By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito Lady Greyhounds are among the top teams in the Rio Grande Valley, thanks to their performance on the field against teams from across the state.
The Lady ‘Hounds participated in tournaments in Portland (near Corpus Christi) and Converse (near San Antonio) in late February. The results demonstrated to San Benito Head Coach Kristy Leal and her three-member staff that a one-sided loss against another strong RGV team, PSJA, was a distant memory.
Their 11-2 loss in their home opener to the PSJA Lady Bears was followed by solid play beginning two days later at the Incarnate Word Academy Lady Angel Softball Classic, then at the East Central/Judson Invitational a week later.
Leal achieved her 200th coaching win in the process.
It happened when SBHS finished 4-1-1 at the IWA tournament. The Lady ‘Hounds played teams and scored as follows: New Caney (tied 2-2), Del Valle (won 7-1), Austin McCallum (won 5-4), West Plains (won 5-2), Pretoria (lost 2-0), and Santa Fe (won 9-1).
If only I could go back to my first year and show myself a little more grace,” Leal offered. “This job is tough, but incredibly rewarding.”
She began her coaching career at San Benito in 2015 and, within three years, had already earned more than 75 wins before taking a head coaching job at Mercedes. Leal returned last season.
She said achieving the milestone was made possible through “amazing” assistants, supportive administration, and players who all believed in and contributed to the program.
Leal left early in the softball season last year for maternity leave and gave birth to a boy near the end of the district schedule.
SBHS still advanced to the postseason with assistant coach Audulio Garza.
Leal watched the Lady ‘Hounds continue their game on the diamond at the San Antonio area tournament.
Teams and scores from that tournament are as follows: Bishop (lost 2-1), East Central (lost 9-0), Laredo United (won 5-4), Eagle Pass (lost 2-0), and Gregory-Portland (won 6-4).
The Lady ‘Hounds are 12-5-1 for the year.
They open their District 32-6A season at Brownsville Hanna on Friday, March 13.