VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Wednesday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA North 5, Weslaco High 2

Class 5A

Port Lavaca Calhoun 6, PSJA Memorial 1

Thursday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA High 6, Edinburg Vela 4

Weslaco High 10, PSJA North 4

Class 5A

Corpus Christi Calallen 2, Brownsville Veterans 0

PSJA Memorial 6, Port Lavaca Calhoun 4

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 5, Mercedes 2

Corpus Christi Carroll 11, Sharyland Pioneer 0, 5 innings

Friday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

Laredo United 2, San Benito 1; Laredo United advances

Edinburg Vela 5, PSJA High 4; Series tied 1-1

PSJA North 2, Weslaco High 0; PSJA North wins series 2-1

Class 5A

Corpus Christi Calallen 8, Brownsville Veterans 4; Corpus Christi Calallen wins series 2-0

PSJA Memorial 8, Port Lavaca 0; PSJA Memorial wins series 2-1

Mercedes vs. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff at Falfurrias High, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi Carroll 21, Sharyland Pioneer 1, 5 innings; Corpus Christi Carroll wins series 2-0

Class 4A

Zapata 15, Cuero 9; Zapata leads series 1-0

Rio Hondo 2, Persall 1; Rio Hondo leads series 1-0

Saturday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

Edinburg Vela 5, PSJA High 2; Vela wins series 2-1

Harlingen South 8, Eagle Pass 6; Harlingen South advances

Class 4A

Zapata 6, Cuero 4; Zapata wins series 2-0

Rio Hondo 6, Pearsall 4; Rio Hondo wins series 2-0

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Wednesday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA North 5, Weslaco High 2

Class 5A

Port Lavaca Calhoun 6, PSJA Memorial 1

Thursday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA High 6, Edinburg Vela 4

Weslaco High 10, PSJA North 4

Class 5A

Corpus Christi Calallen 2, Brownsville Veterans 0

PSJA Memorial 6, Port Lavaca Calhoun 4

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 5, Mercedes 2

Corpus Christi Carroll 11, Sharyland Pioneer 0, 5 innings

Friday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

Laredo United 2, San Benito 1; Laredo United advances

Edinburg Vela 5, PSJA High 4; Series tied 1-1

PSJA North 2, Weslaco High 0; PSJA North wins series 2-1

Class 5A

Corpus Christi Calallen 8, Brownsville Veterans 4; Corpus Christi Calallen wins series 2-0

PSJA Memorial 8, Port Lavaca 0; PSJA Memorial wins series 2-1

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 6, Mercedes 2; Corpus Christi Flour Bluff wins series 2-0

Corpus Christi Carroll 21, Sharyland Pioneer 1, 5 innings; Corpus Christi Carroll wins series 2-0

Class 4A

Zapata def. Cuero; Zapata leads series 1-0

Rio Hondo 2, Persall 1; Rio Hondo leads series 1-0

Saturday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA High at Edinburg Vela, Game 3, 1 p.m.

Harlingen South vs. Eagle Pass at Cabaniss Complex, Corpus Christi, 6 p.m.

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Cuero at Freer, Game 2 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 2, 5 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 3 (if necessary), approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2

BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — Weslaco High and PSJA North had already played 19 innings of softball against each other in the area round when the sixth inning began Friday.

Nothing separated the teams to that point. Not in the series or in the ballgame that had yet to put any runs on the scoreboard.

That’s when PSJA North starting pitcher Andrea Salazar went into another gear and helped the Raiders advance with a 2-0 win in Game 3 at North’s home field. North won the best-of-three series.

Her pitching performance only took a backseat to a clutch at-bat: a two-out triple that brought in the only two runs of the ultra-defensive contest.

After words of encouragement from her teammates and coaches prior to the at-bat, the senior adjusted and leaned on plenty years of softball experience.

With Jenna Fabela and Heaven Lozano on base, both with infield hits, Salazar found the gap between right and center. The ball rolled to the wall and allowed her to stand up at third.

“I crowded the plate a little bit more and this last at-bat I had two runners on base, and two down, and I knew my teammates needed me,” Salazar said. “I knew as soon as I hit the ball, I knew my teammates were going to score. As I got to third, I was just full of emotions, full of excitement.”

Salazar didn’t just bounce back from a rough relief outing in Game 2. She dominated in the circle.

The senior allowed just one hit and struck out seven Panthers.

Junior catcher Giselle Mendoza knew her pitcher would be fine.

“Andrea has been a really great player and every time they put her in the circle she does her job,” Mendoza said. “We lost the second game, so we had to adjust and remember what we were doing. It was really something else because they’re a really, good strong team.”

Both offenses threatened during the first inning.

Weslaco’s Lily Torres reached on a hit and advanced to second on a passed ball, but that chance ended with a flyout. North had a base runner, Katelyn Luera, reach all the way to third, but a ground out ended the first.

Up until the bottom of the sixth, that was the best chance for scoring on either side.

“We came out ready to play. We came out here focused and hungry,” Salazar said. “After last night’s game, we knew we were going to be OK. We always have that fight in us, even when we’re down, we come back.”

Pitching Battle

The pitching battle was not one-sided, however. Katia Reyes, who started all three games for the Panthers was on her game. One-two-three innings was her forte, as she moved through the lineup with relative ease.

Weslaco saw some of their key players reach base. Alongside the one hit three Panthers reached with errors, including both Audrey Escamilla and starting pitcher Reyes during the top seventh.

“I came in here (thinking), ‘You know what? Maybe they adjusted to my pitch, but I came here ready,” Salazar said. “I worked in the bullpen. I worked on my junk pitches.”

Reyes had seven strikeouts to finish the series with more than 20 in three nights.

Defensive gems were a common occurrence over the course of the second-round series. On Friday, there were noticeable plays from Merilen Chavarria for Weslaco, who made a running play in foul territory. Her teammate on first base, Lynn Garcia, also caught a foul ball to keep Reyes rolling.

North received a boost in momentum when right fielder Gizelle Gutierrez dove to catch a shallow fly ball.

Freshman Katelyn Luera also made a memorable diving grab during the top of the seventh. After selling out to make the catch, she fired the ball to first base to double up Weslaco’s Audrey Escamilla and end the game.

First-year North coach Stephanie Lugo said her team was calm in the low-scoring game. There was frustration in the batter’s box, but not nervousness, facing elimination.

“Nerves … we’ve been in this situation more than once. I think we put them under good situational defense here in practice to where they’re able to get through this things one at a time,” Lugo said.

The entire Raiders roster is experiencing the postseason for the first time.

“It means a lot,” Lugo said. “For our seniors, this is their first time they’ve been to playoffs, so it’s really big for them. Softball in general for this school it’s been since 2008, so it’s a big thing.”

North faces the winner of Harlingen South and Eagle Pass. Due to weather, that area round matchup switched from a three-game series set to start Friday in Sinton to a one-game playoff scheduled for 6 today at Cabaniss Complex in Corpus Christi.

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BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

SAN JUAN — PSJA’s bats came to life late and the Lady Bears overcame a slew of miscues to defeat Edinburg Vela 6-4 Thursday night to take a 1-0 playoff series lead.

The Bears, who dealt Vela just its second loss in two months, fell behind early but battled back and rallied for the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Down 4-3, PSJA posted two quick outs. However, the next two batters walked and then the next three smacked singles, driving in three runs to give the game its final score.

“That’s our story. Sadly, yes, that (falling behind) is our story,” said a smiling Elaine Madera who hit the first single in the sixth-inning rally. “We stayed strong. We stayed together and we just kept it up. We lifted ourselves back up.”

PSJA’s lift puts the onus on Vela to win two straight if it wants to advance to the next round. Certainly, Vela did not play bad, however, the SaberCats committed a couple of errors and couldn’t get timely hits to stave off PSJA.

Madera, who also pitched a complete game for the Lady Bears, retired the final seven batters Vela brought to plate in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Meanwhile, Madera allowed just four runs (three earned) and five hits while striking out two and stranding five.

In addition to Madera, also picking up two hits each were Vivika Villarreal, Ariella Saenz, Kaylah Hernandez and Roxanna Garza. The Bears totaled 10 hits.

PSJA was caught stealing four times and had two errors in the field.

Coach Eric Madera said he expects a big battle (Friday) and understands that Vela is a very good team. He said the Bears will need to bring the same fight if they expect to win. Game 2 will be at 7 p.m. todat at Edinburg Vela.

That might not be the only challenge for PSJA, or Vela for that matter. Heavy rain is expected Friday in the Rio Grande Valley.

Monee Montilla went 2 for 2 for Vela with a double, a triple and three RBIs.

VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Wednesday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA North 5, Weslaco High 2

Class 5A

Port Lavaca Calhoun 6, PSJA Memorial 1

Thursday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA High 6, Edinburg Vela 4; PSJA High leads series 1-0

Weslaco High 10, PSJA North 4; Series tied 1-1

Class 5A

Corpus Christi Calallen 2, Brownsville Veterans 0; Corpus Christi Calallen leads series 1-0

PSJA Memorial 6, Port Lavaca Calhoun 4; Series tied 1-1

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff 5, Mercedes 2; Corpus Christi Flour Bluff leads series 1-0

Corpus Christi Carroll 11, Sharyland Pioneer 0, 5 innings; Corpus Christi Carroll leads series 1-0

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Cuero at Kingsville King, Game 1, not reported

Friday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

San Benito vs. Laredo United at Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway, One-game playof, 6 p.m.

PSJA High at Edinburg Vela, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Harlingen South vs. Eagle Pass at Sinton High, Game 1, 7 p.m.

Weslaco High at PSJA North, Game 37:30 p.m.

Class 5A

Brownsville Veterans at Corpus Christi Calallen, Game 2, 4:30 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans at Corpus Christi Callen, Game 3 (if necessary), approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2

PSJA Memorial vs. Port Lavaca Calhoun at Alice High, Game 3, 5:30 p.m.

Mercedes vs. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff at Falfurrias High, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi Carroll at Sharyland Pioneer, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Cuero at Kingsville King, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 1, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA High at Edinburg Vela, Game 3 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Harlingen South vs. Eagle Pass at Sinton High, Game 2, 3 p.m.

Harlingen South vs. Eagle Pass at Sinton High, Game 3 (if necessary), approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2)

Class 5A

Sharyland Pioneer vs. Corpus Christi Carroll at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi, Game 3 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Mercedes vs. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff at Falfurrias High, Game 3 (if necessary), 6 p.m.

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Cuero at Kingsville King, Game 3 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 2, 5 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 3 (if necessary), approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2

BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

WESLACO — No one expected Weslaco High to go away quietly, even as the perennial playoff team faced elimination against PSJA North in Game 2 of an area-round playoff series.

With its back against the wall, Weslaco came out swinging, connecting and scoring en masse at Weslaco High School on Thursday night.

Weslaco jumped out to a big lead and held on for a 10-4 win to level the series against North at 1-1.

The purple machine was churning early with seven runs during the first two innings, including four during the first inning.

“The fact that it was a home game really helped. We’ve always said that we’ve always liked the atmosphere in home games,” Weslaco senior catcher Audrey Escamilla said. “We just came in knowing that we had to do our best and get more runners scoring than yesterday.”

In Game 1, the Panthers left the bases loaded on multiple occasions. In Game 2, that script changed immediately as the first two hitters — Helen Gonzalez and Lily Torres — not only reached safely but also scored.

Starter pitcher Katia Reyes and Escamilla had the first RBIs. Lynn Garcia drove in two more with a single.

“We knew once we put the little things together and cut down on the errors we’d be able to help Kat(ia Reyes) out and make a lot of runs for her,” Escamilla said.

Merlien Chavarria kept the hitting party going during the second inning with a fly ball that caught the wind and eluded the center fielder. Stacia Bautista had an RBI, while Reyes and Escamilla recorded their second in two innings.

“I think (Wednesday) we were really tense and didn’t know what to expect, but (Thursday) we knew that we could get a hold of it,” Escamilla said. “Even (Wednesday), we outhit them but not at the right time.”

Reyes, who also started Game 1, was tough to hit again. She struck out 10.

The Raiders’ best inning was during the third. Kendra Garia started the inning reaching safely and eventually scored on a play where she collided with Escamilla on a throw over the catcher’s head.

Alexya Salinas followed with a triple and was hit home by Jennaka Fabela. The lead was cut to 7-3, the closest North would get.

Ashley Sada ripped a triple and Chavarria had another hit to the outfield drop near the defender.

Chavarria’s third hit was a solo home run to dead center field.

“I really haven’t been hitting much these past games,” Chavarria said. “I had to have that positive mindset to stay there and do whatever it takes.”

Andrea Salazar also homered for the Raiders. The Panthers scored the last run after Escamilla’s double turned into a run via a sacrifice fly.

“I think we came into the game knowing that we let one slip away last night, we pretty much beat them in every category except for the scoreboard,” Weslaco coach Mario Rodriguez said. “We had our hits last night, we just didn’t have the timely hits. We came out early and had some timely hits and that’s what got us going tonight.”

PSJA North coach Stephanie Lugo said her team will have a clear mind in the winner-take-all contest.

“I told them as soon as we got to right field after the game that tomorrow’s a new day. We start with a 0-0 record and have to go from there,” Lugo said. “These girls actually have been through a lot this season. Things were thrown at us different ways and things like that and the girls have overcome everything.”

Game 3 is at 7:30 tonight at PSJA North High School in Pharr.

[email protected]

BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

Five innings of tight softball between PSJA North and Weslaco High turned into a climax of runs during the sixth inning that ultimately decided Game 1 of the best-of-three area round playoff series Wednesday.

The Raiders came from behind after giving up a lead they held for most of the night to down the visiting Panthers 5-2 and take a 1-0 series lead.

A well-defended pitchers’ duel characterized most of the ballgame.

Weslaco High’s Katia Reyes and PSJA North’s Heaven Lozano were keeping batters guessing, and solid play in the infield kept the action moving.

A close finish, or even extra innings, looked to be a real possibility until a whole lot went down during the sixth.

An inning after Weslaco scored its first run, Lily Torres reached on a play at first that was close enough to warrant three separate umpire meetings and an overturned call. She was finally deemed safe.

It was an important call because Torres later scored on a passed ball one pitch before Lozano ended the inning with a strikeout.

Even though Weslaco High owns the edge with playoff experience, the North group that won the District 30-6A championship is not letting inexperience get in the way.

“They just know it’s just like every other game,” Raiders coach Stephanie Lugo said. “It’s nothing special, the other team puts on their uniforms exactly the way we do. And we’re able to come out, backs against the wall and we respond.”

Jennaka Fabela and Heaven Lozano kicked off the bottom sixth with back-to-back singles and quickly the Raiders had runners on the corners knocking on the door for a tie.

An unconventional double play, shortstop to first base and then to plate where Fabela was jolting home to try to catch the Panthers sleeping, seemed to stop the rally in its tracks.

The Raiders didn’t let those two outs spell the end of a late-game rally. Giselle Mendoza was intentionally walked and Kendra Garcia walked as well to load the bases.

Sophomore Angel Lozano popped a fly ball to right field, but the wind stopped the ball from carrying deep. That effect on the softball gave right fielder Sada troubles as the hit dropped just short of her glove.

Two Raiders were already safe at home and another rounded third to give PSJA North a 4-2 lead. One of those base runners was Angel’s older sister Heaven, who said she knew her sister would come through.

“I was excited because I was on base and I knew our sister was going to come through with a clutch hit,” Heaven Lozano said.

Angel Lozano also scored during the sixth on an errant pickoff throw to third base.

In the early frames, both squads had the bases loaded in the second inning but the Raiders scored first, on a Katelyn Luera single, to bring the PSJA North crowd to its feet.

Luera, another freshman, also made a run-saving diving catch on second base in the third.

“My team told me to make it realistic and dive for everything you can get,” Luera said. “So I knew I was able to get that ball. I dove for it to make my team proud and help my team.”

Weslaco answered later with a hustle-induced infield single by Ashley Sada during the fifth.

PSJA North earned its first win over Weslaco this season after losing twice to the Panthers in non-district. Luera said her team is showing its progress at the right time

“We actually played them twice and they beat us twice so I’m pretty sure they came in with the confidence that they were going to beat us,” Luera said. “We have our high horse; we knew we could beat them. We’ve grown since the beginning of the season.”

Game 2 will be played at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Weslaco High.

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VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SCHEDULE

Wednesday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA North 5, Weslaco High 2; PSJA North leads series 1-0

Class 5A

Port Lavaca Calhoun 6, PSJA Memorial 1; Port Lavaca Calhoun leads

Thursday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

Edinburg Vela at PSJA High, Game 1, 7 p.m.

PSJA North at Weslaco High, Game 2, 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A

Corpus Christi Calallen at Brownsville Veterans, Game 1, 6 p.m.

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff at Mercedes, Game 1, 6:30 p.m.

PSJA Memorial vs. Port Lavaca Calhoun at Alice High, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Sharyland Pioneer vs. Corpus Christi Carroll at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi, Game 1, 7 p.m.

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Cuero at Kingsville King, Game 1, 7 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

San Benito vs. Laredo United at Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway, One-game series, 6 p.m.

PSJA High at Edinburg Vela, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Harlingen South vs. Eagle Pass at Sinton High, Game 1, 7 p.m.

Weslaco High at PSJA North, Game 3 (if necessary), 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A

Brownsville Veterans at Corpus Christi Calallen, Game 2, 4:30 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans at Corpus Christi Calallen, Game 3 (if necessary), approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2

PSJA Memorial vs. Port Lavaca Calhoun at Alice High, Game 3 (if necessary), 5:30 p.m.

Mercedes at Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi Carroll at Sharyland Pioneer, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Cuero at Kingsville King, Game 2, 7 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 1, 8 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Area Round

Class 6A

PSJA High at Edinburg Vela, Game 3 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Harlingen South vs. Eagle Pass at Sinton High, Game 2, 3 p.m.

Harlingen South vs. Eagle Pass at Sinton High, Game 3 (if necessary), approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2)

Class 5A

Sharyland Pioneer vs. Corpus Christi Carroll at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi, Game 3 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Mercedes at Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, Game 3 (if necessary), Time TBA

Class 4A

Zapata vs. Cuero at Kingsville King, Game 3 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 2, 5 p.m.

Rio Hondo vs. Pearsall at Alice High, Game 3 (if necessary), approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2

BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — The PSJA North Raiders had a chance to close out their opposition, District 29-6A foes Laredo Alexander, on Friday night. Andrea Salazar did her part in the circle in the first home playoff game at PSJA North High School in recent memory.

For the first two and a half innings, pitching and defense were center stage, but the North bats and heads-up base running stole the show for five runs during the bottom of the third en route to a 10-0 win in six innings, completing a 2-0 sweep of Alexander to advance to the area round of the postseason.

North will take on Weslaco High, which eliminated Los Fresnos 4-1 on Friday night.

“We came out here aggressive. We were ready to work because we knew they wanted to come at us hard because of last night’s game,” Salazar said. “Every time we made a mistake, it’s just short-term memory. We play for each other. We’re never selfish in this game.”

Alexander threatened during the first inning. The Bulldogs put runners in scoring position, at second and third base, but couldn’t bring any runners home. That half inning turned out to be the best chance the visitors had.

Salazar struck out five and her defense made all of the routine plays behind her with calmness.

“I’ve never played in the playoffs in all my three years,” Salazar said. “As a senior, this is my first year in the playoffs. During the game, I kind of block everybody out. I just focus on my team and just hitting my spots. Now is where we get to celebrate and enjoy the win and embrace it with my team.”

The offense came in bunches, starting in the decisive third inning. Angel Lozano, who was one of the spark plugs in Thursday’s 10-4 win in Game 1, got the rally started with an infield hit. She stole second base, Angeliza Balderas put down a bunt single and the speed on the base pads took over.

“If you’re not quick on your feet, then you’re not going to get anywhere,” Lozano, a sophomore, said. “We react quickly and we’re able to advance to the next base.”

The next two batters, Katelyn Luera and Alexya Salinas, registered RBIs and then Jennaka Fabela touched all the bases on a play with two errors.

“Our base running is really on almost every game,” Lozano said. “It’s rare when we try to steal a base and they get us out because we’re smart about taking off when the pitch is released.”

Salazar allowed two hits during the top of the fourth, but catcher Giselle Mendoza eliminated Alexander base runner Kayla Martinez, who had reach with a hard single. The other batter was stranded on first on a ground out.

“She is just that type of pitcher that comes in mentally tough and she believes that her infield can do that job,” PSJA North first-year coach Stephanie Lugo said. “I think that’s what makes her a little more comfortable on the mound.

The mistakes kept piling up for the Bulldogs and the Raiders were happy to make them pay.

Heaven Lozano and Katelyn Luera both had inside the park home runs and Jennaka Fabela was walked in with the bases full.

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BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER

MERCEDES — Mercedes starting pitcher Mika Vento gave up a hit on her first pitch but the Tigers were not fazed in their playoff opener against Rio Grande City.

Vento went on to strike out nine batters and only gave up one more hit through the evening.

The Tigers won 6-1 over the Rattlers to snag the lead in the bi-district best-of-three series.

Vento felt she didn’t have her best stuff early, but she used the at-bat against RGC’s Dana Gonzalez as fuel to perform.

In the field during the top of the first, the Tigers turned an unconventional 2-3-5 double play (catcher to first to third) to negate the leadoff baserunner.

After getting out of the inning unscathed, the Tigers scored the first run in the bottom of the first on a fly ball from Vento. Angelique Rangel tagged from third to score.

“It was not so much a bummer, but it kind of makes me think ‘You know what? I need to do better’ when they get a hit, especially off the first one,” Vento said. “Once your defense starts making plays for you and once they put up that run, it kind of takes some of the stress away.”

Excellent plays in the field became a theme for the home Tigers. Reba Ayala charged in from center to take away what looked like a Rattlers hit, Natalie Trevino made a shoestring catch on a line drive.

“Knowing the defense is working is an extremely amazing feeling,” Vento said. “When I saw Reba come up from that ball, it took so much weight off my shoulders because I knew they had my back no matter what.”

The game moved at a quick pace thanks to a gutsy pitching performance from Yaritza Marroquin for Rio Grande City.

She pitched out of a jam in the second inning and received similar defensive help from her group to keep Mercedes from jumping to a bigger lead early.

In the fourth inning, two freshmen blew the game open for Mercedes and gave Vento more than enough run support.

Jazmin Gonzales set up the rally with a one-out walk, Caitlyn Acosta bunted her teammates to second and third.

With two outs, Claire Garza came through with a two-run single. Before the inning was done, Makayla de la Torre added another two-run hit.

De la Torre said her teammates talked her out of her nerves so she could play her game.

“At first I was really nervous, but my team was here to back me up,” De la Torre said. “They were telling me ‘calm down, it’s just a game like any other game’ they just helped me. I just went up and hit it.”

Timely hitting was the X-factor in the game. Both teams had pitching and defense come through, but the Tigers seemed to be the only group with their bats in sync.

“We need to be a little more confident with our offense,” RGC coach Nicole Smedley said. “They need to go up to the plate and they need to believe they can hit the ball. I think that we have all the tools to be a great team, it’s just a matter of putting it all together.”

Rio’s lone run came in the sixth inning when Natalie Perez ripped a double into the gap between left and center field, scoring pinch-runner Valerie Delgado.

De la Torre recorded her third RBI in the sixth inning.

“We were a little bit antsy in the box up to bat, but of course in the fourth inning we busted it open,” Mercedes coach Kristy Leal said. “It’s always nice to have Mika in the circle and have a defense that backed her up today. The ball was in play and we expected that from Rio Grande City.”

The series shifts to Starr County for game two tonight. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. If the Rattlers can extend the series it would host the decisive third game on Friday.

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