Titans bats awaken late to beat Eagles
Originally published April 30, 2011 at 10:27 p.m., updated May 2, 2011 at 3:40 a.m.
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SCORENEXT SERIES
Victoria East 7, S.A. Brackenridge 3
Victoria East vs. Tuloso-Midway
Game 1, Thursday, 7:30 p.m., at the VYSE; Game 2, Friday, 7:30 p.m. at T-M; Game 3, if necessary, 1:30 p.m. at Sinton
Jodie Garcia is used to teams playing her to bunt. So, she decided to fake the San Antonio Brackenridge defense out.
"I was in the back of the box loading like I was going to hit the ball," she said.
Garcia is a lefty, groomed to use her speed to get on base and slap the ball. This time, though, the Eagles played her to go for a single.
Garcia did what most teams expect her to do - drop a bunt to reach base.
"Usually, when a lefty comes up to bat, the corners will automatically move in and think bunt, that's when you hit the ball," Garcia added.
Victoria East woke up after Garcia's bunt, tying up the game that inning and taking the lead on a Marina Rios double in the bottom of the sixth to beat Brackenridge, 7-3 on Tuesday night.
Garcia finished the game 1 for 2 with a sacrifice bunt and a single. She attempted to reach base using her short game all three times. But that's not her whole game.
"Being a lefty, you're expected to have a short game, but I can hit for power too," said the right fielder for Victoria East.
Up to the fifth inning, the Titans had struggled at the plate. They had no runs and two hits, and had spotted the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Garcia has always been asked to hit the ball, but didn't start developing her short game, bunting and slapping the ball and using speed to get on base, until recently.
"When I started 16-U is when I started learning how to slap and how to place the ball." she said. "I do more power hitting, but sometimes, when you see how the girls are playing, you go for it."
The Titans got a strong performance from Alisha Quinterro, who struck out four and walked no one.
The Titans were the beneficiary of seven Brackenridge errors, including two costly miscalculations in the fifth on a grounder by Marina Rios, which allowed Garcia and Jennie Johnson to score with no outs.
Victoria East 7, SA Brackenridge 3
SAB 012 000 0 - 3 8 7
VE 000 034 x - 7 7 2
WP - Alisha Quinterro; LP - Gabby Esparza. Highlights: Marina Rios, 1 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBIs, 2B, reached twice on errors; Angela Robisheaux 2 for 3, R; Jodie Garcia 1 for 2, R.
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