KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
SAN BENITO — This year’s senior class is certainty a special one for the San Benito Lady Greyhounds softball program. The five seniors have all played a role in this year’s district and bi-district titles and are eyeing an area title for the first time since their freshman season.
“It’s been a great transition, they made it easy for me to come in and coach them,” said San Benito coach Denise Lira. “They are coachable and they’re leaders, I feel like all of them have grown in their own way. They all fell right in and they get the team going, they’re definitely the core and heart of the team.”
Deztiny Hernandez, Audrey Huerta and Meagan Ybarra make up the outfield, meanwhile Joanna Gonzalez sits behind the plate and Aaliyah Rangel plays third base.
Hernandez, Gonzalez and Huerta are the three remaining from the 2015 team that reached the state tournament under former coach Elias Martinez. Reaching the state tournament as a freshman still motivates Gonzalez to get back to the big stage.
After clinching a district title earlier this season Gonzalez said, “We’re not done yet.” The same message stood as they prepare for Friday’s area round.
“It was an amazing experience being at the state tournament,” said Gonzalez. “As a freshman I was doing it for the seniors. The way I saw how determined they were, I know what it takes to get there.
“It hasn’t hit me that this is my senior year, but like I said before, we’re not done. I feel like we have a lot of work to do.”
From the loud chants in the dugout to their pregame warm-ups, this year’s group of seniors have all gelled and come full circle. The Lady Hounds are playing the best softball of their careers at the moment and are carrying a winning tradition and a legacy that was set years ago.
“My last two years here in San Benito have been great, the girls here are the best and we all fit in well with each other,” Rangel said. “We like to have fun and joke around, but we know when it’s time to get serious come game time.”
Rangel spent her first two years at Los Fresnos then transferred to San Benito. Her first friend was Gonzalez who she met in her in physics class sophomore year.
“I didn’t know anyone here, and I met Jo in class and she showed me around and from there I made friends,” said Rangel. These last three weeks haven’t hit me, that it’s my last year, I don’t think it will ever hit me, I’m not good with changes but right now I’m enjoying the moment, I love how we all laugh together and this is the most fun I’ve ever had on a team.”
The Lady Hounds will kick off their best of three series against San Antonio Southwest Friday at 7 p.m. at Sinton High School. Game two will be played Saturday at 11 a.m. at Tuloso-Midway and Game three will follow thirty minutes after game two if needed.