Mario Rodriguez's Weslaco Panthers shocked the state and beyond by capturing the UIL Class 6A softball championship one week ago.
– Weslaco softball coach Mario Rodriguez readily admits that he doesn’t remember everything that’s happened or every hand he shook over the last eight days.
The Panthers’ softball team, though, has been Weslaco’s most dominant program. They qualified for their first-ever UIL Class 6A state semifinals in 2016, but they left Austin empty-handed. “We knew we had something special,” Rodriguez said. “I say that because of the commitment — not just a few of the girls from the team, but all the girls on the team. We had a lot of returners. Last year, we only graduated one senior. As soon as we lost , it didn’t take very long for all the girls to start going to the weight room, to start attending our summer skills sessions. They put in a whole lot of work. I knew we had something very special coming back.
“I just knew that we had each other’s backs from the very beginning,” Weslaco sophomore designated hitter/catcher Clarissa Mejia told KSAT. “We were going to end the season strong.” The Bears, who were eyeing their first UIL state semifinal appearance since 2017, were swept away decisively by the Panthers, who won 16-3 in Game 1 and dominated Game 2 in a 21-2 win.
In the bottom half of the frame, down 3-0, Denton Guyer answered back with three runs of its own to square the game. Weslaco senior softball players couldn’t take part in their school’s graduation today, so they donned gap and gown and received their diplomas on the field after a 5-3, 13-inning win over Denton Guyer in 6A state semifinal.
The bottom of the seventh inning was Weslaco’s last chance to dance. With one out, sophomore Dayla Hinojosa chopped a ball back to Waco Midway pitcher Lanee Brown. Brown threw the ball wildly to first, allowing Hinojosa to pull into third base.Lola Reyes drew a walk. Then, Mia Rodriguez walked, prompting Waco Midway to change out Brown for reliever Camryn Carter.
“Even in the at-bat, she had a 2-2 count, and I was still trying to give her some more instructions. She looks at me, and with her hands, she says, ‘I got this, Coach. I got this.’” First, it gave evidence to outsiders what many in the Valley already knew: RGV softball is state championship-level softball. Weslaco’s 2016 run to the state semifinal round was not a fluke. Neither was San Benito’s run to Austin in 2023.
Weslaco Panthers Softball UIL Class 6A Holmes Huskies Brennan Bears San Antonio Weslaco
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