Lady Mustangs advance to playoff’s second round

The first round of the playoffs started for the Hughes Springs Lady Mustangs this past weekend, with a series against the New Boston Lady Lions.

They started off the series with a Thursday night game in Mt. Pleasant at the Northeast Texas Community College campus. The stands were packed, with everyone that was in attendance seemingly a Hughes Springs fan. Many had to sit in “enemy” territory. Those in attendance were treated to an interesting game, with Hughes Springs coming out on top 7-4, taking a 1-0 game lead in the best of 3 series.

This game, as have many others this season, started off with Peyton Blythe getting things going. She lined a shot to the left field fence, and if you blinked, you missed her. She set the table Thursday, as she does most all games, with her speed. The triple to start the game set the tone, and got the Lady Mustangs out on top early. It is out of the ordinary for Blythe not to score and score quickly. If she makes it to first base on a walk or a single, it’s almost a sure bet she will be to third base within a pitch or two, stealing bases almost at will.

After one inning, the ladies were up 2-0, with Kennedi Northam scoring after reaching on a walk. Again in the third inning, the duo of Blythe and Northam found the home plate, putting Hughes Springs back on top after New Boston had scored two in the top of the third inning. The state ranked Lady Mustangs were able to add some breathing room to go up 7-2 going into the seventh inning, although New Boston did add a couple runs to make the score closer than the game really was, with the final 7-4.

Blythe was two for three with two RBIs and two runs scored. Charlie Mae Reeves was two for two with two singles. Shelbie Fickling was one for three with a single and two RBI’s. Northam and Katelyn Roth scored two runs, with Roth also having two singles on the night.

Friday’s game was postponed due to some truly inclement weather. Saturday came and the searching began. A field that was either underwater or unplayable was the rule and not the exception in northeast Texas after several inches of rain fell. Finally, after searching high and low, Queen City was the location for game 2. Once the game started, the ladies picked up where they left off and did what they do best. They put away the New Boston Lady Lions early and coasted to the next round of the playoffs.

A new game had a new hero for Hughes Springs, but not a hero that Hughes Springs hasn’t heard of. It was senior Bailey Tenbrook. She did her best super girl impression, and had a monster night at the plate, with five RBI’s, going three for four with two doubles. Shelbie Fickling was two for three with a single and a double on the night, to help in the cause. Peyton Blythe was at it again, going two for two with two singles. She scored three runs, and had one RBI. She also had four, yes, four, stolen bases. Blythe on the year has 39 stolen bases, and has only been caught one time. That makes for a success rate of .975 percent, that’s pretty much as sure as rain during the playoffs. Roth was two for four at the plate, with two runs scored. Kensley Echols had a single, as did Kennedi Northam and Emily Meade. Northam scored two runs in the win.

Zoe Lanier pitched her second complete game of the series and allowed the Lady Mustang batters to do their work, limiting the Lady Lions from ever making a real game, either Thursday or Saturday. She threw a three hitter on Saturday, allowing only one run, while striking out six New Boston batters. She threw 99 pitches Saturday and 114 on Thursday, and allowed only six hits Thursday, as well.

Saturday’s 8-1 win and series sweep allowed Coach Thompson to be positive, that in the wins, she was able to get production out of the seven and eight hitters. When asked what her main concern, if any, after the first round of the playoffs, she stated, “My main concern following the New Boston series is getting my three, four, five, and six hitters dialed in. With that being said, my seven and eight hitters picked up a lot of slack getting on base. That right there in itself reaffirms why I believe we can make a long run. These kids have the ability to pick each other up when their teammates are struggling, we don’t just rely on one or two players to win ball games.”

Next up for the Hughes Springs Lady Mustangs is a series against the Van Alstyne Lady Panthers. As of press time, the series place and time is to be determined.