Rodriguez twirls a gem, lifts San Benito to Sweet 16; Flour Bluff powers past C.C. Veterans

By Kevin Narro
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Updated: May 16, 2023

KEVIN NARRO | Rio Sports Live

CORPUS CHRISTI- San Benito sophomore pitcher Amira Rodriguez was built for the big stage.

After Rodriguez’s power arm helped guide the Lady Greyhounds to victory in the area round, she was called on to do it again and delivered in a big way.

Rodriguez brought her velocity and spin as she twirled a two-hit, complete-game shutout and leaned on her offense in a 4-0 Class 6A regional quarterfinal win over Harlan Monday afternoon at Cabaniss Field.

The Lady ‘Hounds are back in the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2018 season and for the 10th time in program history.

Rodriguez struck out nine and took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning until a one-out single from Harlan’s Sayas Quintero broke it up. Rodriguez would give up just one more hit the rest of the way.

It’s been a busy couple of rounds for Rodriguez, who threw all 11-shutout innings in the area round against San Antonio Brennan, and pitched 5.1 innings in relief in Game 3 where she surrendered just one run.

“Amira pitched her heart out today,” San Benito head coach Elias Martinez said. “I’m so proud of her and the team, they never quit.”

San Benito’s offense had some early issues against Harlan’s right hander Aubrey Flores. It wasn’t until the fourth inning when San Benito took advantage of four walks. Flores walked the bases loaded, leading to San Benito’s first scored run. That led to San Benito plating three more runs in the inning.

Up next for San Benito is a date with New Braunfels. The Unicorns are 23-13 on the year and are coming off a 14-13 win over Austin Bowie.

The Lady Greyhounds will look to get back to the region final for the first time since the 2015 season, when they went on to the state tournament.

Flour Bluff uses a eight run inning, sweeps rival CC Veterans

After a run through arguably one of the region’s toughest districts, Flour Bluff is heading back to the Sweet 16 for a second straight year.

Fittingly enough, they are District 29-5A’s final team standing after an11-4 thumping of rival Corpus Christi Veterans on Monday evening at Cabaniss Field.

“The eight runs, you can not get upset with that ever,” Flour Bluff skipper Aspen Auger said. “Right off the bat, it was one after another and we talk a lot about getting base hits. We are used to hitting home runs but we hit a bunch of singles. It was nice and it got us going.”

Flour Bluff trailed 2-1 early on, until the third inning. The Lady Hornets sent 13 batters to the plate and collected nine hits. Of the nine hits, eight of them were singles and just one double.

Four Lady Hornets had a multi-hit game. Jade Moreno, Ally Ramos and Evelyn McPeak all went 2 for 3 from the plat. The cherry on top was a two-run homer from Ramos in the top of the seventh inning.

In the circle, Moreno held her own. The righty struck out seven and yielded four runs in a complete game effort.

“It was a little difficult,” Moreno said of facing a Veterans. “But me knowing what I have to do and what I can do, it helps that I know the batters a little more and what they can and can’t hit. I just had to keep everything tight.”

Up next will be a matchup with Canyon High School. This year, the Lady Cougars are a perfect 28-0. Full series details are to be announced.