KEVIN NARRO | Valley Morning Star
With just two games left until the first half of league play wraps up, Harlingen South has made a statement through its first five games.
On Tuesday, South took control of District 32-6A with a 4-2 win against Weslaco High.
The win puts the Lady Hawks alone in first place with a 5-0 record. South will now play Weslaco East on Friday and finish the first round against Brownsville Rivera next week.
What is most impressive about Harlingen South is the team’s youth. The Lady Hawks’ lineup consists of four sophomores, three juniors and one freshman. The only two senior starters are pitcher Kaitlynn De La Fuente and third baseman Caitlyn Hejl.
Against Weslaco on Tuesday, freshman Alyssa Ledesma and sophomore Kytana Muniz provided the offense with a pair of runs that helped give the Hawks the lead.
“We’re enjoying the moment; in this league it’s tough,” said South coach Elias Martinez. “Every team we play is tough; we have Weslaco East up next and we will continue to take it one game at a time. We have a motto: ‘The Lady Hawks don’t back down.’ We will take a punch, but we will deliver three or four of our own punches. We’re a young team and I have a great coaching staff. They know what they are doing and they do a good job on teaching the girls and the girls are very receptive.”
RIO HONDO: The Lady Bobcats proved they’re still the team to beat in 32-4A. In a battle of two 5-0 teams, Rio Hondo sent Zapata packing Tuesday with a 10-0 win in six innings. The Lady Cats now stand alone in first place with a 6-0 record.
Rio Hondo used an early 2-0 lead and built its lead in the third inning with three more runs, pushing the lead to 5-0.
Senior Annie Alvarado blanked the Lady Hawks with a six-inning shutout while yielding just two hits. At the plate Abbie Alvarado and Abbie Torris provided the boom. Alvarado went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. Torris, meanwhile, went 4 for 4 with a triple and four RBIs.
Freshman Kelsey Pizarro also had a nice night at the plate driving in three RBIs.
Up next is a road test Saturday at Port Isabel where the Lady Tarps are in a tie with Zapata for second place at 5-1. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m.
“Last night the girls came out ready to go,” said coach Brett Esparza. “The girls where locked in and ready to go, and the girls knew Zapata was in town and we knew they were also unbeaten. This is an important stretch for us with Zapata and Port Isabel up next. They’re our rivals and they are also fighting for the top spot in our district.”
OTHERS: Harlingen High improved its 32-6A record to 3-2 after a 14-3 drumming of Los Fresnos on Tuesday. The Lady Cards will host Brownsville Hanna on Friday before wrapping up the first round of district play against San Benito next week.
San Benito, meanwhile, got back in the win column with a 13-1 victory against Brownsville Hanna on Tuesday to improve their district re-cord to 4-1. The Lady Hounds are in a two-way tie with Weslaco High, who they host Friday at 7.