Mustangs live up to #1 ranking, with 15-0 start to the season

By Steven Campbell
 
Once again the Hughes Springs varsity baseball team has emerged as the class of the district, and perhaps the entire state this far into the 2013 season. Head coach Kent Craig’s team has gotten off to an impressive undefeated 15-0 start, including winning out in the Elysian Fields, Jefferson, and Hughes Springs tournaments, as well as their first three District games. The Mustangs are currently ranked #1 in the Texashighschoolbaseball.com poll, and #2 in the THSBCA.com poll.
 “As far as what separates Hughes Springs from other schools, it’s the community support for all sports and kids,” Coach Craig said. “We never hurt for support for our kids or our programs.”
With the support of an entire community behind them, and an ace pitching squad in Trent Shelton, Zach Basham, and Dylan Moore, the Mustangs have smothered the opposition.
This week the Mustangs’ schedule had them taking a trip to New Boston to take on the Lions on March 26. Playing on the road has been a challenge that the Mustangs have met with great success this far into the season.
“When it comes to travel I really think our kids look forward to the challenge of playing behind enemy lines. They are always looking to be challenged and there is no better way than to play on the road,” Coach Craig said.
On Friday, the Mustangs return to the friendly confines of their home field to take on District rival Linden Kildare before getting ready to take on perhaps their biggest rival on the road in Queen City on April 2.
The Mustangs have become the measuring stick to which all teams try to test themselves against.  When asked about which games Coach Craig has circled on his schedule, he said that Hughes Springs will be the team circled on each and every one of their opponents’ schedules.
“All the games are big and I know that sounds like a usual coaching cliché, but we are everybody’s Super Bowl or World Series,” he said. “So our team has to be prepared every time we play. Obviously the Queen City games are big from a District championship perspective and from a local rivalry.”
 The Hughes Springs Mustangs will continue to march their way through what will perhaps shape up to be their finest in school history as they look to bring home the Texas State Championship in 2013. The team takes the field with an incredible focus and technical efficiency that few teams can match.
“Good pitching and defense are what we preach daily,” Coach Craig said. “As an athletic program we really stress fundamentals. Every practice, no matter the sport, starts with the fundamentals. Our kids understand and accept that philosophy.”