Laredo LBJ rallies for 14-7 win over Laredo Alexander in District 30-6A softball showdown
LAREDO, Texas - Laredo LBJ put together a late rally to beat Laredo Alexander 14-7 at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex on Wednesday.
With one game left in the opening round of District 30-6A softball, the Lady Wolves are sitting in second place heading into the much anticipated rivalry game against Laredo United South on Friday.
“Alexander is always a tough game and they always come out playing their best, they did a great job,” LBJ head coach Whitney Dupuis said. “The girls battled the whole time, we had to go a little bit different with the short game and just trying to get people on base.”
The Lady Wolves blasted two home runs in the game. Alyzza Campos ripped a solo homer in the opening inning and Vivica Garcia had an inside the park home run when the Alexander defense misplayed a single to the outfield.
Campos, Laredo LBJ's ace, gave up six hits and seven runs, while striking out four.
The Lady Wolves outhit Laredo Alexander 11-6 with Campos (2-for-3), Valerie Loyola (2-for-4), and Hailey Garcia leading the attack.
Campos opened the game by blasting a home run down the left field line that hit the foul pole.
Both teams were silent at the plate until the third inning when Laredo Alexander mounted a two-out rally to take the lead. Campos opened the inning by striking out Mia Rubio and Alexia Gonzalez. After a walk was issued to Victoria Luna, it sparked Laredo Alexander’s offense.
Laredo Alexander leadoff batter Kayla Herrera reached on an infield single, then pitcher Krista Gamez singled to score Herrera and put runners on first and second base. Campos walked Samantha Arce to load the bases for freshman Carmen Perez. She strolled to the plate and on a 1-0 count blasted a stand-up double to clear the bases and give Laredo Alexander a 4-1 lead at the end of the third inning.
After falling behind, Dupuis changed her game plan and turned to the short game. A combination of bunts, base hits and errors by Laredo Alexander led to an onslaught of runs by Laredo LBJ. By the time the dust settled after five innings, Laredo LBJ held a 9-4 lead.
“We had talked about all season, bunts are the key and if you can lay down a bunt and just run it out, it puts the pressure on the defense,” Dupuis said. “The we just have to execute and get the timely hit”
Laredo Alexander was able to string together three hits by Arce, Perez and a double by Magali Herrera to make it a 9-7 game at the end of the fifth inning.
Laredo LBJ’s offense continued to produced insurance runs, scoring four more in the sixth inning to lead 13-7 heading into the seventh inning. The Lady Wolves tacked on one more run in the seventh.
“It was a well-played game and I think both teams played hard,” Laredo Alexander coach Alex Colin said. “Both teams hit the ball well.”
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