Softball All-Star Game Preview
This Saturday, Donna High School will host the Softball All-Star game between the East All-Stars and the West All Stars. After an immaculate season that saw records being broken, history being made, and state championships being won, the ladies that made all that happen will come together to play a friendly game of softball. Players and schools from all over the Rio Grande Valley will be represented in this game.
East All-Stars
The schools being represented in the East will be the Lyford Bulldogs, Brownsville Lopez Lobos, Los Fresnos Falcons, Donna Redskins, Harlingen Cardinals, Harlingen South Hawks, Brownsville Pace Vikings, Mercedes Tigers, and the Weslaco Panthers.
In the circle for the East will be the pitchers Hailee Ochoa and BeAnka Galan (Falcons), and Abby Garcia (Cardinals).
The East’s infield will consist of first baseman Summer Chavez (Bulldogs), second baseman Dakota Martinez (Bulldogs), Anahi Granado (Lobos), Emily Ruiz (Hawks), shortstop Ella Sulkazi (Falcons), Alanis Lozano (Redskins), Yezenia Perez (Cardinals), and Alma Lezama (Lobos).
In the outfield you will find Miranda Garza (Cardinals), Cloe Mares (Vikings), Adanaris Tovar (Lobos), and Ana Lopez (Tigers).
Protecting home base will be catchers Amanda Jo Garcia (Lobos), Haley Vasquez (Hawks), and Romy Nunez (Panthers).
Coaching the East All-Stars will be Gus Gonzalez (Donna HS), Albert Garza (Lyford), and Darryl Gonzales (Donna HS).
West All-Stars
The schools being represented in the West will be the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks, La Joya Coyotes, PSJA North Raiders, Rio Grande City Rattlers, Mission Eagles, McAllen Memorial Mustangs, La Joya Palmview Lobos, McAllen Nikki Rowe Warriors, McAllen Bulldogs, Roma Gladiators, PSJA Southwest Javelinas, and the Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots.
In the circle for the West will be Arianna Alaniz (Lobos), Denzelle Saena (Gladiators), Sarah Menard (Bulldogs) and the Crysta Robles (Patriots).
Palmview Lobos’ National Strikeout Leader Arianna Alaniz pitching during last Friday’s Bi-District win against Gregory-Portland. Progress Times Photo by Joe Vela.
The infield is made up by first baseman Kayla Guerrero (Diamondbacks), second basemen Brianna Salazar (Coyotes), Melanie Martinez (Mustangs), Mandaly Ramirez (Raiders), shortstop Samantha Rodriguez (Eagles), Aliyah Perez (Raiders), Ximena Alanis (Lobos), Aleah Kalifa (Warriors), Brianna Franco (Bulldogs), and Brianna Solis (Patriots), and third baseman Faith Nunez (Diamondbacks).
The outfield will be represented by Valerie Vela (Diamondbacks), Kristianna Luera (Raiders), Kamryn Pena (Rattlers), Darianna Rodriguez (Javelinas), and Alayali Alaniz (Coyotes).
Manning home plate will be catchers Nayleth Morena (Gladiators) and Haley Martinez (Raiders).
Coaching the West-All Stars will be Paul Cruz, Johnny Medrano (PSJA Southwest HS), and Maddy Morales.
Keeping score for the West All-Stars will be Progress Times very own Dee Rendon.
Progress Times got the chance to speak to the West All-Stars head coach Paul Cruz about this year’s game. Cruz is currently a forensic science teacher at Sharyland High School and was the head softball coach for 25 years. This will be the 18th consecutive year that Cruz will be coaching the All-Stars.
Cruz told us, “I believe that these girls are top notch. This sends a message, especially with what happened with Weslaco High and Harlingen South, to the people up North that we do have talent down here. Just come down and see us play.” Cruz went on to say, “They’re talented. I’m very glad to work with them. They’ve been coached very well so my job is to just guide them. “
For some of these girls, this will be the last game of softball that they will play in their athletic career. One thing that Cruz wanted to leave the girls with before their last game, “I told them: In softball and in life, you’re going to fail sometimes, but you have to get back up. When you learn to get back up you will be successful. You’ll learn from those things just like you do in life. The most important thing when they go out and play is to just have fun. Get to know people. Learn and build relationships.”
Kezia Cabrera, Jackie Guzman, Coach Cruz, Savannah Rendon, Victoria Rojas came together for a quick alumni photo.
Cruz left off by saying, “With the team we have, we have a lot of confidence that we will do well on Saturday.”
The idea behind the All-Star game is to show off the best of the best and celebrate greatness when it’s right in front of us. Saturday’s game will be a top tier experience for the players, the coaches, and the fans of softball. This softball season will always be remembered for all the amazing moments that we’ve been able to witness and experience.
Softball is no joke, no laughing matter, not even a chuckle. This sport has been and will always be one that will bring people together for the better and this game is not anything different.
The All-Star game will take place Saturday, June 22 at 7 PM in Donna, Texas at the Donna High School Softball Complex.