Edinburg North-CC London ends abruptly following injury in opener of Border Olympics softball tournament
LAREDO, Texas — Corpus Christi London and Edinburg North were battling back and forth through a competitive game in the last matchup of the evening Thursday at the 21st Annual Border Olympics Softball Showcase. The Pirates' and Cougars' explosive offenses traded blows all night at the plate while great pitching on each side kept the game close.
They were tied at 5-5 when things took a dramatic turn during the fourth inning and the game was eventually canceled after a student athlete was injured and had to be taken away in an ambulance.
London was rallying after falling behind 5-2. The Lady Pirates took a 1-0 lead during the opening inning after a hard single by Maddie Perez. It was followed by a double by Parker Rhoden that scored Perez.
Edinburg North came right back during the second inning, as Juliana Mancha drew a walk for the Lady Cougars and then Kyla Rodriguez roped a hard-hit double to knot up the game at 1-1.
Then a sacrifice fly by Julieta Hernandez helped the Lady Cougars take their first lead of the night, a 2-1 advantage, after Rodriguez tagged up and scored North's second run of the inning.
London, one of top 3A teams in South Texas that advanced to the area round of the playoffs last season, was able to tie the game up again as the Lady Pirates utilized a leadoff single by Chrysta Coy during the bottom of the second inning. A sac bunt and a squeeze play brought home Coy, who moved into scoring position at third after a stolen base and a fielder’s choice.
With the game tied at 2-2, Edinburg North went on a two-out rally.
Daniella Pruneda was able to get on with a single, but was forced out at second base on a fielder’s choice. Then a strike out by Victoria Ramirez put the Lady Cougars in a bind.
Three runs eventually scored as Edinburg North loaded the bases on walks issued by Lauren Silva.
Silva was steady through the two innings, only giving up two hits but she started to show cracks in her pitching, and went on to issue four consecutive walks.
Edinburg North, meanwhile, scored three runs and took a 5-2 lead.
London fought back and came up with three runs during the third inning on runs by Kaithyn Lewis, Perez and Rhoden to tie the game back up at 5-5.
Leilani Lopez came into the game as a pinch hitter during the fourth inning and slapped a well-hit single into the outfield but when she attempted to make it to second base, she hit the base hard and was injured on the play.
Lopez was called for the third out, but she did not get up and that is when the Laredo ISD training staff attended to her on the field.
When it was determined that she needed more medical attention, an ambulance was called. After 15 minutes, the game was canceled and both teams prayed in the pitcher’s circle as Lopez was being attended by the paramedics.
Edinburg North (6-2-1) will return to the diamond for another Border Olympics doubleheader when the Cougars take on the Laredo United South Panthers (1-2) at 3 p.m. and the San Antonio Cornerstone Warriors (2-5) at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24, in Laredo.
Corpus Christi London (2-1-1), meanwhile, will return to action at the Border Olympics to face the Laredo United Longhorns (5-1) at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Check out SBLive's exclusive photo gallery from the game:
PHOTO GALLERY — EDINBURG NORTH 5, CORPUS CHRISTI LONDON 5
All photos by Clara Sandoval
