By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
Softball and baseball teams across the East Valley battled to keep their postseason journeys alive throughout the weekend.
The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons captured arguably the biggest upset of the Class 6A softball playoffs, recovering from a series-opening loss to defeat No. 1 San Antonio Warren 6-4 in Game 2 and 13-6 in Game 3 on Saturday in Alice. The Lady Falcons move on to the regional quarterfinal round and will face District 32-6A foe Weslaco High.
The San Benito Greyhounds battled the Edinburg Vela Sabercats in a Class 6A baseball bi-district series. After falling in Game 1 10-0, the Greyhounds came from behind to win Game 2 5-4 on their home field Saturday to force a deciding Game 3. Edinburg Vela prevailed in Game 3, capturing the area-round ticket with a 9-3 win in the series finale.
In Game 2, San Benito shortstop Mauricio Padilla went 3-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and drove in three RBIs to lead the Greyhounds offensively. The starting pitcher only faced five batters and was pulled after allowing three walks. Nick Gonzales entered early in relief and delivered a solid performance. He tossed 6 2/3 innings and allowed no walks, five hits and two earned runs.
“First of all, that’s a great team over there,” Greyhounds coach Ramiro Partida said. “I told the kids, ‘We’re good, too. We just have to believe in ourselves.’ I think the inexperience of not being in the playoffs showed (Friday) night. Today we showed up and we told them, ‘Let’s go have fun, enjoy it and see what we can do.’ We were hoping that our starting pitcher would go a few more innings, but he got in trouble fast. Nick came in and went all the way.
“When we got the lead, I asked him, ‘Nick, you want to finish this?’ He said, ‘Coach, it’s all mine,’” Partida added.
Vela starting pitcher David White kept the Greyhounds mostly in check for four innings. But in the fifth, San Benito’s bats got to work.
Catcher Mando Hernandez and Padilla recorded back-to-back hits to start the frame, then Gabriel Sandoval reached first on a high fly ball that was lost in the sun. A walk and a two-run single by Bryan Lopez tied the game and forced White’s exit. Sabercats relief pitcher Bobby Garcia sat down the first three batters he faced to end the inning.
A hit batsman and the third single of the game for Hernandez set up the go-ahead play in the sixth. Padilla stepped into the box and delivered once again, sending a sacrifice fly to right to score the eventual winning run. Gonzales sent the Sabercats down in order in the top of the seventh to seal the victory.
“Today, we knew we had to get out here and get a win. Everyone stayed hype, everyone kept fighting and now we get ready for Game 3,” Padilla said. “It felt amazing (driving in the winning run) and finally being up. It lit a fire in everyone. Before the season we didn’t get many fans, but now they’re starting to show up because we’re starting to win and doing good. It feels amazing to have them backing us up, and it helps us during the game.”
Also in 6A baseball, the 32-6A champion Harlingen High Cardinals completed the sweep of Edinburg High on Friday. They’ll face Eagle Pass in the area round.
Brownsville Veterans Memorial, the 32-5A champion, swept McAllen Rowe 6-1 and 5-0 in Class 5A to advance to Round 2. Brownsville Porter defeated Sharyland Pioneer at home 5-3 in Game 1, but lost 12-2 in the second contest. The Cowboys took the third game 7-5 to win the series and advance.
On Friday, the District 32-4A champions Raymondville Bearkats played host to and defeated Robstown 3-2 in a one-game bi-district playoff. They’ll face Hondo or Crystal City in the area round. La Feria lost to Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway 6-4 on the road in a one-game playoff.
In Class 3A baseball, Santa Rosa defeated Edinburg IDEA Quest 11-3 in a one-game playoff Friday to move on. Brownsville Jubilee forfeited its bi-district matchup to Monte Alto, and 32-3A champion Lyford received a first-round bye.
In 6A softball, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks were swept by the Northside O’Connor Lady Panthers in the area round. The Lyford Lady Bulldogs lost to Santa Gertrudis Academy 7-1 and 12-2 in the 3A area round.