Weslaco holds off PSJA, clinches share of 31-6A crown

1 week ago 33

SAN JUAN — The PSJA High home crowd let out a groan when their batter skied the ball just in front of the catcher. The Bears two-out rally against district rivals Weslaco High was going to come up just short as the Panthers rushed for the ball for the final out with the score 6-4.

Nobody called for it and the excitement was back on as Arianna Lugo rounded third for home after she drove in two runs with a double to give the Bears hope. The ball bounced in between the Panthers, but with a backspin and that new found life was quickly cut short as Weslaco High catcher Clarissa Mejia grabbed the ball and immediately tagged Lugo as she lunged for the plate to end the game.

The Panthers sealed at least a share of the district title and can clinch it Friday against Edinburg High.

“It was a pretty tough play, the ball was really high in the air,” Mejia said. “I knew as soon as I didn’t get it that I had to look at the next play and it happened to be right in front of me, it won us the game. I would have liked to have caught it, but a win is a win.”

Mejia added that it was a once in a lifetime play.

“We turned a bad situation into a good situation,” Panthers head coach Mario Rodriguez said. “That speaks volumes of Clari’s [Mejia] softball IQ. See the situation and make it happen. It is not how we want it, it is not how we practice it, but [Mejia] was able to utilize her instincts.”

Mejia also picked up a clutch triple in the sixth inning that powered Weslaco High to the victory. The Panthers scored five in the top of the sixth.

Weslaco High junior Dayla Hinojosa drove in the first run of the sixth with a triple. She brought in freshman Mckayla Rodriguez after she walked.

“I felt good going in, I knew we had to score and get something going, so when I got on I was really excited. I knew my teammates behind me were going to come through to score me,” Hinojosa said.

Hinojosa has performed in big spots before at the bottom of the lineup. She started the rally in the bottom of the seventh against Waco Midway to help win the Class 6A state title last June. Rodriguez said she is in that second lead-off role. “It is not my worst hitter, it someone to get us going,” he said.

It is a strategy to put a player that has lead-off hitter potential at the bottom of the lineup to flip the order in your favor. Traditionally, better hitters are at the top of the lineup, but teams with two good lead-off types implement it.

“All of the girls in our lineup are pretty good and we all have something to bring to the plate,” Hinojosa said.

Hinojosa would score after Hannah Montelongo, the next batter, also hit a triple. Senior Lola Reyes would drive in Montelongo with an infield single.

Mejia’s triple scored Reyes, 4-2. Junior pitcher Madelynn Cantu made it 5-2 with a sacrifice fly. Mckayla Rodriguez extended the lead to 6-2 in the top of the seventh with an inside-the-park home run.

Rodriguez said that the sixth was coming after the Panthers threatened in nearly every inning and the timely hitting helped them produce the runs.

“It was a great win for us. Hats off to PSJA, they are a really good team. We talked to the girls about that and how they are very similar to the teams we might face in the playoffs, not that we want to be looking ahead,” Rodriguez said. “It is a great win to help us get to where we want to be.”

The Bears opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when sophomore Aubrey Garza went yard and Lugo drove in a run with a double. Both players split the Upper Valley Newcomer of the Year award as freshmen and are key players on PSJA High roster with plenty of talent.

But, it was the young talent out of Weslaco High that came out with the win Friday night — both teams will be eyeing a deep playoff run with the post season right around the corner for two of the Region’s best 6A teams.

The post Weslaco holds off PSJA, clinches share of 31-6A crown appeared first on MyRGV.com.

Read Entire Article