South softball coach Elias Martinez finally reaches career milestone

HARLINGEN — As the final out was recorded Tuesday night, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks snapped a two-game skid with a 6-2 win over Weslaco East. But all eyes were on South skipper Elias Martinez, who had just won his 500th career game.

Surrounded by family, friends and the team, Martinez stood drenched in water, and full of joy and emotion while receiving congratulatory hugs and handshakes.

The moment has never been too big for Martinez as he is in his 20th season as a head coach and is one of the pioneers of softball in the Rio Grande Valley.

“My family has always been supportive of me, especially my wife,” Martinez said on Wednesday. “Like they say, behind every man there is a leader and that is my wife. Without her none of this would be possible. She has supported me throughout my career and I owe her so much.”

Martinez, who was born and raised in San Benito and is a graduate of San Benito High School, returned to his alma matter in 1994 and served as an assistant coach for four years under Butch Brotherton.

The two began the softball program at San Benito and Martinez took over the program in 1998.

“The majority of my wins came at San Benito. That program means a lot to me,” Martinez said. “Coach Brotherton and I started from scratch; we started by rolling a ball to the girls and teaching them the basics about softball. We have been fortunate to have tremendous athletes at San Benito and now here at South.”

Martinez is one of two softball coaches in the Valley to lead a team to the UIL state tournament. Martinez guided San Benito to the state semifinals in 2013 and 2015.

The 2013 season was a special one, given that no Valley softball program had ever made the state tourney.

The only other coach to lead a team to state is Weslaco’s current head coach Mario Rodriguez, who directed Weslaco High to the state semis in 2016.

“All the wins are special, but it’s sweeter when you reach the playoffs,” Martinez said. “The kids here at South are amazing and their will to win makes them special.”

Road to 500

Over his 20 years as a head coach, Martinez is currently 500-150. From 1998 to 2015, he patrolled the San Benito dugout and amassed 10 district titles, 16 bi-district titles and 12 area titles. He also made it to eight regional quarterfinals, three sweet 16 appearances, three trips to the elite eight, two region finals and two trips to the state tournament.

Martinez took over at Harlingen South in 2015 and has reached the playoffs in his first two seasons.

In his first year at the helm, South fell in the bi-district round, but made a run to the sweet 16 in his second season.

This year, South is currently eyeing the postseason as a two seed in District 32-6A but still has an opportunity to claim a share of the league title.

Through his first three years as a Hawk, Martinez is 67-28.

Martinez and Co. look to finish off the regular season at Brownsville Rivera on Friday.