By Clara Sandoval
The 830 Times
One run in softball has been the Achilles heel of the Queens in their district games. The Queens have won or lost their District 30-6A games by one run.
Tuesday, Del Rio was on the losing end after falling to Laredo Alexander 6-5 at the Student Activity Complex. With the loss Del Rio falls to 1-3 in district play while Laredo Alexander improves to 2-2.
Fielding errors were the demise of the Queens, committing seven costly errors as Laredo Alexander took advantage.
“You can not win a game when you commit errors and we have seven tonight,” Del Rio head softball coach Al Soto said. “We did not hit the ball very well so we have to get back to the basics.”
Laredo Alexander (2-2) out hit Del Rio 10-7 and were led by sophomore catcher Carmen Perez who went 3-for-4 at the plate. Perez was instrumental every time she was at the plate in igniting the offense. She also went on to score two runs for Alexander. Also lending help at the plate was Mia Rubio (2-for-3) and Ellie Gonzalez (2-for-3).
Del Rio’s bats were silent for the first two innings as the Queens struggled at the plate in the first three innings going 1-for-9 with the only hit coming from leadoff batter Ithalia Ozuna (1-for-3) in the opening inning.
Gonzalez took the circle and did not allow Del Rio to get on the board until the fourth inning. She was able to help Laredo Alexander pick up three out in each inning on three batters. Gonzalez finished with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
The Lady Bulldogs were able to utilize two walks in the opening inning and clutch hitting by Perez to produce three runs on four hits. Leadoff batter Samantha Arce (1-for-4) drew a walk and her aggressive base running, scored Alexander first run.
After making it over to third base, Del Rio was attempting to get Perez out at first after her single. When the Del Rio catcher Hope Martinez fired the ball over to first base, Arce used that opportunity to steal home and give Alexander a 1-0 lead.
Rubio then strolls to the plate and rips a two RBI single to score Jazmine Rodriguez and Perez as Alexander took a 3-0 edge.
Alexander added their fourth run in the third inning with Dee Martinez (1-for-4) scoring on a single by Jackie Tijerina.
Del Rio (1-3) finally got on the board in the fourth inning as Hope Martinez scored a run on an RBI single by Rebecca
Alcaraz (2-for-4) to make it a 4-1 ball game. Alexander exploded for two runs on two hits by Arce and Perez as the Lady Bulldogs took a commanding 6-1 edge.
The Queens made things interesting in the sixth inning, putting their best offensive effort forward as they had five hits and scored four runs to chip away at Alexander’s lead.
Ozuna drew the walk and then an error put Hope Martinez on base. Alcaraz ripped a triple to score Ozuna and Martinez. Miamore Salazar strolled to the plate and ripped a single to score Alcaraz as Del Rio closed the gap on Laredo Alexander.
The Queens final run came on a RBI single by Mia Bella Ojeda (1-for-3) to score Salazar and make it a 6-5 ball game heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
Laredo Alexander threatened to score with runners on the bags but Del Rio made a nice double play from right fielder Celeste Colunga (1-for-3) who caught a fly ball and then fired it home to Martinez who tagged out Jazmine Rodriguez to end the inning.
Del Rio could capitalize in their last at bat as Laredo Alexander held on to the victory and improved in the district standings.
