Lady Rattlers and Diamondbacks ready to roll – Progresstimes

A District 31-5A softball preview

District 31-5A is made up of 10 teams, two of which are Big 7 Softball teams; the Sharyland Lady Rattlers and the Pioneer Lady Diamondbacks. The Rattlers are looking to carve up some history for themselves this season. After missing the playoffs last season, the Rattlers plan to make some noise this time around. Progress Times spoke to Rattlers junior pitcher Zoe Salinas about the changes necessary to make this happen, Last season was a bit iffy. We lacked chemistry. We lost a lot of girls with injuries and we experienced a lot of setbacks. We couldve done more with what we had, but thats the past. We are moving on from that. We have a good freshman class and though we are really young this year, weve bonded well as a team. Were very different now, we work really hard, weve had amazing practices, and when we play we play as one. We do great together and well be great this year as long as we keep working together as one.

Salinas has been able to do a lot for the Diamondbacks offensively as a batter and defensively as a pitcher. Shes accompanied by players such as juniors Regina Perez and Zulema Cordero, and freshman Sofia Garza who have played tremendously on both ends of the ball. At this point of the season, the Rattlers have gotten off to a 2-1 start in district. They beat the Vela Sabercats 19-11 and the Valley View Tigers 17-1 to open up district play. They then went on to lose to the reigning co-district champions PSJA North Raiders 12-0. Though suffering a tough loss, this Rattlers team looks determined to be a top seed in the district.

The Pioneer Diamondbacks are no strangers to the top. Theyve won seven of the last nine district championships, including the last four in a row. Every year theyre able to put out a team that is ready to compete against the best and come out on top. Progress Times spoke to Diamondbacks junior Lexie Lopez about the outlook of the Diamondbacks from last season to this season, Last year we were pretty good. We were stacked with talent. Nothing has changed this year, were still stacked, but weve worked together more as a team. We have a lot of chemistry with each other. At the end of the day thats the most important thing, something that separates ourselves from the others. We have high expectations, we want to make the playoffs as the district champs and I know we can do it as long as we continue to play together as a team.

Expectations need to be set high when youve accumulated the amount of gold balls they have in the last nine years. So what cant this team do? The answer lies further than their district title wins. The Diamondbacks have found consistent success in the first and second round of the playoffs. The next step for this team would be to get consecutive wins in the third round. With the likes of Lopez, senior right fielder Valerie Vela, Kayla Guerrero, Faith Nunez, and Daniela Zapata that is certainly a possibity. The Diamondbacks got off to a 2-2 start to the district season. They started off with a 18-3 win over the Rowe Warriors but followed that up with two losses. One was a 7-8 loss to the McAllen Bulldogs and the other was a 12-1 loss to the PSJA North Raiders; who shared the district championship with the Diamondbacks last season.

These two teams will have to go up against the likes of the PSJA North Raiders, McAllen Bulldogs, and the Rowe Warriors. All of these teams have kept it competitive for the Rattlers and the Diamondbacks as theyve secured themselves a playoff seed last season. Theyve already started to give the Rattlers and the Diamondbacks something to worry about when it comes time to play the second round of district play. This district is still up for grabs at this point of the season. Tthe hope is that one of these Big 7 teams takes it.

The best of luck to the Diamondbacks and the Rattlers as they begin their journey through the 2024 regular season.

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Lady Rattlers and Diamondbacks ready to roll - Progresstimes