Junior drives in three during decisive seventh-inning rally
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This year’s Southwest team may not be as dominant as some of its predecessors, but it may have an intangible on its side that’s capable of propelling the Dragons as far.
That hard to define trait manifests itself as an ability to manufacture of inspriation when their backs are against the wall. The Dragons (30-9) did it again in their Region IV quarterfinal series opener Thursday at the Northeast ISD complex’s east field, scoring seven runs in the top of the seventh to turn a deficit into an 11-9 victory over District 28-5A Steele (19-13).
Junior second baseman Yanira Fernandez provided the spark three times in a span of about half an hour. The first was a diving stop that prevented a Knights run in the bottom of the sixth, which helped senior pitcher Kamerie Vidales escape a bases-loaded jam. She batted twice in the seventh, belting a home run and driving in the two runs that signified the margin of victory.
“It was a little bit difficult,” Fernandez said, of her defensive play with the Knights leading 5-4. “I just focused on getting the runner out.”
Game 2 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tonight at the SAISD Mary Ann Villarreal Complex on Field No. 1. A win would put the Dragons in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2011 and second time in school history. A third game would take place 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Northside ISD Field No. 2, if necessary.
The series winner will play the Los Fresnos-San Benito winner. Those teams meet in a one-game playoff at 7 p.m. tonight at San Benito. The Dragons have played San Benito twice in the postseason during Southwest coach Sandy Hernandez’s six years at the helm.
Fernandez (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) hits fifth in the Southwest order between power hitters Vidales (11 home runs) and Caitlin Terrazas (8 home runs). The junior is more of a gap hitter, but she got a little extra on her tying drive to left-center for her first home run since April 17.
The date is significant, because it accounted for the Dragons’ run in a 4-1 district-finale loss to Steele.
“When one of us hits, it’s like starting a train,” Fernandez said. “It starts a train reaction. It’s good that we have a team that can do something like that”
Her fourth home run of the season was followed by a pair of outs, which delayed the reaction. The Dragons got new life when Miranda Gonzales drew a walk and Amanda Sanchez was safe on a dropped popup.
The next five Southwest batters recorded hits.
“They refuse to lose,” Hernandez said of her team. “We go 16 deep. I knew if I one could get a hit, the next one could go in there and get a hit.”
Junior Kristal Salinas (2-for-4, RBI) drove a two-run single to left and ran aggressively on senior Liz Phillips’ double to left-center field. Kayla Arguello added a single that increased Southwest’s lead to 9-5.
An opposite-field double from Vidales meant that six-consecutive batters had reached base. Fernandez drove in the Dragons’ last two runs with a single to right.
“That was the only thing stuck in my mind,” Fernandez said. “I needed to get the team two more runs.”
Hernandez wasn’t surprised by Fernandez’s heroics, although she is known more for quiet contributions. She threw out a runner at the plate for Steele’s second out in the sixth after stopping a would-be base hit from No. 3 hitter Alexis Walkden.
“The biggest thing is that YaYa never really plays scared,” she said. “She made the pick up and made the play. Then she came back and made two shots. She drove that one over the fence and then that single.
“She’s a silent killer.”
Steele, which had led 5-3 in the bottom of the third, wasn’t done scoring.
The first three Knights batters reached base ahead of an infield fly. The batter was out, but runners could advance at their own risk. Two scored, cutting the Dragons’ lead to four.
No. 9 hitter Jenelle Pence and freshman Savanna Bonola produced back-to-back RBI singles before Vidales was able to record the last two outs.
Steele drew five walks and used a sacrifice fly to score three runs and chase Terrazas from the pitcher’s circle in the first. Runs were scored on a bases-loaded walk to Miranda Holguin, a sacrifice fly from Knights pitcher Jennifer Hittinger and a passed ball.
The Dragons closed to 3-2 in the second when two runs scored when Sanchez’s ground out was misplayed. Southwest tied it on a third-inning throwing error as Steele attempted to turn a double play.
A sacrifice fly from Holguin and an error brought Steele a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the inning.
Southwest answered in the fifth, when Vidales (3-for-5, RBI) drove a run-scoring single.
“I we they were going to have a big inning,” Hernandez said, “though I’d like it to be in the first five or so. But I knew eventually we’d come together and get it done.”
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