SAN BENITO — Elias Martinez helped start the San Benito softball program as an assistant back in 1994 and took the Lady Greyhounds to state tournament appearances in 2013 and 2015.
Martinez picked up his 600th win as a head coach this week, the vast majority of them with San Benito. Ask the veteran softball coach if he expected it, and he’ll bombard the questioner with a smiling ‘No.’
“Who would have thought a kid from San Benito would be up there with the top dogs?” he said as he gazed through his sunglasses and out to the Lady ’Hounds’ softball field.
When Martinez started coaching, he said, the seats were eye-level. Now the stadium has seats over the visiting dugout, and the outfield walls are plastered with the accomplishments in which he played a huge part.
Martinez is the sixth-winningest coach in Texas high school softball and the winningest Hispanic softball coach, something he cherishes the most.
“That is one of the things that I take the most pride in, being the only Hispanic up there,” he said. “Being able to represent San Benito, our program and our people.”
Martinez said it has been a total team effort. Family, community, athletes and administration have helped set the high standards for Lady ’Hounds softball.
“I want to thank my wife Arcelia, my children Deborah, JR, Laura, and all of the grandbabies,” he said. “They have been a vital part of my success, of our success at San Benito, because of the continued support. Without them, I might not have been here.”
Martinez could not name all of his players and coaches. He wanted to, but only name-dropped a few. The players he named were Clarissa Huerta, Amber Jasso and Crystal Castillo, and he named coaches Luis Solorio, Audulio Garza and Gilbert Rodriguez.
“If you want to have a successful program, you have to surround yourself with successful people and athletes,” he said.
The current San Benito team clinched a spot in the playoffs Thursday night, crushing Brownsville Rivera 17-0 in win No. 601 for Martinez.
“I love it,” he said. “It is where we need to be. The playoffs is where Lady ’Hounds softball belongs. We are going to take it, run with it and do the best we can.”
The season wraps up Tuesday for the Lady ’Hounds against Weslaco High. The Lady Panthers can clinch the district title against San Benito.
Entering the final game, Weslaco High is 11-2, Harlingen South is 10-3, Los Fresnos is 10-3 and San Benito is 9-4. South and Los Fresnos square off Tuesday, too.
“We are rebuilding and getting better every day,” Martinez said. “We are in the playoffs. Everybody starts 0-0. Get in the playoffs with momentum, and anything is possible.”
