Softball Showcase a Home Run

Updated: July 1, 2022

By Ruben Rodriguez

Rio Sports Live

Despite Softball Season being long gone, The queens on the diamond took over one last time in the Rio Sports Live South Texas Area Regional Showcase in Raymondville Texas. 6 Teams which included the best softball players from the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend faced off in a fun-filled Tournament Style weekend.

5 Games on Saturday had some exciting matchups as the opening game saw a 4-2 Shootout between the Coastal Bend Storm and Coastal Bend Breeze. Game Two saw the RGV Racers take on the Coastal Bend Barracudas, who would defeat the RGV 6-1 after a destructive six-run opening inning. Despite allowing six runs in the first inning, Arlette Hernandez of La Joya had a dominant outing with 10 strikeouts.

Rio Sports Live hand-delivered jerseys to each individual team

Heading into Game Three, The Breeze looked to go 2-0 as they faced the RGV Lightning. The Breeze, who were a powerhouse squad were propelled by Raegan Tennill and Megan Geyer who both went two for two and cranked a two run home run led the breeze to an 8-0 win.

The RGV Racers then faced off against the RGV Rebels, who were entering their first matchup of the night. After a lengthy and intense matchup. The Rebels took control and won in a tiebreaking 2-1 Matchup
Then a big matchup between the Coastal Bend Storm and RGV Lightning saw the Coastal Bend Storm go up 2-0 with a 5-2 Victory. Following the matchup, the Rebels and Barracudas faced off in a battle in which Weslaco’s Katia Reyes struck out six hitters and hit a home run to lead the Rebels to a 5-1 game.

To Cap off night one, RSL had the inaugural Softball Home Run Derby. 8 Participants faced off in a battle that had some explosive firepower. Some Key names in the derby were Ilianna Saucedo from Harlingen South, Krystal Perez from Los Fresnos, Lilly Rocha from Harlingen High, Brookelynn Meador from Calallen, Alyssa Burdge from Corpus Christi Veterans, Ava Hernandez from Alice, Jozanna Montes from San Benito and Evelyn Valadez from Bishop.

The Power was displayed early on as Saucedo, Perez, Meador and Rocha moved on to round two, The Final Round saw Perez and Rocha hitting 43 combined home runs as Rocha defeated Perez to claim herself the 2022 Derby Champion.

Day two saw the Lightning and Barracudas face off in Sunday’s opening matchup. A Full seven-inning game. The Lightning captured the win 7-5. Game Two was climate change with rain coming into play and the Racers getting the win.

Championship Sunday saw the RGV Rebels take on the Coastal Bend Breeze, The Breeze, who have been loaded with power, looked to keep the trifecta and go 3-0. Off a Dominant performance, The Breeze got the victory 3-1 and captured the STARS Showcase championship.

A fun-filled weekend filled with great softball and an exciting home run derby. The STARS Showcase certainly was the epicenter of the Sports World.