San Benito Lady Greyhound catcher Giselle Tamayo is shown as well as Yesena Penablanca (inset). (Photos by Christy Cortez)
By CHRISTY CORTEZ
Special to the NEWS
For a team that’s use to success, having only faced a number of defeats this season that you’d be able to count on one hand, a fourth trip to the Sweet 16 was expected of the San Benito Lady ’Hounds, now ranked ninth in the state.
Although it was expected, this trip to the Sweet 16 isn’t lacking any sweetness. A game in the Sweet 16 didn’t come easy and doesn’t get any easier, but don’t expect these girls to fold under pressure; pressure has helped them perform at their full potential and has made being at this level taste a little sweeter.
“This is the part of the season they should be enjoying the most. There is no pressure anymore, it’s all just icing on the cake,” said a confident Lady ’Hounds skipper Elias Martinez.
“It feels awesome. We’ve worked hard all season long to be where we are, and we reached some well-deserved goals that we’ve set,” continued Martinez.
This trip is especially sweeter for senior Amanda Garza, who was able to make her first trip back since 2008 when she was a freshman. Seniors Yesenia Penablanca and Kassandra Contreras are thrilled to be able get their Sweet 16 experience for the first time before ending their softball career as Lady ’Hounds.
“I feel pretty good this is something we’ve looked forward to, and I’m pretty sure we’ll get through it,” said Yesenia.
Lifetime Lady ’Hound super fan Pete Galvan has seen these girls all along their journey to the Sweet 16 and, according to Galvan, the absolute best is yet to come. “I’m so glad for them they’re peaking at the right time. Their bats have really gotten good. I’m pretty sure they’ll go further,” said a proud Galvan.
And in case they don’t go further, they won’t be going down easy. “We know they’re going to come after us, because we’ve beat them before, but we play every game like it’s our last, and if we go out we go out with a bang,” said Contreras.
The Lady ’Hounds are one of only two Valley teams who are still left fighting for another round in the playoffs. The Lady ’Hounds will not only be representing San Benito this weekend but the Valley. “We feel real proud to be able to represent the Valley. Everyone believes in us and we believe in each other. We’ve come this far together, as a team,” said junior Adriana “Squirt” Flores, who will also be playing in her first appearance in the Sweet 16.
Not only have the Lady ’Hounds been able to get this far as a team, but also with the support of so many Lady ’Hound softball fans. “I think the fans being there for them really help them. If we can get a bunch of fans to go to Corpus and support them, I think it’ll continue to help them,” said Galvan.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the May 18 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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