Eagle Pass Lady Eagles defeat Cross-Town Rival C.C. Winn Lady Mavericks 11-1 in 19th Meeting
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Eagle Pass C. C. Winn High School Lady Mavericks hosted their cross-town rival Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles in their 19th softball meeting in their storied rivalry during the past eight years on Wednesday, February 25, 2015, at the Eagle Pass Independent School District Student Activity Center Softball Field, with the Lady Eagles clawing the Lady Mavericks 11-1 to win by the ten run rule after six innings and remaining undefeated in the rivalry series, 19-0.
The storied softball rivalry between the Lady Mavericks and Lady Eagles initiated on February 24, 2007 when the two teams met for the first time in the semi-finals of the prestigious Laredo Border Olympics Softball Tournament with the Lady Eagles defeating the Lady Mavericks 9-2 behind the strong right arm of former standout pitcher Alexa C. Calderon who hurled a one-hitter to advance the Lady Eagles into the Championship Game, which the Lady Eagles went on to win the Border Olympics Softball Tournament Championship on the arm and bat of Calderon, Marisol Lopez, Vanessa De Luna, Alyssa Alfaro, Patricia De Los Santos, and Yvette Jimenez.
Since that first game of the storied softball rivalry, the Lady Eagles have dominated the Lady Mavericks (19-0) but not before some very close, hard fought, and memorable games between the two teams.
The 19th Rivalry Meeting between the two teams brought new developments as the C. C. Winn Lady Mavericks now play in District 29-5A while the Eagle Pass Lady Eagles play in District 29-6A, the first time both teams play in different districts.
The visiting Lady Eagles quickly jumped to 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Lady Maverick standout hurler Brittany Perez who gave consecutive bases on balls on Lady Eagle leadoff hitter Melanie Mendoza and second batter Sairah Gonzalez with no outs setting up standout freshman shortstop Heather Ruiz, who was playing in her first official varsity game, to slam an RBI single up to center field scoring Mendoza and advancing Gonzalez to third base and standout senior first baseman Dariela Velasquez hit a line drive to left field which ricocheted off the glove of the Lady Mavericks left fielder to score Gonzalez. Lady Maverick pitcher Brittany Perez then settled down to retire the next three Lady Eagle batters.
The Lady Mavericks stranded a base runner on second base as Cassandra Flores received a bases on balls with one out and stole second base but the Lady Mavericks were unable to get that lucky hit to drive Flores home off of Lady Eagle senior pitcher Amanda Appleton, who hurled the entire six innings to earn the win. Lady Eagle standout southpaw hurler Krystal De La Cruz did not play as she broke a thumb on her pitching hand and will be out for two or three weeks.
In the top of the second inning, the Lady Eagles exploded for seven runs against Lady Maverick pitcher Brittany Perez on four hits, two bases on balls, and three errors to take a commanding 9-0 lead. Lady Eagle right fielder Lysandra Gonzalez doubled to left field and advanced to third base on the Lady Mavericks outfielder mishandling of the ball to lead-off the inning, Miryam Salinas grounded out for the first out, standout senior second baseman Melanie Mendoza, who is committed to play at Southern Miss, belted an RBI double to right-center field scoring Gonzalez, standout senior left fielder Sairah Gonzalez slapped an RBI single to left field scoring Mendoza, Heather Ruiz received a bases on balls and a Lady Maverick infield throwing error scored Gonzalez, standout senior first baseman Dariela Velasquez stroked an RBI double scoring Ruiz, Amanda Appleton walked, standout freshman catcher Janessa Garza belted an RBI single scoring Velasquez, standout junior third baseman Nina Flores slapped an RBI single scoring Izabella Ruiz running for Appleton, and Lysandra Gonzalez grounded out but not before Janessa Garza scored for the RBI, and Miryam Salinas grounded out to end the inning. Lady Maverick standout sophomore pitcher Connie Hernandez came in relief of Brittany Perez in the top of the second inning with one out and the score 8-0. Hernandez closed the door on the Lady Eagles offensive machine in the top of the second inning.
The Lady Mavericks stranded one base runner as standout first baseman Marychelo Flores slapped a single to left-center field but Lady Eagle pitcher Amanda Appleton stifled the Lady Maverick batters in the bottom of the second inning, keeping the score 9-0 in favor of the Lady Eagles.
The Lady Eagles stranded one base runner in the top of the third inning as Sairah Gonzalez slapped a single to left field but Lady Mavericks relief pitcher Connie Hernandez dominated the potent Lady Eagle batters to keep them scoreless, keeping the score 9-0 in favor of Lady Eagles.
The Lady Mavericks erupted for one run in the bottom of the third inning, which would be their sole run in the game, as standout center fielder Alyssa Lopez got an infield single with one out, followed by another single belted by Cassandra Flores advancing Lopez to third base, standout senior shortstop Ari Ruiz struck out for the second out, standout catcher Lorena Sanchez slammed an RBI single to left field scoring Lopez, and Gisselle Cerda flied out to end the Lady Mavericks scoring threat with the score now 9-1 in favor of the Lady Eagles.
The Lady Eagles stranded two base runners on the top of the fourth inning on back to back singles by Janessa Garza and Nina Flores with one out but Lady Maverick hurler Connie Hernandez stopped the Lady Eagles from scoring, keeping the score 9-1.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Mavericks stranded one base runner as center fielder Lynet Gil belted a single to left field but Lady Eagles pitcher Amanda Appleton closed the door on the Lady Maverick batters from scoring, keeping the score 9-1.
The Lady Eagles added one run in the top of the fifth inning with two outs on a double to the left-center field by standout freshman Heather Ruiz followed by an RBI single by Dariela Velasquez to increase the Lady Eagles lead 10-1.
Lady Mavericks lead-off hitter Alyssa Lopez slapped a single to left-field to open the bottom of the fifth inning but was thrown out at third base on a fielder’s choice to shut down the Lady Mavericks scoring threat.
In the top of the sixth inning, Lady Eagle standout freshman Janessa Garza lead-off with a towering solo home run over the left-field fence close to the foul ball pole to extend the Lady Eagles lead 11-1 and eventual win by the ten run rule after the Lady Mavericks failed to score in the bottom of the sixth inning as Lady Eagle hurler Amanda Appleton shut down the Lady Mavericks to earn the non-district win.
Lady Eagle pitcher Amanda Appleton got the victory allowing eight hits, six strike outs, two bases on balls, and one earned run. Lady Maverick starting pitcher Brittany Perez took the loss going one and one-third innings allowing five hits, one strike out, four bases on balls, four errors, and nine earned runs, while Lady Maverick relief pitcher Connie Hernandez hurled four and one-third innings allowing nine hits, two strike outs, no walks, and two earned runs.
Leading the Lady Eagles offensive firepower were Janessa Garza with 3 for 4 including one home run, two singles, two RBIs, and scored two runs, Nina Flores went three singles and one RBI, Dariela Velasquez batted 2 for 4 with one double and one single, two RBIs, scored two runs, one stolen base, Heather Ruiz went 2 for 3 with one double and one single, one RBI, scored two runs, and one walk, Sairah Gonzalez batted 2 for 3 with two singles, one RBI, scored two runs, one stolen base, and one walk, Melanie Mendoza went 1 for 4 with one double, one RBI, scored two runs, one stolen base, and one walk, and Lysandra Gonzalez was 1 for 4 with one double, one RBI, and scored one run.
Leading the Lady Mavericks offensive machine were Alyssa Lopez who batted 2 for 3, two singles, and scored one run, MaryChelo Flores went 2 for 3 with two singles and one walk, Lynet Gil was 2 for 3 with one double and one single, Cassandra Flores batted 1 for 1 with one single and two bases on balls, and Lorena Sanchez went 1 for 3 with one single, and one RBI.
The Lady Eagles improved to 2-5 overall in the season while the Lady Mavericks fell to 3-3 overall in the season.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates both the Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks for their outstanding sportsmanship exhibited during their 19th Rivalry Meeting and wishes both teams the best of luck in their remaining season.
