Lady Mavericks host Lady Eagles in 15th Meeting of 7 Year softball rivalry; the Inaugural Season
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
The Eagle Pass C.C. Winn High School Lady Mavericks varsity softball team is hosting cross-town rival, Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles, in their 15th meeting during their seven year rivalry on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at 7:00 p.m. at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Student Activity Center Softball Field in a District 29-5A game.
The home team Lady Mavericks will seek to make history by winning their first softball game against their cross-town rival, Lady Eagles, in 15 meetings during the past seven year storied history between the two local high school softball programs.
In August of 2006, the EPISD opened two full-fledged high schools in Eagle Pass by making the former 11-12th grade campus, C.C. Winn, into an independent, stand alone high school. The Eagle Pass High School Class of 2007 was divided into two high schools based on a dividing line between north and south of Main Street, except Westlakes Subdivision, determining which high school a student would attend. Students residing north of Main Street and Westlakes Subdivision were assigned to attend Eagle Pass High School while students residing south of Main Street were assigned to attend the newly created C.C. Winn High School.
The Eagle Pass High School Class of 2007 Junior Year Talent Show in April of 2006 was a tell tale sign of future events to come in the development of two local high schools. The last skit in the talent show featured the Class of 2007, which had been together for the past 11 years as one school and team, divide themselves into two groups with one group wearing Eagle Pass High School burnt orange and white while the other group wore newly selected C.C. Winn High School silver and black colors as a jam packed auditorium of parents, grandparents, siblings, students, faculty, and administrators cried and sobbed at the stunning display before them realizing that Eagle Pass High School was no longer alone and united as the Class of 2007 were asked to be split into two high schools commencing in August of 2006. It was indeed an emotional and historical moment to witness in Eagle Pass history. The Class of 2007 could not have done it better.
In the Spring of 2007, the former Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles varsity softball team competed for the first time as two independent high school softball teams as Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks. Two friends were asked by their respective coaches to lead each softball team during that first, inaugural season in 2007. Childhood softball teammates, Alexa Calderon and Kathy Sanchez, were called upon to pitch and lead Eagle Pass High School and C.C. Winn High School, respectively. Both were excellent fastpitch pitchers and team leaders. Former Lady Eagles head softball coach, Jesse Suarez, transferred to become the Lady Mavericks inaugural head coach while the Lady Eagles welcomed head softball coach Oscar “Coca” Ruiz as their new skipper.
The first ever softball game between the Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks was on February 24, 2007, at the Laredo Border Olympics Softball Tournament in a non-district game which the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Mavericks by a score of 9 to 2 on a memorable pitchers’ duel between friends, Alexa Calderon and Kathy Sanchez. Calderon hurled a one hitter gem against the Lady Mavericks while Sanchez limited the Lady Eagles to only six hits. The Lady Eagles went on to win the Border Olympics Softball Tournament that year. Both teams felt awkward playing against each other and their former coaches, but they played their hearts out and a new rivalry was born.
The second meeting between the Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks was their first ever District game between the two proud teams on March 14, 2007 at the EPISD Softball Complex as the Lady Eagles shutout the Lady Mavericks by a score of 7 to 0 on a sensational no-hitter and 12 strikeouts performance by Alexa Calderon while Kathy Sanchez hurled admirably, too, allowing 11 hits and 8 strikeouts. Calderon missed out on hurling a perfect game on an error.
The third and final meeting between the Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks in the historic inaugural season of the rivalry between the two teams was on April 13, 2007 with the Lady Eagles blanking the Lady Mavericks by a score of 15 to 0 on a one-hitter and four strikeouts performance by Alexa Calderon while Kathy Sanchez and Amanda Mendez combined pitching duties allowing 10 hits.
Former teammates and friends, Alexa Calderon and Kathy Sanchez, together with their Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks teammates started a beautiful and highly competitive rivalry in softball between the two local high schools. Both young ladies and their teammates of 2007 are pioneers in establishing this storied softball rivalry. Both teams have enjoyed successful softball programs and have participated in the State playoffs since that inaugural and memorable season of 2007.
Although the Lady Eagles have dominated the seven year rivalry amassing a 14-0 record, the Lady Mavericks seek to change their luck and start a new era in this softball rivalry on Tuesday, March 19th.
The public is invited to attend the Lady Mavericks versus Lady Eagles softball game on Tuesday, March 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the EPISD Student Activity Center.
