By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons clinched District 32-4A fourth and final seed with a game left in the regular season.
The Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats (13-0 in 32-4A) won the title outright, Zapata and Hidalgo tied for the second (both teams have 9-5 records).
Port Isabel (16-11, 8-5) picked up its play in the second half of the district slate, which gives the team confidence heading into the playoffs.
“It was good to wrap it up,” Port Isabel coach Danno Wise said. “We hit a little slump towards the end of Round 1 and beginning of Round 2. But we’re playing better than we have all year right now, especially on defense.”
The Lady Tarpons started the second half of the district schedule with a loss to Zapata, but have gone 4-1 since the loss. Port Isabel’s only loss in that stretch was to Rio Hondo, and Wise said the Lady Tarpons led the district champs for six innings in that game.
“I hope we carry this momentum into the playoffs,” Wise said. “We will have a tough bi-district game but if we continue to limit our errors and put the ball in play, I like our chances.”
Bright future
Speaking of stronger play toward the end of the season, the Lopez Lady Lobos have turned the corner in the past two weeks of the season.
Lopez (11-16, 3-10) is 2-2 since April 8, including wins against Hanna and Rivera, and a 2-1 loss against 32-6A playoff qualifier Harlingen High.
Defense has made a young Lady Lobos ballclub stronger.
“Our defense has greatly improved and has given our offense a chance to win,” Lopez coach Jesse Martinez said. “Last night we faced a very good pitcher and we could not get that timely hit.”
Lopez will need to put in the work over the summer if it wants to make strides in its new district (32-5A), but Martinez thinks his team showed its true colors as of late.
“If the girls do the offseason work they need to do, I believe this a solid representation of what we are going to do next year,” he said. “No doubt.”
The Lady Lobos plan on building around sophomore pitcher Kasi Rubio and freshman Alex Castro.
Young core
Injuries took a toll on the Hanna Lady Golden Eagles (8-16, 4-9 in 32-6A) down the stretch, but coach Rey Lerma is looking at the positives of the situation.
“The tenacity that these girls possess (stood out down the stretch),” he said. “A lot of hear can go a long way next year. Teams need a little luck in their season. Not to make excuses, but we had injuries to experienced players, which hurts us to achieve our goals as a team. On the bright side, it gave opportunities to younger players to perform.”
The infield gained valuable experience this season with second baseman Mia Paz, first baseman Ashlee de los Reyes, third baseman Tabitha Fernandez and shortstop Lauren Rivera set to return.
Lerma said that Salone McManus has cemented herself as Hanna’s everyday center fielder, and the Lady Eagles also return Texas Southern commit Juliette Gonzalez at pitcher.
Joshua McKinney covers high school sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @joshuabvherald.