Community Champions: Eastlake softball team stands alone

And then there was one.

The Eastlake Falcons softball team is the last local team remaining in the state playoffs in any classification.

The Falcons will meet Lubbock Coronado this weekend for a best-of-three series to determine who advances to the Sweet 16.

After winning a district championship with a 15-1 league record, the Falcons beat Jefferson in the first round and then Lubbock in the area round.

And they say the competition in El Paso has prepared them for what’s next.

“I think it’s pretty cool just to see how far our talent got us,” said pitcher and outfielder Autumn Scott. “I mean, all of El Paso is pretty talented.”

Eastlake also advanced to the regional quarterfinals a year ago, but they lost that series against Chapin.

This time around, there is no guarantee we will see a team from El Paso advance to the Sweet 16. But the Falcons are ready for the challenge.

“It’s just a big opportunity to be able to represent El Paso in any way, shape, or form,” said head coach D.J. Lopez. “We usually play for our community. We play for the Eastlake community. And to be able to come out and represent El Paso is a big thing for us.”