Harlingen South soars over Edinburg Vela to open postseason

Bryan Ramos

EDINBURG — Harlingen South put together a playoff run last season that ended with a loss in the Class 5A state championship game.

This year, the Hawks are hungry for another deep run, but they’re also playing for something bigger than softball.

Harlingen South has dedicated this year’s postseason to senior pitcher Lexi Sandoval’s mother, Lizette, who is battling cancer. 

The Hawks played like a group on fire in Game 1 of their Region IV-5A DI bi-district series and pulled off an 11-0 win in six innings against the Edinburg Vela SaberCats on Thursday at Edinburg Vela High School.

Harlingen South’s teammates celebrate at home plate after Jaylin Mata hits a home run against Edinburg Vela during a Class 5A DI bi-district playoff game at Vela High school softball field Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“The girls are playing for something bigger than themselves right now,” Harlingen South head coach Jose Rios said. “We know we have somebody who is special in our heart and in our mind right now and we dedicated this postseason to her. We know she can’t be here with us but she’s watching from home. Our girls are playing for something bigger than themselves.”

The Hawks jumped on the SaberCats early with a two-run first inning before junior Jaylin Mata blasted a three-run homer to center in the top of the second for a 5-0 lead.

South showed off some more power to close the show as a grand slam from senior Kailee Silva put the Hawks in front 11-0 after five and a half innings.

Harlingen South’s Georgia Chapa at bat against Edinburg Vela during a Class 5A DI bi-district playoff game at Vela High school softball field Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Silva also slammed the door on the SaberCats by pitching two scoreless innings. Sandoval started the game and earned the win after allowing just one hit with seven strikeouts and one walk across four innings.

“This means everything to us. We’re playing for a special someone this year and everything we do is for her,” Silva said about playing for Lexi Sandoval’s mom, Lizette. “We love her very much and that’s who we’re playing for.”

Harlingen South’s Lexi Sandoval releases a pitch against Edinburg Vela during a Class 5A DI bi-district playoff game at Vela High school softball field Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Mata led the Hawks with a 4-for-4 day with one home run, three RBI and four runs scored. Silva finished 2-for-4 with the grand slam, five RBI and one run. Sandoval went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in addition to a lights out four innings in the circle.

“We do have a special someone we’re playing for and we hope she gets better. We’re just trying to do our best for her,” Mata said.

Edinburg Vela’s Raylee Pearson, Jaylene Rodriguez and Elizabeth Morales accounted for the SaberCats’ three hits.

Harlingen South’s Georgia Chapa, right, slides safely at second as Edinburg Vela’s Emma De La Cruz, left, is late with the tag during a Class 6A DII bi-district playoff game at Vela High school softball field Thursday, April 24, 2025 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

The Hawks will go for the series sweep in Game 2 at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Harlingen South High School.

“We can’t be complacent. We gotta treat everything as new,” Rios said. “Tomorrow is a new day, the sun is going to come up again tomorrow and we just gotta make sure we stay on top of what we do and focus on the little things one at a time.”

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