Valerie Loyola's walk-off single helps Laredo LBJ clinch second place in District 30-6A softball
LAREDO, Texas - Heading into the final two games of the regular season, the Laredo LBJ softball team wanted nothing more than to secure second place in District 30-6A.
Mission accomplished.
Valerie Loyola ripped a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Laredo LBJ a thrilling come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Laredo Alexander on Thursday night. Combined with Del Rio's 10-9 loss to Laredo United South, Laredo LBJ clinched second place in District 30-6A.
"As a coaching staff we always say that you are never out of the game," Laredo LBJ head coach Whitney Dupuis said. “We have the team that wants to fight, they are going to fight through all seven innings, and they are going to fight until that last out. They came through and we had some freshmen come through for us in the seventh inning. It's exciting and a great game.”
The top four spots in District 30-6A have now been finalized. Eagle Pass won its 15th district title in 16 years, with Laredo LBJ in second, Del Rio in third and Laredo United South in fourth.
Laredo LBJ junior pitcher Alyzza Campos picked up the win in the circle. She struck out 11 and gave up six hits and five runs in seven innings of work.
Laredo LBJ outhit Laredo Alexander 8-6, but they hurt themselves in the field by committing five errors.
The bats were silent through the first three innings as Campos battled Laredo Alexander’s Krista Gamez in the circle.
Gamez gave up two hits while Campos only gave up one hit during that span, but Laredo LBJ had ample opportunities to scored, stranding five runners on base.
Laredo Alexander freshman Carmen Perez got things rolling in the fourth inning with a double to right field. Perez went on to score the first run of the game on a throwing error by Laredo LBJ catcher Alessandra Thatcher.
Laredo Alexander tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 3-0 lead. Senior Kayla Herrera drew a walk and quickly found herself on third base after a Laredo LBJ throwing error. Herrera eventually scored on an error and Samantha Arce came around to score on an RBI single by Jazmine Rodriguez.
Laredo LBJ finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. Loyola started the rally with a single and a stolen base. A Laredo Alexander error and an international walk to Campos loaded the bases for freshman Hailey Garcia, who ripped a two-run to make it a 3-2 game. Garcia eventually came around to score to tie the game at 3-3.
Laredo Alexander took advantage of more errors by Laredo LBJ to tack on two runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead.
Trailing 5-3 entering the seventh inning, Campos struck out three consecutive batters to keep the Lady Wolves within striking distance heading into their final at bat.
After being issued international walks in her last two appearances at the plate, Campos started the seventh-inning rally with a double. She wound up on third base after a throwing error, then her courtesy runner scored on a single by Thatcher to make it 5-4.
Laredo LBJ loaded the bases for Adamaris Ramirez, who singled to drive in a run and tie the game at 5-5. Loyola then strolled to the plate and ripped her walk-off single.
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