(La Joya, Texas)-The Harlingen South Lady Hawks (21-8-1) are headed to the Class 6A Region IV Area Softball Championships after defeating 31-6A runner-up, La Joya High School (25-9) in the Best-of-Three Series on Monday night 2-0. With the win, the Lady Hawks sweeps it’s series against the Lady Coyotes 0-1, 9-6, 2-0 and will now play 29-6A San Antonio Brennan (16-9) this weekend. Times and dates will be announced.
La Joya HS freshmen pitcher Arlette Hernandez entered the game as the leader in strikeouts amongst Texas High School softball pitchers, (322Ks for the season) gave up two runs on Monday night after striking out 19 batters in their Game One 1-0 win on Friday night. But, she fought back. In the sixth inning with a runner on first base, she nailed a hard, deep hit to the wall, drifting, looking like a game tying-homerun, was held by the wind-gods and was caught for an out. The runner at first hurried back to first base before she was tagged out. A controversial call made by the first base umpire that was appealed by La Joya High School head softball coach, Carlos Rodriguez arguing that his baserunner was safe before the tag. He was over ruled and the call stood. Rodriguez watched his team fight back in the seventh inning, falling short.
In the first inning, the Lady Hawks Yezenia Perez took advantage of the Lady Coyotes by scoring on an error to give her team a 1-0 lead and in the third inning, it was Lady Hawks Perez again, on the move after being walked. She would steal second. With two outs, Karyme Martinez hits a hard liner up the middle for a base hit, scoring Perez to make it 2-0 over the Lady Coyotes. “They played a great game,” said Hawks head coach Jose Rios. “The Lady Coyotes will be tough to beat in the upcoming years ahead. That pitcher (Hernandez) is special.”
