Lady Eagles stampede Brownsville Porter Cowgirls 10-3 in Game One of Area Softball Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Live from the San Antonio ISD Coach Mary Ann Villarreal Softball Complex
The Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles stampeded the visiting Brownsville Porter High School Cowgirls 10 to 3 in game one of their best of three Area Softball Championship on Friday, May 3, 2013, at the San Antonio Independent School District Coach Mary Ann Villarreal Softball Complex in San Antonio, Texas, as the Lady Eagles put on an offensive fireworks display on the Cowgirls pitching.
On a beautiful and cool San Antonio evening, the Lady Eagles exploded for a total of 12 hits and 10 runs against the perennially potent Brownsville Porter Cowgirls in the 2013 University Interscholastic League’s Region IV-5A Area Softball Championship game one of the best of three series. Over 100 loyal Lady Eagles softball fans accompanied the team to support and cheer them on to victory.
Lady Eagles standout southpaw sophomore pitcher Krystal De La Cruz shook off an uncharacteristically slow start to limit the powerful Cowgirls hitters to only five hits, six strikeouts, four walks, one hit batsman, and three runs in the game and went the seven innings to earn the victory.
Cowgirls ace pitcher Marisela Gaytan also went the distance allowing the Lady Eagles 12 hits, two strikeouts, no walks, no hit batsman, and 10 runs in taking the loss.
The Cowgirls scored two runs in the top of the first inning on one hit , three walks, and one Lady Eagle error to take an early 2 to 0 lead while leaving the bases loaded as Lady Eagle hurler Krystal De La Cruz struggled with the strike zone at the start of the game.
The Lady Eagles rallied in the bottom of the first inning to score two runs of their own to tie the game 2 to 2 as standout Lady Eagle shortstop Sandra Mendoza led off with a sizzling triple to the left center field fence, standout center fielder Monica Flores legged out an infield single to shortstop to score Mendoza and promptly stole second base sliding under the tag, standout second baseman and soon to become an honor graduate Jessica Garcia grounded out on a fielder’s choice advancing Flores to third base, sophomore designated batter Dariela Velasquez grounded out on a fielder’s choice scoring Flores, and standout right fielder Keanna Cisneros grounded out to end the inning.
In the top of the second inning, the Cowgirls lead off hitter singled to center field but Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz finally warmed up and found the strike zone to get the next batter out on a sacrifice bunt, a fly ball, and an infield ground out stranding the Cowgirl lead off batter at third base.
Cowgirl hurler Marisela Gaytan retired the Lady Eagles three up and three down in the bottom of the second inning to keep the game tied at 2 runs a piece.
Lady Eagle hurler Krystal De La Cruz found her groove and confidence in the top of the third inning striking out two Cowgirls batters and Lady Eagle center fielder Monica Flores raced from her center field position to deep left center field to make a sensational over the shoulder catch of a rocket line drive snatching the speeding softball in the tip of her outstretched glove and held on to the ball as she fell in the natural grass turf to save what probably would have been a Cowgirl double or triple.
The Lady Eagles exploded for three big runs in the bottom of the third inning to regain the lead 5 to 3 as Lady Eagle Sandra Mendoza belted a single to center field with one out, Monica Flores slammed a single to center field which the Cowgirl center fielder misplayed allowing the swift Mendoza to score all the way from first and Flores advanced to second base on the error and promptly stole third base, Jessica Garcia belted an RBI double over the left fielder’s head scoring Flores, Dariela Velasquez slammed an RBI single to center field scoring Garcia, Keanna Cisneros stroked a single to left field and pinch runner Flerida Castillon for Velasquez was caught at home plate trying to score from second base, and Krystal De La Cruz grounded out for the third out. The third inning inspired the Lady Eagles and boosted their confidence as it was noticeable that they knew they could win the game.
During the fourth and fifth innings, both Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz and Cowgirl pitcher Marisela Gaytan settled down and got into a pitcher’s duel as neither team scored.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Cowgirls threatened to score with one out as left fielder Danielle Sanchez singled to right field and Lady Eagle catcher Claudia Cruz threw a strike to second base to shortstop Sandra Mendoza who tagged out Sanchez attempting to steal second base as the next Cowgirl singled and another walked before Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz struck out the next batter to end the Cowgirls scoring threat.
With their confidence heightened since the third inning, the Lady Eagles busted the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring five runs as standout Lady Eagle third baseman and reserve pitcher Samantha De Leon delivered a single to right field with one out, Lady Eagle catcher Claudia Cruz joined the hit parade slamming a double to left center field advancing pinch runner Naila Telles for De Leon to third base, Krystal Perez laid down a perfect slap to the Cowgirl third baseman who threw over the head of the first baseman allowing Telles and Cruz to score and Perez advanced to third base, Sandra Mendoza belted an RBI single to left center field scoring Perez, Monica Flores obliged with her fourth hit of the game delivering an RBI double to the left field fence scoring Mendoza, Jessica Garcia stroked a single to center field advancing Flores to third base and advanced to second base herself on the throw in from the outfield, Dariela Velasquez belted a booming deep fly ball to right center field scoring Flores with the fifth run of the inning. The Lady Eagles staked their burnt orange and white flag deep into the Coach Mary Ann Villarreal Softball Complex natural grass turf with this huge five run inning taking a commanding 10 to 2 lead.
With three outs remaining in the game, the never say die Cowgirls battled back as leadoff hitter Genesis Romero reached first base on a Lady Eagle shortstop error, Marquel Rivera also reached base on a Lady Eagle second baseman error, the next two Cowgirls flied out, Cowgirl pitcher Marisela Gaytan singled to load up the bases, Danielle Sanchez legged out an infield hit to second base scoring Romero but Lady Eagle pitcher Krystal De La Cruz got Bernie Garza to ground out to second base for the third out to preserve the Lady Eagles victory 10 to 3.
Leading the Lady Eagles offensive machine was Monica Flores who batted 4 for 4 with one double, three singles, two RBIs, scored three runs, and stole two bases, Sandra Mendoza went 3 for 4 with one triple and two singles, one RBI, scored three runs, and stole one base, Jessica Garcia was 2 for 4 with one double and one single, one RBI, and scored one run, Dariela Velasquez batted 1 for 4 with one single and one RBI, Keanna Cisneros went 1 for 4 with one single, Samantha De Leon was 1 for 3 with one single and scored one run, and Claudia Cruz batted 1 for 3 with one double and scored one run.
The Lady Eagles take a one game to none advantage going into Saturday, May 4th, game two at 3 p.m. at the San Antonio ISD Coach Mary Ann Villarreal Softball Complex. All Lady Eagles fans in Eagle Pass, San Antonio, San Marcos, Austin, and South Texas are encouraged to attend Saturday’s game and support the Lady Eagles to victory. If necessary, game three will be 30 minutes following game two.
The winner of the Lady Eagles and Brownsville Porter Cowgirls Area Championship will play the winner of the San Benito Lady Greyhounds and the Edinburg North Lady Cougars in the third round of the regional quarter-finals next week. The San Benito Lady Greyhounds upset the Edinburg North Lady Cougars 3 to 2 in their game one of their best of three series.
