Rio Grande City holds off Mercedes, advances to Round 3

Edward Severn

MISSION — Mercedes loaded the bases in the top of the seventh down 4-2 against Rio Grande City, but could only bring in a single run. The Rattlers held off the Tigers to win a Class 5A DII area championship 4-3 in a single-elimination game held at Sharyland High Friday night.

The Rattlers, the District 30-5A champs, tied school history with the win. The third round is the best they have accomplished and will have a chance next week to surpass that.

First-year Rio Grande City head coach Roque Cortinas Jr. called the performance a complete team win.

“Pitching of course, hitting was doing good and defensively we made the plays when it counted – just a complete team win,” he said.

Rio Grande City’s Caylani Cantu is safe at home and leaps up to celebrate after scoring against Mercedes during a Class 5A Dll area playoff game at Sharyland softball field Friday, May 02, 2025 in Sharyland. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Rattlers junior pitcher Jorja Fuentes, one of the best pitchers in the Upper Valley, threw a complete game and finished with six strikeouts. She was impressive against the deadly part of the Tigers lineup tonight.

“We knew they were going to hit the ball, that they were going to make contact,” Cortinas Jr. said. “We knew what type of team they are, similar to us – very scrappy and going to fight until the end. It was just going to come down to who made the most mistakes.”

The Rattlers scored all of their runs in the second inning. Senior Nina Zurita drove in the first two with a double.

“I felt like it really started the rally, it brought our energy levels up and I felt like that is what got us going in the game,” Zurita said.

Rio Grande City’s Dayana Lazos celebrates with teammates after defeating Mercedes 4-3 during a Class 5A Dll area playoff game at Sharyland softball field Friday, May 02, 2025 in Sharyland. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Rattlers freshman Dayana Lazos followed it up with an RBI double and then Fuentes drove in Lazos to make it four.

Zurita went 2-for-4, Lazos was 2-for-3, Fuentes 2-for-4 and Jenelle Gonzalez 2-for-3 atop the Rattlers lineup Friday night.

Rio Grande City’s Jorja Fuentes releases a pitch against Mercedes’ during a Class 5A Dll area playoff game at Sharyland softball field Friday, May 02, 2025 in Sharyland. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

Tigers batters had success as well, both teams left runners, especially early. Lead-off Kristine Garcia went 2-for-4 and Raelynn Sierra went 3-for-4 behind Garcia. Mercedes just could not find that big hit.

Rio Grande City’s Jorja Fuentes, right, is out at second as Mercedes’ Mercedes Aleeyah Sierra turns a double play with a throw to first during a Class 5A Dll area playoff game at Sharyland softball field Friday, May 02, 2025 in Sharyland. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

The Rattlers will face Liberty Hill in the third round at a time and place to be announced.

“We just need to keep our energy the way it has been and our offense has to keep going and stay on fire,” Zurita said about having to face these good opponents in the upcoming rounds.

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