COWGIRLS RIDE INTO AREA ROUND

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | May 4, 2023

GIRLS SOFTBALL

LEIJA DOMINANT ON THE MOUND, OFFENSE SCORES EARLY AND OFTEN IN BI-DISTRICT ROUT OF SA WEST CAMPUS

Cotulla players celebrate following their 10-0 shutout victory over West Campus on Thursday. The team flexed its muscle in the win, powering its way to a dominant victory. (CURRENT Photo: Manuel Azocar III)

A leadoff triple in their first at-bat set the tone for Cotulla as the team shot out of the gates quickly in rolling to a 10-0 shutout victory over San Antonio West Campus to claim the bi-district title last Thursday in softball action.
All the Cotulla bats were humming in the victory as the offense set the tone and the defense shut down any efforts on the Lady Cougars part.
“I thought our fast start on Thursday night set the tone for the rest of the game,” CHS Head Coach George Martinez said. “Our top of the lineup did exactly what we wanted and the bottom half of our lineup continued to provide the support that they have been providing all season long. The girls are ready to continue on to the next round.”
Coach Martinez’ few words were indicative of the work his team did last Thursday as the team was surgical in its precision and efficient with its opportunities in earning the five-inning, run rule win.
Cotulla led 4-0 after the first and 7-0 after two innings. The victory was punctuated late in the game as Allyse Leija and Mia Garcia both belted inside-the-park homeruns in consecutive plate appearances.
Hailey Gonzales had a leadoff triple to open the game and Allyse Leija helped her score with a short grounder. Mia Garcia hit a stand-up RBI triple. Miranda Gonzalez then belted an RBI double. Anahi Martinez had a single to move the runner over to third before Jasmine De la Garza added an RBI single.
Hailey Gonzales and Trevlyn Aldaco both singled and Leija moved them over with a sacrifice grounder. Garcia then hit another stand-up double to score two and Miranda Gonzalez and had RBI double in the second inning.
Leija and Garcia then belted their homeruns in the fourth as Miranda Gonzalez added a double. She scored on Anahi Martinez’ RBI double to cap the scoring.
The win marked the second bi-district championship for the Cowgirls since 2021.
With the win, Cotulla will now take on the Columbus Cardinals in a three-game series this week. The team’s will play game one on Friday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in Kenedy. Game two will be on Saturday, May 6 at 1 p.m. A third game, if needed, will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second game.
The Cardinals are 25-6 this season and were the District 25-3A runners-up, finishing second, despite a similar 13-1 league record, to state-ranked Halletsville.

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