Lady ’Hounds Garza, Contreras sign to Sul Ross

By CRISTINA M. GARCIA
Special to the NEWS

From the Lady ’Hounds to the Lady Lobos, San Benito’s own Kassandra Contreras and Amanda Garza have stepped up to the plate once again.

After graduating in May, Contreras and Garza have eagerly made the decision to attend Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. With smiles on their faces, the girls signed their contracts with Sul Ross Thursday afternoon in the San Benito High School Gym, just one day before they packed their bats, balls, gloves, and their prominent playing abilities to head northeast to Alpine, 565 miles from their home plate in San Benito.

Contreras and Garza hustled all last season and throughout their softball careers as Lady ’Hounds for a well-deserved spot on the Lady Lobos roster. With Garza’s Tri-Most Valuable Player award throughout her time with the Lady ’Hounds and Contreras’ abilities on the infield as well as in the batter’s box, it is no surprise that this duo will continue to play at a higher level.

Lady ’Hound Softball Coach Elias Martinez encouragingly boasted about Contreras and Garza. He is excited for the girls to continue playing softball at a university level and expressed pride about their accomplishments.

At the end of 2011, the Lady ’Hounds won “Girl’s Team of the Year” at the annual RGV Sports Awards, which Contreras and Garza contributed toward. Amanda Garza was also named “Girl Athlete of the Year.” Garza played shortstop for the Lady ’Hounds the entire four years of her high school career, not something that comes on a silver platter. On the other side of the playing field, Contreras, a two-year varsity player, helped led the Lady ’Hounds helped to the Elite Eight as their third base starter – a first for any Valley squad.

“I think one of the really big things that brought us out there was making it far in the elite eight,” Contreras said.

The girls said that a spot in the elite eight made them known around the state for recruitment. The girls were seen playing during their season’s All-Star game.

“They saw us and they wanted us to play for them,” Contreras said.

“One of our coaches, Coach Salinas, put us out there,” Garza said, adding she had visited the university earlier in the year.

“He (Coach Garza) helped us out with the school and told the coach about us,” Contreras added before commenting on her teammate making the trip with her. “It is really an awesome feeling, because we have been so close for so long, and going up there with her is great.”

Contreras and Garza are a team on and off the field, and have been close on the Lady ’Hounds softball team. The girls will head to Alpine, Texas on Friday, August 19 where they will move in on campus as roommates until it is time for the duo to set their cleats on the diamond again. “We have everything packed and we are ready to go,” Contreras said.