KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN— Heading into their non-district matchup against Weslaco East, Harlingen South senior shortstop Krystal Gonzales was looking to break out of an early season slump.
The senior felt no pressure but just wanted to produce for her team.
Well, the senior had a breakout night with a pair of homers, a two-run double and two intentional walks. Backing up Gonzales was junior slugger Kytana Muniz, who finished the night 4 for 4 with a homer and three RBIs as Harlingen South powered past Weslaco East 17-7 in six innings.
“I have been struggling at the plate this year,” Gonzales said. “I have been working on my offense with my coaches and stressing hitting up the middle. Tonight I felt great, and I really feel it was a breakout night for me at the plate. I went to the plate with a more patient approach. I knew I needed to come through for my team, and I was able to do that tonight.”
Along with the 17 runs, the Lady Hawks collected 20 hits. The Lady Hawks’ lineup is as deep as any club in the Rio Grande Valley. Tina Arellano finished the night 2-for-2, Natasha Canales went 3-for-4 and Kayla Rogers went 2-for-2. The Lady Hawks hit four homers on the night.
“Our bats came alive tonight, and we have been getting some great pitching,” South skipper Elias Martinez said. “Right now we are playing and seeing the ball well. Right now these are all non-district games and next week we start district, and that is when it counts and we are hoping to carry that over.”
Muniz, who has made the switch from catcher back to center field and bats fifth, also felt Tuesday’s game was a coming out game for herself and that she is starting to see the ball well.
“My approach tonight was just to make contact at the plate,” Muniz said. “If it went it went and I am really starting to get my confidence back at the plate, I have had a few rough tournaments where I didn’t do as good as I wanted to, but I’m getting to where I need to be and tonight is something I can build on.”
After leading 9-2 through four innings, Weslaco East put together a four-run rally and trailed 9-6 midway through the fifth inning.
During the bottom half of the frame, South’s depth was on full display. After a two-run double from Gonzales that pushed the lead 12-6, freshman Iliana Saucedo smashed a two-run homer that put South ahead 14-6.
“Our lineup is stacked, from the top of the order to the bottom, we can all hit the ball,” Gonzales said. “We are feeling good right now and playing well as a team.”
In the circle, Kylie Ruiz threw four complete innings. Saucedo entered in relief during the fifth inning and struggled to get out of the inning. Ruiz re-entered the game and recorded the final out, and completing the start with 5 1/3 innings and yielding three runs on seven hits. He struck out five.
Up next for the Lady Hawks is an 11 a.m. matchup Thursday at home against PSJA High.