By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
One Del Rio Little League team kept its title hopes alive while another saw its tournament season come to an end Wednesday night.
The 10-12 baseball team shut out Eagle Pass, 10-0, in five innings via the run rule to force the “if necessary” game tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the District 35 10-12 Little League Baseball Tournament at the Val Verde Sports Complex off Frontera Road.
In the District 35 Little League Junior League Softball Tournament, Eagle Pass was too much for Del Rio as they claimed the tournament championship, 28-0.
Rain delayed the start of Wednesday’s games. The much-needed downpour, which lasted several minutes, pushed back the start of games about 30 minutes, but the fields were ready to go shortly after the rain subsided.
Three games are slated for tonight’s tournament schedule at the complex.
The 10-12 baseball finale will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the complex’s Field 1. Eagle Pass won the first game, 3-2, on June 26. Del Rio then battle back through the elimination bracket and won Wednesday night, 10-0, to set up the winner-take-all scenario in tonight’s championship game.
Del Rio Little League’s 8-10 softball team can capture the District 35 crown by defeating Eagle Pass tonight in a game set to start at 7 p.m. at the complex’s Field 3. Del Rio defeated Eagle Pass in their first meeting, 21-10, on June 24. A Del Rio win tonight would conclude the tournament. If Eagle Pass wins, then the two teams would meet again Friday at 9 p.m. to decide the district champion.
Del Rio Little League’s 10-12 softball team can also capture the district title tonight if they defeat Eagle Pass in a winner-takes-all championship game that is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Del Rio beat Eagle Pass in their first meeting, 21-8, on June 25, but Eagle Pass won a back-and-forth affair Tuesday night, 12-11.
10-12 BASEBALL
Del Rio’s 10-12 baseball team wasn’t ready to start its summer vacation just yet.
Behind a complete game performance by Marky Salas, and an eight-run barrage in the fifth inning, Del Rio defeated Eagle Pass, 10-0, via the run rule to force a winner-takes-all game tonight.
Salas had Eagle Pass batters off balance all night. He allowed just three hits and walked one batter while striking out six including the final three batters he faced to lead Del Rio to the win.
The game was 0-0 until the top of the fourth inning. Rylen Roberts walked to start the Del Rio at-bat and then moved to second on a sacrifice by Mario Cervantes. After Josiah Martinez walked, E.J. Galliete ripped a double to drive in two runs and stake Del Rio a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, Del Rio blew the game wide open.
Del Rio sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning, scoring eight runs and taking a 10-0 lead. The big blow was a three-run home run by Brandon Dominguez, who scored twice in the inning, which also brought in Colton Woody and Salas. Isaiah Harrington, Roberts, Noah Cannon and Galliete also scored in the inning.
Dominguez, Woody, Galliete and Jaren Valadez each had two hits for Del Rio. Martinez also had a hit in the win.
JUNIOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL
Del Rio’s hopes for extending its stay in the District 35 Little League Junior League Softball tournament faded in the first inning.
Eagle Pass sent 19 batters to the plate in the first inning, pounding Del Rio’s pitchers for seven hits and taking advantage of four walks, two hit batters and three Del Rio errors to score 13 runs en route to a 28-0 final.
Eagle Pass scored 13 runs in the first inning, five runs in the second inning, eight runs in the third inning and two runs in the fourth inning to power its way to the district championship.
Del Rio did not get a hit in the contest. Adriana Orlando reached on an error and Anaya Rodriguez and Sophia Cuevas each walked to account for Del Rio’s three base runners in the game.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
