BY CLAIRE CRUZ |
RIO HONDO — The runs came early and often in Rio Hondo on Friday night as the Lady Cats defeated Robstown 20-0 to clinch another bi-district championship.
Everyone played a part in scattering hits all around the diamond as five Lady Cats recorded multiple hits in the game and eight had at least one.
“The scoreboard doesn’t reflect how good of a team Robstown is,” Rio Hondo head coach Brett Esparza said. “That’s a good ballclub and they’re well coached. We wanted to be focused and jump on them at home. We’re pretty solid throughout the lineup and everybody can drive runs in.”
Sophomore third baseman Nayeli Garcia got the hit parade started with a leadoff single and her teammates were quick to join. The Lady Cats batted through the lineup twice in the opening frame, tallying nine hits and scoring 14 runs to set a dominant tone.
Robstown relief pitcher Kiara Hawkins managed a clean three-up, three-down inning in the second, but Rio Hondo’s bats weren’t quiet for long.
The Lady Cats scored four in the third and two in the second to cushion their lead. Freshman left fielder Abbie Torris had a perfect 4 for 4 night and seniors Bianca Cruz and Annie Alvarado paced Rio Hondo with three RBIs each.
“Our main goal was to stay focused and not step back, just hit them with the best we got in the first inning,” Cruz said. “The focus is there, the talent is there so I think we won’t have a problem doing (what we did last season) again and going farther.”
Freshman pitcher Kelsey Pizarro wasn’t fazed a bit by the playoff atmosphere. Her command was good and she breezed through the Robstown lineup, allowing just three hits and striking out five. Two of those hits came in the final inning.
“I felt very confident that I was throwing well and I could strike them out,” Pizarro said. “I talked to my senior catcher, Annie, and she helped me out (with the game plan). I felt good.”
The Lady Cats will now face Devine in the area round next week.
