By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — San Benito needed every bit of muscle Thursday night against Los Fresnos.
Junior Kari Cisneros hit a two-run double that gave San Benito an early lead, and then senior AJ Jasso hit a three-run homer during the third inning that gave the Lady ’Hounds a comfortable lead they did not surrender in locking up their second straight district title with a 14-8 win over Los Fresnos.
The Lady ’Hounds also posted a five-run seventh inning, highlighted by Jaelynn Huerta’s two-run single and a two-run double from Jordan Ramos.
“Tonight’s game was a roller coaster, it was up and down,” San Benito coach Denise Lira said. “With our defense we had some miscues, our hitting came alive, and we had some great baserunning and hit the ball hard. (Jasso’s) homer gave us some breathing room, and we knew Los Fresnos was going to bring it.”
San Benito finishes the regular season with a 9-1 district record and will meet either Weslaco East or Edinburg High in the 6A bi-district round.
“The girls did a great job of refocusing when they weren’t focused, and we settled in as the game went on,” Lira said. “Tonight was more of the kids just wanting it, and for us to earn this is not easy. They worked really hard, and the younger girls wanted to do well for the seniors.”
Los Fresnos, meanwhile, is locked in as the third seed and returns to the playoffs for the first time in three years. The Lady Falcons likely will face Weslaco High in the bi-district round with the time and date to be decided.
“All we asked our girls was to just go out and play hard and get ready for the playoffs,” Los Fresnos coach Traci Blackman said. “This group of girls, this is their first time making the playoffs, the past few years we were close or tied for fourth, but it is exciting for the seniors who have been here all four years.”
On offense, Los Fresnos left nine runners on base. The Lady Falcons left the bases loaded during the third inning and runners on first and second in the sixth. At the plate, Sam Campos went 3-for-3 with three runs, one walk and one solo homer. Teammate Reba Reyes went 3-for-4 with a triple, two singles and two RBIs.
The Lady ’Hounds’ offense was fueled by Jasso’s 3-for-4 night, along with Ramos and Cisneros, who also went 3-for-4 at the plate.
“I knew it was gone, I was just going up there to the plate wanting to swing hard like Big Papi,” Jasso said.
Said Lira about the playoffs, “Everyone starts 0-0. We talk about how nothing is guaranteed, every week will be a new opponent, a new field and a new motion, so we will continue to take everything one thing at a time like we normally do.”