By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons traveled to Raymondville this past week to take on the Lady Bearkats in a softball district game.
The Lady Tarpons got off to a great start to the game as the first three batters got on base. Chelsea Gonzalez then came up to bat, and although she threw out at first base, her hit brought in Port Isabel’s first run.
Up next, Andrea Garcia got off a blooper up the middle, bringing in two more runs as Port Isabel led 3-0. The hits kept coming as Carmen Garza’s double gave PI a 5-0 lead, then Natalie Martinez’s triple made it a 10-0 game. The Lady Tarpons scored one more run as they jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Pitcher Gonzalez took the mound as they headed to the bottom of the first inning. She gave up two singles but made two batters pop out and struck out another to close the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Raymondville stepped up its defense, especially its third baseman, whose quick reactions held the Lady Tarpons scoreless. In the bottom of the second inning, the Lady Bearkats scored their first run and now trailed 11-1.
PI failed to score in the third and fourth innings, while the Lady Bearkats scored two more runs to make it 11-3.
In the fifth inning, a double by Martinez brought another run for Port Isabel, while Raymondville capitalized on some PI errors to make it 12-4.
PI’s Garcia, who came in to relieve Gonzalez on the mound in the fifth, picked up two more strikeouts in the sixth inning. Raymondville scored once more, but they still trailed PI 12-5.
Port Isabel started the seventh inning with back-to-back doubles by Kimberly Barrera and Martinez. Both players had an exceptional day at the plate as Barrera went 3-for-4, and Martinez finished the night with a perfect 5-for-5. Garcia’s single brought in the final run for PI as the Lady Tarpons came away with a 14-5 win.
The Lady Tarpons will be on the road this Friday, March 22, as they take on the district for Hidalgo. The game starts at 7 p.m.
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