Maddie Cantu, Sofia Garcia lead Weslaco to shutout win over McAllen Rowe at PSJa Softball Tournament

A home run by slugger Sofia Garza and a one-hit performance in the circle by pitcher Maddie Cantu powered the Weslaco Panthers to a dominant 6-0 victory over the McAllen Rowe Warriors in the final game of the PSJA ISD Softball Tournament

SAN JUAN, Texas — Weslaco’s Sofia Garcia blasted a home run in the opening inning and pitcher Maddie Cantu threw as one hitter as the Lady Panthers concluded the PSJA Tournament with a convincing 6-0 victory over McAllen Nikki Rowe.

“We had an opportunity to play a lot of different girls,” Weslaco head coach Mario Rodriguez said. “After a long tournament like this I am happy with the results.”

Weslaco (4-2) dominated McAllen Nikki Rowe on all facets of the game. Cantu went all six innings and only gave up one hit in the fourth inning as the Lady Warriors struggled at the plate to make the connection.

As a team the Lady Panthers had five hits and it did not take long to set the tone of the game at the plate. Weslaco was fired up from the outset and after lead off batter Alexis Solis was struck out but the Nikki Rowe catcher dropped the ball and then threw it to first base to put a runner on.

The Lady Warriors were short handed and had no reserve player on the bench and only had enough players to field the team but were able to get the next two batters into outs. Then the errors started piling up for the Lady Warriors.

Elizabeth Craig utilized an error to make it all the way to third base. Garcia strolled to the plate and ripped a home run for two RBIs and gave the Lady Panthers a 3-0 lead at the end of one inning.

Weslaco did not take their foot off the gas pedal and continued that dominance at the plate in the second inning with a hard triple by Alaina Ortiz and she would go on to score on a sacrifice fly by Cantu as the Lady Panthers held a 4-0 lead.

When Cantu was not busy ripping the ball at the plate she was busy throwing fire on the mound that Nikki Rowe had a hard time catching up with at the plate. Cantu struck out seven batters and went 1-2-3 in the third inning to do away with the Lady Warriors.

McAllen Nikkie Rowe continued to struggle at the plate but managed a single by Addison Espinosa and that proved all the offense the rest of the way.

Weslaco went to add their final runs in the fourth inning as Lola Reyes was issued a walk. Ortiz strolled to the plate and had a hard double to score Reyes. Ortiz went on to score on a single by Solis as the Lady Panthers took a 6-0 lead. 

Weslaco (4-2) will return to action when the Panthers face the Santa Fe Indians (6-1) in tournament action at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, in Santa Fe.

McAllen Rowe (1-3) will have a chance to bounce back when the Warriors face the Rio Hondo Bobcats (3-1) at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, in tournament action.

Check out SBLive's exclusive photo gallery from the game:

---

PHOTO GALLERY — WESLACO 6, MCALLEN ROWE 0

All photos by Clara Sandoval