Lady Eagles shutout Edinburg Vela Lady Saber Cats 4-0 in Game 1 of Bi-District Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The mighty District 29-5A Champion Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles softball team shut out the Edinburg Vela High School Lady Saber Cats 4-0 in Game One of the Bi-District Championship best of three series on Friday, April 25, 2014, at the Laredo Independent School District Zachary Softball Complex in Laredo, Texas.
Lady Eagle standout southpaw hurler Krystal De La Cruz muzzled the potent Lady Saber Cats batters limiting them to only three hits in seven innings while the Lady Eagle defense backed-up De La Cruz with outstanding defensive gems to blank the Lady Saber Cats. De La Cruz earned the victory allowing just three hits, three strikeouts, no bases on balls, one hit batsman, and no runs allowed.
Lady Saber Cats ace pitcher Shayla Abbott took the loss going six innings allowing seven base hits, nine strikeouts, two bases on balls, one hit batsman, and four earned runs.
The visiting Lady Saber Cats threatened to score in the top of the first inning as standout leadoff hitter Audrey Aguirre opened the game with a single to center field, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third base on a passed ball but was caught attempting to steal home plate to end the Saber Cat threat and the inning.
In the bottom of the first inning, the home standing Lady Eagles threatened to score as standout shortstop Sandra Mendoza lead off with a bunt single, advanced to second base on an error, stole third base but Lady Saber Cat pitcher Shayla Abbott struck out three Lady Eagles hitters to retire the side and end the inning, stranding Mendoza at third base.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when the Lady Eagles exploded for three runs as standout right fielder Vivian Ramirez lead off with a single to left field, Sandra Mendoza laid down a perfect bunt single advancing Ramirez to second base, Krystal Perez executed a sacrifice bunt to advance Ramirez to third base and Mendoza to second base, setting the stage for standout center fielder and slugger Monica Flores who delivered by slamming a hard line drive two RBI double to left field scoring Ramirez and Mendoza, Flores then stole third base, and second baseman Melanie Mendoza grounded out to score Flores for the third Lady Eagle run of the inning.
The Lady Eagles scored one additional run in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a commanding 4-0 lead as Sandra Mendoza belted a double to center field to lead off the inning and then stole third base and scored on an outstanding steal of home plate.
Lady Eagle lefty pitcher Krystal De La Cruz managed to get the Lady Saber Cats to ground out, fly out, or strike out to preclude them from scoring any runs in the game.
Leading the Lady Eagles offensive firepower was standout senior shortstop Sandra Mendoza who went 3 for 3 with one double, two bunt singles, scored two runs including a steal of home, and three stolen bases and senior standout center fielder Monica Flores who batted 1 for 2 with a clutch 2 RBI double, one run scored, one stolen base, and one base on balls, Krystal Perez was 1 for 2 with a bunt single, Vivian Ramirez went 1 for 2, and Nina Flores batted 1 for 2.
Game Two of the best of three series is Saturday, April 26th, at 1 P.M. at the Laredo ISD Zachary Softball Complex and Game Three, if necessary, is 30 minutes following Game Two.
The winner of the Lady Eagles and Lady Saber Cats Bi-District Championship will play the McAllen High School Lady Bulldogs next week in the Area Championship as the Lady Bulldogs swept the Harlingen South High School Lady Hawks in their best of three games Bi-District matchup.
