Pitching dominates softball All-Star game at La Joya

LA JOYA — With a stellar pitching performance from three pitchers the East was able to hold off the West for a 3-1 victory in the fifth annual Rio Grande Valley Fastpitch Softball Showcase.

Edcouch-Elsa coach Jose Palacios was the East’s coach for the fifth year and he couldn’t have been happier with his team’s performance.

“Obviously when you have the talent we had it was great,” Palacios said. “Every year is different and every team is unique in their own way.”

Palacios also said that when a coach has an array of talent like the East squad it’s a privilege.

Palacios knew that this game was a showcase and “showcase” is exactly what he did with three pitchers. In a unique strategy he would put in a pitcher, then sub for another pitcher and then go back to the pitcher that started the game.

“We usually don’t do that but this is a showcase,” Palacios said. “For that reason you need to showcase the kids. That’s why we agreed to play eight innings instead of seven.”

In the bottom in the seventh, La Joya High’s Darlene Salinas sent one over the fence for the West’s only run of the night.

Brownsville Porter’s Cheryl Vasquez got the start for the East and recorded nine strikeouts. San Benito’s Jo Ann Herrera struck out four batters and Weslaco East’s Olivia Ruiz pitched for one hitless inning.

For the West, Edinburg North’s Iliana Hinojosa pitched six innings, striking out eight batters and walking four. Edinburg High’s Sarina Rios relieved Hinojosa and recorded two strikeouts.

Most valuable players for the game went to Vasquez for the East and Hinojosa for the West.

Both players earned their awards but Vasquez showed heart down the stretch as she struck out the final three batters in the bottom of the eighth.

“I was just thinking about finishing it and having fun,” Vasquez said of the eight inning performance. “Go out with a bang.”