Grand slam: Gabi Chapa's home run pushes Alice past Calallen to start 31-4A softball

Gabi Chapa was faced with the same scenario in the seventh inning she saw in the fifth against Calallen on Friday afternoon.

Alice's first baseman had come to the plate after ace pitcher, and one of the Coyotes' top hitters, Ava Hernandez was intentionally walked to load the bases in the fifth after homering in the fourth. Unfortunately, Chapa struck out as Alice could not push any runs across with the bases full in that inning.

Two innings later, Wildcat coach Teresa Lentz chose to put Hernandez on first to load the bases again with one out and Chapa coming to the plate. This time, Chapa, took the first offering from Calallen freshman pitcher Jordyn Thibodeaux and sent it over the left field fence for a grand slam. The Coyotes led 5-3 and tacked on another run in the inning and won 6-3 against the Wildcats to make an early statement in District 31-4A softball.

"Base hit, just get a base hit, anything after is just a plus," said Chapa, who finished the day 1 for 4 with four RBI. "I recognized it was coming inside, and I was like, 'OK it's coming inside,' she's been throwing that all game, 'Get your hands through and take that where it needs to go.'"

Chapa's home run capped a come back for the the Coyotes (15-7, 1-0 in 31-4A) on Friday that helped give them a key win in what is expected to be a tight district race.

"It's a good team win from all 14 of them, every single one of them," Alice coach Janay Gonzalez said. "Good team win, good way to start off district, confidence builder."

Friday's highlights

The Wildcats scrapped out single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings against Hernandez to take a 3-1 lead on the Coyotes. The first run was scored on a Ryanna Rodela RBI single, another run on a Megan Geyer infield single and a Makenzie Mounts single.

The Coyotes, meanwhile, left runners in scoring position in the first, third, fourth and fifth as the lone run through six innings came on a home run from Hernandez in the fourth inning. In the seventh, after inning leadoff hitter Donika Medrano grounded out the next two Alice hitters reached on a walk and single. Hernandez took her base on the intentional walk and Chapa hit her home run for a 5-3 lead. The fifth run of the inning came in when Isabella Perales drew a bases loaded walk. Alice sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning, which included Thibodeaux leaving with one out.

Friday's stars

No Alice hitter had multiple hits as Hernandez and Perales had the other RBI for the Coyotes, and Brooke Castillo also drew two walks along with Hernandez. Hernandez finished the day in the circle, scattering eight hits and allowing three runs, one earned, with seven strikeouts and six walks.

The top three in Calallen's order was a combined 7 of 11 with three RBI, while the other six batters in the order were a combined 1 for 18 and drew four walks. Rodela, who came on in relief of starter Thibodeaux in the seventh, was 3 for 4 with an RBI, Geyer was 2 for 3 and Mounts 2 for 4. Thibodeaux finished the night pitching 6.1 innings, giving up six runs on five hits with 12 strikeouts and seven walks.

They said it

Chapa on what the win means for the Coyotes: "It means a lot. We want to go after that district title this year, and this win was big for us. It just gives us momentum. Last year we had lost to them once and then won again, and that win last win kind of gave us the courage and energy ... anything is possible, we can do this."

Alice coach Janay Gonzalez on Chapa's home run: "I knew she was due for a very good at-bat, and whenever that ball came off on the first pitch I think my jaw ... I was in shock. Heck of a hit from Gabi that was a little spark to us that closed the game."

Calallen coach Teresa Lentz on the Wildcats moving forward after the loss: "Luck of the draw we had Alice first out of the gate and we knew this one was going to be a tough game. We all anticipated this to be a very good game and we know how well they've been doing. We have a lot of respect for them and their program, but we've got to get that hunger, that fire, that burn in their eyes and know we've got to make sure it doesn't happen again. We will see how we can do that and excited to see what we can do."