PLAYOFF TIME

By Manuel Azocar III - Sports Writer/Managing Editor | April 23, 2025

2025 UIL BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFFS

Pearsall, Cotulla softball teams open first round of playoffs this week.

Freshman Jalyssa Vasquez hit her first career grand slam as Pearsall jumped out to a 5-0 lead en route to a 15-4 run-rule victory over Pleasanton in their regular season finale on Thursday, April 17.
The team had already clinched a playoff berth and the team is slated to take on Cuero in a bi-district best-of-three series beginning Thursday, April 24.
All games will be played in Three Rivers at 7 p.m. Game one is on Thursday, Game two will be on Friday and a third game, if needed, will be on Saturday. Tickets for all three games will be sold 0nline.
The Lady Mavs were quick out of the gates in the win over Pleasanton as Vasquez’ homer put the team up 5-0. They would build a 12-4 lead through three innings and put the game away with three runs in the sixth to win via ten-run rule.
“The girls started off quick on offense with freshman Jalyssa Vasquez hitting her first career grand slam,” PHS Head Coach Juan Soliz said. “That didn’t stop Pleasanton as they came back and scored three right after that. Our pitchers and defense once again, played some solid defense, allowing one more run for the Lady Eagles. Our offense woke up and eventually put ten runs, run ruling them in six innings.”

2025 PEARSALL LADY MAVS SOFTBALL TEAM

Pearsall scored 15 runs on only eight hits while limiting Pleasanton to four runs on 12 hits.
Vasquez led the way, going two for four with four RBI, two runs scored and her homer.
Jesslyn Gutierrez was two for three with a pair of runs scored.
Alayna Zapata hit a three run triple and scored twice while Jeralyn Gutierrez also had a two run triple and scored once.
Kristen Morales scored three runs and had an RBI single.
Caitlyn Rodriguez went five innings for Pearsall, allowing four runs on ten hits and striking out five.
In a non-district playoff tuneup Monday evening, Pearsall rolled to a 16-2 win over Hondo.
The Lady Mavs held a 3-2 lead through three innings before erupting for 12 runs in the fourth. The game was called in the fifth on the ten-run rule.
Pearsall scored all 16 runs on ten hits while limiting Hondo to a pair of runs on six hits.
Jeralyn Gutierrez went three for three, scored twice and had an RBI double.
Jesslyn Gutierrez went three for four with three RBI and a run scored.
Seven other Lady Mavs hitters collected hits in the win. Zapata, Vasquez, Makayla Hernandez and Tori Hughes all scored two runs apiece while Zapata, Vasquez, Morales and Hughes all, also had two RBI each.
Rodriguez allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three in three innings of work. Morales went two innings, surrendering a single hit and striking out four.

Having wrapped up their third straight District 28-3A softball title a week ago with a come-from-behind win over Lytle combined with a Natalia loss to Crystal City, Cotulla’s Cowgirls prepped for their first round opponent with a warm-up outing against Somerset Tuesday evening, April 22.
The Cowgirls closed out their season last Monday, April 14 with a 12-1 rout of Crystal City. Cotulla ended the year with a 9-1 mark in 28-3A, their only blemish a 7-2 loss to Natalia in their second matchup.

2025 COTULLA COWGIRLS SOFTBALL TEAM

The team will take on San Antonio Cole this Thursday, April 24 in a one-game bi-district playoff. The two will face off at Southwest Legacy High School in San Antonio’s far south side.
The Lady Cougars were the fourth seed in District 27-3A and went to the small school bracket in the playoffs along with Jourdanton.
Teams in all sports except for football are now divided into Division I and Division II formats as they enter the postseason.
Cotulla has currently won its last two bi-district matchups, topping South San West Campus in 2023 and 2024.