Special to the NEWS
(File photo by T.J. Tijerina)
When the going gets tough, nobody in purple panics.
Down 2-1 to a hard-hitting Edinburg North club, the Lady ’Hounds executed down the stretch to rally for a 3-2 win on Friday night in Game 1 of their Class 5A area round best-of-three series at Lady ’Hound Field.
With the win, San Benito (28-2) is one win away from the regional quarterfinals as the series shifts to Edinburg today. The Lady Cougars (26-5) host Games 2 and 3 (if necessary) today at Edinburg North High School. One Lady ’Hound victory will send them to a date with either Brownsville Porter or Eagle Pass next week.
“Overall, our girls played well and they hung tough,” Lady ’Hound skipper Elias Martinez said. “This takes some of the pressure off and now it’s moreso on them (Edinburg North). We’re guaranteed two games and only have to win one. They (North) have to win both.”
In front of a packed house, the Lady ’Hounds drew first blood in the first when Amber Jasso was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on an error off a hit by Jackie Elizondo.
However, Edinburg North’s hitting prowess shined through in the second. A two-run double to right by Vanessa Salazar enabled Jacqueline Chapa and Samantha Cordon to score as the Lady Cougars took a 2-1 advantage.
It stayed that way until the fifth inning when But San Benito fought back to tie the game as Ja’Vana Gonzalez reached on a fielder’s choice and later scored on freshman Kim Harper’s huge double to center field. It marked just the third playoff game for the San Benito catcher, and Martinez said Harper was instrumental.
“Our freshman Kim Harper came up huge with that double,” he said.
In a tie game and the pressure cooking, San Benito’s Dina Trevino scored the eventual winning run in the sixth inning when she reached on an error and then made it to third. Later, Dorothy Millan’s sacrifice fly brought Trevino home and the lead held up.
In the seventh, Jasso zoned in and got North’s Klarissa Lopez-Vidaurri swinging and Salazar looking before Faith Escobar drew a two-out walk. But Mel Gonzalez squeezed a short pop fly by Melina Sanchez to end the game.
After a shaky start, Jasso settled down and silenced North’s lineup. The Lady Cougars, who had four girls batting better than .500, totaled just four hits. Despite hitting two batters, Jasso struck out five and gave up the two runs to get the win. She got great defense all night long, notably from Millan, who made a superb grab in the outfield in the sixth inning.
Chapa, North’s sophomore sensation, was superb in defeat, giving up three hits and fanning three with no walks.
2 comments
great job girls, keep it going, have fun, win or lose, hold your heads up high, and may i add great coaching
too. been a basketball player myself, and a great coach can help you out tremendously. i wish i would of had
that growing up, i learned all the rules of basketball back in my day, by going to the library and studying and
learning the sport that i loved, without any guidance, so listen to your coaches and play your hearts out! you are already winners.
The hit by North was a single, blooper to short right field, the right fielder threw to Jackie who threw home and the hitter advanced on the throw making it a single not a double.*
Lady Hounds advance to play Eagle Pass, who swept Porter *Saturday 8-2. Eagle Pass is the 29-5a champion.
THe Lady Hounds beat Edinburg North today 11-9 in a slugfest for the sweep of 30-5a runner up. THat same Faith Escobar hit a grand slam, a 2 run jack and a bases loaded walk to account for 7 of North’s 9 runs. Amber only lasted an inning and 2/3 as she was off on her location and had 6 walks, Thankfully the Lady Hounds have another pitcher, Crystal Castillo who got the win, the first for the soph in her HS playoff career. Amber is 10-4 in the state playoffs as a starting pitcher. Hopefully Amber can get her rhythm back and advance to the sweet 16 for an unprecedented 5th time with a win over the Lady Eagles next weekend.