All-star softball game on tap Tuesday at Sharyland

The third annual East-West All-Star Softball Showcase on Tuesday night at Sharyland promises to bring together the Rio Grande Valley's top recently graduated high school players on the same diamond.

The first pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The West won the inaugural game 2-1 at Hidalgo in 2006. The East tied the series with a 6-0 victory at Sharyland last year.

"I'm expecting a real competitive game," said Edcouch-Elsa's Jose "Joey" Palacios, who will coach the East squad. "Both teams have some very good players. We've been practicing for about three and a half weeks, and all of our girls have been doing a good job. The hardest part is finding out who's going to start."

Candidates to start on the mound for the East include Samantha Flores of E-E, Darlene Hernandez of Raymondville, Jessy Cadena of Mercedes, Alyssa N. Cavazos of Weslaco High and Alyssa Martinez of Mercedes.

"It may be a gametime decision (who will start as pitcher)," said Palacios, who has guided E-E to the playoffs in two of the past three seasons that he was the Lady Yellowjackets' head coach.

The Lower Valley will be represented on the East squad by Priscilla Ruiz, Roxanne Martinez and Alyssa Garcia, all of Los Fresnos, along with Sadie Sanchez and "Itchy" Sauceda, both of San Benito.

Three of Palacios' former E-E players are also on the East roster. They are Flores, Vanessa Padron and Crystal Salinas.

Rounding out the East roster are Diznee Orozco and Anyssa Romo of Lyford; Estrella Garcia, Alyssa Garza, Cecilia Mora and Celina Valdez, all of Donna; Liz Alvarez and Hernandez of Raymondville; Alyssa N. Cavazos of Weslaco High; and Cadena, Alyssa Posadas, Alyssa Martinez, and Crishele Gonzalez, all of Mercedes.

Sharyland's Paul Cruz will coach the West squad, which includes standout pitcher Aysha Soliz of La Joya.

Also featured on the West team will be five players from District 31-5A champion PSJA North. They are Crystal Escobedo, Robin Martinez, Janelle Medrano, Amanda Pecina and Yesenia Torres.

Other schools represented on the West squad are Edinburg North, Edinburg High, PSJA High, Mission High, Mission Veterans, Rio Grande City and Sharyland.

Palacios' coaching staff for the East will include E-E assistants Naelly Cantu, Belinda Rubio and Robert Peacock along with Oscar Rene Salinas of Weslaco East.

"I've told our girls that the most important thing is to go out, have fun and represent their schools to the best of their abilities," Palacios said.

"We're blessed with a really good pitching staff this year, and that should help us out," he added.