In what is the softball version of the Hatfield and McCoys, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks host the San Benito Lady Greyhounds tonight with plenty riding on the outcome.
The visiting Lady Hounds enter the contest with a 9-1 District 32-6A record and are in the middle of a six-game win streak. However, as hot as San Benito has been, the Lady Hawks are one game ahead in the standings with a perfect 10-0 league mark. What’s more, the last time these two powerhouses met, the Lady Hawks dominated the diamond with an impressive 13-0 win in San Benito. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at Lady Hawk Field.
But while tonight’s game is important to the district standings, it also could bring about a significant milestone as a victory by the Lady Hawks would give head coach Elias Martinez career win No. 500. Martinez picked up win No. 499 last week after his Lady Green Birds shut out Brownsville Hanna 11-0.
After tonight, only three games remain in the regular season. The Lady Hawks wrap up the week are at Weslaco High on Friday while the Lady Hounds host Hanna.
MORE SOFTBALL:
After an embarrassing 22-3 loss to Weslaco High this past Friday, the Harlingen Lady Cardinals will look to rebound as they take on Weslaco East on the road tonight at 7 p.m. They then conclude the week by hosting Los Fresnos on Friday. Meanwhile in Class 3A, the Lyford Lady Bulldogs take on rivals Santa Rosa tonight. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Santa Rosa.
BASEBALL:
Despite a rough start to the season, the San Benito Greyhounds have come alive lately, winning their last three in a row and last four of five to improve to 4-4 in District 32-6A play. They are currently tied for fourth place in the league along with Brownsville Hanna, and just two games behind Los Fresnos, Brownsville Rivera and Weslaco High, which are all tied at 6-2. Last week they swept the Harlingen South Hawks, winning 4-2 last Tuesday and 10-7 on Friday. The Hounds take on Hanna this week in a pivotal series. They are at Hanna tonight then they host the Golden Eagles on Friday. Meanwhile, the Harlingen Cardinals snapped a four-game skid last week with back-to-back victories over Weslaco East. They beat the Wildcats 14-0 last Tuesday and 12-3 this past Friday. This week the Cards take on Los Fresnos – on the road today and at home on Friday. The Cards are currently 3-5 in league play and just one game back of San Benito and Hanna. Finally, it’s been a rough year for the South Hawks so far. Despite a solid 10-1 win over Hanna on March 29, the Hawks have dropped their last six of seven to fall to 2-6 in league play. The Green Birds will look to reverse the trend this week as they take on Weslaco High – at home this evening and on the road Friday.
IF YOU GO
San Benito (9-1) vs. Harlingen South (10-0)
What: District 32-6A contest
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Lady Hawk Field, Dixieland Street, Harlingen
What’s at stake: A South victory would give Lady Hawks coach Elias Martinez his 500th career victory
