Eagle Pass Little League Junior Softball All-Stars fall to Latin America in opening Little League Junior Softball World Series

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The United States Southwest All-Stars, represented by the Eagle Pass Little League Junior Softball All-Stars, fell to the potent Latin American All-Stars, represented by the Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico All-Stars, in the opening game of the 2014 Little League Junior Softball World Series Championship by a score of 10-2 on Sunday, August 10, 2014, at Everest Park in Kirkland, Washington.

Eagle Pass ace right hand pitcher Connie Hernandez took the loss going six innings. Eagle Pass kept the game close until the bottom of the sixth inning, 3 to 2, when the Latin America team from Mexicali, Mexico erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a commanding 10-2 lead which they never relinquished. Eagle Pass was unable to score or tie the game in the top of the seventh, falling 10-2 against a tough Latin America team.

Latin America ace hurler Michelle Roldan limited the powerful Eagle Pass batters to only one earned run.

Eagle Pass offensive spark plug Lizann “Heather” Ruiz belted a solo home run going 3 for 3 in the game and one RBI and team mate Janessa Garza hit a double against Latin America’s Roldan for the United States Southwest All-Stars.

“Our girls played tough for six innings but eventually the Mexicali, Mexico batters got on a groove against Connie Hernandez and our defense let up causing Latin America to plate seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, ” said Team Manager Willie Ruiz. “Our girls have gone through a whirlwind 48 hours traveling from Eagle Pass to Houston, Texas to Seattle, Washington to Kirkland, Washington and playing their first game,” added Ruiz. “The level of competition is world-class and all of the 10 teams at the World Series are extraordinarily great,” said Ruiz.

Eagle Pass plays the United States East All-Stars, represented by the West Point Little League All-Stars from Greensburg, Pennsylvania on Monday, August 11, 2014, at 1 P.M. Central Standard Time in their second pool play game of the 2014 Little League Junior Softball World Series. United States East lost their first pool game yesterday to the talented United States West All-Stars, represented by the Sunnyside Little League All-Stars of Tucson, Arizona, by the score of 5 to 3 in nine innings.

Eagle Pass team members include Connie Hernandez, Lizann “Heather” Ruiz, Lynet Gil, Elena De Alba, Karina Ruiz, Daniela Rodriguez, Janessa Garza, Isabella Ruiz, Joelynn “JoJo” Gonzalez, Kayla Ochoa, Emily Snyder, Leenette Krezdorn, and Marichelo Flores.

Team Manager is Willie Ruiz and Assistant Coaches are Sonny Snyder and Mac De Alba. Texas Little League District 35 Administrator is Gerald “Gerry” McCrary of Del Rio, Texas. “We are very proud of our Eagle Pass Little League Junior Softball All-Stars and wish them the best at the 2014 Little League Junior Softball World Series,” said McCrary.

The Eagle Pass Business Journal wishes the Eagle Pass Little League Junior Softball All-Stars the best of luck at the 2014 Little League Junior Softball World Series. Go Eagle Pass!