MERCEDES — The Mercedes Tigers — the District 32-5A champs, area-round winner and now Region IV-5A semifinalist — believe they deserve to be here.
The fourth round, this round, was their goal, senior left fielder Bridgette Sanchez said Wednesday before lightning sent practice indoors. The Tigers were preparing for this week’s opponent, Smithson Valley.
“We have put too much work in,” Sanchez said. “We have been making history since we were small. We went to state together in Little League, most of the team — not all. I think we are going to continue to do big things.”
The series is set to begin at 7 p.m. today at Southwest High School in San Antonio, the site of the entire series. Game 2 is at 2 p.m. Saturday and Game 3 is 30 minutes after if needed. The winner moves on to the Region IV-5A final.
The Tigers’ fans have traveled extremely well for their softball team despite playing Coastal Bend teams closer to their homes. Mercedes beat Gregory-Portland in Bishop for the area title and Corpus Christi Carroll in Alice in Round 3 with the bleachers loaded with burnt orange.
Mercedes head coach Kristy Leal praised the support the team has received from the community.
“They have stepped it up for us,” Leal said. “When you can look in the stands, hear the energy and that support behind you, it really helps the kids that are on the field. They know that everyone has their back, and I think it helps them perform well.”
Teams with lofty expectations and, of course, talent usually have a great following. Mercedes always shows love to its sports teams, but it does help when the team that is being watched is highly entertaining.
Seniors Zelinda Camacho, Klarissa Rizo, Adamari Perales and Sanchez make up the Tigers’ core. Ashley De Leon, Rhianna Sierra, Elise Perez, Mishale De La Torre, Lindsey Lopez, Kenzie Rodriguez, Anastasia Gomez, Kayla Garza, Alessandra Alvarado and Abigail Trevino make up the seniors’ supporting cast.
When the Tigers are clicking, they are a fun watch.
De Leon exploded at the plate when they beat up Gregory-Portland 23-1 and hit a two-run home run against Carroll. Sanchez tied the Carroll game with a home run. Rodriguez, a freshman, came in against Carroll, stole bases and scored pivotal runs, and Lopez went 3-for-4 during that game.
“If the top is not doing well, the bottom of the lineup picks us up,” Sanchez said. “We are pretty well-balanced. Everyone is a hitter.”
What also makes them entertaining is their ability to come back.
The Tigers were down going into the top of the seventh against Brownsville Lopez in a pivotal District 32-5A second-round meeting in April and came back to win. The Tigers had an 11-inning game with Brownsville Veterans and other showdowns with district rivals.
It looked like Gregory-Portland switched the momentum after taking Game 2 in the area series, but the Tigers came out swinging and came back last week after being down 9-0 to Carroll.
“I feel like we are pretty confident coming off of that big win,” Camacho said. “Last week is going to help us be ready for this week.”
Camacho and Rizo are the two main pitchers for the Tigers. Camacho is 17-1 with a 1.73 ERA and Rizo is 8-3 with a 1.74 ERA. They have combined for 235 strikeouts.
“We have been a good duo since sophomore season,” Camacho said. “Knowing she has my back and I have her back helps us to be comfortable in the circle.”
Camacho and Sanchez said that Smithson Valley has good hitters and a confident pitcher. The Rangers went 25-16 and finished second in District 26-5A behind 28-0 New Braunfels Canyon. Corpus Christi Flour Bluff and New Braunfels Canyon meet on the other side of the Region IV bracket.
“I think we match up really well,” Leal said. “I think we are going to be able to compete. It is going to be a great series.”