Edison won’t share 28-4A title
Indians, Golden Bears among seven local playoff teams
By Mike Considine
It seems Harlandale was so focused on making the playoffs, the Indians didn’t realize that another, bigger achievement was sneaking up on them.
While the Indians (14-10, 8-6) secured their fifth-consecutive playoff appearance under coach Jennifer Bocanegra Friday at the Frank Tejeda Complex, they also accomplished something more. Harlandale’s 6-3 win over Southside (13-18, 5-9) enabled it to tie Floresville (11-19, 8-6) for third place in the district.
When the playoff push began, Harlandale was merely shooting for fourth place and the last available postseason slot in District 29-4A. At the time, the first three placings seemed securely hands of eventual champion Medina Valley (24-7, 14-0), Uvalde (17-9, 12-2) and Floresville.
Then the Jaguars hit an unforeseen skid. They lost to Uvalde Tuesday and to Medina Valley Friday, both by 7-2 scores. Meanwhile, the Indians extended their winning streak to three games following back-to-back losses to Medina Valley (April 5) and Floresville (April 9).
“We stumbled against Floresville,” Bocanegra said. “Then we had to hope McCollum stumbled. We had to hope and cross our fingers. Things had to happen, and they just fell into place.
“I told the girls we needed to take it one pitch at a time, and they did that very well.”
Harlandale was the seventh area team to qualify for the playoffs. Brackenridge (14-15-1), East Central (20-11), Edison (14-15-2), Holy Cross (22-13-2), Jefferson (13-15) and Southwest (29-5) had already qualified before Friday’s games began.
“We usually make the playoffs every year,” Indians senior left fielder Amanda Esparza said. “We had to keep going. We’ve had success and have certain set standards for the program. We wanted to maintain our reputation and our standards.
“We were going to keep playing hard, win or lose. It feels good to get in.”
In District 28-4A, Edison won an outright title Friday with a 14-4 victory over Jefferson, after clinching a share of first place with a win over Brennan Tuesday. Jefferson’s loss, coupled with Brackenridge’s 14-5 win over Highlands, settled the district’s playoff situation. Brackenridge finished third and the Mustangs took fourth.
East Central and Southwest each concluded district play Tuesday, finishing in a first-place tie in District 28-5A. Holy Cross fell 5-1 to Victoria St. Joseph (20-8) Saturday in the TAPPS 3-4A tournament championship game.
Both Southside and McCollum began the week with a chance to grab fourth place in 29-4A.
McCollum also won Friday, defeating Kennedy (7-20, 2-12) 12-2. However, the Cowboys lost 11-5 to Medina Valley Tuesday. At that point, their playoff hopes hinged on the outcome of the Southside-Harlandale game. They needed their archrival to lose.
The Cardinals were willing to hold up their end. Although Southside’s playoff hopes also officially ended Tuesday, it delivered a playoff-caliber performance against Harlandale during the Indians’ Senior Night.
Before Tuesday’s games, Southside needed to win its last two games while Harlandale and McCollum each absorbed two losses to finish in what would have been a three-way tie for fourth.
“We have a lot of seniors, and it’s really hard for them,” Southside coach Mike Alfaro said. “We’re as good as any team that’s going to the playoffs. It’s tough not to make it, but that’s the way it goes.”
After defeating Kennedy 3-2 Tuesday, the Cardinals jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Harlandale in the first inning.
Cardinals catcher Ashley Ramirez started off the game with a base hit. Ramirez advanced on a sacrifice bunt from April Rodriguez. With two outs, senior Gabby Geigenmiller walked and shortstop Regina Sanchez (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) followed with an RBI single.
Southside led 1-0 with one out in the bottom of the inning when Harlandale freshman catcher Brianna Heredia (3-for-4, 2 RBIs) collected the first of her three hits. Heredia was forced at second base on Brittany Gonzalez’s grounder. However, Gonzales scored the tying run on an error.
Harlandale gained the lead in the third inning. Winning pitcher Stephanie Lopez stated the inning by sending a drive over the second baseman’s head into right field. That brought up Heredia, who laced a triple that landed inches inside the left-field line. Ahead 2-1, Gonzalez got the Indians’ third run home with another grounder.
The eventual winning run came in the fourth when Sabrina Esparza was struck by a pitch and came around to score.
Trailing 4-1, Southside again showed its moxie.
Geigenmiller led off with a single. Sanchez then brought the Cardinals within 4-2 with an RBI triple. Herrera cut Southside’s deficit to a run, driving in Sanchez with a base hit.
Lopez escaped the threat without further damage. The senior induced three straight grounders to leave the bases stocked with Cardinals.
Heredia scored her second run of the day after drawing a walk in the fifth. Indians clean-up hitter Jackie Espinoza produced a key base hit as Harlandale’s lead grew to 5-3.
Southside’s Sanchez ranged from her shortstop position to make a diving stop on Amanda Esparza’s grounder headed up the middle of the diamond. Despite the outstanding play, Esparza beat out the infield single. She scored the Indians’ last run of the regular season on Heredia’s soaring double to center field.
Southside finished in sixth place in 29-4A.
Harlandale blanked Floresville 6-0 Saturday in the third-place tiebreaker. The Indians will play Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway (21-8) 7 p.m. this Saturday at the Northside ISD Field No. 1.
FOR A FULL STORY ON SOUTHSIDE VS. HARLANDALE softball (April 19, 2013 @ Frank Tejeda Complex), click here:
SAN ANTONIO SOUTH SIDE SPORTS 