By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
The Lady Greyhounds kicked off the District 32-6A season in style.
San Benito’s Crystal Castillo pitched a no-hitter, striking out 17 of the 22 batters she faced as she aided in a 5-0 shutout of the Hanna Lady Golden Eagles on Tuesday at Hanna.
“Crystal’s our stud. It’s automatic,” San Benitocoach Elias Rodriguez said. “We know she’s going to pitch a great game, it’s just a matter of helping her out offensively.”
The first nine Lady Eagles to step to the plate were strikeout victims, which allowed San Benito to gain and secure an early lead.
“Who I sent up to the plate were my 10 best hitters, because I know (Castillo is) a real tough pitcher,” Hanna coach Rey Lerma said. “We’ve faced her in the past, and she’s just blessed with a lot of ability. I knew it was going to be a hard contest.”
The winning run was scored by DD Padilla during the top of the second. Padilla reached on a walk, stole second base and made it home on a single by Mel Gonzalez.
The Lady Greyhounds added to their lead during the third when Alexxis Cavazos drove in Kimberly Harper with a single.
It was during the fourth inning, though, that San Benito distanced itself. Back-to-back singles by Ali Huerta and Audrey Huerta preceded a fielding error by Hanna, which allowed two runners to score.
Later that inning, Gonzalez tallied the Lady Greyhounds’ fifth and final run of the game after a team error in which a trio of Lady Eagles watched a ball fall between them.
“We’re a young ballclub, but I feel like we’ve got talented people on the ballclub,” Lerma said. “Our pitcher pitched well enough where we could have been in the ballgame a little better. We let too many leadoff hitters get on base. That’s something we need to curb, and not many of their runs were earned runs.”
Offensively, Hanna’s struggles lasted the entirety of the contest.
Of the first 19 batters who faced Castillo, three put the ball in play but none made it beyond the infield.
With one out during the bottom of the seventh, Hanna’s first and only baserunner reached on an error. But Castillo forced a popup to second base and capped the game with yet another strikeout.
“I’m pleased with the way we played opportunistic ball,” Rodriguez said. “I was pleased with the way we took advantage of some situations.
“Overall, this being a district ballgame, I was pleased with the way we played offensively and defensively. We’re back in 32-6A this year, so we’re glad we’re getting to renew our old opponents and our old friendships.”
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.