BY NATHANIEL MATA | STAFF WRITER
Another sport and another Edinburg Vela SaberCats team competing deep in the playoffs. But not all runs from the high school are created equally.
The Vela softball team is back in the fourth round for the second year in a row. The team had questions after graduation regarding who would fill voids left on the mound at first base.
The sophomore class provided the answer.
Senior leadership meshing with rising sophomore talent have delivered the SaberCats back to the Sweet 16. They face Austin High in Corpus Christi at Cabaniss Field for a best-of-three series that begins tonight and wraps up with a potential doubleheader Friday.
“It’s a lot of teamwork. You just need to keep having faith in each other,” senior catcher Darissa Buenrostro said. “We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for our sophomore (pitcher) Karina (Guzman). We had two big spots that graduated last year, and I think the sophomores have come in and have been good in every position, offensively and defensively.”
Just with their hitting leaders, the impact of the 2021 class is hard to miss. The top four batting averages (with at least 20 at-bats) are all sophomores.
Karina Guzman is one of two arms that exceed in replacing last year’s ace Naomi Reyes. She’s thrown 65.2 innings in her first varsity season, including 19.1 in playoffs.
Brianna Salinas, another sophomore, has thrown 99.2 innings and has 89 strikeouts, 14 in the postseason.
The duo combines for a 26-5 record. Guzman says there’s no lack of motivation with eight seniors hoping to reach new heights.
“We’ve created a really strong bond with them,” Guzman said. “Most of the time we do it for them and to keep their season going, because we know they’re going to miss playing here.”
Taylor Chavez hit a three-run home run in Game 3 against PSJA High in the area round to extend the season, while Guzman pitched a shutout in the regional quarterfinals last week.
“The upperclassmen really encourage me, so they make me feel comfortable. I trust them,” Guzman said.
The SaberCats went from being down to their final strike against PSJA in Game 2 to rolling against Laredo United 11-0 in a one-game third round.
“Our whole team is stacked. We have bats from top of the lineup to the bottom of the lineup,” senior center fielder Gabby Villarreal said. “Honestly, if anyone gets hurt, we have someone who we know can hit and we have confidence in them to help us win the game. We have a really good team. We have a lot of sticks.”
Villarreal is spot on with her assessment of the offense. Six SaberCats have 25 or more RBIs and the squad has 25 home runs.
“Having the seniors in front of us it allows us to be more comfortable, they’ve been through some of the situations that we’re going through right now, first-timers,” sophomore Monee Montilla said. “They get to give us a little insight on what we’re doing and stay positive throughout the whole thing.”
Montilla has had the loudest bat on the team this year with 51 hits and 46 RBIs to lead the SaberCats.
“It’s amazing knowing that we’re helping our team out, especially the (eight) seniors we have,” Salinas said. “We’re giving it our best shot for their last year to go as far as we can take them.”
Game 1 from Corpus is set for 6 tonight. Game 2’s first pitch Friday is also at 6 p.m., with the third game to follow if necessary.