Challenge met — The San Benito Lady Greyhounds walk towards the infield after celebrating an impressive bi-district championship win against the Edinburg North Lady Cougars Friday night. (Courtesy photo/Hector Avila)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito Lady Greyhounds, in soundly defeating the Edinburg North Lady Cougars, in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, also eradicated bad memories of not advancing to the second round a year ago.
The 14-6 thrashing at home last Friday in the one-game series earned the Lady ‘Hounds of being bi-district champions for the second time in three years.
San Benito improved to 17-11-1 on the season, while Edinburg North closed its record at 23-9-1.
There was no doubt who was the better team both offensively and defensively. The Lady ‘Hounds got started with their scoring in the first inning and continued it through the fourth inning. North didn’t get its first hit until the aforementioned fourth, but San Benito already had a resounding lead.
Although eight players got in on the hit parade, it was senior Jozanna Montes, who blasted two homeruns against North pitcher sophomore Destany Bermudez.
Her homeruns came in the first and sixth innings, and in each instance driving in two runs.
“They know they can depend on me, but my teammates also did their part in the (hitting) lineup and on defense,” Montes said. “We trust each other from the top to the bottom in the at-bats, and today, once again, it showed.”
Teammate sophomore Eliza Gallegos also caused North defenders to play cautiously as she belted out a team-high three hits — a triple, double, and single, all in that order. Gallegos flirted with the all-elusive cycle as she made good contact with the throws to her at the plate. The rest of her hit attempts were flyouts to the outfield.
Among the other San Benito players to earn a hit each were freshman Annalise Rodriguez, sophomore Jewelianah Mares, sophomore Arianna Rodriguez, sophomore Megan Medina, and sophomore Arielle Hernandez.
Sophomore Evelynn Hinojosa had two hits.
Pitching for San Benito was Hernandez. She had three strikeouts and allowed eight hits. San Benito’s defense played superb as the players made flyouts and infield throws to tag runners out at first base look routine. North stranded eight batters.
“It’s a great team win, great win for the San Benito community, and our coach was in attendance; she’s still on maternity leave, and it’s good to hold down the fort for her and get that win,” San Benito Assistant Head Coach Audulio Garza said.
The Lady ‘Hounds’ next opponent is going to be the East Central Lady Hornets (record 18-10), who won a three-game series against Laredo Alexander.
The Lady Hornets compete in District 26-6A. The San Antonio-based school finished third against teams comprised of San Marcos, Cibolo Steele, Converse Judson, New Braunfels Canyon, Schertz Clemens, Northside (ISD) Johnson.
San Benito’s area round game against East Central will be a three-game series. Game 1 will be Friday at Gregory Portland High School, 7 p.m. Game 2 is at Calallen High School and begins at 12 p.m. Game 3 (if necessary) will be played 30 minutes at the conclusion of the second game.
The winner advances to the third round to compete against the victor of the Lake Travis/Northeast (ISD) Reagan game.