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CORPUS CHRISTI — Trailing the San Antonio O’Connor Panthers by five runs, Weslaco High entered the sixth inning looking to erase the deficit and begin a comeback.
A pair of walks by O’Connor pitcher Sammie Portillo set up Weslaco to cut into the deficit, with senior Katia Reyes stepping up to the plate. Weslaco’s senior connected with the ball, driving in one run for the team’s first score of the contest.
The comeback attempt ended there, with O’Connor holding Weslaco hitless and scoreless during the seventh to win 5-1 during the Region IV-6A finals Thursday at Cabaniss Softball Field.
The loss puts Weslaco in unfamiliar territory, trailing a series for the first time this postseason. They’ll look to stave off elimination during Game 2 at 7 p.m. today at Cabaniss Softball Field.
“That’s why we play a series. One game does not carry over to the other game,” Weslaco head coach Mario Rodriguez said. “(Today) we’re going to come out, put our best foot forward and let the chips fall where they fall.”
O’Connor took an early 5-0 advantage during the bottom of the second, recording four of their six hits during the inning. A three-run homer by Haley Carder gave O’Connor the lead, with Ella Gonzales extending it with a two-run triple.
Following O’Connor’s offensive outburst, Weslaco pitcher Katia Reyes and the defense buckled down, holding the opponent to just two hits and zero runs over the final five innings.
Still, Reyes took the loss for Weslaco, finishing with seven strikeouts, six hits and five earned runs allowed in six innings pitched. O’Connor’s Sammie Portillo tallied the win, recording 11 strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched, while allowing just two hits.
“You miss a spot here and there but when you go against teams at this level, they’re going to put the ball in play,” Rodriguez said. “Other than that, after that our pitcher and catcher did a good job of settling down and keeping us in the game. Now we know we can do it. It’s just a matter of us coming together, everyone chipping in and hopefully getting some timely hitting in.”
Offensively, Weslaco struggled at the plate, going a combined 3-of-24. Reyes led Weslaco with two hits on three plate appearances, including one RBI.
“We never quit or back down,” Rodriguez said. “We just have to make some adjustments at the plate. Other than that, our girls stayed in there and kept fighting. O’Connor had one big inning. We just have to eliminate that (today).”
