KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

RIO HONDO — The Lady Bobcats are alive and well in the playoffs and they will continue that playoff journey tonight in a one-game playoff against Devine at Tuloso-Midway at 7:30 p.m. in the Class 4A area round.

Senior catcher Abbie Alvarado has been a driving force behind the plate for the Lady Cats, and in last week’s bi-district’s sweep against Robstown, Alvarado showed up.

Alvarado went 4 for 8 against Robstown, scored six runs, laced in a triple and drove in two RBI’s. With her efforts, Alvarado was named this week’s female player of the week.

“This is great, it is exciting. I’ve never won any award like this before,” Alvarado said. “I wouldn’t be player of the week without my team. They push me to get better each day. They’re the reason why I am the way I am.”

On the year, Alvarado is batting .409 with 27 RBI’s, 36 hits and 34 runs. Behind the plate is where Alvarado shines best with a strong .954 fielding percentage with 136 putouts.

“I made sure I kept my pitchers focused and motivated throughout the series,” said Alvarado. “I kept it positive and wanted them to keep their focus, and to keep the mentality that they were going to get the outs no matter what batter they faced.”

“At the plate it was good to see the ball well, I had been in a slump, but I saw the ball well and got some hits that helped the team. That felt good for sure.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO — This year’s senior class is certainty a special one for the San Benito Lady Greyhounds softball program. The five seniors have all played a role in this year’s district and bi-district titles and are eyeing an area title for the first time since their freshman season.

“It’s been a great transition, they made it easy for me to come in and coach them,” said San Benito coach Denise Lira. “They are coachable and they’re leaders, I feel like all of them have grown in their own way. They all fell right in and they get the team going, they’re definitely the core and heart of the team.”

Deztiny Hernandez, Audrey Huerta and Meagan Ybarra make up the outfield, meanwhile Joanna Gonzalez sits behind the plate and Aaliyah Rangel plays third base.
Hernandez, Gonzalez and Huerta are the three remaining from the 2015 team that reached the state tournament under former coach Elias Martinez. Reaching the state tournament as a freshman still motivates Gonzalez to get back to the big stage.

After clinching a district title earlier this season Gonzalez said, “We’re not done yet.” The same message stood as they prepare for Friday’s area round.
“It was an amazing experience being at the state tournament,” said Gonzalez. “As a freshman I was doing it for the seniors. The way I saw how determined they were, I know what it takes to get there.

“It hasn’t hit me that this is my senior year, but like I said before, we’re not done. I feel like we have a lot of work to do.”

From the loud chants in the dugout to their pregame warm-ups, this year’s group of seniors have all gelled and come full circle. The Lady Hounds are playing the best softball of their careers at the moment and are carrying a winning tradition and a legacy that was set years ago.

“My last two years here in San Benito have been great, the girls here are the best and we all fit in well with each other,” Rangel said. “We like to have fun and joke around, but we know when it’s time to get serious come game time.”

Rangel spent her first two years at Los Fresnos then transferred to San Benito. Her first friend was Gonzalez who she met in her in physics class sophomore year.

“I didn’t know anyone here, and I met Jo in class and she showed me around and from there I made friends,” said Rangel. These last three weeks haven’t hit me, that it’s my last year, I don’t think it will ever hit me, I’m not good with changes but right now I’m enjoying the moment, I love how we all laugh together and this is the most fun I’ve ever had on a team.”

The Lady Hounds will kick off their best of three series against San Antonio Southwest Friday at 7 p.m. at Sinton High School. Game two will be played Saturday at 11 a.m. at Tuloso-Midway and Game three will follow thirty minutes after game two if needed.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO — Senior center fielder Audrey Huerta has always wanted to be a Lady Hound. Huerta who grew up playing softball is now in her final year with the purple and gold and is looking to go out with a bang.

Huerta is a four-year varsity member that has played solid at her center field position and is the Lady Hounds’ leadoff hitter. Huerta has thrived in the leadoff spot and is looking to keep the train rolling in this weekend’s area round matchup.

The Valley Morning Star got a chance to catch up with Huerta.

Q: What does it mean to you, that you’re a part of the Lady Hounds softball program?

AUDREY: It means that I’m apart of a tradition, but a better way to describe it would be that I’m a part of a family.

Q: How long have you played softball; has it always been your first love?

AUDREY: I grew up in a family that would eat, sleep, and dream baseball/softball, so I guess you can say from day one.

Q: You wear the number three is there any meaning behind it?

AUDREY: Not really, the number that all my siblings would wear was 5. When I got to the high school the number was taken.

Q: Do you have any pre game superstition?

AUDREY: I always have a turkey sandwich with a bowl of grapes.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

AUDREY: Slow walkers for sure.

Q: What is your dream job?

AUDREY: Coaching is my dream profession.

Q: If you could make three wishes what would they be?

AUDREY: To get my mom a house is the first wish, the second wish would be to get my license, and the last wish is to travel the world.

Q: If you could have dinner with anyone in history who would it be?

AUDREY: Paul Walker hands down.

Q: Who is your favorite NCAA softball team and who do you think will win the NCAA Woman’s college world series?

AUDREY: Oklahoma is my favorite, and Boomer Sooner is going to take it!

Q: What is the best part about playing centerfield?

AUDREY: I have the best view from centerfield.

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Senior Marcus Ramirez has had a banner senior season and he is not done yet. Ramirez is as busy as ever, as he will compete in the UIL state track meet in Austin in two weeks, and to add a little more chaos into his already busy schedule on Wednesday the senior signed his letter of intent to pole vault at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

“ Today marks a milestone in my career,” said Ramirez. “I get to continue my career at the next level in Pole Vault. I worked hard and long to get to this point and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

Ramirez qualified for the state meet with a 15-06.00 in the pole vault. The second place finish was enough to send Ramirez to his first state meet in Austin.

“I tell my students, there is a school for everyone,” said South coach Ralph De La Rosa. “Marcus is an incredible student athlete. He is an intelligent student and I can’t wait to see what he becomes. We have kids all over the country that are competing and representing our program, it shows that if the kids want it they can have it.”

Ramirez plans to major in engineering and will continue his pole vault career at UTSA.

“ It was a tough decision, a lot of schools reached out to me and showed interest,” Ramirez said. “I had a lot to think about and I had to decide what school was best for me and UTSA was the right fit for me and it is close to home, and they offered me the most and I felt it was the right choice. UTSA has my major and their track and field program is very strong.”

The road to state has been a successful one for Ramirez. Along the way, Ramirez has a district title, and three trips to regional’s under his belt.

” It’s amazing to see Valley athletes get a chance to compete at the next level,” Ramirez said. “We have three athletes going to state this year and that is a first for our program. I always thought this was a dream, when I was a freshman and I never thought I’d be here.

“I saw other people do it so I knew I could too. My advice is to just keep working hard and don’t give up.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

RIO HONDO — Senior Abbie Alvarado is no stranger to playing catcher. She took on the position when she was just 12 years old and hasn’t looked back.

As a member of the Rio Hondo softball team, Alvarado has been behind the plate for the past four seasons and has directed traffic for different pitchers during those years.

“I first started playing catcher when our starting catcher got hurt, and my dad volunteered me to go out there and catch,” Alvarado said. “It took me awhile to get used to squatting, framing and throwing, but once I got used to it I really started enjoying it and I learned how to play the position well.”

Alvarado doesn’t shy away from the big stage, either, and has caught some of the best hurlers to come through Rio Hondo including Samantha Arrendondo, Jenny Flores and Miranda Martinez.

Last season she helped the Lady Cats reach the Region IV-4A final and had strong chemistry with Martinez and Flores.

A year later and her twin sister, Annie, now serves as the team’s ace while freshmen Domo De Jesus and Kelsey Pizarro have stepped in and helped build a solid rotation for the Lady Cats.

While De Jesus and Pizarro are in their first year, Annie has toed the rubber in big spots for the Lady Cats on several occasions. This combination of a veteran mixed in with youth has become a problem for opposing lineups.

The trio has combined for 168 strikeouts on the year, and against Robstown last week Annie tossed seven complete innings and struck out seven in Game 1 of their playoff series.

In Game 2, Pizarro threw a five-inning shutout, fanned five batters and yielded just three hits to close out the Lady Cotton Pickers.

“Having a rotation is something we strive for,” said Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza. “The girls have had equal time in the circle and in big games. Domo threw against Port Isabel and threw in some tough tournaments. We brought Kelsey along slowly and we knew she would be an asset.

“As far as the twins (Annie and Abbie) go, they bring leadership to the staff and lead the way during bullpen sessions. They also do a great job with the younger girls.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

RIO HONDO — While senior Bianca Cruz is closing in on a strong career at Rio Hondo, freshman Abbie Torris is just beginning to write her own legacy.

Cruz and Torris are first cousins and have provided the Lady Cats with offense and stellar play in the outfield.

Cruz plays center field, while Torris plays left field. This year Cruz is batting .588 with 50 hits, 29 RBIs and 38 runs scored. In their bi-district win against Robstown last week, Cruz swatted two homers and collected seven hits.

Torris, meanwhile, is hitting .638 with 60 hits, 38 RBIs and 25 doubles. Against Robstown, Torris finished with eight hits in the series sweep.

The duo’s next challenge is against Devine in a one-game area-round playoff at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tuloso-Midway High School.

The Valley Morning Star had a chance to catch up with Cruz and Torris on Tuesday.

—

BIANCA
Q: When did you first realize that you and Abbie were going to play on the varsity together?
CRUZ: Since I’m a senior and my cousin is a freshman, I knew from the first day of practice this season that she had the potential in making it to varsity.

Q: How has it been having your younger cousin play alongside you?
CRUZ: I like it a lot. It makes me proud to see her accomplish many things at such a young age.

Q: So far, what has been the best memory the two of you have had together?
CRUZ: I had given her a makeover for an event she was attending and she looked stunning! Many pizzas were eaten during the makeover.

Q: Abbie is only a freshman and she has had a breakout year. What has impressed you the most about her?
CRUZ: I’m very impressed with her hitting. She can read any pitch that’s pitched to her and that get’s the momentum going for everyone.

ABBIE
Q: When did you learn that you made the varsity?
ABBIE: I first learned that I made varsity at the beginning of the season and I couldn’t believe that I was one of only two freshmen there. I knew then that I needed to step it up and make this a great year for our team.

Q: What advice has Bianca given you?
ABBIE: Bianca is not only my cousin, she has also been my mentor and, as such, she tells me to not overthink, to always give it 100 percent and, most importantly, to go out there and always have fun.

Q: How often do you and Bianca talk softball outside of school?
ABBIE: Every chance we get you will hear B and me talking softball since we both love the sport.

Q: What is the best part of having your cousin play with you on the team?
ABBIE: The best part of playing on the same team as Bianca has been that it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do since she’s someone I look up to. She’s always been an awesome player and I want to be great like her.

Q: How much more confidence did you gain with a playoff win now under your belt?
ABBIE: Getting our fist playoff win has been a great feeling, but that’s only the beginning for our team. We all really work hard every day and we all want to achieve great things together.

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

HARLINGEN — Game 3 of the Class 6A bi-district series between Harlingen South and PSJA Memorial provided plenty of twists and turns, and was a thriller roller coaster battle.

Like they have all season, the Lady Hawks didn’t fizzle or fade when they fell behind; they simply dug in and fought back.

South held off a late PSJA Memorial rally to win 7-6 and clinch the series 2-1 to advance to the area round where they will have a rematch against South San Antonio.

“Talk about perseverance and never quitting even with your backs against the wall,” said South coach Elias Martinez. “We kept our cool and didn’t panic. We went down 3-0 and I told the girls we could come back; we have done it before. It took us a while to get going; it was just a chain reaction, back and forth. I’m proud of my girls for how hard they fought back.”

A three-run home run by Victoria Gonzalez in the first inning gave Memorial an early 3-0 lead and the Lady Wolverines held that lead until South answered with a two-run fourth and eventually took a 4-3 lead in the fifth on a RBI double by Krystal Gonzales.

“I’m really excited right now,” Gonzales said. “I love the game and we never gave up; we fought and fought. They (PSJA Memorial) kept their pitches outside, and we finally got it down and hit the ball when we needed to.”

South’s lead didn’t last long, though, as in the top of the fifth Memorial’s Gonzalez hammered a two-run homer that gave the Lady Wolverines a 5-4 advantage. The long ball was her second of the night as Gonzalez drove in five runs for Memorial.

South countered with Natasha Canales’s RBI single that tied the game at 5 in the bottom of the sixth. Then Kaitlynn De La Fuente drove in the go-ahead run on an error by the right fielder as South regained the lead at 6-5. Alyssa Ledesma provided the insurance with an RBI of her own that made it 7-5 through six innings.

“It took us a while to get going. We had already faced that pitcher, so tonight was about making some adjustments,” said Martinez. “We played some great defense. Our girls have been making plays all year from top to bottom. They have all come through in big spots. They have been here before and they’re cool under pressure.”

The Lady Hawks rebounded after a tough 11-6 loss in Game 2 on Friday.

“I had my team there to talk me up,” said De La Fuente. “It’s all mental toughness and we showed that all season, and showed it throughout this series. Tonight it came down to who wanted it more and we came out with the win; we really wanted this win.

“As a senior it means so much. We want to keep playing and I want to keep playing with this team. We’re excited to have another week of softball.”

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

After taking a 1-0 series lead against Banquete in the Class 3A bi-district round, Lyford dropped the next two on Saturday 6-1 and 12-7, respectively, thus ending their season.

In Game 2 on Saturday morning, Lyford took a 1-0 lead after one inning, but fell behind 2-1 after three innings. The big frame came in the sixth when Banquete plated four runs to force a decisive Game 3.

In the second game, Jerrica Rojas collected two hits at the plate and in the circle she pitched six innings and gave up seven hits while striking out seven.

Game 3, meanwhile, was a slugfest. Both teams combined for 19 runs and 26 hits. Much like Game 2, a six-run sixth inning proved to be the difference for Banquete as it sealed a 12-7 win and clinched the series.

RIO HONDO: The Lady Bobcats’ offense was on full display in a series sweep against Robstown in a Class 4A bi-district round series.

In Game 1 of the series on Thursday, Rio Hondo blasted Robstown 13-4 behind senior slugger Bianca Cruz who went 4 for 5 and mashed a pair of homers and collected three RBIs. Meanwhile, April Adames went 2 for 4 in the win while Annie Alvarado picked up the win in the circle.

Game 2 on Friday was no different as the Lady Cats completed the series sweep with a 20-0 victory to advance to the area round where they will play a one-game playoff against Divine at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tuloso-Midway High School.

Freshman standout Abbie Torris went 4 for 4 while Cruz and Alvarado drove in three runs each. In the first inning, Rio Hondo swatted nine hits and scored 14 runs.

SAN BENITO: For a second straight year, the Lady Hounds are back in the area round. This time around they will play San Antonio Southwest in a best-of-3 series beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Sinton High School. Game 2 will follow Saturday morning at 11 at Tuloso-Midway and Game 3, if one is needed, will follow 30 minutes afterward.

KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star

EDINBURG — The San Benito Lady Greyhounds wasted no time on Friday night.

A six-run first inning highlighted by a two-run homer from Meagan Ybarra along with a masterful complete-game two-hit shutout from Nana Carrizales was more than enough to put the Lady Cougars away 10-0 in six innings in a one-game playoff.

San Benito will now face San Antonio Southwest in a Class 6A area-round contest next week.

“Our mentality tonight was to stay in our zone and to be discipline at the plate,” Ybarra said. “We wanted to make their pitcher work and get to her early, and that’s what we did. It’s great for us get our first playoff win of the year and as a senior it’s extra special. We continue to play hard and play for each other.”

Carrizales retired the first 12 batters she faced and flirted with a perfect game through four complete innings. A leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth inning by Edinburg North’s Hope Rodriguez broke up the perfect-game bid.

“That was one of the top performances she (Nana) has come out with,” said San Benito coach Denise Lira. “She was trying to find the zone early and when she found it she took command of the rest of the game.”

The fifth inning was the only blemish Carrizales and the Lady Hounds had. After an error, Patty Davila hit a looping single. Through six innings, Carrizales yielded only two hits and whiffed seven batters.

“I just took this as another game. I took the circle with confidence and did my thing,” Carrizales said. “To be honest, I didn’t even know I had a perfect game. I don’t think about those things. I just went out there and pitched.”

While Carrizales carved up Edinburg North, her offense backed her up with 10 runs and 10 hits. Senior Joanna Gonzalez broke open the scoring on an RBI single. Gonzalez finished with a 3 for 3 night along with a walk.

Kari Cisneros continued to swing a hot bat with a RBI single of her own that gave the Lady Hounds a 3-0 lead. The breakout frame was capped off by an opposite-field dinger from Ybarra.

The Lady Hounds added three more runs in the third inning when Ybarra and Sarah Garcia each drove in a pair of runs in to push their lead to 9-0.

“Anyone plays better when you’re up,” Lira said. “The girls kept swinging and produced runs throughout the game. We fell a little flat, but bounced back with some more runs. This was one of the best games we played and I’m proud of the girls and how they came out and played.”

KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer

SAN BENITO — Senior Deztiny Hernandez has had quite the season for the Lady Hounds. Hernadez has emerged as one of the top outfielders in the district and had provided plenty of offense at the top of the San Benito lineup.

Hernandez helped the Lady Hounds to a 13-1 league record and a district title. In her final two regular season games, Hernandez finished strong by going 3 for 8 in her final two games along with a homer and two runs scored.

With her efforts, Hernandez was named this week’s Valley Morning Star Female athlete of the week.

“These past two games I have been playing really well both defensively and on offense,” Hernandez said. “Against Weslaco I was able to get a bunt down and scored a run and against Harlingen I hit a homer.”

Hernandez bats at the top of the order and has come full circle in her final year as a Lady Hound.

“At the plate I’ve become more discipline, and on defense I play my best each play. It’s a team effort to win a district title,” Hernandez said. “As a team we were able to bring back a district title. I have worked hard all year, so it feels to win player of the week.”

The Lady Hounds travel to Edinburg North tonight in the class 6A bi-district round in what is a one game playoff. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.