Photos: Ithalia Ozuna throws no-hitter to lift Del Rio to 7-0 win over Laredo United South
LAREDO, Texas - Ithalia Ozuna threw a no-hitter to lift Del Rio to a 7-0 victory over Laredo United South Tuesday night in a key District 30-6A softball game at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex.
Ozuna kept Laredo United South off balance all night, striking out five and walking just two batters. The Lady Panthers came into the game with one of the best offenses in the district and were sporting eight players batting over .333.
They were all silenced by Ozuna.
“She hit her spots, and that is ideal,” Del Rio coach Nufi Rodriguez said. “We don’t throw the hardest, we don’t have the best junk, but we hit our spots and we are going to put our team in a situation to get the victory.”
Del Rio racked up 10 hits, with Jada Bishop (2-for-3) and Kayla Mendoza (2-for-4) leading the way. Also picking up a hit for Del Rio were Hope Martinez, Rebecca Alcaraz, Miamore Salazar and Desiree Gomez. Ozuna helped her own cause by scoring three runs.
“Our offense was good ... but I believe that we left like nine runners on and that is one thing that we emphasized,” Rodriguez said. “What helped us and what we really stress is defense. Our young lady threw a no-hitter and you do not get that without having great defense and that is what we work on.”
The Del Rio defense did not commit a single error which was in stark contrast to Laredo United South, who committed five errors.
Laredo United South starting pitcher Serena Sanchez struck out six batters but the defense behind her gave up some big plays.
Del Rio quickly pounced on the Lady Panthers and got on the scoreboard in the third inning as Ozuna and Sanchez battled in the circle.
Bishop drove in Ozuna with an RBI single in the third inning to give Del Rio a 1-0 lead.
The Queens put together their biggest inning in the fourth when they plated five runs to take a 6-0 lead. Del Rio was aggressive on the base paths, catching Laredo United South off guard.
Del Rio scored one more run in the sixth inning on three consecutive singles by Ozuna, Gomez and Bishop to make it a 7-0 game.
Ozuna finished off her no-hitter by getting Laredo United South to hit into three routine plays that did not leave the infield as the Queens secured the victory.
“Del Río came out well and we held them off in the beginning innings,” Laredo United South head coach Melinda Portillo said. “However, we didn’t find our hitting rhythm and Del Río played great defensively against us. Back to the grind tomorrow and to get ready for our next opponent.”
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