Eagle Pass Lady Eagles edge C.C. Winn Lady Mavericks 4-2 in Softball Classic

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The 2016 Eagle Pass Independent School District Softball Classic between the Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles and the C. C. Winn High School Lady Mavericks lived up to its billing as both teams battled intensely through seven innings until the host Lady Eagles earned a hard fought 4-2 victory over the Lady Mavericks on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, at the EPISD Student Activity Center Softball Field.

The visiting Lady Mavericks were retired in the first inning three up, three down by freshman standout Lady Eagle pitcher Katelyn Galvan.  In the bottom of the first inning, however, the Lady Eagles pounced on two base hits and two Lady Mavericks errors to score three runs to take a decisive 3-0 lead after one complete inning of play.  Lady Eagle standout second baseman Melanie Mendoza hit an infield hit to get on base and promptly stole second base to get in scoring position.  Lady Eagle standout left-fielder Sairah  Gonzalez slapped a groundball to third base which was mishandled, scoring Mendoza for the first Lady Eagle run of the game.  Gonzalez advanced to second base on the throw to home. Lady Eagle standout shortstop Heather Ruiz belted an RBI single to right field scoring Gonzalez for the second run.  Ruiz stole second base and later scored on a groundball hit by Lady Eagle standout first baseman Janessa Garza which was misplayed by the Lady Mavericks scoring Ruiz for the third run before the Lady Mavericks defense settled down and allowed standout Lady Maverick hurler Connie Hernandez to retire the Lady Eagles in the first inning.

The Lady Mavericks rallied with two runs of their own in the top of the third inning as Lady Maverick standout catcher Lorena Sanchez slammed a triple to the fence and standout Lady Maverick first baseman Yazmin  Martinez stroked an RBI double to left-center field to score Sanchez for the Lady Mavericks first run of the game. With two outs, Lady Maverick standout shortstop Cassandra Flores hit an infield single to score Yazmin Martinez with the Lady Mavericks second run of the game, narrowing the score 3-2.

Lady Mavericks pitcher Connie Hernandez shut out the potent Lady Eagle hitters for four consecutive innings getting them to go three up, three down in the second, third, fourth, and fifth innings.  Hernandez hurled a great game, giving the Lady Mavericks an opportunity to rally and possibly win the game.  But it was not meant to be as the stingy Lady Eagle defense made clutch plays to stop Lady Mavericks scoring threats in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings while Lady Eagle hurler Katelyn Galvan pitched a great game too, getting the Lady Mavericks to hit the ball to her defense.

The Lady Eagles scored one additional run in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the win on a leadoff double by Lady Eagle Melanie Mendoza and a rocket RBI double to center field by Lady Eagle Heather Ruiz with one out to score Mendoza for the fourth and final Lady Eagle run of the game.

The Lady Mavericks threatened in the top of the seventh inning as leadoff hitter Yazmin Maritnez singled, but was thrown out at first base by standout freshman Lady Eagle catcher Brook Diaz on a perfect throw to Lady Eagle first baseman Janessa Garza which tagged out Martinez to retire the Lady Mavericks threat.

The game ended on a sensational diving catch by Lady Eagle shortstop Heather Ruiz of a line drive by Lady Mavericks second baseman Monica Rodriguez almost destined to be a base hit to seal the win for the Lady Eagles.

Lady Eagle pitcher Katelyn Galvan allowed seven hits, had four stikeouts, one walk, and two earned runs to notch the win on the pitcher’s cirlce.

Lady Mavericks pitcher Connie Hernandez allowed five hits, had one strikeout, no walks, and two earned runs and two unearned runs in taking the loss.

For the Lady Eagles, Heather Ruiz batted 2 for 3 with a double and single, 2 RBIs, and scored 1 run, Mendoza went 2 for 3 with a double and single and scored 2 runs, and Nina Flores hit 1 for 2 with a single.

For the Lady Mavericks, Yazmin Martinez batted 2 for 3 with a double and single and scored 1 run, Giselle Cerda went 1 for 3 with a single, Lorena Sanchez hit 1 for 2 with a triple and scored 1 run, Marychelo Flores batted 1 for 3 with a double, Daniela Rodriguez went 1 for 3 with a single, and Cassandra Flores hit 1 for 3 with an infield single.

Both the Lady Eagles and Lady Mavericks played their hearts out and exhibited outstanding sportsmanship throughout the entire game.

Lady Mavericks Head Softball Coach J.J. Iracheta stated that he was “proud of the effort” his Lady Mavericks had given in the game. 

Eagle Pass softball aficionados who braved the chilly and blistering cold winds definitely got their money’s worth the price of admission as both teams played extraordinarily well for being so early in the softball season.  

The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates both the Eagle Pass Lady Eagles and C. C. Winn Lady Mavericks on playing an outstanding and entertaining softball classic.