Lady Mustangs fall to Lady Dragons, end playoff run

By Rick Colegrove 

The Hughes Springs Lady Mustangs faced a familiar foe this past weekend in the regional semifinal round of the playoffs. The Redwater Lady Dragons were the opponent and Longview’s Pine Tree softball field was the place.

The ladies squared off in a weekend series for the chance to advance. It was a best of three series, and all three games were needed. All the action started Thursday night and after three tense, nail biting games and days, Hughes Springs sadly saw their season end.

After winning the first game Thursday night 4-2, the ladies were not able to come away with a win Friday night or Saturday afternoon, ultimately falling by the scores of 4-3 and 7-6 to Redwater.

Haylee Wilson, Katleyn Roth, and Kennedi Northam each had two hit in the game Thursday. But Peyton Blythe was the spark plug as she has been all year. Blythe started things off with a lead off home run, and had two RBI’s on the night, while Wilson and Northam each had an RBI. Roth, Charlie Mae Reeves, Northam, and Blythe all scored runs. Zoe Lanier pitched a complete game of 7 innings, allowing one earned run, and threw 92 pitches in the win.

Friday night was the 13th day of May, and it seemed there was a black cat somewhere around the field. Luck wasn’t with the Lady Mustangs and they dropped a close one, 4-3. Although there was only one error in the night, it was the saying, “hit ‘em where they ain’t,” which doomed Hughes Springs, with seemingly every ball that was hit found a Lady Dragon glove.

Blythe and Northam were both two for four, and Abbye McKinney was one for three with two RBI’s to lead the lady Mustangs at the plate. She also came on in relief, in the 4th inning, and struck out two, keeping it close for the ladies.

Maybe a little pressure was in the air Saturday afternoon, maybe nerves, but the usually potent offense of Hughes springs was having a hard time getting going. In the two prior games, only seven runs were scored, and throughout the year, scoring 7 runs in an inning was not out of the ordinary. The ladies found themselves down 7- 1 early in the game but battled back. The ladies were helped by a monster offensive showing from Haylee Wilson, and the Hughes Springs squad almost pulled off a series win against the higher ranked Redwater team. Wilson smashed two home runs and had four RBI’s on the night, going two for four, and scored two runs as well. Blythe had a triple and scored two runs, while Northam, and Bailey Tenbrook each scored a run. Roth had two hits in the game, and Northam was one for four in the game. Reeves was one for three to round out the Mustangs’ hits. McKinney started the game and pitched 3 innings, but was relieved by Lanier, who allowed only one hit in 4 innings.

With the loss, the ladies’ season ended, and their hopes of advanced were dashed. However, these ladies played with pride and passion all year, leaving everything they had out on the field. Two ladies played their last game in Mustang red and black, and they will be missed. Bailey Tenbrook and Emily Meade are the embodiment of Mustang pride. With tears in their eyes after the game, they will no doubt cherish the memories of the days of being a Lady Mustang. Hughes Springs will definitely miss them, but look forward to next year when the ladies will again hit the diamond and bring back a strong team.