PECOS The stars aligned for the Odessa High offense.

After coming away with a nail-biting, extra-inning victory in Game 1 of their Class 6A bi-district playoff series against El Paso Socorro, the Lady Bronchos came out revitalized and energetic from the start of Game 2.

Odessa High earned the sweep of the Bulldogs with a 12-2 victory in five innings to sweep the best-of-3 series and capture the bi-district title Saturday afternoon at Pecos High School.

The Lady Bronchos (23-6-1) advance to the area round where they will meet Mansfield High (27-0-1) at a site to be determined.

The key for the Lady Bronchos was establishing their dominance from the beginning, finishing with four home runs in the contest.

“I feel like that’s my team right there. That’s the team that we saw through the majority of the year, so it’s nice to have them back,” Odessa High head coach Rachel Pena said. “(I’m) proud of them.

“They made good plate adjustments, executed their game plans. It’s good. (I’m) proud of Sierra (Camacho).”

Odessa High erupted for six runs in the bottom of the first, paced by Skylar Herrera’s leadoff home run, while Christabelle Aguirre cleared the bases with a grand slam.

The Lady Bronchos sent 12 batters to the plate and had six hits. Herrera also had an RBI triple to highlight the rally.

Socorro couldn’t match the Lady Bronchos’ outburst, putting four runners on base all game.

After a quiet second inning for Odessa High, they tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the third. Camacho delivered a two-run home run, while Abigail Rodriguez had a solo home run.

Trailing 12-0, Socorro finally got on the board in the top of the fourth when Melanie Melendrez drove in Leslie Munoz on a groundout.

The Bulldogs scored one more run in the fifth on an RBI single by Rebecca Lopez. At that point, the deficit was too large for Socorro to overcome.

Odessa High outhit the Bulldogs 12-5, with five Lady Bronchos finishing with multiple-hit games.

Herrera finished 2 for 4 with a triple, home run and two RBIs. Rodriguez went 1 for 2 with a home run, a walk and an RBI.

Aguirre drove in five runs. She went 2 for 3 with a single and grand slam.

“It was good. My teammates just helped me get through it and we just go through it together,” Aguirre said. “The other team made us work and we did good with the sticks today.

“We came out and jumped on them early, and we just stayed with it. The defense was also good.”

Alyssa Deanda and Kyra Jaquez each finished 2 for 3 with two singles.

Camacho went 2 for 3 with a single, home run and three RBIs. In the circle, she threw a complete-game with one walk.

“We talked a lot about just taking things one inning at a time, one pitch at a time,” Camacho said. “I think staying relaxed came into play.

“I think our defense is really solid. I trust my teammates back there behind me. That pitcher was great. She hit her spots and I think it was good for us to come out and just adjust to her.”

After falling behind early in Game 1, Odessa High wanted to be the team that came out with the most energy in Game 2, a plan that worked out well.

“We talked about how much energy they had at the start and we wanted to be the one with that energy today, and so that was a little bit of the game plan,” Pena said. “So, we kind of learned from them. The hits helped.

“It makes me happy. That’s the team I know and love, and that’s the team that’s gonna make me feel good sleeping tonight. That’s the team we’ll have for next weekend.”
