By MARK MOLINA | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
After securing an undefeated District 32-5A championship for the second year in a row, the Brownsville Memorial Lady Chargers now turn their attention to the postseason.
As the Lady Chargers head into their best-of-three series against the Laredo Cigarroa Lady Toros of District 31-5A, they do feeling like a much-improve team after some early season concerns at the plate.
“I remember starting the season with the pitching being strong, but our hitting was suspect,” Brownsville Veterans head coach Rayner Cardenas said. “We had trouble scoring runs at the beginning of the season. Everything revolved around our pitchers keeping us in the game. As the season went on, we worked on hitting a lot and the small ball game. We believe that we’re a well-rounded softball team.
“We have strong pitching and feel confident with our hitting as well.”
For the season, the Lady Chargers are batting .365 and .420 during the district season. Junior Mia Anzaldua Anzaldua is batting .553, while senior Cassie Valdez is batting .652 and the two combined for 51 hits, six home runs and 47 RBIs.
As far as pitching, Valdez and Anzaldua have been huge in the circle for Brownsville Veterans.
In district play, Valdez struck out 93 batters and allowed seven hits on her way to a 0.16 ERA and an 8-0 record.
Anzaldua struck out 63 batters while allowing 14 hits for a 0.41 ERA and a 6-0 record.
The Lady Chargers (22-10) and the Lady Torros (13-12) open their series at 6 p.m. Friday night. Game 2 will be at 2 p.m. Saturday and Game 3 following 30 minutes after, if necessary.
All games will be at Sharyland High School in Mission.
Cigarroa, despite being the fourth seed comes in on a bit of a roll, winning three of its last four games and five of its last seven.
Cardenas said that despite being a favorite in the series, focus is key against a young Cigarroa team reminiscent of his own program a few years ago.
“We need to come out with the right focus and make sure that the minute we step on the field, we’re there to play,” he said. “Play the best that we can regardless of who we’re playing. We have a lot of respect for Cigarroa. They’re a young team, they’re hungry…we were like that a couple of years ago.
“We understand what it’s like to be facing a team that doesn’t have the greatest record, but they’re extremely hungry.”
The winner between Brownsville Veterans and Cigarroa will face either Uvalde or Gregory-Portland in the area round.
LOPEZ-MISSION VETERANS MEMORIAL
Another District 32-5A team from the Metro-area opening the postseason is the Lopez Lady Lobos.
The Lady Lobos (14-17) open their three-game series tonight at home against the District 31-5A champion Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots (16-8).
The Lady Lobos were 8-6 in district, but are confident after making the playoffs for the second straight year as the fourth seed.
“We’re excited,” Lopez head coach Jesse Martinez said. “I’ve got a group of experienced ballplayers that have been here before and are looking forward to a second opportunity. I have four solid seniors looking forward to this. We played a powerful Sharyland Pioneer last year and did well.
“This year (against Mission Veterans), we’re expecting to win because that’s one of our mantras: Expect to win every game. We’re preparing for a well-coached team and getting ready for a good fight.”
Martinez went on to say that the district season has prepared Lopez for the postseason after engaging in battles with the likes of Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Mercedes and Edcouch-Elsa.
Martinez expects no different tonight.
“We’re used to a fight,” Martinez said. “We go in with our district foes and fight and we expect (Mission Veterans) to come out in fight. That’s what we’ve seen in their history and they have a bunch of seniors.
“We’re ready to stand up to receive and give blows; that’s what we’re here for. The girls are excited about it. We don’t expect anything less or blowouts on either side.”
Lopez has some momentum, beating Pace 12-0 last Friday night in the district finale thanks to a big night from Alex Castro who struck out 10 batters and sent a ball over the fence for a three-run home run.
After Game 1, the series shifts to Mission Veterans for Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday and back to Lopez for Game 3, if necessary, at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The winner moves on to area to face Corpus Christi Carroll or Eagle Pass Winn.
PORT ISABEL-ROCKPORT
The 18-8-2 Port Isabel Lady Tarpons come in as the third seed in their best-of-three series with the second-seeded Rockport Lady Pirates.
The Lady Tarpons have lost two of its last three district games, but still have a bit of momentum after winning a warm-up game against La Villa 11-1 last Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Lady Pirates come in off a 6-0 lost to Orange Grove in a one-game playoff for the District 31-4A championship.
The teams will play their entire best-of-three series at Texas A&M University – Kingsville, with Game 1 starting at 7 p.m. Friday night. Game 2 will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Game 3 is at 1 p.m., if necessary.
The winner will play either Beeville Jones or Carrizo Springs.