Area Round Ready: Mercedes, RGC highlight second round matchups

Edward Severn

At least one Valley team is guaranteed a spot in the third round of the softball playoffs.

Rio Grande City versus Mercedes highlights this weekend’s action for Valley softball teams across South Texas. The Class 5A DII matchup will played at 7 p.m. Friday at Sharyland High. It is a one-game playoff.

Both teams came off one-game playoff wins to advance to area. Rio Grande City did it in stunning fashion with a walk-off win against Gregory-Portland, 3-2, one of the best victories of the first round by a Valley team.

The Rattlers were the only District 30-5A team to beat a 29-5A team. They are loaded with young talent and will take on a Mercedes team that has experience being this deep in the playoffs. The Tigers beat McHi 8-4.

Mercedes played in arguably the most competitive district in the Valley, 32-5A. The Tigers and 32-5A are coming off a sweep of 31-5A.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN UP NORTH

CLASS 6A DI 

Weslaco High vs. Buda Johnson 

The Austin American-Statesman had Buda Johnson as the third best team behind Cedar Ridge and Dripping Springs to end the season, but they beat Dripping Springs 10-0 in a warm up before sweeping Laredo LBJ easily. So, they probably are more like No. 2.

The defending state champs also cruised into area after taking down Los Fresnos. Weslaco High had the way harder non-district schedule than Buda Johnson, but the Jaguars had the better district.

Buda Johnson has a few pitchers with significant innings, usually you might see a max of three with those type of numbers, so it will be interesting what happens if goes to a Game 3 because Weslaco High’s Madelynn Cantu out-pitched plenty of talented pitchers last year in the playoffs.

This is where the playoffs really start to being for the Valley’s best teams.

San Benito vs. San Antonio East Central 

The Greyhounds are well-coached, continue to gain experience and have one of the Valley’s best hitters in their lineup, Jozanna Montes.

San Benito is one of the Valley’s best programs with state tournament appearances to back it up and they should be able to compete with San Antonio East Central. They took some losses to good teams in South Texas, beat some also, and are equipped with tools to make it to round three.

East Central is solid. They played in a tougher district. The Hornets have a pitcher they could lean on, but for how long? It could be a high-scoring series for the two programs that met in the Class 6A Region IV Championship in 2023.

Class 6A DII 

Harlingen High vs. Eagle Pass 

Harlingen High has made it to this point the last three seasons. The Cardinals are looking to make it past area for the time during this span.

They have turned into a team on the outside looking in District 32-6A to becoming district champs in four years. This could be their best chance to make it to round three.

But, Eagle Pass does not look like a pushover. The Eagles went 10-2 against San Antonio area teams this year. They swept Schertz Clemens to set up the meeting with the Cards.

PSJA High vs. Cibolo Steele 

PSJA High has to face arguably the best pitcher of the four Valley teams remaining in the playoffs, but it is a series and the Bears also have one of the best pitchers in Arieanna Hernandez – so it should cancel out in theory.

It might come down to the bats and the Bears have that covered with some of the best in the Valley this season.

District 29-6A is only better than District 31-6A because of team No. 3 down in their district and down, but Weslaco High and PSJA High are just as good as Johnson, Steele, East Central, etc.

6A teams are at neutral sites, but 5A teams will be hosting games. Check out the complete area round playoff schedule to see where!

Class 5A DI 

Harlingen South vs. Flour Bluff

Harlingen South and Flour Bluff will be home-and-away with Game 1 at Flour Bluff, but Game 2 and Game 3 will be in Harlingen. It could be like the Carroll series last year where the Hawks needed every inning of Game 3 in Harlingen to move on.

The Hawks are easily one of the best teams in the Valley and has a good claim at being the best in the Valley.

Hawks senior Lexi Sandoval is one of the best pitchers in the Valley. She finished the regular season with a 0.34 ERA. Harlingen South is the favorite in this series, but do not count out Flour Bluff.

Weslaco East vs. Corpus Christi Veterans

The Wildcats have the toughest matchup on paper when they meet CC Vets. Weslaco East hosts Game 1. Game 2 is in Corpus and Game 3 will be in Raymondville on Saturday if needed.

Weslaco East took down a No. 1 seed already when they swept PSJA North last week. The Wildcats are slept on a bit. They could easily be regarded as top five team in the Valley.

District 32-5A was arguably the most competitive district in the Valley, and because it is 10-teamed, travel options are limited in non-district.

The Wildcats have two great pitchers and despite having the toughest area opponent, they could compete against the Eagles.

Class 5A DII 

Brownsville Lopez vs. Corpus Christi Carroll 

The Lobos took down Sharyland Pioneer in three games. Brownsville Lopez picked up the wins at home and start the series at Lopez on Thursday, but will have Games 2 and 3 in Corpus.

Brownsville Lopez is going to have to win one game in Corpus and they will have to do against a solid Carroll team. The Tigers finished a distant second behind CC Vets.

The Lobos have a chance, they just have to win at least one game in Corpus, something they could not do last year.

Sub-5A 

Raymondville is having a good first season in Class 3A and that party could continue. They face Orange Grove, fourth in 30-3A, starting Thursday. Not a bad matchup for the Bearkats after they swept Falfurrias.

Brackets fall like that. Lyford and Rio Hondo have tough area round opponents – Santa Gertrudis Academy and Bishop respectively.

The Bulldogs have been here before and will have two home games against SGA. Rio Hondo has one game against Bishop at La Villa.

La Villa takes on Weimar up in Three Rivers on Friday, also a one-game playoff. Weimar looks good on paper, but so do the Cardinals – they beat La Pryor 2-1 to make it the area round.

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