On the Road to Nationals

Local youth league teams bound for Round Rock

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

Shown are the San Benito Youth Baseball/Softball League (SBYBSL) 10-and-under Mustang All-Stars. They are Jaiden Barbour, Jackie LaBell, Audrey Huerta, Alina Jasso, Mitchy Quiroz, Stephanie Lopez, Haley Lopez, Meagan Ybarra, Lexi Vasquez, Eliana Carrizales, Jo Anna Gonzalez, and Sarah Garcia. Coaches are Marcy Carrizales, Frank Garza, Jesse Huerta and Lisa Garza. (Courtesy photo)

Local softball teams will soon hit the road en route to what may be their crowning achievement: a national title.

For the San Benito Youth Baseball/Softball League, heading to Round Rock on Tuesday, July 19 for the 2011 South PONY National Championship will be business as usual.

Competing this year are the undefeated Mustang All-Stars, Shetland as well as Pinto All-Stars. The teams comprise of athletes ranging from 9-10 year olds (Mustang, 7-8 year olds (Pinto), and 5-6 year olds (Shetland).

The tournament is scheduled to last through Saturday, July 24 and will play host to dozens of teams, but it’s also one in which San Benito squads are familiar with as previous Shetland teams were successful in winning a PONY national title… twice.

“We’ve been having scrimmages against out-of-town teams to get them prepared. We’ve been hand-picked by other teams to scrimmage and we’ve beaten them. This team has won a national title in the past, so they can do it again,” said Coach Lisa Garza of the Mustang All-Stars, many of the players which make up this squad were on the national championship Shetland team from 2007.

Pictured here are the San Benito Youth Baseball/Softball League (SBYBSL) Shetland Thunder All-Stars. They are (first row, l-r) Angelina Garcia, Faith Rodriguez, Mariah Escobedo, Elyssa Ruvio, (second row) Kylie Sanchez, Allison Leija, (third row) Jaelynn Huerta, Leila Lopez, Jerica Castillo, and Alexa Vasquez. Coaches are Armando Ruvio (head coach) and Eddie Castillo, Oscar Rodriguez, and Amanda Lopez. (Courtesy photo)

Competition will be stiff this year, however, as the “largest ever” field of teams is expected from all over the United States, reportedly upwards to 120-plus teams.

“We’ve been practicing every day since we got started with the All-Stars. We practice a minimum of five days a week. We have to prepare the girls for morning, mid-day and evening games,” said Coach Armando Ruvio of the Shetland All-Stars. “The goal is to bring a national title to San Benito. I think the last time Shetland won it was a while ago. But we also want the girls to have as much fun as possible and enjoy their experience.”

Over in the world of baseball, Rio Hondo has their Mustang All-Stars primed for a July 27 tournament scheduled in Burleson, TX. These division-winning future Bobcats have just come off a second place showing and regionals and hope to continue their excellent play in Burleson.

To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the July 17 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.