RGVSPORTS.COM
Since fielding a softball program, Weslaco High had never advanced beyond the area round of the playoffs prior to this year.
The Lady Panthers have since exceeded that mark, beating Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Eagle Pass and Edinburg High. And on Saturday, Weslaco prolonged its season once again, rallying to defeat Corpus Christi Carroll 8-2 and 6-4, respectively, in the Class 6A regional semifinals at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi.
“To come all the way over here and play them in their home and be able to beat them twice, it’s great for us,” Lady Panthers coach Mario Rodriguez said. “We left the game (Friday) feeling like we didn’t take advantage (of a 6-0 lead) and we didn’t (ultimately losing 9-7).
“We were in perfect situation (Friday) and we didn’t capitalize. We didn’t want to be in the same situation again.”
Taylor Tafolla picked up the win in both games — as a starter in Game 2, and relieving Alyssa Escamilla in Game 3 to close out the series.
In the top of the seventh inning of Game 3, Weslaco High broke a 3-3 stalemate with three runs to go ahead for good.
“The girls just came through in clutch situations,” Rodriguez said. “We came through with errors they made and came out with the win.”
The Lady Panthers (31-7) allowed one run in the bottom of the seventh, cutting their lead 6-4. And with two outs and runners in scoring position, Carroll grounded out to secure Weslaco’s ticket to the Region IV final.
“If there was any doubt that we could compete with this team, (Friday) proved to us that we could,” Rodriguez said. “We didn’t play a perfect softball game in Game 3, but we stayed with it. They had each other’s back, and in the end they pulled through.”
He added: “Now we’re in the Elite 8, and we’re still writing history.”
Weslaco High (31-7) remains the last Valley team in the postseason, after Edinburg North lost to New Braunfels Canyon on Saturday.
By beating Carroll, the Lady Panthers set up a regional final series against Canyon at a time, date and place to be determined.
Up 6-0 in Game 1, Weslaco High surrendered nine unanswered runs, including a three-run homer, before Carroll pulled away with a 9-7 win at Weslaco.
In Corpus Christi on Saturday, the Lady Panthers recorded their ninth win in 10 outings, including their second come-from-behind series win in these playoffs.