By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Taylor Tafolla took her lumps as a freshman at Weslaco High, pitching virtually every game for a team that fell short of the playoffs, and typically looking to strike out every batter.
Now in her third season, Tafolla has become one of the better pitchers in the area, for the last Valley team still alive in the playoffs.
Having developed an array of pitches and continuity with her teammates, the junior is more poised now in the circle, working batters deep into the count, whenever necessary. She’s shown little fatigue through it all, pitching as many as three games within a 24-hour span, as the Lady Panthers rallied in two playoff series to advance to the Region IV-6A finals, beginning today.
Tafolla’s emergence coincides with Audrey Escamilla’s arrival at catcher. For years, the two cousins have played together on travel teams, building a rapport with one another. And with Escamilla filling a glaring hole behind the plate, it allowed for her sister, Audrey, to slide to shortstop.
With everyone in their natural positions, the Lady Panthers have flourished, winning nine of their last 11 playoff games to set up today’s best-of-three series against New Braunfels Canyon.
“When Taylor’s on the mound, defensively that makes us better because of the communication between the pitcher, catcher and shortstop,” coach Mario Rodriguez said. “They’ve been playing together since they were little, so all they need to do is give each other a look or a sign and they understand each other.”
“It’s not about who has the most talent,” Rodriguez added. “We all have talent, that’s why we’re in the playoffs. It’s about who has the best team chemistry. And I think the chemistry has allowed Taylor to rely on the defense, to where she doesn’t have to strike you out. She can get a batter to hit a ground ball, and her defense will take care of it.”
Through injuries, Tafolla is posting a 3.19 ERA in the playoffs. She suffered turf toe in district, forcing to miss the first half of the schedule, and then later nursed ailments in her arm and foot.
Still, Tafolla has pitched every playoff game, including last week’s come-from-behind series win over Corpus Christi Carroll.
“She won’t tell you that she’s hurt,” Rodriguez said. “She’ll pitch until her arm falls off. She’s one of those kids that wants the ball in her hands, no matter how big the game. She’s going to keep battling.
“Even through all her injuries, she’s still finding a way.”
With the “adrenaline and the emotion” of games, Tafolla said she has blocked out distractions.
There was a period this year when Weslaco fell victim to injuries, with Audrey Escamilla nursing back pains and a dislocated wrist, and a teammate suffering an ankle injury.
It was then that Tafolla turned back to the series of obstacles she faced with her travel ball team, playing under the sweltering heat, pitching a couple of games each days. Those instances, she said, helped prepared her for the challenges the Lady Panthers encountered this season.
And now, they stand just two wins from the UIL state tournament, in a season in which they had never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs.
“What helps is having a short memory and knowing my teammates have my back,” Tafolla said. “I know in the end, we’re a clutch team. Whether we get it in the beginning or the end, we’ll come through because we believe in each other.
“Alyssa constantly tells me, if I’m struggling on the mound, let them hit. Just let them hit, because I have a defense behind me to back me up.”