By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Saturday, January 27, the Port Isabel Lady Tarpons hosted the Mercedes Lady Tigers in the season’s first scrimmage of the softball season.
Mercedes has featured some good teams the last few seasons, including going 30-8 overall this past year.
Meanwhile, Lady Tarpons are trying to regroup after going 8-16 last season under first year head coach, Mario Lazo, who is no longer at Port Isabel. Prior to the game, new head softball coach, Michelle Lopez, believed Mercedes would provide “great test, but not define their season.”
Mercedes started off with a solid hit towards third base where Port Isabel’s Carmen Garza secured the ball and threw out the batter at first base. Then things went awry as Port Isabel committed some fielding errors and gave up a homerun to go down 4-0 in the top of the first inning.
As Port Isabel took to bat, leadoff hitter, freshman Arianna Garcia had a solid hit but it was a line drive to the short stop who threw her out at first base. After Mercedes struck out the next batter, Natalie Martinez got a base hit that went into the outfield for a single. The Mercedes pitcher struck out the next batters to close out the inning.
In the top of the second inning Port Isabel was looking at a double play, but committed an error. The Lady Tarpons had another rough defensive inning which saw more errors, wild pitches, and throws. The Lady Tigers extended their lead to 9-0 as the game headed to the bottom of the inning. Port Isabel also struggled offensively, as Mercedes struck out the first three Lady Tarpons to close out the inning.
In the top of the third inning, the Mercedes’ batter hit a line out to second baseman Arianna Garcia, who made a great catch. Two batters later, pitcher Andrea Garcia secured a bunt and threw out the batter at first base then closed out the inning with a strike out. Unfortunately, the Lady Tarpons’ offense continued to struggle in the bottom of the third as the first two batters were