End of the road: Raiders' season closes in area round

PHARR — The Raiders from PSJA North have officially been eliminated from the playoffs by Corpus Christi Veterans after losing a series, 2-1, in the area round of the postseason for Conference 5A DI.

The Eagles from Corpus traveled down to Pharr to take Game 2 and Game 3 consecutively in a span of about five hours to advance to the Sweet 16. They edged by the Raiders 3-2 in the third game to take the series.

Each game came down to the wire as they were all decided by two or less runs. 

In Game 3, the Raiders looked pretty good early as Vanessa Palacios got the home squad on the board in the first inning with a sac pop fly RBI to get Haylee Ramirez a run.

The Eagles responded at the top the third as Parker Malone smacked it to the right field for the RBI triple. Corpus Christi Vets' Nariah Gomez — with runners on the corners — bunted to get another score. PSJA North's Raelynn Mancias dived to try to get the runner out to prevent the second run, but it was 2-1 Eagles. Mancias showed endurance throughout the series as she pitched in all three games

Still in the top of the third, the Eagles played small ball once again as Lyla Creek got the RBI with a bunt to make it 3-1.

It was a defensive sparring match throughout most of the game after that as neither team was able to get much going on the offensive end.

PSJA North's Palacios, at the bottom of the sixth, tried to get the Raiders back in the game as she hit an in-field home run to climb the deficit.

However, despite the effort, Eagles took the game, 3-2.

Corpus Christi Veterans will now play Leander in the Sweet 16.

PSJA North finishes their season at 22-15-1.