KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
PORT ISABEL — After Tuesday’s loss against Zapata, Port Isabel sophomore pitcher Allison Gonzalez had some extra motivation heading into the Lady Tarpons’ matchup with Rio Hondo.
On Friday, Gonzalez delivered with her bat and while in the circle as the Lady Tarpons held on for a 2-1 win over the Lady Bobcats.
The righty twirled a complete-game gem, striking out seven on four hits and one run. At the plate, Gonzalez laced a two-run RBI double during the bottom of the third inning.
The double, along with her arm, proved to be enough.
“I wouldn’t say it was my best performance, but this was one of the best performances I have seen from my defense,” Gonzalez said. “In the circle I felt I pitched a great game, but overall this was just a complete effort.”
Port Isabel is now 10-2 in district play and heads Tuesday to Zapata, which also is 10-2. With each club having already sealed its playoff spot, Tuesday’s matchup will determine seeding.
“We felt a fighting feeling coming into tonight,” Gonzalez said. “We were motivated all week to play Rio Hondo, and we wanted to get this win.”
The third-inning rally came after a leadoff triple from Ava Moore and a single from Mary Jane Cantu. Gonzalez later provided offense with the timely two-out double.
“Right now, the whole focus on our team is to be more competitive for the playoffs,” Port Isabel coach Danno Wise said. “That has been our goal. We feel we have exceeded expectations, but our goal is to advance in the playoffs. Even with that loss to Zapata, we felt we came out a better team.”
Rio Hondo, meanwhile, remained in good shape with an 11-1 district record and still needs to win one of its last two games to clinch the district title. The Lady Bobcats play host to Progreso on Monday.
In the circle, senior Erika Cortez threw a full seven innings, yielding two runs on four hits and striking out 13.
Rio Hondo mustered its lone run during the sixth inning. As an offense, the Lady ’Cats collected four hits. The Lady Cats put together a two out rally with runners on first and third but couldn’t capitalize. Rio Hondo wound up leaving six runners on base.
“(Gonzalez) pitched great tonight, she didn’t pitch us against the first time,” Rio Hondo coach Brett Esparza said. “We were able to get runners on base but she just made big pitches when she needed to, and they made some key outs. I told the girls they just hit more than us and they made more plays than us, and that is what it came down to.”