Lady Eagles rally to defeat Laredo United 9-8
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
The Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to earn an important District 29-5A win against the competitive Laredo United High School Lady Longhorns by the score of 9 to 8 on Monday, March 11, 2013 at the EPISD Student Activity Center Softball Field.
The Lady Eagles jumped out to an early 3 to 0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a walk to leadoff batter Sandra Mendoza followed by Monica Flores’ one RBI double scoring Mendoza and Jessica Garcia blasted an RBI double herself scoring Flores and Garcia ended up scoring on a fielder’s choice by Dariela Velasquez.
Lady Eagles starting pitcher Krystal De La Cruz held the Lady Longhorns scoreless for two innings until the third inning when the Laredo United squad scored three runs of their own on a couple of Lady Eagles errors and clutch base hits to tie the game at 3 runs a piece.
The Lady Longhorns scored another run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 4 to 3 lead on a Lady Eagles error and clutch hits. Lady Eagle hurler Samantha De Leon came in relief of Krystal De La Cruz with one out in the top of the fourth inning.
Trailing 4 to 3 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Eagles regained the lead 5 to 4 scoring two runs as Claudia Cruz hit a double with one out followed by another double by Samantha Fuentes advancing pinch runner Sairah Gonzalez to third base and Krystal Perez scored Gonzalez with an RBI fielder’s choice and advanced Fuentes to third base and leadoff batter Sandra Mendoza belted an RBI single scoring Fuentes.
The Lady Eagles added another run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take what appeared a comfortable 6 to 4 lead as Krystal Perez singling to lead off and stole second base and Sandra Mendoza hit a fielder’s choice advancing Perez to third and Monica Flores hit an RBI flyball to deep center field scoring Perez on a tag up.
The Lady Longhorns battled back in the top of the seventh inning scoring four runs on a couple of Lady Eagles errors and timely base hits to stun the Lady Eagles by taking a solid 8 to 6 lead going into the Lady Eagles final at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Lady Eagle southpaw pitcher Krystal De La Cruz returned to the pitcher’s circle in relief of Samantha De Leon in the top of the seventh inning. De La Cruz ended up earning the win.
The never say die and battle-tested Lady Eagles rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the game away from Lady Longhorn southpaw pitcher Sara Garcia and the Lady Longhorns on a solo homerun by Keanna Cisneros with one out followed by Melanie Mendoza’s single to left-center field and stole second base and pinch-hitter Sairah Gonzalez slapped an infield single to score Mendoza to tie the game and Gonzalez stole second base and then Krystal Perez slapped an infield single to advance Gonzalez to third base and then challenged the Lady Longhorns in a run down allowing the swift Sairah Gonzalez to race home with the winning run to earn a hard-fought 9 to 8 District 29-5A victory against the tough Lady Longhorns, stunning the Lady Longhorns and their coaching staff and fans.
The Lady Eagles improved to 4-0 in District 29-5A and are currently in first place.
The Lady Eagles next play on Wednesday, March 13th at 12 Noon against the Del Rio Queens at 12 Noon at the EPISD Softball Complex on Second Street.
