Harlingen South softball sweeps Liberty Hill to earn first-ever trip to state tournament

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Harlingen South softball team beat Liberty Hill, 14-9, in game two of the Region IV-5A final.

The victory earns the Hawks a trip to the state tournament for the first time in school history.

“You know credits to the girls I can’t say enough credit to them,” said Harlingen South softball coach Joey Rios. “They trusted the plan. They remain faithful and they did the little things right in and it shows. It shows.”

“We just said that we just had to win this game,” added senior second baseman Emily Ruiz. “We didn’t want a third game. We really just had confidence in each other confidence in ourselves and we were able to move on.”

Harlingen South scored six straight runs after the Panthers tied the game at five.

“We worked for this all season,” said senior shortstop Yezenia Perez. “Before the actual playoff season started we made we made goals of this, we made it.”

Junior third baseman Amira Rodriguez is making her second trip to state. She played for the San Benito team that made it to Austin last year.

“We wanted to do it for the seniors,” Rodriguez said. “Wanted to keep it going.”

Harlingen South and Weslaco will represent the Rio Grande Valley at the UIL State Tournament.

This is the first time two teams from the Valley will play in the tournament in the same season.

The Hawks will face Aledo in the 5A state semifinals next Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Weslaco will take on Denton Guyer in the 6A state semifinals next Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Red & Charline McCombs Field , the home of the University of Texas softball team, will host the state tournament.

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