WHY NOT US? Martinez candid on San Benito’s softball success

The San Benito Lady Greyhound varsity softball team is shown Monday outside the dugout at the squad’s home field. (Staff photo by Francisco E. Jimenez)

The San Benito Lady Greyhound varsity softball team is shown Monday outside the dugout at the squad’s home field. (Staff photo by Francisco E. Jimenez)

By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

“Just make my girls look good,” an elated Elias Martinez, head softball coach for the Elite Eight bound San Benito Lady Greyhounds, joked on Tuesday.

Mission already accomplished.

To showcase a team that has not once but twice stood alone as the only Rio Grande Valley varsity softball squad to reach the regional finals, otherwise known as the Elite Eight, one only needs to consider San Benito’s 33-2 record. Still, when asked what he attributes to his team’s success – a question Martinez has answered repeatedly over the years – the longtime Lady ’Hound skipper remained his usual modest self.

“It’s a lot of hard work from the girls and the coaches,” he said of the Valley’s last softball team standing in the playoffs, this after defeating the number two-state ranked San Antonio O’Connor Lady Panthers, 3-2, on Friday. “It’s the girls’ willingness to learn, to be coached, their willingness to be there. When we go out there we work, but we try to have fun with it also. The girls are always out there with a positive attitude, having a good time learning and executing what we’re trying to do. They’ve been very coachable.”

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/05/21/why-not-us-martinez-candid-on-san-benitos-softball-success/

7 comments

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    • Louise Simmers on May 24, 2013 at 3:03 pm
    • Reply

    Our girls got this! dont be hatin, Good luck to San Benito softball girls!!!!! <3

  1. Now you tell me would you stand in AWE as an opponent when the Lady Hounds take the filed? Who ever has a bad game is gong to loose. Then the taught that they could have own if it were not for having a bad night?

    Now lets just play some baseball because somebody got to loose!!

    • rude rudy on May 23, 2013 at 1:03 am
    • Reply

    way to go lady hounds…you are the best in the valley and everyone know it…now go get another win so you can get to the final 4….we are all behind u

    GO LADY HOUNDS

    • Brian Powell on May 22, 2013 at 7:47 pm
    • Reply

    “Why not us ” is absolutely right! I have said for years that given the opportunity, Ssn Benito students can compete with anybody, anywhere. Last year, it was proven with a state championship trophy in girls’ power-lifting, lady year’s chess team earning state championship snd–get this—doing it again this year. After having competed closely and indeed defeated the number two team in the state, out girls’ softball team is as good as any in the state. We at San Benito no longer have to take a back seat to teams “upstate”. You want an academic success story? Wait till you see this years’ TAKS scores at the high school! Coach Martinez deserves a lot of credit for the success our softball team has shown year after year. If we do manage to win state, I would like a comment on our water tower in bright, San Benito purple: San Benito: City of Champions.

    • Joevette on May 22, 2013 at 1:10 pm
    • Reply

    they will come back crying just like the football team

    1. Joevette, there’s no crying in softball…. go home, you’re mommy’s calling. .

      • LIz on May 23, 2013 at 11:10 am
      • Reply

      keep your negative thoughts to yourself, don’t be hating on our girls. go lady hounds you make us proud!

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