BY EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen High Lady Cardinals picked up a huge District 32-6A win Tuesday night against the Harlingen South Lady Hawks, 6-4.
“Big win for us, it is the first time we have beat them in nine or 10 years,” Lady Cards coach Kevin Ledesma said.
Senior Andrea Salinas went 4-for-4 on the night with a solo home run during the third inning that helped spark a comeback with her team down 2-0.
“I feel like we played excellent,” Salinas said. “We all came together with our chemistry and came out with the win. I felt strong and confident at the plate. I know I had an angel on my side last night.”
Harlingen High (15-4, 2-0 32-6A) is off to a flying start this season. The Lady Cards have competed strongly in tournaments this season, including last weekend when they picked up multiple wins against out-of-Rio Grande Valley competition.
“I think we started hot,” Ledesma said. “I think that transferred over from our tournament play. We went 4-1 in a tough Mission tournament, 5-1 in a Laredo tournament and 4-1 in the Seguin tournament. We have confidence. It is just a matter of keeping it up.”
Next up for the Lady Cards is the Weslaco High Lady Panthers, a playoff team last year.
“I think it is definitely going to be a competition,” the Lady Cards’ Emilia Salinas said. “I think we are ready for it, and we just have to push each other up.”
After Weslaco High, Harlingen High will take on San Benito and Los Fresnos, two really good teams, Ledesma said.
“We like to have a 1-0 approach,” he said. “We are battling ourselves every single day, and we are just trying to take one day at a time. We celebrated that win last night, and we knew that we had to get back to work against a tough Weslaco team.”
The Lady Cards finished fifth in district last season.
“It is a tough district,” Ledesma said. “(Former Valley Morning Star sports reporter) Kevin Narro calls it the SEC of Valley softball. We are excited for another home game. It is a great opportunity, and the girls are pumped for it.”