By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — Katelynn Perez pitched four innings and Los Fresnos had five extra-base hits during a 7-3 win in a time-limited Los Fresnos-Port Isabel Tournament game over Rio Hondo on Saturday.
Perez allowed five hits and struck out three in the victory.
“(Perez) has been doing a great job,” Los Fresnos coach Traci Blackman said. “She’s a freshman, and so coming up and facing these older girls, I think she’s doing a good job keeping her composure and just working through stuff, staying consistent.”
Blackman substituted Tabi Garcia at first base and she delivered in her only at-bat of the shortened contest, launching a solo home run — the 18th of the season for the Lady Falcons — to left field off of Rio Hondo’s Nayeli Garcia to lead off the fourth inning and put an exclamation point on the victory.
The Los Fresnos coach added she was excited for the potential of her young squad, which only has four returners from last season.
“We have a lot of power hitters,” Blackman said. “But we also have a lot of speed. So we haven’t had to play the short game a whole lot because we’re hitting the ball so well. But if we have to, we can come in and mix in the small-ball game as well.”
Lady Bobcats starting pitcher Dominique DeJesus tripled to lead off the game, and catcher Abigail Torris homered to give the visitors the early lead.
“We have several kids who can step up and hit the ball very well,” Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza said. “The thing about us, this weekend at least, is we’ve been hot and cold. … We’ve got to find some consistency.”
Second baseman Andrea Guevara and shortstop Reba Reyes each answered with doubles against DeJesus and scored runs during the first inning to tie the game at 2.
The Lady Falcons broke through during the second, stringing together four runs in the frame on four straight hits: singles from center fielder Teresa Villa and first baseman Ashley Muniz, and doubles by designated player Kayla Jimeniz and right fielder Juli Larraga.
Torris worked a two-out walk against Perez in the third, and left fielder Savannah Gonzalez singled to drive in Rio Hondo’s third run.
Esparza expects to use a rotation of DeJesus, Garcia and Kelsey Pizzaro in the circle heading into District 32-4A play.
“They all complement each other very well,” Esparza said. “Dominique has a really good screwball, and an excellent changeup and drop. Nayeli provides a good crop and rise, and Kelsey throws a little bit harder and has a good riseball as well. So they understand that, and they understand how it all works together.”