SAN BENITO — Not many high school teams experience summer softball together — no more school, just sleeping in and playing softball.
San Benito’s softball season ends this week, regardless of the outcome of the Class 6A state softball tournament. The Greyhounds play in the first 6A state semifinal against Pearland at 4 p.m. Friday at Red & Charline McCombs Field at the University of Texas at Austin.
If San Benito beats Pearland, it faces the winner of Bridgeland High and Denton Guyer for the 6A state championship at 4 p.m. Saturday at the same facility.
“I think we are all ready to just be out there to take it all in and get ready to go,” now graduated pitcher and shortstop Emily Delgado said.
However it ends, the Greyhounds have made history together. San Benito has been here before under head coach Elias Martinez. The Greyhounds made it to the state tournament in 2013 and 2015, both times losing in the state semifinal.
“I have had some great athletes that worked their tails off,” Martinez said. “Because of them, we were able to get there. It feels good, it never gets old and we always want to improve.”
Martinez picked up career win No. 643 in the clincher of the Region IV-6A finals against San Antonio East Central. Martinez says the Greyhounds are relaxed and confident after beating East Central 13-1 over 14 innings of softball, 11-1 in Game 1 and 2-0 in Game 2.
“Our girls have worked hard from the very beginning,” Martinez said. “Our approach is, take it one game at a time, leave it on the field and have no regrets.”
Martinez’s coaching staff is comprised of Dulio Garza, Gus Gonzalez, Gilberto Rodriguez and Norma Rodriguez. Martinez said the players have responded well to the coaching staff all season and hopes the experience of the staff gives the players confidence in Austin.
“(Martinez) tells us what to expect, he is going to guide us,” Delgado said. “It is going to be different, but I expect to see a lot of purple and gold out there. It will be good.”
First baseman Kylie Sanchez also praised the community for the support throughout the season. Sanchez is ready to take the field defensively for a Greyhounds defense that took care of business in the regional final behind both pitchers, Delgado and sophomore Amira Rodriguez.
“I always tell my pitchers I got their back, they know it,” Sanchez said. “We just have to keep everything routine, just playing toss and catch.”
Leadoff hitter Bethany Aguilar hopes to start things off for the Greyhounds offensively. Aguilar and Elyssa Ruvio continue to provide the spark for the offense at the top of the lineup.
“I am looking to just block it out and play my game,” Aguilar said of the possible atmosphere inside McCombs field.
Standing in the way of San Benito’s chance to win a 6A softball title is Pearland. The Oilers are on a 21-game win streak and have not lost yet in the playoffs. Pearland was almost eliminated by Deer Park in a one-game Region III-6A final, but the Oilers rallied in the bottom of the seventh.
Pearland and San Benito have common opponents. They both have played San Antonio Brennan, San Antonio Harlan, Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial and Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway. The Greyhounds went 7-2 in those games, and Pearland went 5-0.
“We are just there to represent the whole RGV now,” Rodriguez said. “We are playing for our girls and playing for our hometown, so we are just going to get out there and show out.”
Sierra Herrera, Keara Dominguez, Aliyah Puente, Amira Rodriguez, JoJo Montes, GG Garcia, Bethany Aguilar, Emily Delgado, Mia Gonzalez, Elyssa Ruvio, Leila Lopez, Jade Maya, Jenna Torres and Kylie Sanchez make up the roster going to Austin, and Patty Mendiola is the team’s manager.