LYFORD — Lyford softball has been here before, five Bulldogs teams during the past nine seasons have made it to a Region IV-3A quarterfinal.
The Bulldogs play Corpus Christ London in a one-game playoff at 6:30 p.m. today in San Diego with a Region IV-3A semifinal spot on the line.
Lyford and London met in this round last season. The Bulldogs run-ruled the Pirates, winning 10-0 in a one-game playoff. Lyford lost to eventual state champion Hallettsville during the fourth round. The winner this year takes on either Jourdanton or Columbus in Round 4.
Bulldogs head coach Albert Garza is excited about the outcome of the flips after going back-and-forth about a series or one game.
“I basically put it in God’s hands,” Garza said. “He knows what is best and he said one game, so that is what we will go with. I think it is going to be fun.”
One game does suit a team with a good pitcher. Lyford’s Trinity Villalobos no-hit San Diego in Game 1 but did not start in Game 2, only to come in and strike out 12 batters in six innings to pick up the 5-4 win and the area-round victory.
The senior shook off a slow start to the start of the season, she said.
“It gradually got better,” Villalobos said. “Now I feel like I am playing at my best potential.”
Villalobos is one of three seniors on the team — Victoria Lopez and Clarissa Salazar are the other two. Nine of the 14 players on the team are underclassmen, and six of those are freshmen.
“I think we have kind of mixed our puzzle pieces together, and we are almost as strong, if not as strong, as last year,” Lopez said.
Plenty of the youth on the team have sisters who played in the program. Freshman Danae Garcia came up clutch with two triples in Game 2 against San Diego. Her sister, Alyssa Garcia, was on last year’s team, and now she plays for Our Lady of the Lake University.
Garza said the youth have played well but could still use some work on being softball savvy. That comes with game time.
“The tradition is here,” Garza said. “It is a small town, but softball is pretty big.”
Lyford shares the playoffs with three other Valley teams rich in softball tradition. Weslaco High, San Benito and Mercedes also are set to be playing this week in the Coastal Bend area.
Mercedes takes on Corpus Christi Carroll in a one-game playoff at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Alice High School. Carroll defeated Weslaco East in two games. Mercedes needed three to defeat Gregory-Portland but ended the series with a 23-1 win.
Mercedes ace Zelinda Camacho won both games in the circle and has been key all season for the District 32-5A champion. The Tigers were on a 17-game winning streak before dropping Game 2 last weekend.
The Weslaco High Panthers defeated a tough Eagle Pass team for a Class 6A area-round victory last weekend. Weslaco High and San Benito needed three games to pick up titles.
The Panthers have arguably the tougher matchup during the third round. Weslaco High plays all three games in Robstown against the District 29-6A champ, San Antonio O’Connor. The San Antonio school defeated Los Fresnos 7-6 in a one-game playoff to set up the meeting with Weslaco High.
Weslaco High and San Antonio O’Connor meet in a rematch of 2022’s Region IV finals. O’Connor won the series and then the state title. Game is at 6:30 p.m. today in Robstown.
San Benito, No. 2 in the latest TGCA Class 6A state poll and the District 32-6A champion, took down San Antonio Brennan in the area round. The Greyhounds have only one game with San Antonio Harlan at 4 p.m. Saturday at Cabaniss in Corpus Christi.
Harlan defeated Harlingen High in the area round. Harlan finished third in District 29-6A behind O’Connor and Brennan.