BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — Winning the Mission Fastpitch Festival does not guarantee a softball team playoff success.
But for Weslaco High, the RGV’s best team the past two years, it doesn’t hurt. After losing a couple of key seniors to graduation, this set of Panthers is determined to show some moxie and cut a new path for success with a mix of experienced players and young talent.
The Weslaco High Panthers started this weekend by running through a slew of teams and pounded Edinburg Vela 8-0 in the Mission Fastpitch Festival championship Saturday night in Mission.
No. 9 batter Gabby Rivera slapped three singles and scored twice to lead a barrage of Weslaco batters that totaled 11 hits, and the Panthers scored four third-inning runs in a title game that was really never in question. Weslaco, one of the favorites to win the tourney, reached the regional semifinals of the UIL playoffs last year after advancing to state in 2016.
“This tournament was a really big confidence booster, and it really shows people even though we graduated some starters last year, we are still the same team, or even better, than we were last year,” junior catcher Audrey Escamilla, selected as the tournament’s MVP, said.
The Mission Fastpitch Festival usually includes most of the Valley’s best teams, and this year was no different. San Benito, Harlingen South, Edinburg North, Edinburg High and McAllen High were in the 34-team field.
While Weslaco lost players such as The Monitor’s All-Area Pitcher of the Year Taylor Tafolla to graduation after last season, the Panthers still have plenty of experienced players. Their talents were on display Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Weslaco went through Zapata, PSJA Memorial, Harlingen South and Mercedes before facing Edinburg Vela.
“We were fortunate enough to play good competition in all our games, and our kids got to see very good pitchers,” Weslaco coach Mario Rodriguez said. “It gets us ready for district play. We are just trying to find the right combinations in the lineup, make sure that our pitchers are getting in their work, and make sure that we are sound defensively when we make substitutes.”
Weslaco was more than sound Saturday. Starting pitcher Alyssa Escamilla allowed just one hit in 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven. She also cranked out two hits at the plate. Meanwhile, senior Abigail Luna, a Ranger Junior College signee, hit two triples and collected two RBIs. Nearly every Panther recorded a hit or scored.
Weslaco scored two runs in the first inning, added four more in the third and tacked on a couple at the game’s end for the final score.
Vela was a mild surprise for the Fastpitch final. The SaberCats are coming off an 18-12 season and a playoff appearance, and they were a late add to the tournament. Still, Vela powered through Roma, San Benito, Edinburg North and Edinburg High to reach the final.
“This the first time Vela has been in the tournament, and we were lucky to get a call to get in,” Vela coach Jon Maples said. “It was tough. We had emotional games. Weslaco is good. They are a loaded team, but we’re going to learn from it. The girls battled. That’s all that we ask for.”