Weslaco sweeps playoff series from San Antonio Holmes, moves on to 6A softball regional quarterfinals

Weslaco will face San Antonio Harlan in the regional quarterfinals

LAREDO, Texas - Weslaco came out swinging on Saturday and poured it on from the opening pitch, run-ruling San Antonio Holmes 14-4 in five innings to sweep their three-game Class 6A Area softball playoff series at the Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex.

“The girls came out and played well considering the elements,” Weslaco head coach Mario Rodriguez said, referring to the 108-degree high temperature on Saturday. “My hat's off to San Antonio Holmes, they just kept fighting. Our girls just responded well to the adversity, and we were fortunate to come away with a win.”

On Friday, Weslaco opened the series with a 5-3 extra-innings victory. The Lady Panthers scored two runs in the eighth inning to take a 1-0 series lead and set up their Game 2 win on Saturday.

The Lady Panthers now move on to the regional quarterfinals to play a familiar foe in San Antonio Harlan. Last year they met in the area round with Weslaco picking up the victory and moving on to play Los Fresnos.

“Right now, we are going to enjoy this (the victory) as long as we can,” Rodriguez said. “They are a good team and we faced them last year. Harlan just beat a very good team from the Rio Grande Valley (PSJA North). Obviously they are a very good team. We are just going to enjoy this one and we will start preparing for them on Monday.”

Weslaco ripped 12 hits, including a pair of home runs. Alexis Soliz got the ball rolling with a first-inning double, followed by an RBI single by Jules Garcia. After Weslaco scored on a throwing error to make it a 3-0 game, Stacy Bautista strolled to the plate and ripped a home run over the center field fence to extend their led to 4-0.

“We are pretty good at bouncing back and we had seen her last night (Holmes pitcher Nevaeh Montes),” Rodriguez said. “The girls were able to make the adjustments overnight. We came out fast and that is always a good sign.”

San Antonio Holmes had a hard time at the plate thanks to Weslaco starter Katia Reyes who moved the ball around and hit her corners. The Lady Huskies only managed three hits in three innings before loading the bases in the fourth inning with no outs. But Reyes went to work and fanned the next three batters to get Weslaco out of a jam.

“Kat has been really good for us all year long,” Rodriguez said. “This is her senior year and this is her last campaign. We are very fortunate that we have several pitchers that we use throughout the whole season but this series we felt that our best matchups were with her. Kat will be the first one to tell you that she has a great defense behind her and it makes her job easier.”

Weslaco came back with their big bats in the fourth inning, banging out a couple of hits that produced four runs as the Lady Panthers took a commanding 9-0 lead.

San Antonio Holmes kept fighting and put together their best inning at the plate in the fifth. Sydnie Rios opened with a bunt single and then a throwing error left runners on first and second base. A double by Caitlin Casas brought the Lady Huskies' first run across the plate.

Another double and a throwing error by Weslaco gave life to San Antonio Holmes, who finished the fifth inning with four runs to cut Weslaco's lead to 9-4.

Weslaco came right back in their half of the fifth inning, scoring five runs to take a 14-4 lead and end the game. The game-ending rally was sparked by a double by Soliz and a second home run by Garcia. A double by Bautista scored Reyes to bring across the 14th run to end the game. 

PHOTO GALLERY: WESLACO 14, SA COLE 4

Photo by Clara Sandoval