Holy Cross softball focuses on future after defending state title
After winning back-to-back state championships, Holy Cross naturally will focus its efforts on winning another.
“I’m prepared for that,” Holy Cross all-state junior pitcher Gia Reynosa said. “I’m very excited about it, and I believe we can do it. We’re losing three seniors who were a big part of our team, but I think we’ll work even harder to do it three times.”
Reynosa only allowed one hit in the Knights’ four postseason games. She was especially dominant May 20 in the TAPPS Division III championship, striking out 18 batters in the third no-hitter of the state series as Holy Cross (24-6-1) defeated Lubbock Trinity Christian (17-9) 4-0 at Allan Saxe Field on the University of Texas-Arlington campus.
“All the girls are always supporting you,” said junior second baseman Bella Delgado, whose three-RBI double was the key hit. “We work every day just to better ourselves, so we can do this accomplishment.”
The Knights put up staggering numbers while finishing the season with a 12-game winning streak. Reynosa struck out 28 in two state tournament games. The junior pitched shutouts in the last nine games of the season. Holy Cross outscored the opposition 45-0 in its championship run.
“Gia was super,” Holy Cross coach Angel Cedillo said. “She was putting more spin on the ball and hitting her spots. Any time we asked her to change speeds, she was spot on. She just keeps getting better.
“She’s a hard worker, and she doesn’t take anything for granted.”
Reynosa was one of four Holy Cross first-team all-staters, along with sophomore shortstop Mikayla Arce, senior third baseman Alyssa Barrera and Delgado. Sophomore catcher Emma Garcia was a second-team selection.
“Gia’s the one that has the ball in her hands,” Cedillo said, “but all of the girls been focused. That’s why they’re consistent.”
Reynosa hit two home runs and Barrera hit one in the state semifinals as Holy Cross crushed Houston Cypress Christian (22-4-2) 17-0 in just four innings.
The Knights assembled five-run rallies in three of those four innings. But they only needed one rally in the championship game.
It took place in the second inning after Garcia sent a double off the left-field wall and Angie Medrano blasted a single through the infield for a 1-0 lead.
Jenna Arguello drew a walk and senior Marissa Rodriguez loaded the bases with an infield single, bringing up Delgado.
“I had four or five foul balls in a row,” Delgado said of her bases-clearing double. “When I got to a 3-2 count, I got one right down the middle. I wanted to keep it going, so I could help the team.”
Holy Cross only had one more scoring threat, when Reynosa doubled and the Lions turned a double play before Arce’s would-be RBI single. Lions freshman pitcher Corey Fortner only allowed four hits in the last four innings.
“We played Trinity Christian last year in regionals, but they were a young team that got better,” Cedillo said. “Their pitcher was just a freshman, but she knew what she was doing with pitch location and changing speeds.”
Trinity Christian had scored 35 runs in its previous two games, but never mustered a scoring threat. Reynosa struck out the Lions in order in the seventh to secure the title.
She was unaware of the no-hitter or the 18 strikeouts.
“When I pitch, I kind of black out,” Reynosa said. “I go into a zone where I just focus on what I have to do.”
It’s hard to find fault with the results.
