BY NATHANIEL MATA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MERCEDES — Overcoming errors in a postseason game is difficult. With an ace pitcher dealing, it’s next to impossible.
Mercedes dropped Game 1 of their Class 5A regional quarterfinal playoff series against Corpus Christi Carroll 4-0 at home.
Carroll senior Hannah Mayo struck out 15 batters in her no-hit, shutout performance.
The loss will force Mercedes to replicate the success the team had a week ago in a similar 1-0 series hole heading to Corpus.
Catcher Kassidy Arguelles said that the recent experience only helps.
“We are capable of doing it again,” Arguelles said. “I believe in all my teammates. And yes, we had a loss today, but just like we came back last round, I think we’re very capable of doing it this round.”
Mayo had her stuff going early. The Texas A&M commit was dominant in the circle, establishing her inside fastball from the first inning.
Mayo’s inside pitch resulted in three hit batters, but more often it caused mistimed swings.
“Tonight’s pitcher did a good job. The catcher — they both did a good job,” Mercedes coach Betty Morrell said. “We had a little trouble hitting the pitcher. I felt like we were swinging too fast.”
Carroll got on the board in the first inning. After Mercedes pitcher Felicia Garza retired two batters, Lisa Sosa reached on a throwing error by the Mercedes shortstop. Samantha Gaona hit a fly ball that found a spot to drop between three fielders in shallow left, scoring Sosa.
Morrell complimented Mayo’s pitching but also placed some responsibility on her girls to play a cleaner game.
“We had some errors, so we kind of fell behind,” Morrell said. “We’re going to go back at it tomorrow and see if we can do better.”
With two outs in the fifth inning, a Sosa hot shot went through the legs of third baseman Erinn Ramirez, scoring Qursten Orgas.
Carroll’s bats showed the ability to score quickly in the seventh inning. A double to left field started the rally. The next batter, Sosa, hit another scorcher to the left field fence. Mercedes left fielder Kassidy Sanchez had trouble getting the ball from under the fence, allowing Sosa to reach home with a two-run inside-the-park home run.
The only drama left late in the game was if Mayo would complete her gem of a game, and she did with a fitting strikeout to end Game 1.
“Mayo’s mentality from day one has always been to do the best job that she can do for the team,” Carroll coach Rosa Caballero said of her pitcher’s performance. “She comes out and works hard every day, and she’s really finding a groove right now, and it’s good for us. She did a heck of a job tonight.”
After the home loss, Mercedes will travel to Corpus Christi with hopes of returning home with more games to play. During last weekend’s two elimination games at Cabaniss Field, Mercedes outscored Corpus Christi King 21-7 to earn the right to play against Carroll.
Morrell made clear that the offense will be a key factor if the team wants to keep its season alive.
“If we don’t believe with our bats, we’re kind of done,” Morrell said. “The fact that we’re going back to that same field, that can be a boost of confidence, and just the fact that we are in this round and we want to win to try to move onto the Sweet 16.”
Game 2 will take place at 4 p.m. with Game 3 starting 30 minutes later, if necessary.