LADY MAVERICKS SOFTBALL DIAMOND NEWS

Lady Mavericks drop slugfest to

Somerset Lady Bulldogs 13 to 10

Martha Garcia goes 5 for 5 at the plate

Ariana Soto and Martha Garcia belt HR’s

By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central

“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”

Coming off their impressive showing at the Navarro Invitational Softball Tournament this past weekend the C.C. Winn Lady Mavericks varsity girls’ softball team under the tutelage of head softball coach J.J. Iracheta, Jr. and assistant coaches Tony Martinez, Johnny Hernandez Corina Escontrias and Fred Paniagua entertained the Somerset Lady Bulldogs in a 7:00 PM District 28-5A softball opening diamond encounter on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at the Eagle Pass ISD Student Activity Center softball field.

Too many mental and physical errors proved costly on this night as the Lady Mavericks fall to the Lady Bulldogs by the final score of 13 to 10 even though the Lady Mavericks outhit the Lady Bulldogs 17 to10 including a pair of solo homeruns one each by Ariana Soto and Martha Garcia who had a perfect night at the plate going 5 for 5 with two doubles two singles and a titanic solo homerun. In the earlier game the Lady Mavericks JV squad defeated the Lady Bulldogs JV team by the final score of 8 to7.

This long awaited district opening matchup did not start according to plan as a pair of first inning errors and one costly mental error by the Lady Mavericks led to a big four run output by the visiting Lady Bulldogs. But in the bottom of the first the Pride of Southern Maverick County the silver and black clad Lady Mavericks answered right back with standout leadoff batter Martha Garcia belting a solid double into the left centerfield gap, Kayla Sifuentes followed with an RBI double to bring home Martha Garcia, with one out Briana Soto blasted and RBI double to deliver Kayla Sifuentes home, Thiana Reyes followed with a single to advance courtesy runner Ariana Benavidez over to third, the swift running Ariana Benavidez then scampered home on a wild pitch to narrow the Lady Mavericks deficit to only one run, Mia Uriegas reached on an error, with two outs Alexia Gutierrez drew a bases on balls to what seemed to have loaded the bases but surprisingly the runner at third was picked off the bag by the Somerset catcher to end the potential big rally.

In the top of the second the Lady Bulldogs extended their lead with a pair runs but once again the Lady Mavericks struck back in the bottom of the second when Martha Garcia stroked a one out single, Kayla Sifuentes also connected with a single, with two outs Briana Soto belted a single to load the bases for Thiana Reyes who hit a booming fence rattling three RBI double to bring home Martha Garcia, Kayla Sifuentes and courtesy runner Ariana Benavidez all the way around from first to knot up the game at six all.

The Somerset Lady Bulldogs regained the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth which prompted Lady Mavericks head coach J.J. Iracheta, Jr. to make patching change and brought in Alexia Gutierrez to take over the pitching duties from starting pitcher Angie Escamilla. Gutierrez did an amicable job in the circle in her three and two-thirds innings of work inside the circle allowing five runs and striking out five batters as well. The proud Lady Mavericks answered back with a lone run in the bottom of the fourth but it should have been at least two runs as Martha Garcia was called out at home after tagging up from third but the plate umpire surprisingly called her out even though it was quite clear that had slid way under the tag of the Somerset catcher. That one lone run came off a rocket launch off the bat of Ariana Soto which sailed way over the left field fence to narrow the Lady Mavericks deficit to 8 to 7.

In the bottom of the sixth the Lady Mavericks tacked on another run and that came off the scorching red hot bat of Martha Garcia who hit a titanic shot deep into the night over the left field fence to make the score 11 to 8 in favor of the Lady Bulldogs.

The top of the seventh saw the visiting Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to 13 to 8 by plating another pair of runs greatly aided by another costly Lady Mavericks error. Bt the proud Lady Mavericks supported by the famed Maverick Nation in attendance did not go down without a fight as they managed to barrow their deficit with a pair of runs with Thiana Reyes leading off the frame with an infield hit, Mia Uriegas reached on an error, Ana Lopez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Alexia Gutierrez connected with an RBI single to drive in Thiana Reyes, with one out Martha Garcia culminated her night with her fifth hit of the game an RBI single to bring home Mia Uriegas, Kayla Sifuentes reached on a fielder’s choice but Ana Lopez was forced out on the play at home, with two outs and the bases still loaded Lady Luck was not kind to the Lady Mavericks on this night as the ext Lady Mavericks went down swing with a vicious swing that could have potentially have been a game winning swing but it was not meant to be as the Lady Mavericks took the heart breaking loss by the final score of 13 to 10.

Score by Innings: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

SOMERSET 4 2 0 2 3 0 2 13 10 3

LADY MAVERICKS 3 3 0 1 0 1 2 10 17 5

Losing Pitcher: Angie Escamilla Leading Hitters: Martha Garcia 5 for 5 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI’s including a solo homerun, Alexia Gutierrez 2 for 3 with 1 RBI, Thiana Reyes 3 for 4 with 1 run scored and 3 RBI’s, Briana Soto 2 for 4 with 1 RBI, Kayla Sifuentes 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI, Ariana Soto 2 for 5 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI on a solo homerun, Mia Uriegas 1 for 4 with 1 run scored, and Ariana Benavidez 2 runs scored.