By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
On Tuesday, the Lady ‘Hound Varsity Softball Team achieved a 3-2 victory at home against its arch rivals, the Harlingen High Lady Cardinals, securing the top spot in the District 32-6A standings.
Both softball teams, after three district games each, entered the all-important Battle of the Arroyo tied for first.
With the win, SBHS remains 4-0 in district, while Harlingen is 3-1.
The Lady Cardinals started their game following a 10-0 victory over the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons. SBHS had previously beaten the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers, 9-4.
The game featured the district’s top two teams, so it was no surprise that Harlingen came back after trailing 3-0 through two innings.
It was a critical second inning that got SBHS the lead and, as it turns out, was all it needed to win.
Arielle Hernandez, the junior starting pitcher, helped her own cause by hitting a solid double into the left field wall.
She moved to third on an infield sac fly by Isabella Gonzalez. Freshman Kaitlyn Blanco followed up with a double into the gap between right and center field, bringing Hernandez home for a 1-0 lead.
A thunderous two-run home run to left field by junior Evelynn Hinojosa erupted on the home side of the field.
Hernandez afterward discussed defeating Harlingen.
“The win was very meaningful because, after the past two years, we had a losing streak against them; we’ve been working really hard to get here,” Hernandez said.
After three innings on the mound, Harlingen Head Coach Kevin Ledesma decided to substitute pitcher Jozalin Bravo for Vivan Garcia, who didn’t allow a run for the rest of the game.
On the flip side, SBHS Head Coach Kristy Leal chose to leave Hernandez in the game even after she was rattled in the top of the fourth inning by Makayla Gonzalez’s two-run homerun.
“We already knew the Battle of the Arroyo was going to be tough, and both teams were going to bring their best stuff,” Coach Leal said. “We brought the energy and had Arielle’s back.”
In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Cardinals threatened once again, trailing 3-2. SBHS’s Hernandez walked the leadoff hitter and was now facing a batter who represented the go-ahead run.
A wild pitch moved the Harlingen runner to second base.
Staring at a 1-0 count, Leal went to the mound to comfort her star pitcher.
Coach Leal said, despite the struggles, she wanted to reassure Hernandez that her teammates would be there for her on the field.
Hernandez followed up with two more thrown balls. She was resilient, though, forcing a full count. Hernandez finished it off by watching the Lady Cardinals hitter strike out swinging.
Her outfield teammates Avani Garza and Elilah Gallegos made impressive fly outs in foul territory and near the wall.
Hernandez recorded five strikeouts, and walked three batters. She and her teammates shut down all three Harlingen hitters they faced in the crucial seventh inning, which was the deciding moment.
The game’s final two outs featured SBHS third baseman Gonzalez showcasing solid corner defense. She fielded two hard-hit balls from Harlingen and threw out the runners to first baseman Annalise Rodriguez, who was ready to make the plays.
“We wanted revenge on Harlingen; we faced a few tough innings and found ourselves in difficult positions during the game,” Gonzalez said. “I wanted her (Hernandez) to know that when it really mattered, I didn’t want to let her down.”
SBHS now faces two district opponents, Brownsville Hanna and Los Fresnos, whom the team previously dominated, winning by a combined 30-0 margin.
Coach Leal has also penciled in the Lyford Lady Bulldogs, who are currently first in District 32-3A.
“I believe our chemistry is really strong at the moment, and we want to maintain it,” Coach Leal said.
SBHS has an overall record of 17-6-1.