a potential Game 3 if needed.

The Panthers looked the part in the top half of the first, but by the time they went up to bat in the third they were down to the Hawks 7-6. Harlingen South took the lead with disciplined batting a three-run home run by pitcher Lexi Sandoval in the bottom of the second.

Sandoval came in to the series a bit disappointed in her hitting she said to RGVSports on Tuesday, but the pitcher was on it tonight going 3-for-5 and driving in four runners.

“I guess I gave myself encouragement or something,” Sandoval said. “I am very proud of how I did offensively tonight.”

Sandoval’s home run was all contact as she took Liberty Hill’s second pitcher of the night to left-center field. The Hawks saw both of the Panthers’ pitchers and only went one inning on offense with out scoring a run.

Harlingen South senior Emily Ruiz 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks. Junior Amira Rodriguez went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two walks. Senior shortstop Yezenia Perez went 1-for-3, but scored four runs and drove in two while fellow senior Haley Vasquez also had a solid night at the plate going 2-for-3 with a walk.

Harlingen South head coach Joey Rios praised his team for being selective Thursday night and doing the little things after going down early. Rios also spoke to RGVSports during the week about the need for the offense to have a big game.

“We were able to do that tonight and it’s a big plus for us,” Rios said.

After the early runs, Sandoval was terrific in the circle and with having seen both pitchers already, the Hawks should have the advantage in the circle Game 2. The Panthers do have a strong lineup and even though they only scored twice after the second inning – they have potential to fight back.

“Clear mindset, we enjoyed tonight and our seniors have their graduation and we are going to enjoy that as well,” Rios said. “We are going to hit the reset button and back to it on Saturday.”

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WESLACO — Weslaco High has had a solid core attempt since underclassmen to help the Panthers back to the softball state tournament, only to come up just short the past two season, but this year feels different.

The Panthers have another shot at making to the state tournament when they face San Antonio Brennan in a three-game series beginning at 8 p.m. today at Cabaniss in Corpus Christi. 

Weslaco High made it to the regional championship two seasons ago, losing to the eventual state champions San Antonio O’Connor and then eliminated by O’Connor again last season, but this was in the third round. There are a healthy amount of Panthers on the team that picked up experience the last two seasons and will need that playoff exposure against Brennan. 

Weslaco High senior second baseman Mia Rodriguez was in the crowd in 2016 when the Panthers played in the state semifinals, and ultimately losing against Pearland. Rodriguez said it was a tense atmosphere as a fourth-grader watching in the stands as her father, head coach Mario Rodriguez was leading the Panthers. 

“I remember always getting pulled out of school for the weekends to go watch the team play,” Rodriguez said. “I probably did not fully understand what was going on in a way, but I remember the environment and being with my mom and how stressed she was. It is all just flooding back.” 

Rodriguez is grateful for being able to be a part of the a program with a winning tradition after growing up her life around it. Mario Rodriguez took over when the second baseman was a baby, 18 years ago. 

Rodriguez is one of the key hitters on the team and an experienced infielder that will play at Midland College next year. The Panthers infield is senior heavy with other collegiate talent. 

Senior first baseman Elizabeth Craig is one of the best first baseman in the region with one of the best stretches in the state. Craig also has a terrific bat and will be playing at Angelina College in Nacogdoches next year. 

The goal at practice this week for the Panthers was to really hammer down, focus and be sharp – the first baseman said. 

“We have to have little to no errors in these next couple of games and just really focus on what we can control,” Craig added. 

Throwing to Craig from the opposite corner is another standout, senior third baseman Alexis Soliz. 

Soliz is headed to Texas A&M Kingsville next year. Soliz is also one of the best in the region at her position and expects a lot of work this series at third base. Brennan does not have many home runs this season, but are a really good hitting team. 

“They are real quick on their feet,” Soliz said. “We just have to play our game and we will be fine.” 

Rodriguez, Craig, Soliz and Romy Nuñez all hit home runs against Lake Travis in the fourth round. Nuñez is also part of the infield and plays behind home plate, but also takes up the role as designated hitter. 

Nuñez signed with Schreiner University in Kerrville in January.

“Our bats are great, (Madelynn Cantu) is doing great, our lineup has been consistent and we just to have to keep playing our game like we have been doing,” Nuñez said. 

Weslaco High’s game is a strong hard-hitting lineup that can score runs in a hurry and with a great defense behind Cantu, the Panthers hard working sophomore pitcher, they have been great in the playoffs – going 8-2 in the playoffs so far. Sophomore short stop Andrea Ortiz and sophomore Clarissa Mejia rotates with Nuñez at catcher and designated hitter to round out the infield. 

Senior Ema Galvan is joined by Dayla Hinojosa and Lola Reyes in the outfield. All three have some power in their bats as well, but are also great around the bases. The Panthers bench is loaded with fast runners and solid pinch hitters.

Brennan is not going to be easy and were one of the likeliest teams out of the region to join Weslaco High in the regional championship. Bears pitcher Bryannah Campos is a solid leftie that struck out 27 batters in three games against Schertz Clemens in the regional semifinals. 

Rodriguez, Craig, Soliz and Nuñez all spoke fondly of their time in the program, playing youth softball not only in Weslaco, but across the Valley and will look to have one more week in purple and white. 

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HARLINGEN — It has been a wild last two rounds for Harlingen South and it couls be more of the same in the Class 5A Region IV championship series, but for the sake everyone’s heart at the game and watching on streams – let’s up the Hawks do what they are capable of and put it all together.

Harlingen South takes on Liberty Hill at 6 p.m. tonight in Game 1 of a best of three-game series at Cabaniss in Corpus Christi. Game 2 and possibly Game 3 will be at NISD Softball Field in San Antonio. 

The last time the Hawks put together an all-around performance was Game 1 of the Carroll series where the Hawks won 9-3. After that the Hawks have been involved in some intense games with clutch endings by various members of Harlingen South.

“I don’t think they fully comprehend how elite of a team they are when they fully contribute,” Harlingen South head coach Joey Rios said. “Our offense has not fully clicked in a minute, hopefully this is the right time and we start peaking with everyone contributing.”

Harlingen South senior catcher Haley Vasquez said the team had a realistic goal of making to the third round when the season started. The Hawks really wanted to make it to the third round after being eliminated in round two the previous three seasons.

“Everybody has stepped up and has come together as a team,” Vasquez said. “Everybody, from our base runners, to bullpen catcher and all the way to our starting nine, we have all stepped up and taken that responsibility to rely on each other know matter who it is.”

Hawks sophomore Jaylin Mata has had clutch hits in the third and fourth rounds. Mata had a walk-off home run in Game 2 against Leander.

“We have come along way from last year,” Mata said. “Especially, our sophomores – which is me and others – we have really stepped up and played our part this year.”

Harlingen South senior Emily Ruiz officially signed with Huston-Tillotson University on Tuesday. The senior did not think she would be able to play college softball after tearing her ACL in the summer, but here she is signing to the next level and being a key player for the Hawks.

Ruiz picked up the series sealing walk-off hit in Game 3 against Leander.

“It was a great feeling,” Ruiz said. “It is just great to know that I could help out my team.”

The Hawks have had a lot of terrific hitting in clutch situations, but also pitching to put them in those spots to pick up wins. Juniors Lexi Sandoval and Amira Rodriguez is one of the best pitching duos in the region and could be the state after this weekend.

Rodriguez has the speed and Sandoval has the spin.

“I think I have been executing how I needed to,” Sandoval said. “I have struck out some people while letting others hit and having my defense behind me. We are winning games and doing what we need to do.”

Rios said both of his pitchers are tough and hard workers. Rodriguez is a state qualifying power lifter while Sandoval has grown a lot since last season and is really pitching well this season as her velocity and command has noticeably increased.

“I think a good example is the second game of last series where (Sandoval) came in during the sixth or seventh inning and they could not touch her,” Rodriguez said. “It was a difference, she is a really good pitcher with spin and me, I am fast – I think that kind of threw them off and they just could not adjust.”

Sandoval and Rodriguez is going to have their work cut out for them against a lineup that features DI talent, but they did well last week against a Leander that also had DI talent in its lineup and had split games with Liberty Hill during district play.

Whatever happens this weekend with the Hawks happens, but one thing is likely to be certain and that is, you can’t count them out.

 

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Offensive Player of the Year: Ashley Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

Harvest Christian’s Ashley Gonzalez made it look natural when she had the basketball in her hands.

Gonzalez averaged 22 points per game this season along with 4.5 assists to help lead the Eagles to a TAPPS 1A state title.

Gonzalez is The Monitor’s 2023-24 Girls Basketball Offensive Player of the Year

The senior guard scored more than 3,000 points during her four years at Harvest Christian and will play college basketball next season at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie.

Gonzalez could do it all offensively and at times looked miles ahead skill-wise from some of her opponents as the Eagles played and beat some of the best teams in the Valley.

Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Emily Carranco and Madison Martinez, Edinburg High

Defense wins titles and helps create offense in basketball, and the Valley’s best team, Edinburg High, did just that as it was led by two of their best players Emily Carranco and Madison Martinez.

Carranco was terrific at leading the zone and using her length to cut off passing lanes, and shifting down to contest shots and gather rebounds. Carranco grabbed five defensive rebounds, three steals and a block per game for the Bobcats this season.

“(Carranco) did a great job of being our tallest girl,” Edinburg High head coach JD Salinas said. “She did not have a whole lot of blocks, but she had good timing, especially when we needed that play.”

The Bobcats had defense practices on Wednesdays after Tuesday games that were challenging, Martinez said.

Martinez was lockdown on the perimeter and swiped four steals a night to lead the team and also grabbed 3.5 defensive rebounds a game. Salinas praised Martinez’s IQ while playing defense.

“Personally, I prefer defense over offense,” Martinez said. “It felt like everything came natural so when I saw my stats at the end of the season updated, it felt good. I enjoyed playing defense.”

Martinez signed to play college hoops at Concordia. Carranco signed to play with Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

Both turned their defense into offense. Carranco averaged 23 points, and Martinez dropped 17 a game.

Utility Player of the Year: JaNai Coleman, Edinburg Vela

The Upper Valley was loaded with talented players that could do it all, and one of those all-around standouts was JaNai Coleman.

Coleman did it all for the SaberCats to earn the The Monitor’s Utility Player of the Year award.

The senior guard averaged a double-double to help the SaberCats to a co-District 31-5A title and a 5A area-round win.

Coleman averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, 3.5 steals and two assists a game as she covered the entire court for Edinburg Vela. Coleman easily beat players on the dribble, had a terrific stepback and could go down low for easy buckets.

“I did as much as I could even through my injuries or body aches,” Coleman said. “I just pushed through because I love the sport of basketball and I wanted to get my up there again.”

Coleman showed off those abilities in the area game against Gregory-Portland in Falfurrias.

The all-around standout has decided to stay in Edinburg to play college basketball. Coleman is going to sign with UTRGV.

Newcomer of the Year: Ebonie Chatman, Sharyland Pioneer

Sharyland Pioneer’s Ebonie Chatman set District 31-5A on fire as a freshman, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds a game for the Diamondbacks to help them to a share of the 31-5A title after missing out on the playoffs the year prior.

Chatman is The Monitor’s Newcomer of the Year.

The Diamondbacks’ freshman led her team in scoring and also chipped in with three steals, two assists and a block per game.

Chatman and the Diamondbacks also took home a bi-district playoff victory, and in important games late in the season Chatman would receive special defensive coverage from opposing teams.

Chatman said she needs to work on some things still, pointing out offensive rebounding and her defense as some area she will be working on.

“I have been working and playing basketball my whole life,” Chatman said. “So, it finally beginning to show feels really good.”

The next three years look bright for Chatman at Pioneer.

Sub-5A MVP: Layla Perez, Donna IDEA 

Donna IDEA’s Layla Perez averaged nearly a triple-double her senior year to earn District 31-3A’s MVP award for the second straight season.

Perez is The Monitor’s Sub-5A MVP for the 2023-2024 season.

The Upper Valley is loaded with teams competing in Class 5A and 6A of UIL basketball. Class 3A teams — particularly from the IDEA school system — are still progressing, and Perez was a key player in that development.

“Growing up at IDEA, no one ever talked about athletics,” Perez said. “We’ve always been the underdogs, people don’t usually know who we are and any opportunity I’m given to be able to put us out there and get everyone to take notice of us I’ll do it.”

“This program has given me the to freedom to grow as a person, being able to show little girls in my school that you can do it too. It has just been a dream come true, when I was little I made a goal for myself to be the first person at IDEA Donna to hit 1,000 points and being able to do it and make history was so amazing,” Perez said.

Perez averaged 19 points, 11 steals and nearly nine rebounds a game. Perez was also awarded with all-region honors after helping Donna IDEA to a bi-district playoff victory this season

“She spent summers and offseason working on perfecting her craft and skills. She took my 8 underclassmen under her wing and showed them the ropes of Lady Titan basketball. She leaves a great legacy that has been noticed by our younger athletes being a 2 time 3A all region team, 2 time 31-3A District MVP, New Comer of the Year, and The Monitor Sub 5A MVP and of course being the First Lady Titan to score 1000 career points,” IDEA Donna head coach Andrew Sierra said.

Co-Coaches of the Year: John David Salinas, Edinburg High and Jaime Gonzalez, Harvest Christian

The Upper Valley was loaded with terrific coaching in 2023-24, especially in the Edinburg area, where three of the top teams resided.

Edinburg High’s John David Salinas led the Bobcats to a 36-3 record, a district title and an area-round win, and Harvest Christian’s Jaime Gonzalez went 42-1 and won the TAPPS 1A state title.

Gonzalez praised his team for maintaining that vision and working hard every day at practice.

“As long as we were getting better that was the goal every day,” Gonzalez said. “When you have a vision in mind and you work at it every day, you try to enjoy it as much as you can by creating memories along the way – the end result when you get there is always a rewarding one. That is what we preach and had this year.”

Gonzalez said that was reinforced the last couple of seasons and as the Eagles successfully defended their state title.

The two Edinburg coaches helped develop some of the best talent in the Valley that helped power their programs to success during the 2023-24 season and likely into the future with both programs still rich with talent.

The games Edinburg High lost were all in the single digits, with the highest being by eight points against San Antonio Harlan, and the only loss that Harvest Christian had was to Edinburg High by six points.

Salinas is always quick to praise his staff for their hard work and of course the team that was the best in the Valley.

“I knew we were going to be good, I didn’t know we were going to be 36-3,” Salinas said. “That is an incredible record and probably won the best record in the history of EHS.”

 

 

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BEEVILLE — Weslaco High is back in the 6A-Region IV championship after knocking off Lake Travis and will face another San Antonio team like they did two years ago, this time it will be San Antonio Brennan. 

Lake Travis took Game 2 of a best-of-three game 6A-Region IV semifinal series against Weslaco High in Beeville 5-4, tying the series and forcing a Game 3, but the series was always the Panthers to win.

The Panthers poured it on a young Lake Travis winning 13-2, scoring all 13 runs in the first two innings of Game 3 on Saturday to advance to the 6A-Region IV title series. 

“I think everything was stacked up against us, we didn’t want the format of the series, but we came out (Friday) and got a win – that set us up to control (Saturday),” Weslaco High head coach Mario Rodriguez said. “I am just really proud of how the girls came out, they never quit and fought all the way through.”

Rodriguez reached the 400-win mark as the head coach for Weslaco High. Rodriguez has been the head coach for the Panthers the last 18 years. Rodriguez said the spotlight should not be on him, but his team after excelling through an extremely hot two games against young and game Lake Travis. 

Weslaco High hit eight home runs over the three games. Mia Rodriguez hit two, Elizabeth Craig hit two while Alexis Soliz, Clarissa Mejia, Ema Galvan and Romy Nuñez all hit a home run each. 

Craig was happy with her batting performance this series. The senior went 6-for-9 with the two home runs and five RBIs. 

“I am just glad that I made a commitment to my team to look for better pitches and have better at bats, so I am really happy for that outcome,” Craig said. 

Rodriguez ended the series with a terrific throw to Soliz to a pick off Lake Travis’ Julianna Rodriguez’s attempt for a triple. 

Rodriguez has been walked a lot this postseason and has been pitched around to at times. Rodriguez took some of the blame herself, but she was on this series like a lot of her teammates. 

Rodriguez went 5-for-8 with four RBIs, and of course the two home runs in the series.

“It feels to be able to know that I still have it, in a way. It is just good reassurance that I get to do what I can for the team,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez and Craig are glad to be back in the elite eight and especially be able to do it with this team. 

Weslaco High pitcher Madelynn Cantu threw the whole series, going 2-1 against her counterpart – Cavaliers freshman Julianna Rodriguez. Cantu had 10 strikeouts over the three games.

“They don’t make them like (Cantu),” Rodriguez said. “(Cantu) is tough, even when she is off a little bit here and there she doesn’t quit, she keeps making her adjustments. We are just super proud of her.”

Weslaco High will likely play in either Corpus Christi or Laredo for the next series against Brennan with a time and date to be announced.

Extra Photos by Andrew Cordero

 

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CORPUS CHRISTI — Harlingen South does not know when to give up.

The Hawks pulled off an another amazing comeback to win 10-7 in Game 2 to stay alive in the playoffs by forcing a Game 3 against Leander with a spot in the Region IV-5A final on the line.

Game 3 is set for 11 a.m. today at Cabaniss in Corpus Christi.

“I am thankful that I get to do this – I do not have to, I get to,” Harlingen South head coach Joey Rios said. “I am thankful that God has placed me here with this group of individuals and this coaching staff. Just a never ending fight. I continue to preach that to them and praise them for the little things because they matter. Kids nowadays need to hear words of affirmation … and if that is what God has placed me to do, I will do that. Not just win games, but continue to praise my kids.”

Rios said the comeback was what they have done all year, fight and that Hawks will continue to do that in Game 3.

Hawks sophomore Jaylin Mata walked it off with a three-run home run during the bottom of the eighth inning after the Hawks rallied in the sixth and seventh to tie the game at 7.

“It was crazy,” Mata said. “With all the adrenaline when I was in there, I was very confident. I needed to score the run, it was needed … let me hit I got this.”

Mata said she just wanted to make contact because there was only one out and a runner on third and first. Anything hit deep enough would have scored Lexi Sandoval.

“My team has put in a lot of effort. I love these girls, they are my family. I am glad we could do this together and fight to the very end,” Mata said. “We are on for tomorrow.”

Harlingen South senior Yezenia Perez drove in the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Hawks a chance to win the game in extra innings.

Leander baserunners capitalized on a couple of Harlingen South miscues to grab a 7-5 lead after both offenses exploded during the first inning. The Lions scored their runs after the Hawks went up 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth.

Harlingen South scored on a passed ball and could have added more runs, but the Hawks hit into a double play to end the inning. Leander jumped on the Hawks in the top of half of the first with four runs. Harlingen South responded in kind.

Hawks starting pitcher Amira Rodriguez blasted a two-run shot, and then Natalie Martinez drove in the next two with a single to tie it up after one inning. 

Rodriguez, Martinez and Perez hit outstanding tonight and bounced back after Game 1, especially Martinez and Perez. Both went 0-for-3 in Game 1 and came up big for the Hawks Friday night.

Perez had two hits and Martinez went 3-for-4. Rodriguez also went 3-for-4 and scared Leander to pitch around her after smashing the home run. First baseman Kailee Silva also had a solid night at the plate going 1-for-2 with a walk.

Rios should be happy with how well his team hit. The Hawks put up 14 hits and a couple more because of errors by Leander, but he said giving up early runs need to change in Game 3.

“Game 3, let’s get it,” Rios said. “We are here to represent the 956 and doing every thing we can to represent anybody and everybody because there are a lot of great softball players in the Valley. We need to bust out and let it be known.”

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