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SAN JUAN — With one runner on base and only one out, Brownsville Veterans’ Alexis Tamez stepped into the box looking to set up the game-tying run with a sacrifice bunt.
What was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt turned into a disaster for the Chargers. After throwing out Tamez at first, Rattlers first baseman Ava Cortinas turned and converted a double play, throwing out Brownsville Veterans’ Rebekah Izeta to end the inning.
The play was indicative of the shutdown defense played by the Rattlers, as Rio Grande City downed Brownsville Veterans 3-1 during Game 1 of a best-of-3 Class 5A area matchup Friday at Josefina S. Ayala Softball Field.
“Any time they put the leadoff run on base in any inning, it always puts a little pressure on you defensively,” Rio Grande City head coach Nicole Lopez said. “I just feel like our strongest suit is our defense. That keeps us in ballgames. It was just a heads up play by our first baseman to see the runner had taken a big lead and we were able to get the out.”
The victory gives the Rattlers a 1-0 series lead, with a chance to punch their third-round ticket today. Game 2 is scheduled for 3 p.m. today at the Brownsville Veterans Softball Field.
Rio Grande City pitcher Denzy Saenz picked up the victory for the Rattlers, pitching all seven innings while allowing just one run. Brownsville Veterans’ Alexis Tamez pitched the entire game for the Chargers, tallying six strikeouts.
The Chargers got on the board first, with Andrea Chapa scoring on a sacrifice hit by Nahomi Garcia. The Rattlers responded with three runs during the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-run single by Jazel Lopez.
The Rattlers’ defense locked up the Chargers following the first, never facing more than four batters again to protect their lead and secure their victory.
“It just came down to who was going to make the least amount of errors,” Lopez said. “If you look at the scoreboard, all the runs came in the first inning. I think both teams are fairly evenly matched so it’s going to come down to being gutsy.
“We haven’t finished the job yet. This is just one game. We still have to get one more win. We still have to stay focused. It’s great to get the victory, but the job isn’t done yet.”
