Tigers roar past Bulldogs, advance to area round

McALLEN — Fueled by the belief that last season ended too soon, Mercedes’ softball team entered the 2025 postseason with unfinished business.

A 2-1 series loss to Sharyland Pioneer sent the Tigers packing during the Class 5A bi-district round a season ago, their first opening round exit since 2013.

The Tigers wouldn’t be bounced out of the playoffs in round one this season, cruising past the McAllen High Bulldogs 8-4 during a Class 5A DII bi-district one-game playoff Friday at McAllen High.

“It felt cut short last year,” Mercedes head coach Alexis De Leon said. “The girls were hungry this year, especially our seniors. They’ve been on the team for four years. They’re the ones who said we weren’t going out like that this year. We’re going to keep going.”

Mercedes got on the board first during Friday’s bi-district contest, with Karolina Rizo bringing in Aleeyah Sierra to make it 1-0.

The Bulldogs answered almost immediately, with Eliana Villanueva delivering a solo homer during the bottom of the second to knot things up.

An RBI single by Josie Alvarado during the third and another by Kristine Garcia during the fourth put the Tigers back on top, taking a 3-1 advantage into the fifth.

A Mercedes’ player sides to third during a Class 5A DII bi-district playoff game Friday at McAllen High. (Delcia Lopez | The Monitor)

Disaster almost struck for the Tigers during the bottom of the fifth, however, with the Bulldogs loading the bases with no outs. The Tigers responded perfectly to the jam, securing a double play to end the inning still on top 3-1.

The defensive play sparked a five run sixth inning by the Tigers, with Garcia and Abigail Trevino each bringing in a pair of runs, while Ashley De Leon brought in another to make it 8-1. Garcia finished 3-of-5 at the plate with 3 RBIs.

“They feed off of each other,” De Leon said. “One got a good hit and the other one kept it going. That is our team motto. We feed off of each other and of of each other’s energy.”

The Bulldogs wouldn’t go away despite the seven-run hole. For a second straight inning McHi loaded the bases, this time with just one out on the board. Once again, the Tigers escaped without allowing a run thanks to a pair of strikeouts from sophomore pitcher Abigail Trevino.

Mercedes pitcher Abigail Trevino. (Delcia Lopez | The Monitor)

McHi made one final push to keep their postseason alive during the bottom of the seventh, scoring three runs to cut their deficit to four. The rally attempt proved too little too late, with the Tigers picking off Leah Sorenson during her attempt to steal second and ending the game.

The Bulldogs finish their season with a 10-10 overall record, including a 9-8 record during district play for fourth place in 31-5A.

The Tigers advance to the Class 5A DII area round where they’ll take on the winner between Gregory-Portland and Rio Grande City.

“We’re going to put in a lot of hard work,” De Leon said. “The girls play for each other. We’re not a one man team. I think that’s what drives us to be good. We’re going to try to carry over this energy from today and keep it going as long as we can.”

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