By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
Port Isabel kicked off its annual softball tournament this past Thursday, February 12. The 3-day tourney featured a variety of competing teams of various sizes from throughout the RGV.
Twelve teams were separated into three pools. Pool One consisted of La Joya Palmview, Roma, Bro. Porter, and Valley View. Pool Two consisted of Edinburg Vela, La Grulla, Hidalgo, and Mission Veterans. Pool Three consisted of Port Isabel, La Villa, Monte Alto, and Donna.
In the first day of pool play, Port Isabel opened the day with a huge 17-1 win over Monte Alto. In their second game, the Lady Tarpons fell at the hands of the Porter, 14-5.
With the top two teams from each pool advancing to the championship bracket, PI’s next game against Donna was a key showdown.
As the game against the Bravettes got underway, PI’s leadoff hitter Arianna Garcia patiently took the base on a walk. Unfortunately, Donna managed to strikeout the next three batters, as they headed to the bottom of the first inning.
PI Pitcher Garcia got the first batter to flyout to left field. But the next two batters hit line drives, putting baserunners at first and second. The next batter hit a double, which brought in the runner. Garcia then struck out the next batter. A pop out caught by shortstop, Isabel Ochoa, closed out the inning with Donna up 1-0.
In the top of the second, a pop out and a strikeout quickly had PI with two outs. Next batter, Amber Cruz then had a solid hit for a single. The next batter beat the throw to first base for a single, she then reached second base as they failed to catch Cruz stealing third base. Donna struck out the next batter for the final out, ending PI’s scoring threat.
In the bottom of the second, the first batter got on base with a blooper to centerfield. The baserunner managed to steal second and third base, but a strikeout and a pop out closed out the second inning.
In the top of the third, Garcia beat the throw to first base. With Ochoa in the batter’s box, Garcia then managed to steal second and third bases on wild pitches. Ochoa eventually got a hit, but was thrown out at first base, but brought in Garcia. Donna secured the last two outs, but the game was now tied at 1-1.
In the bottom of the third, things got interesting as Donna had bases loaded with two outs. The scoring threat ended as PI’s Ochoa fielded a line drive and threw out the runner at first.
After a scoreless fourth inning, they headed to the fifth with the game still tied at 1-1. With gametime nearing the limit, PI needed to score asap.
In the top of the fifth inning, PI had two outs against them when the Donna’s pitcher started to show arm fatigue. Donna then walked the next two PI batters. PI’s Ciara Barton then got on base on a fielding error, giving PI a bases loaded situation.
Cruz was next to bat and was waiting patiently with two balls and 1 strike. As the next pitch was called a ball, the catcher threw the ball to third base to get the baserunner back on base, but the baserunner ran towards home plate. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it in time. As time expired, the game was called a 1-1 tie.
On a side note, Donna moved into the championship bracket and went on to defeat Edinburg Vela in the finals to secure the tournament crown.
The PI softball team will be competing in the 3-day, Brownsville Softball Tournament starting this Thursday, February 19.
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