By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Monday night was not a good night for Del Rio Little League’s all-star teams.
Both the 8-10 baseball and Junior League softball teams tasted defeat in their respective tournaments held at the Val Verde Sports Complex off Frontera Road.
The 8-10 baseball team was eliminated from the District 35 8-10 Little League Baseball Tournament at the hands of Eagle Pass, 26-9. With the win, Eagle Pass claimed the tournament championship having defeated Del Rio twice.
The Junior League softball team made its tournament debut Monday night in the late game, but lost to Eagle Pass, 13-0. The two teams will meet again Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a must-win game for Del Rio. If Del Rio loses, then Eagle Pass will take the District 35 Little League Junior League Softball Tournament championship.
In the only game not involving a Del Rio team Monday, Eagle Pass outlasted Kinney County, 17-9, to advance to the championship game of the District 35 10-12 Little League Softball Tournament. Eagle Pass will face Del Rio tonight at 9 p.m. at the complex’s Field 3. If Del Rio wins, they claim the tournament championship. If Eagle Pass wins, then the “if necessary” game will be played Thursday at 9 p.m. at Field 3.
Tonight, Del Rio takes on Kinney County in an elimination game in the District 35 10-12 Little League Baseball Tournament at 7:30 p.m. at the complex’s Field 1. The winner of that game advances to the championship game to face Eagle Pass Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Field 1.
Also tonight, Eagle Pass and Kinney County will square off at 7 p.m. on Field 3 in an elimination game in the 8-10 District 35 8-10 Softball Tournament. The winner advances to play Del Rio Thursday at 7 p.m. in the tournament’s championship game.
10-12 SOFTBALL
When Kinney County and Eagle Pass met the first time in the District 35 10-12 Little League Softball Tournament, the two teams combined for 37 runs in a game that was ended due to reaching the time limit.
This time, the two teams went the distance as Eagle Pass prevailed, 17-9.
Much like in their first game, Kinney County struck first, scoring three runs in the first inning to take the lead. Caroline Ducharme, Anisa Talamantez and Daniella Mancha all reached base and scored.
After Kinney County was held scoreless in the second inning, Eagle Pass got on the board in the bottom of the inning with five runs to grab a 5-3 lead.
Kinney County would be held scoreless in the second and third innings. By the time the team came to bat in the fourth, they trailed 9-3.
They finally got their offense going in the fourth with three more runs to cut the lead to 9-6. Faith Estrada, Layla Johnson and Ducharme scored for the team.
Eagle Pass scored five more runs in the fourth inning to push its lead to 14-6, but Kinney Count countered with three runs in the fifth to keep their hopes alive. Rosie Redondo, Bell Mancha and Calista Perez scored with Perez driving in two runs with a single.
Eagle Pass scored three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 17-9. Kinney County could not answer in the sixth, bringing an end to its tournament run.
8-10 BASEBALL
Del Rio fell behind early and could not recover, leading to the team’s exit from the District 35 8-10 Little League Baseball Tournament.
Del Rio trailed 15-0 after Eagle Pass’ first at-bat. The visitors sent 18 batters to the plate in the first inning. It took seven batters before Eagle Pass recorded its first out, and it was 10 more batters before they recorded the second and third.
Del Rio scored twice in its half of the second. Adriel Flores singled and later scored on a double by Joaquin Flores. Flores would score thanks to a single by A.J. Rodriguez.
Eagle Pass scored four more runs in the second inning to push Del Rio to the brink of elimination via the run rule. They capped their scoring in the third inning, scoring seven runs and leaving Del Rio down 26-2 headed into the bottom of the third.
Del Rio would not go quietly, posting seven runs in its final at-bat.
Adriel Flores, Dodo Avalos, Flores, Diego Cardenas, Leo Gonzalez IV, Ryan Carreon, Mario Cantu Jr., and Malachi Cadena each reached base and scored in the inning for Del Rio, but the outburst wasn’t enough as Eagle Pass won via the run rule in three innings.
JUNIOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL
Making its tournament debut, the Del Rio Little League squad in the District 35 Junior League Softball Tournament ran into a tough Eagle Pass team in the opening game of the two-team tournament.
Eagle Pass held Del Rio to just three hits as they defeated Del Rio, 13-0, Monday night. Eagle Pass needs one more win to claim the tournament championship while Del Rio needs to win Wednesday and Friday to take the title.
Del Rio’s best chance to score came in the first inning. Karina Limon walked, Sara Torres singled and Anaya Rodriguez walked to load the bases with two outs, but Alyna Villarreal was retired on strikes to stop the threat and end the at-bat.
Del Rio’s other hits came on a single by Acviana Orlando in the second and a single by Torres in the third.
Eagle Pass pitchers Mayte Figueroa and Emily Valdez teamed up to strike out 10 Del Rio batters with Valdez striking out four of the six batters she faced.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
