KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
Los Fresnos, Hanna, Port Isabel and Brownsville Veterans Memorial all secured their playoff spots and will kick-off their bi-district matchups tonight and play throughout the weekend.
Starting in class 6A, Hanna will have its hands full as District 31-6A champion Edinburg Vela comes to town tonight at 7 p.m. to open a best-of-three series.
The Lady Golden Eagles will host Vela tonight in Game 1, with Game 2 scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday. Game 3, if needed, will be played Saturday at Vela with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m.
It has been six years since Hanna last reached the post season and with the Lady Eagles hosting a playoff game, it has the campus buzzing.
“Since it has been a while since we have been in the playoffs, everyone is excited to have a game here at home,” said Hanna coach Greg Larson. “The girls have been very focused throughout the week and we have had some great practices.”
While the order is a tall one, Hanna did play Vela twice this season and lost both games 11-0 and 6-4. The keys for Hanna will be to limit the big plays and to keep senior slugger Taylor Chavez at bay.
“We need to play errorless softball and keep them off the bases,” Larson said. “Vela is an excellent team, so we will need to be at our best this week.”
Los Fresnos meets Weslaco High in a one-game playoff Friday in Weslaco at 7 p.m.
The Lady Falcons are quite familiar with the Lady Panthers. The two met earlier this season, with Los Fresnos hitting their way to a 13-6 win.
Not only did they meet this year, but the two were district opponents over the last two seasons. In each year, Weslaco swept Los Fresnos in the regular season.
Something will have to give on Friday with Weslaco seniors Audrey Escamilla and Ashley Sada as the last remaining members of the 2016 state team looking to avenge last year’s first-round playoff exit.
Meanwhile, Los Fresno’s young guns Reba Reyes, Sam Campos and Aileen Avelar will all make their playoff debuts.
In Class 5A,Brownsville Veterans will host Sharyland High on Saturday in a one-game playoff. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
The Lady Chargers marched their way to another unbeaten district season and claimed their third straight district title behind the left arm of Mia Anzaldua.
The Lady Rattlers finished 8-6 in district 31-5A and will enter the playoffs as a fourth seed. BVM is looking to start another march to the third round, where it has lost the last two seasons.
In Class 4A, Port Isabel is in a one-game playoff against Beeville Jones. The two teams will square off tonight at 7 p.m. at H.M. King High School in Kingsville.
The Lady Tarpons are back in the postseason after a strong regular season that saw them finish in third place in District 32-4A with an 11-3 record.
“We have had three good days of practice,” said Port Isabel skipper Danno Wise. “The girls are upbeat and excited.”
The Lady Trojans finished 9-3 in district play and won two of their last three games to wrap up the regular season.
“(Beeville Jones) has a great program,” Wise said. “They are state ranked for a reason. Our girls were not expected to make the playoffs this season, but here we are. We are going to make the most of this opportunity. The girls know if we play our best ball, we have a chance against anyone, especially in a one-game scenario.”