By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Del Rio’s softball season is still young, but this year’s Queens are looking to get better with every game.
The team started its season Feb. 15 with an 11-0 win over San Antonio Memorial.
Rebekah Alcaraz and Ithalia Ozuna teamed up to fire a one hitter. The duo combined to strike out 10 batters while walking just three over five innings of work.
At the plate, the Queens pounded out eight hits led by Hope Martinez who went 2-for-4 in the game, including the biggest hit with an inside-the-park grand slam in the bottom of the third that capped the Queens scoring.
Ozuna went one-for-one, but she also drew a pair of walks and scored three runs.
Syann Casillas had a walk and an RBI and scored twice. Jada Bishop mirrored Casillas’ performance while Kayla Mendoza and Angel Maldonado each had a hit and an RBI.
Desiree Gomez also had a hit for the Queens while she and Naylea Santana each scored a run, too.
A few days later Del Rio took part in the SAISD Tournament. It was a big tournament for the Queens as they went 5-0 before falling to District 30-6A opponent Laredo LBJ in the championship game, 5-2.
The tournament began for Del Rio with an 8-4 win over San Antonio John Jay. Mendoza went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Martinez also made her presence known with a pair of hits and an RBI. Bishop, Miamor Salazar and Alcazar each had a hit in the win. Alcaraz also had a pair of RBIs.
Alcaraz also did the work in the pitcher’s circle, earning the win. She allowed four runs, only two earned, on five hits while striking out six over six innings of work.
Game two saw the Queens take down Laredo Martin, 6-3. Del Rio only had four hits, but worked hard to earn four walks that helped contribute in the win.
Bishop went 2-for-2 and had an RBI and a run scored. Alcaraz had a hit, a run scored and an RBI, and so did Salazar.
Bishop picked up the win for the Queens. She went three innings and gave up three runs on five hits and three walks. She also struck out two.
Game three was more of an offensive showcase for the Queens as they thumped San Antonio Jefferson, 7-0.
Ozuna was the winning hurler for Del Rio as she pitched three and two-thirds inning and allowed just one hit, zero walks and struck out three.
In four innings Del Rio had eight hits. Martinez had two of the Queens’ hits and drove in one run. Bishop had a hit and two RBIs as did Mendoza. Ozuna had a hit, an RBI and two runs scored and Alexa Borrego mirrored that performance. Gomez and Santana also had one hit and Santana scored a run.
In game four, Del Rio came from behind to pick up a win against San Antonio Christian, 4-2. Del Rio trailed 2-1 before scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to earn the victory.
Del Rio had five hits in the win with Ozuna earning two of them. She also scored a run. Martinez did not record a hit, but she picked up a pair of RBIs and scored a run. Bishop had a hit and scored a run, and Mendoza and Alcaraz each had a hit as well. Salazar had a run scored.
Alcaraz was able to get the win after scattering eight hits and walking three. She allowed just the two runs and struck out six.
Del Rio’s bats got back on track in a 9-1 win over San Antonio Brackenridge in game five.
The Queens jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first inning, and then capped everything with five more runs in the third inning before the game concluded in the fourth.
Ozuna was the winning pitcher, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. She struck out three batters along the way before giving way to Alcaraz who retired all three batters she faced in the fourth.
Del Rio only had five hits in the win, but the Queens also drew five walks. Ozuna, Casillas, Bishop, Salazar and Santana each had one hit. Bishop and Salazar drove in a pair of runs each while Casillas, Santana and Kassady Salazar each had an RBI as well. Ozuna scored a pair of runs while Bishop, Martinez, Mendoza, Salazar, Alcaraz, Santana and Desiree Gomez accounted for the remainder of the runs.
In the championship game, Del Rio and LBJ battled back and forth for four innings.
LBJ took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Queens tied things up in the second as Mendoza scored on a ground out by Gomez. Del Rio would then take the lead in the third inning when a Martinez double brought home Ozuna.
LBJ scored a pair of runs in the third and fourth inning to close out the scoring and pick up the win, 5-2.
Del Rio had only three hits in the game. Martinez’s double and singles by Ozuna and Alcaraz accounted for all three hits. Ozuna and Mendoza were also able to reach base via walks.
Alcaraz took the loss, giving up five runs on four hits and two walks. She struck out two in three and two-thirds innings of work.
After suffering their first loss of the season, the Queens returned home and hosted the San Angelo Central Lady Bobcats on Feb. 22.
While the two teams combined for 13 hits, they only managed to score three runs as Central rallied to beat the Queens, 2-1.
Del Rio struck first after Bishop doubled and later scored on a Martinez single in the bottom of the fourth to stake the Queens to a 1-0 lead.
That lead held until the top of the seventh when Central scored a pair of runs to eke out the one-run win.
Bishop and Gomez each had two hits including a double for Bishop and a triple for Gomez. Martinez and Mendoza each had one hit as well.
Alcaraz suffered the loss despite a strong showing in the pitcher’s circle. She allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks and struck out three.
The Queens were in Laredo this weekend for the Border Olympics.
Del Rio’s next home game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. at the Queens Softball Field.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
