Wildcats hold off Raiders to sweep series

Bryan Ramos

PHARR — The Weslaco East Wildcats and PSJA North Raiders have collided in the first round of the state playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

The Wildcats swept the Raiders in 2023 to move on to the area round.

In 2024, the Raiders responded by winning a three-game thriller against the Wildcats to advance.

This time around, Weslaco East held off PSJA North for a pair of one-run wins to clinch the bi-distirct playoff series sweep with a 4-3 victory in Game 2 on Friday at PSJA North High School. The Wildcats defeated the Raiders 1-0 in Game 1 on Thursday in Weslaco to take a 1-0 series lead.

Weslaco East’s Alanah Bautista celebrates a hit during a Region IV-5A DI bi-district playoff game Friday at PSJA North High School in Pharr. Photo by Andrew Cordero – Special to RGVSports.com.

“This is our third year facing PSJA North and they’re a fantastic team and a fantastic program under Brett Esparza,” Weslaco East head coach Victoria Vasquez said. “We just knew we were going to come out and have to work for it.”

Solid pitching and stingy defense behind it was the theme for both teams over the first four innings until Weslaco East delivered some timely hitting in the top of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie.

A walk by East’s Avery Cavazos set up a two-out RBI-double by Alanah Bautista for a 2-1 Wildcats lead. Angelica Herrera followed Bautista’s at-bat with an RBI-single to right field to put the Wildcats on top 3-1.

Weslaco East’s Angelica Herrera at-bat during a Region IV-5A DI bi-district playoff game Friday at PSJA North High School in Pharr. Photo by Andrew Cordero – Special to RGVSports.com.

Angelica Herrera was at it again in the top of the seventh after her double set up her younger sister, Bella Herrera, for an RBI-double with a blast to deep center field. That scored her older sister for what ended up being the deciding run.

“My baby sister brought me in and that was the one that won the game. It’s a once in a lifetime experience,” Angelica Herrera said. “I’m so glad I got to play with her in my final year of softball. It’s good to keep this going another week.”

Weslaco East’s Bella Herrera celebrates a hit during a Region IV-5A DI bi-district playoff game Friday at PSJA North High School in Pharr. Photo by Andrew Cordero – Special to RGVSports.com.

PSJA North sliced into the East lead with two outs in the bottom of the seventh after a Mia Villegas single and Kamyla Guerra walk set up a two-run double to left field by Emma Escamilla to make it a 4-3 game, but a flyout to second ended the contest one at-bat later.

East’s Kaylin Morales pitched a complete game and allowed three runs off 10 hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Angelica Herrera finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run. Bautista went 2-or-4 with two runs and one RBI, and Bella Herrera had one hit and one RBI.

Before their area round playoff series begins next week against an opponent to be determined, the Wildcats will celebrate their high school prom together on Saturday.

“We had the mindset that Thursday we’re going to win, Friday we’re going to win, and Saturday we’re going to all get together and keep our team bonding going as we head onto the next round,” Morales said.

The Weslaco East infield huddles during a Region IV-5A DI bi-district playoff game Friday at PSJA North High School in Pharr. Photo by Andrew Cordero – Special to RGVSports.com.

Escamilla led PSJA North with two RBI. Vanessa Palacios, Mia Avendano and Halee Guzinsky had two hits apiece for the Raiders.

PSJA North, who won a share of the District 31-5A championship, finishes its season 23-8 overall.

Weslaco East (21-4) advances to next week’s area round to face the winner of Corpus Christi Veterans (25-2) and La Joya Palmview (13-9). Corpus Christi Veterans defeated Palmview 15-0 in Game 1 of their best-of-three series Friday. Games 2 and 3 are scheduled for Saturday at Palmview High School.

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