KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

LOS FRESNOS— Entering their district matchup against Harlingen High, Los Fresnos was looking for its offense to get out of a recent slump.

While the offense collected timely hits, it was the right arm of sophomore pitcher Aileen Avelar that helped push Los Fresnos to a 4-0 win Tuesday night.

“I felt a little extra tonight,” Avelar said. “Tonight we played some solid softball, and we did much better. I was throwing a bit harder tonight — I know some of the girls on the Harlingen side — so I wanted to bring my best.”

Avelar was sharp in the circle. The righty threw a complete game, surrendered just two hits and two walks, and struck out five.

“I used my drop ball and my screwball was working tonight, and my defense played really well tonight,” Avelar said. “Vicky (Perales), our shortstop, was a stud tonight, and I was so proud of her and the team overall.”

Los Fresnos is 2-1 in district play. Avelar felt the win against Harlingen High could be the game that gives the Lady Falcons the momentum they need going forward.

“I really feel we all came out tonight, and I hope this is the game that gets our confidence going,” Avelar said. “I think this is the game that we look back on and say that it was the one that got us going.”

At the plate, it took three innings for the Lady Falcons to solve the crafty Audrie Sayas. Los Fresnos scored three runs during the third inning, highlighted by back-to-back doubles from Reba Reyes and Vicky Perales.

“One thing we tell the kids is when our offense struggles our defense struggles,” Los Fresnos coach Traci Blackmon said. “We remind them that we can’t let one affect the other. At the plate, we did have some timely hits, which helped, and I felt once we broke the seal we were able to exhale and relax just a bit, and our defense played outstanding tonight.”

Reyes finished the night 2-for-2 with an RBI, run scored, a pair of doubles and one walk. Perales finished 1-for-2 with an RBI double and run scored, and teammate Loren Cantu also collected two hits with a 2-for-3 night and an RBI.

The Lady Falcons next meet Brownsville Hanna, and Harlingen High will still be looking for its first district win when it meets rival Harlingen South. Both games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday.

By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — The Harlingen High Lady Cardinals were among one of the top teams in the Rio Grande Valley this season.

It had a mixture of youthful swagger, a fiery coach and sage veteran experience, all adding up to a 31-6 record along with a district title and a trip to the third round.

Senior Taegan Dickey wrapped up a strong career in a Lady Cardinals uniform, providing her offensive presence. The senior averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.72 steals and 1.7 assists per game.

With those strong numbers, Dickey was named the Valley Morning Star All-STAR Girls Basketball Offensive Player of the Year. Right by her side is coach Ashley Moncivaiz. The Harlingen High product, who is in her fifth year as coach, directed the ship and made another deep playoff run, and has been named the Valley Morning Star All-STAR Coach of the Year.

“Going into my senior year, I wanted to make it the best as I could,” Dickey said. “So this means a lot to me, and knowing that all my work paid off throughout the offseason and during the season.”

Dickey scored in double figures 21 times and dropped a season-high 20 points three times — against Corpus Christi Carroll, Brownsville Rivera and Harlingen South.

“Being able to go to the playoffs each year, and especially being able to make it to the third round as a senior, it was special.”

Dickey, along with the senior class, has helped reset the standard for the Lady Cardinals’ program. She feels their message was sent to the underclassmen.

“I feel we have set the tone for the upcoming years,” Dickey said. “We showed discipline, that was something we lacked over the last couple of years, and we showed the younger girls that you need discipline in order to go far in the playoffs.”

As for Moncivaiz, the fifth-year coach put together some of her best work yet. The always intense Moncivaiz has put together quite the resume in her time at Harlingen High.

“In the past five years, one thing I wanted to make sure I brought to the program was to continue the tradition and to bring that defensive style and excitement that we have always had,” Moncivaiz said. “These girls bought into that, and each year they show up and give that consistency on giving it their all and leaving a legacy of ‘Cardinal Spirit never dies.’”

She has gone 149-36 with three district titles, five bi-district titles and three area titles. Three times she has won at least 30 games and has won at least 25 or more games in each season.

This year’s 31-win season, which ranks as her second highest mark, the team went 10-0 in District 32-6A. She also went unbeaten with a 14-0 mark in winning the other two district titles.

“This means a lot, and one thing I have always told the kids was I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to prepare them to have a great season, so getting this award means a lot to me and the team, and it is a reflection of how our season went, and I appreciate that I was able to coach these girls and win this award. It is just a reflection of how our season went,” Moncivaiz said.

By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — What a difference a year makes.

At this time last year, senior Ariel Leal was rehabbing an injured knee and was on the road to recovery. While the road was tough and filled with emotion, Leal wasn’t about to let the injury keep her from getting back on the court.

The senior returned to the Harlingen High lineup healthy and eager to right the wrong. Leal did just that as she provided leadership, hustle and sheer will to help guide the Lady Cardinals to another district title and a trip to the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

Leal was the director of the team’s offense and was named the Valley Morning Star All-STAR Girls Basketball Most Valuable Player.

“This means a lot to me. This is an award I’ve always wanted to win,” Leal said. “I was newcomer of the year when I was a freshman and now I’m an MVP. Ever since I was a little kid I wanted to be an MVP of something.”

Leal showed no fear and played the entire season. She averaged 7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 4.6 assists per game.

“It was heartbreaking when I got hurt, but at that time I didn’t think I had torn anything I still had hope that I would be OK. So when I found out, it hurt and I knew I had to come back and work just as hard.”

Overall, Leal took her game to the next level. She improved on her scoring and became more aggressive to the basket, and she also improved defensively.

Leal’s senior year will be one to remember. During her freshman year, she was a part of a team that won a district title and earned a trip to the Sweet 16, and her final year was a mirror image of that 2015-16 team.

Looking back at her career, it was an area-round win over Laredo Alexander that stands out to Leal. It is one memory she will hold on to.

“It would have to be the Alexander game,” Leal said. “The last time we went to the Sweet 16 I was a freshman, and at that time it was that senior class that led the way, and for us to win that game meant so much to me.”

“I don’t have any regrets. I felt every game that I played I did my best and helped my team. I was able to help my team score, and not just me scoring and played selfless. What I will miss the most is just working with the different girls throughout the years and just getting to know all of them and getting closer over the years,” Leal said.

By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

Senior Taylor Gomez can just about do it all for the Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats.

The 5-foot-11 Gomez took the court for volleyball and basketball, and she also competes in track & field.

Gomez was a mainstay for the Lady ’Cats this past season, helping Rio Hondo earn another trip to the playoffs and a strong 10-2 district record, finishing second behind Hidalgo.

Gomez’s presence was felt on and off the court with a strong all-around game. It was Gomez’s defensive efforts that helped elevate her game.

The hard-nosed senior earned the Valley Morning Star ALL-STAR Girls Basketball Defensive Player of the Year honor, wrapping up a stellar career in a Lady Bobcats uniform.

“It’s feels great to win this award, this year I worked extra on my blocking and defensive game,” Gomez said. “I feel that this year was my strongest year in my three years playing on the varsity.”

Gomez went through a bit of a transition her senior year, being one of the leaders on the team and getting accustomed to a new system under first-year coach Lori Garcia.

“It was a pretty tough change, I was used to our old coach’s style for such a long time,” Gomez said. “I had played for him since I was in junior high, but we all were able to adjust and learn the new system.”

Not only was Gomez a force on defense, but she averaged 11.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game.

“As a senior, we told the younger girls to keep working hard and to keep the mindset of wanting to be No. 1,” Gomez said. “Looking back, my best memory would be playing in the San Antonio tournament. We played a lot of good competition.”

By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

It’s not often to see a freshman start on the varsity in any sport. It is also rare to see a freshman compete and take over games at the varsity level.

Lyford’s Damaris Bermudez is that rare breed. The freshman stepped in, and right away she made an impact on the court for the Lady ’Dogs. Bermudez got a taste of a district title as Lyford steamrolled through District 32-3A with a 15-1 record, and she even got a bi-district title under her belt.

Bermudez averaged 13.3 points, 5.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. With her breakout season, Bermudez was tabbed the Valley Morning Star ALL-STAR Girls Basketball Newcomer of the Year.

“This was a great year for us, we all worked hard to get to where we are at,” Bermudez said. “At the start of the season we were struggling a little bit, we were mixing in new players, but we were able to get everything going and we made the playoffs.”

The youngster has no off days. Bermudez work began in the offseason on and off the court and worked throughout the year.

“I practice every day, in and out of school with my dad. We work all year long,” Bermudez said. “I will practice for about an hour and a half on my shot and my form after school.”

Despite the game coming at a quick pace and the competition taking it up a notch, Bermudez answered with her game. Five times Bermudez scored 20 points or more, and she scored a season-high 22 points against Santa Rosa and Progreso.

“The game was quicker for sure, playing against older girls, and a lot of them had size,” she said. “I have been playing with older girls my whole career, so it wasn’t too much of a change for me.”

Heading into her sophomore year, Bermudez is prepared to take the next step. She looks back on her freshman year as one to remember.

“Being able to go out there and play with my teammates and making the playoffs, those are some memories I have from my freshman year. Now it’s just back to work and getting ready for next season,” Bermudez said.

By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

LA FERIA — Rio Hondo leaned on its pitching duo of sophomore Kelsey Pizarro and senior Erika Cortez to keep rival La Feria off-balance all day.

Pizzaro threw four strong innings and was followed by Cortez, who shut the door during the final three frames, as Rio Hondo secured a 7-0 road win at La Feria.

Pizarro got the start in the circle, and struck out two batters and walked three through four innings. Cortez entered in relief and retired all nine batters she faced, fanning six. Cortez put a stamp on the win by striking out the side in the seventh.

“Today La Feria gave us their best, and that is what we expect each week from our opponents,” Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza said. “We want to see their best pitcher or lineup, because how else will we be prepared for the playoffs?”

Rio Hondo got on the board with a three-run second inning. The Lady ’Cats took advantage of two errors that helped keep the inning alive. Leading 2-0, Emma Serna laid down a bunt that scored a run, giving Rio Hondo some insurance.

The three-run lead was enough run support for Pizarro and Cortez. During the seventh inning, Rio Hondo added to its lead with a four-run frame.

Cortez, Pizarro and Domo De Jesus all drove in runs. De Jesus went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore Abbie Torris continued her tear, as the lefty went 3-for-3 with one run scored.

“Right now I’m seeing the ball well, and I’m recognizing the pitches,” De Jesus said. “It is something we have been working on in practice, both inside and outside, and I know where to place the ball and I know what to expect when I’m at the plate.”

The Lady ’Cats are now 7-0 and have wrapped up the first round of district play with momentum and sole possession of first place. Zapata is sitting in second place with a 5-1 record.

Rio Hondo will begin the second half with a road matchup Tuesday at Hidalgo.

“I think we have had a tremendous amount of growth,” Esparza said. “From our tournament play to now, I feel we have taken major steps forward, from our last tournament through our last seven games. I think we need to see ourselves at all phases, we will tinker with the lineup a little bit, and we are looking for Kelsey and Nayeli (Garcia) to get some games in. We want to make sure our arms are ready to go for the playoffs.”

La Feria, meanwhile, sits in fifth place and is on the outside looking in with a 3-4 district record. It will look to bounce back against Progreso on Tuesday.

“I feel consistency is the issue we are having right now, but I feel we are a heck of a ballclub,” La Feria coach Daryl Gonzalez said. “I think we have great leadership, and we can make a strong push in the second half and we can make a run for the postseason.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN—When Harlingen South and San Benito meet up, there is no telling what can happen.

Friday night’s clash of the softball titans was a tussle for early district supremacy and certainly lived up to the hype.

In a game that featured five homers, it was the fifth inning that will have Lady Hawks fans talking for some time.

Trailing by four with the bases loaded and one out, Harlingen South’s Kytana Muniz hit a bases-clearing double to cut the lead to one run. Alyssa Ledesma followed with the game-tying RBI and then came the heroics of Kayla Rogers, who hit a go-ahead, two-run shot that eventually sent Harlingen South to a 9-8 win over San Benito on Friday night.

“I really wasn’t trying to hit a homer,” Rogers said. “What my team needed was a hit and to just get one base. I was supposed to bunt, but I was just thinking, see ball, hit ball, and everything leading up to this. I came through, and I’m just proud. I didn’t know the ball went over until I ran past second base and I saw the ball go over, and I heard everyone screaming. I just broke down I was so excited.”

Rogers finished the night 1-for-3 at the plate, and Muniz went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and one run. Ledesma also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored.

“Was there frustration? Yes, but we went against a quality team in San Benito,” South coach Elias Martinez said. “Just like last night, our girls hung in there and played tough. It was no big deal, we just needed to wait for our hits to come and take advantage of that, and that is what we did.”

The Lady Hawks rallied in the six-run fifth inning and are now in first place two games into the district season.

While the night was filled with twists and turns, San Benito came out swinging. San Benito took a 1-0 lead into the third inning, when Jordan Ramos drilled a two-run single that gave San Benito a 3-0 lead.

The fireworks didn’t stop there. During the top of the fourth, the Lady ’Hounds received back-to-back homers from Kate Garza and Megan Cavazos that put them ahead 5-1.

“It wasn’t just pitching, there were a lot of things: spots missed, defensive miscues, and we need to answer back with our bats,” San Benito coach Denise Lira said. “We had a few innings where we went three up and three down, and that can’t happen. We need to be able to get those runs back or at least get one run back, and we didn’t do that consistently enough through the game.”

Harlingen South’s offense continued to swing away in the bottom of the sixth. Muniz and Krystal Gonzales drove in a pair of runs that stretched the lead to 9-5. During the top half of the seventh, Ramos came up big again with a three-run home run that trimmed the lead to one run.

“Tonight it could have gone either way, and tonight it went our way,” Martinez said. “With our lineup we just need to get that one hit, and it starts from there. Softball is a funny sport, when you get on a roll you need to take advantage of it, and when San Benito hit that last homer I knew it was going to be fun if it wasn’t fun already.”

Ramos finished strong at the plate, going 2-for-3 with six RBIs and one run scored. Garza went 1-for-3, and Cavazos went 2-for-3.

San Benito will play host to Brownsville Hanna on Tuesday, and Harlingen South travels to Brownsville Rivera.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO—Senior pitcher Nana Carrizales felt a little extra emotions heading into her district opener against Harlingen High.

The hard-throwing righty didn’t take long to shake of the nerves as she twirled a complete game, yielding two hits, one run and fanned 11 batters.

Along with Carrizales came the timely hitting as freshman Jaylen Huerta broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning on a solo homer, sparking the San Benito offense en route to a 5-1 win against the Lady Cardinals.

“I was anxious to get out here and I was a little nervous,” Carrizales said. “This is my first last district game, but once I got in the circle, I was ready and I knew I needed to just pitch my game and to not let them hit. Tonight I felt I was as sharp as I have been all year.”

Carrizales pitched with mastery and pumped in strikes constantly. She started the night by striking out the first five batters she faced, with the sixth resulting in a pop up. In the next frame, she struck out the side in order.

“Tonight, (Carrizales) came out powerful and moved the ball well and hitting her spots and that is always good for a pitcher,” said San Benito skipper Denise Lira. “She stayed focused even when she had some tough at bats and they worked the count and she was able to pitch through it and her defense worked behind her.”

The bid for a perfect game was broken up in the top of the fifth inning on a one-out base hit from Andrea Salinas. The only other blemish came in the seventh inning when Harlingen High’s Chloe Gracida swatted a solo home run, spoiling the bid for a shutout.

“My arm feels great; I was throwing hard and I wasn’t thinking about the no-hitter,” Carrizales said. “That one homerun I gave up, it was just a missed spot on my part.”

On the flip side, sophomore hurler Audrie Sayas went toe-to-toe with Carrizales.

The youngster kept the Lady ’Hounds at bay until giving up the solo homer to Huerta in the fourth inning.

The Lady ’Hounds managed to add a run off an error to push their lead 2-0 through five innings.

In the sixth inning, San Benito plated three more runs, highlighted by an RBI double from Sarah Garcia and later, Huerta chipped in with an RBI single.

“Tonight my approach at the plate was simple and it was to help my team,” Huerta said. “Whatever it took, I was willing to do it. When I hit the homer, it felt really good. My first at bat was a walk, so I was looking to make contact in my next at bat.”

Huerta finished the night going 3-for-3 with two RBI’s. Garcia finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Katelyn Garza finished 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI.

“We just made some mistakes that cost us some runs,” said interim Harlingen High Priscilla Serna. “We didn’t hit the ball tonight and that was our problem. We didn’t execute and we need to be able to get that done, but those mistakes gave San Benito some momentum.”

With the two-day weather delays, both clubs will quickly shift their focus to tonight. Harlingen will meet Los Fresnos, while San Benito will travel to Harlingen South. Both games are slated for 6:30 p.m.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

RAYMONDVILLE—The Raymondville Lady Bearkats overcame the misty conditions, scoring early and often.

A five-run first inning set the tone for the night, as Karina Garza and Celyna Vasquez each collected three hits en route to a 17-1 win over Hidalgo in four innings Tuesday.

With one game left in the first round of district play against Zapata, Lady ’Kats coach Cassandra Hernandez says her club is heading in the right direction with a 4-2 district record.

“I think we are starting to find our team. At the start of the season everyone was able to play everywhere, and we just needed to find the right fit on who went where,” Hernandez said. “We are getting there, we are getting better. We are growing in the circle and we are growing, it is good.”

Raymondville wasted no time regaining the lead after falling behind 1-0 in the top half of the first inning. The offense took an aggressive approach at the plate and on the basepaths by taking advantage of the passed balls.

After the five-run inning, Raymondville strung together a six-run third and a four-run fourth. Their six-run rally came with six hits, highlighted by a two-run double from Rachel Muniz and an RBI base knock from Vasquez. Muniz finished the night 1-for-2, Kristine Gonzales went 2-for-2 and Alyssa Ramirez finished the night 2-for-3.

“At the plate I just knew I had to make contact and get on base,” Muniz said. “Right now I’m seeing the ball well, and I’m batting cleanup and I’m feeling good. My job is to be hot at the plate and produce runs at the plate.”

In the circle was junior Aaliyah Munoz. The righty was sharp and overcame the wet conditions by pitching four innings, yielding one run on two hits and four walks, and she whiffed four batters. After wiggling out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, Munoz retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced.

“I just tried to keep the batters off balance tonight,” Munoz said. “I threw different pitches, so I wasn’t throwing the same thing over and over. I mixed in some off-speed stuff and mixed in my riseball. In this weather, we are used to it, we have practiced in it and have played in it before, so it really wasn’t much of a factor.”

Against La Feria last week, Raymondville moved around its lineup, looking to create a spark. During the past two games, the Raymondville offense has produced.

“We tried out this new lineup against La Feria and it worked, so we used it again tonight and the girls are backing each other up, and we feel like it is working for us and we feel like we are heading into the midway point on a good note.”

By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — The 1927 New York Yankees are arguably one of the greatest teams in Major League Baseball history. That year, the Yankees won 110 games and swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.

The first six batters made up the famous “Murderers’ Row,” a lethal combination of power, speed and contact led by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

A short 92 years later, here are the Harlingen South Lady Hawks.

This year’s group is the most experienced under fourth-year coach Elias Martinez. While South has made the playoffs each of his first three years — including a trip to the Sweet 16 — one thing still evades the Lady Hawks: a district title.

“Within a month we are done, it is a small district,” Martinez said. “I told the girls we need to leave it all on the field, and we can’t take anyone for granted. We are taking it one game at a time and we will let the chips fall where they may, and hopefully we will be in a position to make a run.”

Well, this year’s core of heavy hitters is looking to change that. Much like Murderers’ Row, South’s lineup is deep with speed, contact and power from both sides of the plate.

Senior shortstop Krystal Gonzales, junior center fielder Kytana Muniz, junior catcher Christina Arellano and freshman designated player and pitcher Iliana Saucedo provide the pop for the Lady Hawks’ lineup.

“We have a pretty good lineup. One thing we need to work on is being consistent night in and night out,” Martinez said. “When we are on we are on, but we are never out of it with this lineup.”

Through the first 23 games, the offense has scored 10 or more runs seven times.

The Lady Hawks’ season high was a 20-run spurt against Robstown. During the past three games, the lineup has been red hot, scoring 16, 17 and 15 runs, and it is looking to take that into its district opener next week against Los Fresnos.

“Honestly, as a team we are really doing well,” Gonzales said. “I think we can go far and maybe as far as we have gone before. We have had a good first half of the season, and everything is going well. I’m motivated as a senior to finish off strong, and to be able to win a district title would be amazing.”

Gonzales is batting .474 with 28 runs and four homers, two of which came against Weslaco East last Tuesday. Saucedo leads the club in dingers with five and hit a towering shot against East, and she is hitting .442 with 16 runs scored.

Muniz, the team’s lefty slugger, hit her first homer of the season against East and is batting .409 with 25 runs scored from the cleanup spot. Arellano, who is still coming into form, has begun to swing a hot bat. The junior is hitting .237 with 12 runs scored and three homers.

The Lady Hawks will begin the district title chase as they kick off district play Tuesday at home against Los Fresnos. Standing in their way is defending district champion and rival San Benito, which South will tangle with Friday.

“We as a team are hungry for a district title, it would be great to get it,” Muniz said. “Coach Martinez pushes us every day to get better, and right now we are feeling good and coming together at the plate now that we are getting to district play I am seeing the ball much better, and our lineup is great from top to bottom.”