Pete Luna|Uvalde Leader-News
Lefthander Brinklee Mason delivers a pitch toward home plate. Her pitch came in the Little League Section 3 championship softball game played between Uvalde and Medina Valley on July 4. Mason and her Uvalde teammates posted a 6-3 victory over Medina Valley in that game.
The Uvalde Junior Division All-Stars finished second in the Texas West State Little League softball tournament title.
They lost a 11-2 decision to the Waco Lake Air All-Stars in the tournament championship game last Saturday morning at Abilene.
“Our girls went into the game with a great attitude. They gave an all-out effort and left everything they had all on the playing field,” said Uvalde All-Stars Manager JJ Suarez. “The girls picked each other up and encouraged each other all the way.”
Sophia Longoria posted two hits for the Lobos. She tripled and singled.
Amarii Pilgrim and Jazzlean Gomez each contributed a single.
Alexis Welch, Kenzie Cantu, and Angel Rodriguez each drew a walk in the contest.
With the win, Lake Air, the defending Little League World Series Champions, now advance to play in the regional softball tournament at Albuquerque, N.M.
Prior to their loss to Lake Air, the Uvalde girls knocked the Hale Center All-Stars out of the state softball tournament as they recorded a 7-4 win in an elimination game played last Friday night.
“We knew the our second game against Hale Center would be tough, because they played very well in their elimination game against the Freer All-Stars on Thursday,” said Suarez.
Kyla Sanchez collected a couple of hits in the game.
Sophia Longoria doubled to drive in a run, while Bella Bueno singled to drive in a couple of runs late in the contest.
Amarii Pilgrim hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run, while Bella Bueno and and Nadiyah Ramos had key sacrifice bunts to put Uvalde base runners into scoring position.
Kyla Sanchez pitched in relief of starting pitcher Brinklee Mason, who was injured in the first inning.
The Uvalde All-Stars went 3-0 and claimed District 21 tournament honors.
They posted a 2-2 record in state tournament play.
“We had a good run. We played well in the district softball tournament and performed well in the state tournament,” said Suarez. “This team of young ladies is amazing. They had good chemistry and have developed some good friendships.
“I love to watch these girls play. They work hard and they play hard,” said Suarez. “I can’t wait to see what they accomplish in softball as they head into high school.”
