BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — The Weslaco High Panthers hosted a first-place team for the second time in four nights. They hoped Tuesday night would closely resemble Friday night, when Weslaco run-ruled Harlingen South to give the Hawks their second loss in as many games.
Tuesday also marked the final regular season home game at Lady Panther Softball Field for a crop of Panthers responsible for the two most memorable playoff spurts in program history, including a run to the 2016 UIL Class 6A state Final Four.
The San Benito Greyhounds had another idea, spoiling the Panthers’ festivities to the tune of a 7-1 victory. The win helped San Benito capture a piece of the District 32-6A championship.
“We congratulated the girls after the game for all the hard work they’ve put in this season,” San Benito coach Denise Lira said. “Pitching did a great job, and our hitting came around when we needed to score runs. Weslaco’s a very good team.”
The Panthers offense appeared to be turning the corner after posting 13 runs on 15 hits against the Hawks on Friday. While Weslaco High registered at least one hit in each of San Benito starter Eliana Carrizales’ seven innings, the Panthers (26-5-1, 10-3) brought only one run to the plate, courtesy of a groundout by first baseman Gabby Rivera in the second inning.
“We had the same game plan tonight like we did against (Harlingen) South,” Weslaco High coach Mario Rodriguez said. “We just couldn’t string hits together. We mustered nine hits, but we only got one run. Carrizales kept us off-balance. We’re going to learn from this.”
“She had to get out of a lot of tough innings, and she’s getting a lot of experience this year,” Lira said. “We don’t just credit her pitching, because the defense behind her really backed her up. If there was a ground ball, pop-up, or something in the gap, they were able to get the ball in pretty quick.”
Weslaco High leadoff batter Charlene DeAnda was one of the few Panthers with success at the plate against Carrizales. She tripled in the first and singled in the seventh inning.
“We just weren’t playing like we should,” DeAnda said. “Our batting wasn’t on today. We made a lot of errors. We’ll be working on that.”
Rodriguez’s big key to the game was his pitchers keeping the ball in the yard against San Benito. The Greyhounds hit two home runs in the first district meeting between the two teams and continued the hit parade with two more on Tuesday: a two-run home run by first baseman Kari Cisneros in the second followed by a solo home run from shortstop Sarah Garcia in the fifth.
“We tried changing speeds and using different locations with our pitchers,” Rodriguez said. “But they still hit the ball well. San Benito has been playing well lately, and they deserved this win.”
San Benito (22-7, 12-1) can claim the district crown exclusively if they can overcome the Harlingen High Cardinals on Friday.
“We’re approaching that game like it’s any other ballgame,” Lira said. “Nothing is completely done until it’s done.”