By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
WESLACO — Since qualifying for the UIL state semifinals, Weslaco High coach Mario Rodriguez has fielded phone calls from city and school officials to rival coaches and former players.
Among those staying in contact with Rodriguez is Elias Martinez, the former San Benito coach who led his team to the state tournament in 2013 and 2015.
Like San Benito, Weslaco has overcome long odds to reach the state final four. Prior to San Benito, no other Valley team had reached regional championship, much less the state tournament. And now, for the third time in four years, the Valley will be represented in Austin.
“He and I have been talking a lot,” Martinez said, “and I just tell him not to fear anybody. That they deserve to be there. It just comes down to execution and being able to handle the pressure.
“The girls here in the Valley, they don’t take a backseat to anybody. We can play against anybody, and we’ve shown that the last four years.”
Today’s game pits Weslaco (33-7) and Pearland (31-6-1), a five-time visitor to the state tournament and a two-time state champion. Before this week’s Texas Girls Coaches Association Softball Poll, Pearland was listed as the No. 2 team in state. Weslaco came in at No. 7.
The Lady Panthers only recently joined the list. Amid a bevy of injuries and ailment, they finished third in district and surpassed all expectations by getting out of the second round of the playoffs for the first time in its history.
Now in the sixth round, Weslaco will take on Pearland, a senior-laden club with 14 college commits, at 6 p.m. at McCombs Field on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin.
Since the second half of district, the Lady Panthers have rode the hot hand of pitcher Taylor Tafolla, a junior, who has battled turf toe, a bruised hip and an injured forearm. Despite the setbacks, she’s pitched in every playoff game as the team has ripped off an 11-2 record.
With a fraction of the players having played travel ball, Rodriguez insists the stage isn’t too big for Weslaco, which beat Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Eagle Pass, Edinburg High, Corpus Christi Carroll and New Braunfels Canyon to reach today’s game.
“We’re just as good as those teams (at the state tournament),” Rodriguez said. “The talent here is just as good, and we’re proof of that because we’re here.”
Many of his players have played on the same travel ball teams since they were 8 years. Catcher Alyssa Escamilla and shortstop Audrey Escamilla are sisters, and they’re cousins with Tafolla, the pitcher. Their rapport this year, Rodriguez said, is what has helped ignite the Lady Panthers’ defense.
In the last four games, Weslaco has beaten its opponents by a combined 25-10, stomping Canyon 7-1 in the series-clinching win last week.
“I told Coach Rodriguez, enjoy the moment,” Martinez, now the Harlingen South coach, said. “Tell the girls to relax and have fun and enjoy their time there. Because all those nerves, all those feelings, that’s going to happen. That’s going to last until after the game. That’s the beauty of it.
“They have everyone coming back next year, so they’ll be even better. It’s a good thing if you’re the coach, because you know what you have coming back and you have a chance to run it back.”
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UIL CLASS 6A STATE SEMIFINAL
WESLACO HIGH VS. PEARLAND
WHEN: 6 p.m. today
WHERE: McCombs Field, Austin
RECORDS: Weslaco High (33-7); Pearland (31-6-1)
GAME NOTES: Weslaco High is making its first trip to the state tournament. Before this year, it had never advanced past the second round. … The Lady Panthers are the only Class 5A or 6A team at state not to have won a district title. They came in third behind Edinburg North and Edinburg High, respectively. … Despite injuries, Taylor Tafolla is expected to start today. The Weslaco ace has sparked an 11-2 playoff run. … Weslaco is only the second Valley program ever to reach the state semifinals. San Benito did it in 2013 and 2015. If Weslaco wins today, it will mark the first time a Valley softball team advances to the state final. … Pearland beat 2015 state champion Katy on Saturday to reach the state tournament for the fifth time in program history. … Pearland is in search of its third state title. … The Lady Oilers have 14 college commits. They’re led by Laneigh Clark, the winningest softball coach in state history (617).
PREDICTION: Pearland wins.
— Mario Aguirre