By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Tuesday, April 16, the Port Isabel Lady Tarpons softball team took on the Hidalgo Lady Pirates during “Senior’s Day.” Marking this as the second time the teams had faced each other this season, Port Isabel shut out Hidalgo (10-0) the first time.
Port Isabel entered the game as heavy favorites once again, but the Lady Pirates were fighting for the fourth and final playoff spot, giving Port Isabel a battle until the end.
The first inning went according to plan as Port Isabel’s starting pitcher, Chelsea Gonzalez, only allowed one player on base (HBP) while picking up two strikeouts. Meanwhile, the Lady Tarpons offense got off to a great start. With PI up 2-0, Julie Mar’s double brought in two more runs. Carmen Garza followed up with a single that brought in Mar as Port Isabel now led 5-0. Leadoff hitter Arianna Garcia then hit a flyball, which was dropped when two fielders collided. Garcia not only had 2 RBIs but also managed to score on an inside-the-park home run during the play as PI extended their lead to 8-0.
Contrary to the first inning, the second inning was non-eventful as Hidalgo only scored the run when they stole home plate on a wild pitch. PI now led 8-1.
In the top of the third, the Lady Tarpons made a tremendous double play, but not before Hidalgo added another run in the inning. Port Isabel is now up 8-2, and added two more runs in the bottom of the third to make it a 10-2 game.
In the top of the fourth, Port Isabel pitcher Andrea Garcia kept the Lady Pirates at bay with a ‘three up, three down’ inning. Meanwhile, a single by Port Isabel’s Garcia made it 11-2 after four innings.
In the top of the fifth, the Lady Pirates had bases loaded when a flyball was dropped in the outfield, leading to two runs by Hidalgo to make it 11-4. Hidalgo still needed to be done as they scored two more runs and cut Port Isabel’s lead down to 11-6. Although PI threatened to score with bases loaded, a forced out at third base closed the inning.
New Port Isabel pitcher Garcia took the mound in the top of the sixth. With a baserunner on second, the ball is fielded but is overthrown to first base as a run comes in to make it 11-7. Two batters later, the ball is hit down the third baseline for a double with 2 RBIs for an 11-9 game. A blooper to the outfield brought in another Hidalgo run. Port Isabel brought Gonzalez back to the mound. With bases loaded, the batter walked, and the game was now tied at 11-11 as fans from both sides cheered the teams on.
In the bottom of the sixth, Natalie Martinez hit a line drive to center field for a standing double. The next batter, Gonzalez, then hit a deep flyball that was caught, but the baserunner came home, as the Lady Tarpons took a 12-11 lead to the delight of the Tarpon faithful.
Hidalgo failed to score in the top of the seventh inning as the Lady Tarpons secured the win, 12-11.
The Lady Tarpons will host Bishop for a playoff game this Thursday, April 25, with a 6 pm game start. The best-of-three series will continue Friday, April 26 at Bishop, 6 pm. Game Three, if necessary, is TBD.
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