(Pharr, Texas)-Call them the “Sunflower” girls as the 31-6A PSJA North (27-1) defeated San Benito High School (17-8) in a 1-0 shutout win on Friday night at PSJA North High School before a sellout crowd in the Class 6A Region IV Bi-District Softball Championships. The Lady Raiders will be headed to the University Interscholastic League Area playoffs for the second year in a row under head coach Stephanie Lugo-Peralta and will meet 29-6A San Antonio Harlan (17-8) next week. “I just don’t know what to say right now, my mind is filled with a lot mixed emotions,” said Peralta as she raced over to her team. “We are going to the second round girls. We did it.”
Their win did not come easy. Lady Raiders senior pitcher, Ariella Saenz made the big plays when it counted. She struck out eight batters and allowed two hits, walking four batters. It was her defensive mind-set that took her off the mound to make the big plays. “I was nervous but this is my team,” said Saenz. In the third inning, the San Benito Lady Greyhounds were threatening with the score still at 0-0, Saenz struck out the next batter after Lady Greyhound Amira Rodriguez gets a base hit up the middle. On the next pitch, she steals second and then goes for third, but Saenz was there to tag her out despite the all the excitement that took place, bringing Saenz up for joy after the tag out. “That was a huge play,” said Saenz.
And then it happened. She’s only 5’0″, but, she’s big at the plate. North’s Hailey Garza nailed a shot into mid-center field for a double. Determined, Hailey raced past second base after a hit by teammate Victoria Espinoza and watched Lady head coach Peralta sending her home. At the plate, Hailey slid and was tagged out, but the Lady Greyhound catcher dropped the ball. “Safe, Safe,” yelled the umpire, sending the Lady Raiders charging to Garza. Lady Raiders led 1-0 after five innings. “I can’t believe what has happened. I’m just too nervous to talk,” said an emotional Garza after the game.
Still, the two-time UIL State Final Four Softball finalists, Lady Greyhounds did not fold. In the top of the seventh inning, things were dramatic to the finish. Saenz walked the first batter. A hit to the shortstop, mishandled, put two runners on first and second, but the Lady Greyhound decided to go for third and is called safe. PSJA North head coach Peralta questioned the call but was over-ruled. With runners now on first and third, Saenz is on the mound for the Lady Raiders. “I was feeling so nervous at this point,” said Saenz. A bunt attempt, picked up by Lady Raiders third baseman, Jennaka Fabela, she looked to the San Benito third base runner, held her, spun, and threw the runner out at first. With two outs, two runners on, a hit to first base, and a simple tag, ended the Lady Greyhounds playoff hopes. “Our girls did great. I’m just so proud of them. Hey, Hey, We are going to round two,” said a jubliant head coach. The winner from the area playoffs between SA Harlan /PSJA North will meet Weslaco/SA Holmes in the regional quarterfinals. (HSSMIMages)
Scores from UIL State Softball Playoffs
Class 6A
PSJA North 1 San Benito 0 (PSJA North advances)
Los Fresnos 10 Mission 0
Weslaco High 18 PSJA 2 (Weslaco advances)
La Joya High 1 Harlingen South 0
Class 5A
Flour Bluff 10 Roma 0
Rio Grande City 7, Corpus Christ Carroll 5
Victoria West 11 Mission Veterans 1
Weslaco East 5 McAllen Memorial 0
Mercedes 16 Sharyland 8 (Mercedes advances))
Brownsville Veterans 11 McAllen Rowe 1
CC Veterans 6 Palmview 0
Pioneer8, Brownsville Lopez 3
Class 4A
Calallen 24 Hidalgo 0