Eagle Pass Little League Juniors Softball All-Stars advance to Texas West State Championship

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

San Antonio, Texas–The talented Eagle Pass Little League Juniors (14 Under) Softball All-Stars are undefeated in the Little League Texas West State Championship having defeated the potent Waco Robinson All-Stars 11-6 on Friday, July 18, 2014 and nemesis Laredo Gateway All-Stars 11-0 also on July 18th, advancing to the Championship game on Sunday, July 20th, against the Laredo Gateway All-Stars at 9 A.M. at McAlister Park Little League Field in San Antonio, Texas.

In their first tournament game against the Waco Robinson Little League All-Stars, the Eagle Pass All-Stars started playing on Thursday, July 17th, but the game was suspended due to lightning in the top of the fourth inning with Eagle Pass leading 9-4. When play resumed on Friday, July 18th, Eagle Pass finished the job against Waco Robinson defeating them 11-6.

In their second game, the Eagle Pass All-Stars shut out their nemesis Laredo Gateway All-Stars 11-0 on a one-hitter hurled by right hand pitcher Connie Hernandez while Elena De Alba batted 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBIs, and score two runs and Lizann “Heather” Ruiz went 3 for 4 with a home run, three RBIs, and scored one run. The win over Laredo Gateway advanced Eagle Pass to the Texas West State Championship game on Sunday, July 20th, while dropping Laredo Gateway to the Loser’s Bracket.

Laredo Gateway defeated Abernathy 19-7 to earn the right to play Eagle Pass for the state championship on July 20th.

If Eagle Pass wins on Sunday, July 20th, they will be the Little League Texas West State Champions and advance to the Little League Southwestern Regionals Tournament in Santa Fe, New Mexico with the winner of that Regional advancing to the Little League Juniors Softball World Series in Kirkland, Washington. If Laredo Gateway should beat Eagle Pass on Sunday, July 20th, the two teams will play another game on Monday, July 21st, because the tournament is double-elimination and Eagle Pass is undefeated going into the Championship game.

Team members of the Eagle Pass Little League Juniors Softball All-Stars include Marychelo Flores, Elena De Alba, Connie Hernandez, Lynet Gil, Lizann “Heather” Ruiz, Daniela Rodriguez, Janessa Garza, Karina Ruiz, Leenette Krezdorn, Isabela Ruiz, Joelynn “JoJo” Gonzalez, Kayla Ochoa, and Emily Snyder.

Team manager is Willie Ruiz and Assistant Coaches are Sonny Snyder and Mac De Alba.

Eagle Pass represents Texas Little League District 35 and Texas West Section 3. The Little League District 35 Administrator is Gerald “Gerry” McCrary of Del Rio, Texas.

The Eagle Pass Business Journal wishes the Eagle Pass All-Stars the best of luck in the Little League Texas West State Championship on July 20th.