KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
Three teams in the Valley remain alive and well in the Texas high school softball playoffs: Rio Hondo, Weslaco and Harlingen South.
Ironically enough, Weslaco and South are out of District 32-6A.
This time last season, it was District 31-6A that made a statement as both Edinburg North and Weslaco made an appearance in the regional semifinals. Fast-forward to 2017 and Weslaco, to no surprise, is back in the same spot and has a rematch with New Braunfels Canyon, which the Lady Panthers beat last year in the regional final to advance to the state semis.
Edinburg North fell a win shy of an all-Valley regional final after bowing out to NB Canyon in the regional semifinals.
A year later, 32-6A is making its case as the conference to beat. Last season, 31-6A completed a clean sweep of 32-6A in the bi-district round, but this year 32-6A countered with a 3-1 record against 31-6A.
The big surprise this postseason has been the Harlingen South Lady Hawks, which is a team stacked with underclassmen and led by second-year coach Elias Martinez.
Harlingen South is making its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2013.
Rio Hondo, meanwhile, is in uncharted waters as the Lady Cats are in the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time in program history. However, that doesn’t faze the Lady Cats.
All three clubs have something in common. Sure, the lineups are deep and provide pop, but it’s the pitching that paves the way for these teams in the postseason.
Weslaco will send either senior Taylor Tafolla or sophomore Ashley Sada to the mound in Game 1 of their series.
Harlingen South, meanwhile, has a pair of juniors in Daisy Gallegos and Kaitlynn De La Fuente.
Finally, Rio Hondo will throw Jennifer Flores or Miranda Martinez.
All six pitchers have postseason experience and are poised to be the difference makers this weekend.