Closing the books
PEARSALL LITTLE LEAGUE
District 21 all-star tournaments draw to a close this week.
Weather and outstanding action were the running themes at the District 21 All-Star tournaments in Pearsall over the last ten days as scattered storms and extreme heat greeted visitors to the community where champions were crowned in all ten divisions.
The Pearsall senior boys won the District 21 championship in their field and will move on to the Sectional tournament in San Angelo this weekend. Pearsall’s senior division softball girls were also in the running for a District 21 title as they were in title game action Tuesday evening.
Pearsall’s major division boys had their three-game winning streak stopped by Uvalde in the title game of that tournament. The team ended up as District 21 runners-up.
8-10 BASEBALL
Pearsall’s 8-10 year-old baseball all-stars dropped their tournament opener on Sunday, June 14, falling to Devine in a second round contest.
Pearsall had a first round bye while Devine knocked off Natalia in their opener on Saturday morning.
The loss dropped the Pearsall all-stars to the consolation bracket where they were in a do-or-die situation on Tuesday evening, June 16 against Jourdanton. Pearsall won that contest but lost in the third round of the consolation bracket to Lytle and were eliminated.
Uvalde marched through the championship bracket unblemished and upended Devine in the title game to claim the District 21 championship.
8-10 SOFTBALL
Pearsall’s 8-10 softball all-stars lost their first round contest to Pleasanton on Saturday, June 13 and moved to the consolation bracket where they took on Uvalde in an elimination game on June 16. That contest was moved to Jourdanton because of the weather. Uvalde won the contest to eliminate Pearsall and then knocked off Natalia. Uvalde then took on Lytle and lost that game and were eliminated. Lytle then knocked off Hondo Monday evening in the consolation final to set up the championship final against unbeaten D’Hanis for the District 21 title. D’Hanis won consecutive contests against Uvalde, Pleasanton and Hondo to reach the title game, which was slated for Tuesday evening, June 23 at 6 p.m. D’Hanis would have to lose twice to be eliminated.
9-11 BASEBALL
In the three-team 9-11 baseball division, Uvalde rolled through the bracket, winning games over Pleasanton twice to claim the tournament championship on Saturday, June 20.
9-11 SOFTBALL
The two-team 9-11 softball bracket, in which Pearsall does not have a team participating, opened on Saturday, June 20 with Pleasanton notching a win over Atascosa County neighbor Jourdanton. The two squared off in a possible elimination game for Jourdanton on Monday, June 22 at 6 p.m.
10-12 BASEBALL
Pearsall’s Little League Major baseball all-stars lost to Uvalde twice in the District 21 Championship game at Uvalde to finish as runners-up at the event. Team members include Dashone Hernandez, Jayden Gutierrez, Mark Perez Jr., Lonnie Nelson, Elliot Alcala, Rudy Longoria, Jaythan Gutierrez, Demitri Peralta Jr., Jayden Morales, Jay Ramos, Sophia Mares and Luis Mares.
Pearsall’s 10-12 year-old baseball all-stars opened tournament play red-hot, winning three straight contests to reach the title game. They knocked off Lytle in their opener and then topped Uvalde and Natalia to make their way to the championship. The team then lost twice to Uvalde for the District 21 title.
Uvalde lost early but got hot late in the tournament, winning five straight games to earn the championship. In an odd twist, the title games were played in Uvalde’s own backyard as a thunderstorm early Saturday morning forced the Pearsall Little League organization to move the contest to Uvalde. Local work crews worked feverishly to prep the Pearsall fields for play, evening bringing in a helicopter in an attempt to dry the fields.
10-12 SOFTBALL
In 10-12 softball all-star action, Pearsall’s girls lost their first two games, falling to D’Hanis and Lytle in consecutive games. Natalia marched unbeaten through the championship bracket to reach the title game. Devine then topped Uvalde in the consolation final to advance to the District 21 championship Tuesday evening against Natalia.
JUNIOR BASEBALL
Pearsall’s Junior Baseball all-stars dropped their division opener June 13 to Hondo to move to the consolation bracket. The team was then eliminated by Uvalde on June 13. Lytle tore through that tournament bracket, winning four straight games and eliminating Hondo in the title contest to sweep the District 21 championship.
JUNIOR SOFTBALL
Lytle made it a junior sweep, claiming the title in the junior softball all-star division as well. The team won three straight games, eliminating Uvalde in consecutive games to earn the District 21 title. Pearsall’s all-stars lost to Uvalde and Pleasanton in consecutive games to be eliminated from contention.
SENIOR BASEBALL
All-Star team won their division tournament this weekend, topping Hondo twice to claim the District 21 Championship. The team now advances to the Sectional Tournament in San Angelo to take on San Antonio 5 Diamonds in a best-of-three series this weekend.
Pearsall crowned its first District 21 champion in the four-team junior baseball tournament. Pearsall knocked off Sabinal in their opener on June 13 and then topped Hondo in back-to-back games on June 18 and June 21 to earn the tournament championship. Hondo went 2-2 at the event, losing only to Pearsall. The Frio County all-stars will move on to the Sectional Tournament this weekend in San Angelo where they will be in a best-of-three series.
SENIOR SOFTBALL
The Pearsall Little League Senior softball all-stars have advanced to the District 21 championship game and were scheduled to play Hondo for the title Tuesday evening, June 23. The team would secure the title with a win but would have to lose twice to Hondo to be eliminated as they sport an unbeaten record in the tournament.
Pearsall’s senior girls were also on the cusp of a District 21 championship in the senior division as they knocked off Hondo and Natalia in consecutive games to reach the title game on Tuesday, June 23. The girls were set to play Hondo for the championship. They already own a win over Hondo and would have to lose twice as they are unbeaten entering the contest.
