By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — It isn’t unusual for Weslaco High coach Mario Rodriguez to bring up a JV player in time for the playoffs. But it has come as somewhat of a surprise that Amberly Barrera has taken that promotion and turned it into a starting role.
The sophomore right fielder has made her impact felt immediately at right field, helping the Lady Panthers reach the UIL state tournament.
After going undefeated with the Weslaco Krush travel team and winning a Pony World Series in 2015, Barrera went on to play for Weslaco High’s JV team, which won a district title. Rodriguez said her appointment to the JV squad was intended to provide the sophomore with ample opportunity to grow, given the litany of returners on varsity.
But with Rodriguez opting to move Lauren De Anda from right field to second base, that created an opening for Barrera.
“I don’t think this has ever happened,” Rodriguez said in reference to a JV player instantly becoming a starter. “As a coach, you have to find what’s best for your team and what the strength of each player is. And for us, moving Lauren to second and moving Amberly to right field, it helps the team as a whole.
“She’s just cool, calm and collected. I think she takes everything in stride, and she’s done a great job for us.”
As the flex player, Barrera does not bat in games. That’s where freshman Helen Gonzalez, eighth in the batting order, comes in. By dividing those duties, Rodriguez feels “we’re able to get the most out of these players.”
Barrera said she anticipated the move late in the season, and began working with centerfielder Maddie Ybarra to make the adjustment.
While she didn’t envision playing a significant role on varsity this season, Barrera said she had an inkling Weslaco was destined to make a lengthy playoff push.
“We all just really got along,” Barrera said. “Coach told us that was going to help us get far. During practice, we’re all helping each a lot, trying to get better, no matter where we play.”
TAKING IT EASY
As Weslaco prepares for Friday’s UIL state semifinal against Pearland, Taylor Tafolla has had limited activity in practice this week.
The Weslaco junior has pitched every game in the playoffs, despite suffering from turf toe, a bruised hip and an injured forearm.
“She’s battling some injuries, so we’re trying to monitor the stuff that she does,” Rodriguez said. “She gets treatment in the morning and she gets treatment in the afternoon. We let her get as much rest as she can.
“If she had to pitch today, she’d pitch today. We’ve been doing this for a couple weeks. We need her for games; we don’t need her for practice.”
The Lady Panthers will hold one final practice today before heading to Austin on Thursday.
RARE COMPANY
While three of the 6A teams in the state tournament won their respective districts, Weslaco is one of only two teams that reached the semifinals as the third seed.
The Lady Panthers finished behind Edinburg North and Edinburg High, respectively, in District 31-6A. Meanwhile, Pearland, which faces Weslaco at 6 p.m. Friday at McCombs Field in Austin, captured the 22-6A crown this season.