Photos: Del Rio holds off Laredo United 9-8 in District 30-6A softball showdown
LAREDO, Texas - The Del Rio softball team fended off a late surge by Laredo United to pick up a 9-8 victory on Saturday at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex.
The Queens are tied for second place with Laredo LBJ in District 30-6A with three games left. They are vying for one of four playoff spots.
The second round of district play has proven to be intense as games are going down to the wire. In the first round Del Rio took down Laredo United 13-10 in a hard-fought game.
The second time around it looked like Del Rio was going to run away with the game, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead thanks to an offensive surge at the plate. The Queens racked up 16 hits while Laredo United finished with 10.
Del Rio’s Hope Martinez led the way at the plate, going 4 for 5 with three RBIs. Also having big days a the plate were Miamor Salazar (3 for 5), Syann Castillas (3 for 4) and Jenna Villarreal (2 for 4)
The Queen’s starting pitcher Rebekah Alcaraz did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when the Lady Longhorns Naid Moreno (2 for 4) ripped a single up the middle. It was followed by Karina Mejia’s (3 for 4) single that put runners in scoring position. Galilea Pena (3 for 4) singled to score Moreno and cut Del Rio's lead to 5-1.
Del Rio extended their lead to 6-1 in the sixth inning - then Laredo United started to get hot at the plate. The Lady Longhorns strung together three straight hits by Mejia, Pena and Regina Rodriguez to produced three runs and make it a 6-4 game in the sixth inning.
Jada Bishop relived Alcaraz after Pena’s hit and helped Del Rio get out of the inning with no more damage done.
The Queens responded with a big inning in their final at bat, stringing together four hits by Jenna Villarreal (2 for 5), Martinez, Salazar and Casillas to drive in three runs and give Del Rio a 9-4 lead.
Laredo United rallied in the bottom of the seventh after KK Cox reached base on an error. A single by Moreno brought Cox home. Mejia then ripped her final hit of the game to put runners on first and second.
Pena strolled to the plate and on a 2-1 count she sent the ball over the fence for a three-run homer to make it a 9-8 game with two outs.
Del Rio called a time out on defense after Cortez reached first base on a throwing error. Bishop was able to get the final out on a short fly ball to end Laredo United’s rally and preserve the hard-fought victory.
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