FULL STEAM AHEAD: Lady ’Hounds take Game 1 against Sharyland

NEWS Staff Report

(Photo by T.J. Tijerina)
Dorothy Millan of the San Benito Lady ’Hounds is shown in recent softball action. San Benito secured a 5-3 Game 1 victory over Sharyland Friday in a best-of-three game series in the second round of the playoffs. Game 2 will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday in San Benito. Check sbnewspaper.com.

MISSION – It was a typical night on the diamond for the San Benito Lady ’Hounds and the result was just about the same, too.

Spurred by another solid outing from pitcher Crystal Castillo, the Lady ’Hounds earned a 5-3 victory over Sharyland in Game 1 of their 5A area round best-of-three series.

Game 2 is set for 5 p.m. Saturday at Lady ’Hound Field in San Benito as the Lady ’Hounds (26-4) have a chance to sweep and move on to the regional quarterfinals against Los Fresnos or Edinburg.

San Benito wasted no time getting on the board on Friday when Dorothy Millan smacked an RBI double in the first inning to score Stephanie Contreras. Jav’ana Gonzalez plated another on a groundout RBI to  score Cynthia Rodriguez to make it 2-0 in the second before Amber Jasso got in on the action with an RBI of her own on a bunt single. When the dust cleared, it was 3-0 San Benito.

Castillo continued her recent torrid pace as she retired nine of the first 10 Lady Rattlers she faced and was in control until Emily Michki recorded Sharyland’s first hit in the fifth inning. She has been in a groove almost like no other as of late and was a big reason for the big San Benito lead early.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez was at it again in the fourth as she brought home Clarissa Huerta for a 4-0 edge for the girls in purple and gold.

Shary finally got on the board when Savannah Rendon singled home Jayda Garcia. Later, Victoria Flores brought in Ashley Briseño to cut the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth as the Lady Rattlers showed some fight.

But San Benito got an insurance run in the seventh when Mel Gonzalez blazed for a triple and scored on an RBI single from Rodriguez and Castillo slammed the door shut after that to put the girls on the brink of advancing.