PRESS Staff Report
Things haven’t changed much in the world of Port Isabel varsity baseball and softball, except maybe one thing: they’ve won more games.
Remaining unbeaten in 32-3A play, the Tarpons and Lady Tarpons continue to amass victories en route to what the Big Blue community hopes will be district titles for both programs. And this ain’t wishful thinking either, judging by the teams’ level of success thus far.
Let’s start with the Lady Tarps of Port Isabel High; these girls are 5-0 in district and 10-5 overall. What’s more, they don’t look like they’re slowing down anytime soon. Just ask La Feria.
The Lionettes (6-12 overall, 1-4 in district) fell to Port Isabel, 11-1, on Tuesday, March 26. Before that contest, the Ladies of PI downed Hidalgo (4-14 overall, 0-5 in district) on Saturday, March 22, by a demoralizing score of 17-0. While it could be argued that the Lady Tarps should have their way with struggling ballclubs in La Feria and Hidalgo anyway, the second place Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats can also attest to Port Isabel’s might on the softball diamond. As previously reported, the Lady Tarps handled Rio Hondo (12-11 overall, 4-1 in district) by a score of 3-1 during the first half of the season.
Port Isabel was scheduled to take on the Lady Bobcats at home at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, in a much-anticipated rematch with possible 32-3A title implications.
The Tarpons are having similar success in 32-3A baseball, going 2-0 thus far in district play and 8-4 overall. Much like the Lady Tarps, the Port Isabel varsity baseball team has earned wins with comfortable margins of victory, defeating the La Feria Lions (4-10 overall, 0-2 in district) by a score of 6-1 on Tuesday, March 26, and Brownsville St. Joseph (2-8 overall) with an 11-0 tally on Saturday, March 23.
The Tarps opened 32-3A play on Tuesday, March 19, with a victory over the Progreso Red Ants (2-6 overall, 0-1 in district), 7-2.
The Tarpons quickly put points on the board in the first inning against Progreso when Johnathan Garza got on base and scored with Kenny Herrera’s single, Herrera scored with a single from Jose Garza.
After two innings the Tarpon’s led the Red Ants 4-0. Progreso scored two runs at the top of the third inning and would not score again.
In the sixth inning Port Isabel pushed across three runs with a struggling pitcher who walked six hitters in the inning. Tarpon pitcher Jose Garza collected the win giving up four hits and collecting seven strikeouts. The Tarpons finished the game with a score of 7-2 over the Red Ants.
Against La Feria, junior pitcher Jose Garza went the distance in this game giving up five hits and one run while collecting 11 strikeouts.
The Tarpons finished the game with nine runs with the majority scored during the fourth inning.
Port Isabel was expected to face its first big challenge in the form of the Hidalgo Pirates, who have amassed an impressive 16-6 overall and 1-0 district record, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28, at home.
Read this story in the March 28 edition of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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