By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It was a cold night in Del Rio Friday, but the intensity between the Queens and United Lady Longhorns burned hot on the softball field.
A United coach was ejected and players had to be separated in the sixth inning as Del Rio picked up its first district win of the season, 13-9.
The Queens found themselves in a quick 4-0 hole in the first inning as United’s first six batters of the game reached base and scored four runs. The big hit was a two-run single by Dessy Perez, but Queens staring pitcher Rebekah Alcaraz was able to settle down and escape the inning without allowing any more damage after Perez’s hit.
Del Rio didn’t wait long to provide an answer to United’s outburst. The Queens racked up six runs on five hits in the bottom of the first to take the lead, 6-4.
The Queens’ first five batters reached safely to start the at-bat. Ithalia Ozuna walked, but was caught trying to steal second. Syann Casillas followed with a walk, as did Jada Bishop. Hope Martinez then dropped a single into shallow right field to plate Ozuna. Kayla Mendoza followed with a single to right that brought in Casillas and courtesy runner Mia Ojeda to make the score 4-3.
Three batters later, Naylea Santana singled to center to bring in Mendoza and tie the game. Desiree Gomez then put the Queens ahead with a triple down the left field line that cleared the bases and staked Del Rio to a 6-4 lead.
Alcaraz settled in after the shaky first inning. She didn’t allow another hit until the fifth inning and didn’t allow another run until the sixth inning when she ran into trouble and was relieved by Ozuna.
Meanwhile, Del Rio continued to add to its lead.
The Queens picked up another run in the second inning when Bishop singled to right field, took second on an error and scored on a single to center by Alcaraz to make the score 7-4.
Del Rio added three more runs to its lead in the fifth inning.
Ozuna started things with a two-out triple. Kassady Salazar followed with a single just past the diving shortstop that brought home Ozuna to make it 8-4. Bishop would reached on an error and after a wild pitch moved both runners up a base, Martinez drilled a single to center to bring in both runners and give Del Rio a 10-4 lead.
United picked up three runs in the top of the sixth thanks to four hits and two Del Rio errors. Ozuna gave up an RBI single and then retired the next three batters to escape with a 10-7 lead.
The bottom of the sixth saw Del Rio continue its offensive showing. A walk to Alcaraz and a single by Santana gave the Queens a pair of runners with two outs. Ozuna followed with a single that brought home Alcaraz for an 11-7 lead.
Santana was close behind Alcaraz thanks to an errant throw by the United first baseman. Hustling home, Santana collided with United pitcher K.K. Cox at home. Cox took exception to the hard play and appeared to shove Santana’s face with her hand. As Santana tried to get up to confront Cox, Cox pushed her again and by that time players from both teams swooped in to pull their teammates out of the fracas.
Neither player was ejected from the game and after a few tense minutes the game was allowed to continue. Casillas punctuated Del Rio’s scoring with an RBI line drive to left field to bring home Ozuna with the Queens’ 13th run.
United score two more runs in the top of the seventh, but that was as close as the Lady Longhorns would get as Del Rio hung on for the win.
Del Rio was schedule to travel to Laredo to face Nixon on Tuesday, but that game has been moved to Monday. Junior varsity still plays at noon and varsity is scheduled to play at 2 p.m.
The Queens’ next home game is scheduled for Wednesday versus Laredo Alexander. J.V. will play at 1 p.m., and varsity will play at 3 p.m.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
