BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Softball in Edinburg can be a lot like musical chairs.
In recent years, three of the city’s four public high schools — Edinburg High, Edinburg North and Edinburg Vela — tend to be among the final Valley teams standing in the playoffs. Those three have become skilled at grabbing a chair whenever the music stops.
The Bobcats are expected to contend, but they will be without a few familiar faces. Outfielder/pitcher Amber Reyes, The Monitor’s 2017 All-Area Player of the Year, graduated and is now a freshman in the Texas A&M-Kingsville softball program.
Fellow outfielder Katy Truitt, a Monitor All-Area First Team performer last year who hit 11 home runs, transferred to Corpus Christi Flour Bluff. Catcher Shayla Garcia, who was a freshman last season, is now a sophomore at San Antonio Warren.
“We’re blessed enough to have (pitcher) Erika Cortez, (third baseman) Kristee Salas and (shortstop) Maya Zavala all returning, but we have a couple additions coming into our team this year,” Edinburg High coach Ramon Arciba said.
The Bobcats have a new second baseman and No. 2 pitcher with the arrival of junior Secilia Lopez. Lopez is no stranger to the city, having served in the same roles with Edinburg North as a freshman and sophomore. She went 9-2 with a 2.18 earned run average as a pitcher and hit .341 with 27 runs batted in and 24 runs scored for the Cougars last season.
Valerie Gallardo was McAllen Rowe’s slick shortstop who didn’t commit an error in 29 games last season. Gallardo will now be the Bobcats’ catcher, making up for the loss of Garcia. She will be the Bobcats’ third different catcher in Arciba’s three seasons at the helm of the program.
“Losing Amber (Reyes) is a big loss, but Seci Lopez is probably going to take over that leadoff spot in our lineup,” Arciba said. “She’s a slapper, can hit from the right side and brings a change of pace from Erika. Erika can hum that ball in the low-to-mid 60s, and Seci is learning new pitches and some mechanics. She’s a great kid. And Valerie’s come in and said, ‘Coach, if you need me to catch, I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever it takes to help us win.’ Now it’s all about repetition and getting the girls acclimated to the environment. The girls are getting along really well. We should be able to compete, just like we have the last few years.”
Cortez enjoyed a banner year individually in 2018. She hit .541 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 64 runs batted in while also bringing heat to the circle. Cortez went 15-4 with a 1.74 earned run average and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5-to-1 (132 strikeouts/26 walks). She also signed a letter of intent to play softball at UTSA in January.
Cortez said she is becoming more comfortable with Gallardo, her new catcher.
“I like how (Gallardo) calls a game,” Cortez said. “Whenever she calls for a pitch and I shake it off, we always come to a good compromise. We don’t know each other on a personal level just yet, but I know we will as the season will go along.”
The addition of Gallardo isn’t the only positive for the Bobcats’ infield. Salas, who knocked in 51 RBI in 2018, is back for her senior season at third base. She was named as a District 31-6A co-Defensive Player of the Year award along with PSJA Memorial’s Kristy Alanis.
“Last year was my transition to third base. I had played it before, but I hadn’t played it for EHS before,” Salas said. “I saw it as an opportunity for me to step up. Our coaches have always told us that we don’t have to be one of the oldest to be a leader. I think I made my mark on it. I like to be the loud one on the team. I like to fire the girls up. I don’t think anyone will come to one of our games without hearing me yell. It’s fun to turn around and see someone like Maya (Zavala) make a diving catch or someone else to do the dirty work. That challenges me, which is the best part of all.”
The Bobcats won District 31-6A outright in 2017 and 2018, but they haven’t kicked down the door to the regional tournament in recent years. They came close in 2016 and 2017, qualifying for the third round, but they ran into Weslaco High, who defeated them both times. In 2018, Edinburg High lost a heartbreaking 7-6 sudden death game to Eagle Pass in round two.
Additionally, EHS watched sister schools Edinburg North qualify for the Sweet 16 in 2016 and Edinburg Vela make it for the first time in school history last spring.
The new district realignment also brings 2018 playoff participants Weslaco East and Weslaco High, a past thorn in EHS’ side, into the rotation of 31-6A.
“We approach the season the same way every year, worrying about what we can do and not what everybody else can do,” Arciba said. “I have a lot of respect for every team in our district, especially at (Edinburg) Vela because I know a lot of those girls from coaching them in junior high. They got hot at a certain time in the season, but they beat Weslaco (High) two out of three games which is big. We beat them (Vela) twice in district last season, so of course that leaves a bitter taste in our mouths. Our goal has always been to get to the state tournament, not only the Sweet 16, but further if possible. Another district title would be great, but a district title is not what we are aiming for.”
“We’re trying to go far this year,” Cortez said. “Hard work pays off, and we’re working hard during practices. Hopefully, we get there.”
RGVSPORTS.COM 2019 SOFTBALL PRESEASON TOP 10
Team ‘18 Record
1. San Benito 28-9
2. Edinburg Vela 32-8
3. Harlingen South 27-9
T-4. Brownsville Vets 26-12
T-4. Edinburg High 28-8
6. Rio Hondo 25-9-2
7. Mercedes 23-10-3
T-8. PSJA Memorial 25-10
T-8. Weslaco High 28-7-1
10. Edinburg North 22-11
Other team(s) receiving votes: Sharyland Pioneer (1).