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WESLACO — Trailing Austin Bowie 3-0 during the fifth inning of a best-of-3 regional semifinal series, Weslaco High sophomore Elizabeth Craig stepped up to bat.
Calm and collected, Craig swung at an outside pitch, connecting with the ball for a deep shot to center field, bringing in a pair of runs.
Craig’s hit, which was Weslaco’s first of the contest, set up junior Lexie Escamilla’s two-run go-ahead homer to lead the Panthers to a Game 1 victory.
Plays like this have become the norm for the Panthers, with a loaded group of underclassmen helping Weslaco High go 8-0 through four postseason series.
They’ll look to keep their hot play going during the Region IV-6A finals, taking on San Antonio O’Connor in a best-of-3 series beginning at 7 p.m. tonight at Cabaniss Softball Field in Corpus Christi.
“When the season starts, we don’t judge them based on their classifications,” Weslaco High head coach Mario Rodriguez said. “We usually say your skills and ability will speak for itself. It doesn’t matter if you’re a senior or junior or whatever. They’ve continued to grow. Even if they aren’t starters, we tell them work while you wait so when your number is called you can be that much better. They’ve done that.”
Craig and Escamilla are just two of several underclassmen making names for themselves this season. Sophomore second baseman Alexis Soliz ranks No. 2 on the team in postseason batting average, going 13-of-28. One of her biggest games came during Weslaco’s 14-4 victory over San Antonio Holmes in the regional quarterfinals, going 4-of-4 with two RBIs.
“I think the game doesn’t really judge age or grade level. We just play how we play and that’s how we do it,” Soliz said.
Sophomore first baseman Romy Nuñez is tied for first on the team in postseason home runs with three. During the Panthers’ 10-0 Game 2 victory over Bowie, Nuñez recorded the team’s first hit, crushing the ball out of the park for a two-run homer.
“We’re just having fun with it,” Nuñez said. “At the end of the day, we’re here to play this beautiful sport, so why not have fun? We don’t walk up thinking we have to get this hit or try to be the superhero of the game. We just come in, have fun and do us.”
Sophomore Mia Rodriguez has added six hits, four RBIs and five runs scored during the postseason, while Kalysa Izaguirre and Emalee Galvan, who serve primarily as pinch runners, have scored a combined 10 runs.
Meanwhile, freshman outfielder Lola Reyes has served as a key piece to the Panthers’ defense, which has allowed just 14 runs through their eight contests, 1.76 runs per game.
Reyes displayed her athleticism during Game 2 of the regional semifinals against Bowie, making a diving catch to erase what looked like a double for the Bulldogs.
“We just take away the grade levels,” Craig said. “Like Lola is the only freshman but I’ve never processed that. When she had that catch in the outfield, it was just an amazing catch. We just think of everyone as an equal. Everyone here is a great player, regardless of class. We just know each other’s potential, so we push each other to continue regardless of age.”
The Panthers’ underclassmen, combined with the impact of seniors such as Jules Garcia, Katia Reyes and Stacey Bautista, have carried them to 11 straight wins, including four straight postseason sweeps, becoming the latest team since the 2017 Rio Hondo Bobcats to advance to the regional finals. This marks the second time the Panthers have advanced to the regional finals, their last trip coming during the 2016 season, which ended with Weslaco High falling 4-0 in the state semifinals to Pearland High.
Their opponent, San Antonio O’Connor (28-1), has reeled off 23 straight victories, its only loss coming Feb. 19 during a tournament matchup against Kleins Collins.
Still, Weslaco High isn’t concerning itself too much with the numbers, whether ages or streaks, gearing up to continue playing their game and try and advance to the state tournament.
“Everyone’s moment to shine are going to come. Elizabeth has had her moments. Romy and Alexis have come through. Everyone has come through in different ways,” Mia said. “It’s really exciting to see how everyone is being successful. … We’re just taking in the moment.”
