Krystal De La Cruz shuts out Edinburg Vela 10-0 to lead Lady Eagles win Bi-District Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Live from the Laredo ISD Zachry Softball Complex/Copyright 2013
Having defeated the Edinburg Vela High School Lady Saber Cats the previous night 4 to 2 in game one of their best of three Bi-District Championship series, the Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles took care of business by crushing and shutting out the Lady Saber Cats 10 to 0 in game two of their Bi-District Championship series on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Laredo Independent School District Zachry Softball Complex in Laredo, Texas on an outstanding three-hit pitching performance by standout Lady Eagle sophomore southpaw Krystal De La Cruz and an overall solid team effort on offense and defense, clinching the 2013 Bi-District Softball Championship.
On a typical hot and sunny Laredo afternoon in April, the Lady Eagles were determined and motivated to defeat the young but talented Edinburg Vela Lady Saber Cats in their Bi-District Championship series to advance to the second-round of the U.I.L. Region IV-5A softball playoffs, Area Championship.
Lady Eagle hurler Krystal De La Cruz enjoyed a great outing, limiting the potent Lady Saber Cats’ batters to only three hits, one strikeout, no base on balls, and two hit by pitch. De La Cruz dominated the Lady Saber Cats’ hitters all game with an outside drop ball forcing them to hit easy ground balls to the stout Lady Eagle infield including sophomore first baseman Dariela Velasquez, senior second baseman Jessica Garcia, junior shortstop Sandra Mendoza, senior third baseman Samantha De Leon, and sophomore catcher Claudia Cruz and freshman Nina Flores. The Lady Eagles outfield of junior center fielder Monica Flores, junior left fielder Krystal Perez, and senior right fielder Keanna Cisneros contributed to a solid defensive effort.
Lady Saber Cat standout freshman pitcher Shayla Abbott struggled in the second game unlike her first game performance allowing 13 hits, four strikeouts, three base on balls, and three hit by pitch against the Lady Eagles’ hitters.
The visiting Lady Eagles jumped to an early one to zero lead in the top of the first inning as standout Lady Eagle shortstop Sandra Mendoza got on base on a walk and swiftly stole second and third bases to set up standout Lady Eagle center fielder Monica Flores who slammed an RBI double to left center field over the head of the Lady Saber Cat left fielder scoring Mendoza for the first run of the game, Flores advanced to third base on a stolen base but could not score as the next three Lady Eagle batters grounded out, struck out, and flied out to end the top half of the first inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, Lady Saber Cat catcher Audrey Aguirre led off with a single to left field and advanced to second base on a ground out and then the third Lady Saber Cat flied out and Aguirre was doubled up for the third out to end the scoring threat.
In the top of the second inning, Lady Eagle Krystal De La Cruz struck out, Samantha De Leon got on base on a hit by the pitch with Flerida Castillon pinch running for De Leon, Castillon was thrown out at second base attempting to steal for the second out, and Sairah Gonzalez flied out for the third out.
In the bottom of the second inning, one Lady Saber Cat hitter reached base on a hit by the pitch but Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz’s outside corner drop ball forced three Lady Saber Cat batters ground out to end the inning.
In the top of the third inning, the Lady Eagles scored one run to take a 2 to 0 lead as leadoff hitter Krystal Perez flied out, Sandra Mendoza singled to center field and promptly stole second base and advanced to third base on a Lady Saber Cat error setting up once again Monica Flores who hit a rocket ground ball ricocheting off the glove of the Lady Saber Cat third baseman scoring Mendoza, Jessica Garcia got on base on a hit by the pitch advancing Flores to second base, Dariela Velasquez singled to left field loading up the bases with one out, Keanna Cisneros flied out to shortstop for the second out, and Krystal De La Cruz flied out to third base for the third out and end the scoring threat.
In the bottom of the third inning, Lady Saber Cat standout catcher Audrey Aguirre belted her second single off of Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz but De La Cruz got three outs on ground balls to put out any Lady Saber Cats hopes of scoring.
In the top of the fourth inning, Lady Saber Cat ace pitcher Shayla Abbott got Lady Eagles Samantha De Leon to fly out, Sairah Gonzalez flied out too, and Krystal Perez got a bunt single but the home plate umpire called her out on a dead ball out to retire the side.
Lady Eagle ace pitcher Krystal De La Cruz took care of the Lady Saber Cats three up and three down in the bottom of the fourth inning to cling to a 2 to 0 lead.
The Lady Eagles busted the game open with four runs in the top of the fifth inning as leadoff hitter Sandra Mendoza singled to center field and stole second and third bases and scored on a Lady Saber Cat catcher throwing error, Monica Flores slammed a double to the left field fence, Jessica Garcia got on base on a hit by the pitch, Melanie Mendoza executed a perfect sacrifice bunt for the first out advancing Flores to third base and Garcia to second base, Keanna Cisneros joined the Lady Eagles hit parade stroking a 2 RBI single to left field scoring Flores and Garcia, Cisneros stole second base, Amanda Appleton got on base on a walk, Samantha De Leon got on base on a hit by the pitch, Cisneros scored on a passed ball for the Lady Eagles fourth run in the inning, Claudia Cruz struck out for the second out, and Krystal Perez flied out for the third out. The Lady Eagles took a commanding 6 to 0 lead.
Lady Eagle hurler Krystal De La Cruz took care of the Lady Saber Cats consecutively to keep the shut out going after the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Eagles added one run to extend their lead to 7 to 0 as leadoff hitter Sandra Mendoza belted a double to left field, Monica Flores stroked another double rattling the left center field fence scoring Mendoza, Jessica Garcia got on base on a walk, Melanie Mendoza got on base on a hit by the pitch, Keanna Cisneros flied out for the first out, Flores was thrown out on a run down between home base and third base for the second out, and Krystal De La Cruz grounded out for the third out.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Saber Cat shortstop Arianna Cazares singled with one out but was doubled up on the next play to end the scoring threat.
The Lady Eagles rallied for three more runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 10 to 0 lead as Samantha De Leon got on base on a walk, Claudia Cruz struck out for the first out, Krystal Perez executed a perfect bunt single advancing De Leon to second base, Sandra Mendoza singled to left center field scoring De Leon and advancing Perez to third base, Monica Flores flied out for the second out, Jessica Garcia slammed a 2RBI double to left center field scoring Perez and Mendoza, and Melanie Mendoza struck out to end the scoring threat.
In the top of the seventh inning, Lady Saber Cat pitcher Shayla Abbott leadoff with a base on a hit by the pitch, but Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz regained her confidence and got the next three Lady Saber Cat batters to fly out, ground out, and fly out to preserve the shut out and clinch the 2013 Bi-District Softball Championship.
Leading the Lady Eagles offensively were leadoff hitter Sandra Mendoza who batted 4 for 4 with one double, three singles, scored 5 runs, and stole five bases, Monica Flores went 4 for 5 with three doubles, one single, three RBIS, scored one run, and stole three bases, Jessica Garcia was 1 for 2 with a double, two RBIs, scored one run, one stolen base, and two hit by pitch, Dariela Velasquez went 1 for 2, Keanna Cisneros batted 1 for 4 with one single, two RBIs, scored one run, and stole one base, and Krystal Perez went 1 for 4 with one bunt single and one run scored.
The Lady Eagles now advance to the Area Championship against the mighty Brownsville Porter High School Cowgirls who defeated the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School Lady Raiders sweeping their best of three series. The date, time, and location of the Lady Eagles Area Championship series will be announced later this week.
The Lady Eagles are under the direction of Head Softball Coach Oscar Ruiz and assistant coaches Ricky Ruiz, J.J. Iracheta, Saul Salas, and Carlos Rodriguez. Head Trainer is Brian Dodd.
Eagle Pass High School Principal Rudy Bowles and his lovely wife, Teresa Bowles, attended both days to cheer the Lady Eagles on to victory.
Congratulations to the Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles on winning the 2013 Bi-District Softball Championship and best of luck in the Area Championship against the Brownsville Porter High School Cowgirls from the Eagle Pass Business Journal and staff.
