Pearsall overcomes slow start, opens district play 2-0

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | March 9, 2023

PEARSALL SOFTBALL

Lady Mavs crush Devine 6-3, Somerset 23-12; face key matchup March 10 against Floresville.

Injuries and a slow start looked to derail Pearsall’s defense of its district softball championship but in true Lady Mavs’ fashion, the team steadied the ship and opened district play with a pair of victories last week.

Pearsall topped rival Devine 6-3 in their league opener on February 28 and then followed that up with a 23-12 rout of Somerset on Friday, March 3.

With an expanded district field following UIL realignment, the team played a shortened non-district slate under new head coach Melissa Sanchez. The changes resulted in a 1-3 start to open the 2023 season.

Things then took a turn at the tough Kerrville Tivy tournament as the team won three of five games and have since won four straight, including two in district and five of its last six games.

“We’ve had a couple of injuries early in the season, yet, we have managed to make some critical shifts in some vital areas,” Coach Sanchez said of the rough start to the year. “The ladies have shown some true resilience, everyone has really contributed to our current win streak.

“The team is really focused on staying united and healthy. Our last two district victories have drawn the team closer together in an effort to continue learning from our mistakes and staying hungry for a district title.”

Pearsall wrapped up pre-district play with only a pair of tournaments under its belt and one non-district contest against Boerne and only a single home-game prior to league play.

The Lady Mavs will host four of its next six games at home as they look to make a strong push to surge ahead in the district standings but the coach credits the team’s defensive efforts and an offensive surge from Kristen Morales and Sophia Garza.

“Though this last week, all the girls held their own in a strong defensive stance, I have to recognize two players (Morales and Garza) that really came through when we needed them the most,” Sanchez said. “These two players rose to the occasion and knocked out some crucial homerun’s to top off a week of excellent offensive performances at bat.

“We are looking forward to staying home this week against non-district Hondo, and the current district leader, Floresville.”

District seedings will sort themselves out this coming week as the Lady Mavs will have key league outings in two of its next three games. Pearsall took on Hondo in a non-district contest Tuesday evening in Pearsall and will host Floresville on Friday and be at Uvalde on March 14.

Floresville, Uvalde and the Lady Mavs are all tied atop the standings at 2-0 apiece.

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