Lady Eagles edge Lady Mavericks in Extra-innings 14-12, Both teams advance to playoffs
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The final District 29-5A softball rivalry game between the C. C. Winn High School Lady Mavericks and Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles for the foreseeable future played on Tuesday, April 15, 2014, went down to the wire in extra-innings as the visiting Lady Eagles edged the home standing Lady Mavericks by a score of 14-12 in an exciting and thrilling game.
Despite the final outcome, both the Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks qualified for the state softball playoffs with the Lady Eagles capturing the District 29-5A Championship with a perfect 12-0 district mark while the Lady Mavericks garnered the fourth place playoff spot with a 6-6 district record.
Eagle Pass softball fans got their money’s worth in the 2014 regular season finale between the two local high school softball teams with lots of home runs, hits, runs, plays, and great sportsmanship.
Lady Mavericks standout pitcher Amberly Garza got the nod as the starting pitcher and held the mighty Lady Eagles bats silent for two innings before allowing any runs in the game. Lady Eagles standout southpaw pitcher Krystal De La Cruz took the mound for the Lady Eagles at the start of the game.
The Lady Mavericks opened the fireworks in the bottom of the first inning scoring two runs on a booming home run over the center field fence by standout third baseman Ronnie Valdez with standout center fielder Alyssa Lopez on base after singling to lead off the inning to take a 2-0 lead in the game.
Both teams were scoreless in the second inning with Lady Mavericks pitcher Amberly Garza and Lady Eagles starter Krystal De La Cruz quieting the opposing batters to keep the score 2-0 in favor of the Lady Mavericks.
The Lady Eagles exploded for four runs in the top of the third inning on a signature Monica Flores towering home run over the center field fence with two base runners on board, standouts shortstop Sandra Mendoza and left-fielder Krystal Perez after both singled to get on base, to give the Lady Eagles the lead 3-2 and the Lady Eagles added another run as courtesy runner Sairah Gonzalez crossed home plate on a Lady Maverick error, giving the Lady Eagles a 4-2 lead.
The Lady Mavericks could only muster a single by standout second baseman Cassandra Flores in the bottom of the third inning but standout Lady Eagle catcher Claudia Cruz fired a perfect throw to second base to throw out Flores attempting to steal second to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Lady Eagles erupted for four runs as standout right fielder Vivian Ramirez singled to center field with one out, Sandra Mendoza laid down a bunt single down the third base line to advance Ramirez to second base, Krystal Perez executed a perfect bunt single to advance Ramirez to third base and Mendoza to second base, Monica Flores flied out for the first out but Ramirez scored on a tag up while Mendoza and Perez advanced bases, Melanie Mendoza got on base on balls, Dariela Velasquez got hit by a pitch scoring Sandra Mendoza, Krystal De La Cruz singled to left field to score Perez and courtesy runner Sairah Gonzalez scored on a Lady Mavericks error to increase the Lady Eagles lead to 8-2.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Mavericks standout shortstop Ari Ruiz doubled to center field to lead off the inning but was later caught attempting to steal third base to end the inning to go scoreless in the inning.
The Lady Eagles only got a base on balls by standout first baseman Samantha Fuentes to lead off the inning but could not drive Fuentes home to go scoreless in the inning.
The Lady Mavericks added two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Lady Eagle reserve pitcher Amanda Appleton, who had come in relief of Krystal De La Cruz, as standout left-fielder Natalie Garcia led off with a hit by the pitch, Amberly Garza doubled to center field advancing Garcia to third base, Garcia scored on a wild pitch while Garza advanced to third base, center fielder Alyssa Lopez singled to center field scoring Garza, narrowing the Lady Eagles lead 8-4.
The Lady Eagles tallied one run in the top of the sixth inning as standout center fielder Monica Flores belted a double to center field to lead off the inning and later stole third base and Dariela Velasquez grounded out scoring Flores for the lone run, giving the Lady Eagles a 9-4 lead.
The Lady Mavericks plated two runs across home plate in the bottom of the sixth inning as Ronnie Valdez stroked a single to center field, standout catcher Lorena Sanchez walked advancing Valdez to second base and Lynet Gil came in to run for Sanchez as a courtesy runner, Natalie Garcia hit a fly ball to right field dropped by the Lady Eagle defender advancing Valdez to third base and Gil to second base, Giselle Cerda hit a fielder’s choice getting Garcia out at second base but not before Valdez crossed home plate, Amberly Garza hit a fielder’s choice to the pitcher scoring Gil for the second run, narrowing the score 9-6.
The Lady Eagles added one run off of Lady Mavericks reserve pitcher Brittany Perez in the top of the seventh inning as Sandra Mendoza led off with a bunt single and then promptly stole second base, Krystal Perez singled to third base advancing Mendoza to third base, and Mendoza scored on a throw to increase the Lady Eagles lead 10-6 with three outs remaining.
The never say die Lady Mavericks exploded for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game 10-10 each to send it into extra innings as Ari Ruiz blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence raising the loyal Mavericks Nation fans to their feet sensing a change of momentum in the game and Ronnie Valdez singled followed by another single by Lorena Sanchez, Lynet Gil reached first base on a fielder’s choice advancing Valdez to third base, Giselle Cerda grounded out but Valdez scored the fourth run to tie the game, and the Lady Mavericks had bases loaded with one out but Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz, who had returned to the mound in relief of Appleton, shut down the potent Lady Mavericks batters to send the game into extra innings. With a base runner on third base, the Lady Mavericks were just one hit shy or a passed ball from scoring the winning run and winning the first ever game against the Lady Eagles in 18 attempts.
The Lady Eagles scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning as Dariela Velasquez reached first base on an error and Tristan Huerta came in as a courtesy runner, Krystal De La Cruz got a base on balls advancing Huerta to second base, Claudia Cruz laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Huerta to third base and De La Cruz to second base, Samantha Fuentes hit a fielder’s choice scoring Huerta, Vivian Ramirez singled to left field scoring De La Cruz, Sandra Mendoza slammed a triple to right-center field fence scoring Fuentes and Ramirez while Mendoza was caught at home . The Lady Eagles took the lead 14-10 with three outs remaining.
The Lady Mavericks, however, plated two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and threatened to score more runs but it was not meant to be on this historic night as Cassandra Flores got a base on balls to lead off, Ari Ruiz reached first on an error advancing Flores to second base, Ronnie Valdez grounded out advancing Flores to third base and Ruiz to second base, Lorena Sanchez grounded out scoring Flores, Ruiz advanced to third base on a wild pitch, Brittany Perez got a base on balls, Ruiz scored on a wild pitch, and Giselle Cerda grounded out for the third out to end the game.
Lady Eagle ace hurler Krystal De La Cruz earned the win going undefeated in District 29-5A with a 12-0 record and 23-3 overall in the season. Lady Mavericks standout pitcher Brittany Perez took the loss in relief of Amberly Garza.
Leading the Lady Eagles offensive firepower was Monica Flores who went 3 for 6 with a home run, 4 RBIs, and scored 2 runs, Sandra Mendoza batted 4 for 6 with a triple, 2 RBIs, and scored 3 runs, Krystal Perez was 3 for 4 with 3 singles and scored 2 runs, Vivian Ramirez went 2 for 4 with one RBI and scored 2 runs, and Claudia Cruz batted 2 for 4 .
For the Lady Mavericks offensive show, Ari Ruiz went 2 for 5 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and scored 2 runs, Ronnie Valdez batted 3 for 5 with a home run, 2 RBIs, and scored 2 runs, Alyssa Lopez was 2 for 5 with two runs scored, Cassandra Flores went 1 for 2 with one run scored, Amberly Garza batted 1 for 3 with one RBI and scored one run, and Lorena Sanchez was 1 for 4 with one RBI.
Both teams will now play in the Bi-District Championship in the state playoffs with an opponent and date(s) to be determined.
Congratulations to both the Lady Mavericks and the Lady Eagles on a great regular season, game, sportsmanship, and best of luck in the playoffs.
