Hughes Springs plays state semifinal today
AUSTIN—Hughes Springs is making its first state softball tournament appearance in school his tory, but the Lady Mustangs have seen these teams before.
Top-ranked Hughes Springs played Brock and Little River Academy during the regular season, splitting those games.
The Mustangs (34 -3) face Little River Academy (35-8) in the 6 p.m. semifinal today at Red and Charline McCombs Field. Santa
Gertrudis Academy (38-2) and Brock (33-7) meet in the 3 p.m. semifinal, and the winners clash at 6 o’clock Thursday for the 3A state championship.
SGA and Brock were both state tournament teams last spring, as well.
Hughes Springs swept the regional final over Howe, 8-3 and 9-6.
“Coming into the second game (of the regional finals), I told them to, ‘think of it as a 1-game series. There is no Game 3.’” Hughes Springs coach Tisha Thompson said. “They did that. If you put up nine runs in a regional final, you’re probably going to win.”
The Mustangs went 8-1 in Region II-3A playoff action. HS is 16-1 in its last 17 and 23-2 over the last 25 games.
The LRA Bumblebees went 10-1 in the postseason, the only loss during a series win over West—the 2016 state champion. Little River is 21-2 over its last 23 games.
Sophomores Zoe Lanier and Marisol Kennedy will team up in the circle for Hughes Springs. Lanier has been starting with relief from Kennedy. Junior Kennedi Northam starts at catcher, sophomore Shelbie Fickling plays at first base, junior Haylee Wilson at second, and Kennedy, sophomore Abbye McKinney or sophomore Pearl Perry will play third. Junior Kensley Echols starts at shortstop for the Mustangs, and the outfield consists of junior Charlie Reeves in left, junior Peyton Blythe in center, and lone senior Katelyn Roth in right. McKinney has been the designated player for Hughes Springs.
“These girls are very hard-working, and it’s not just on the field, but during the off-season and in the weight room,” Thompson said. “They don’t complain; they just work hard and rise to the expectations that we give them. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Against Brock, the Mustangs won 18-17, and against Little River Academy, they lost 12-3.
Lanier is 17-1 in the circle this spring, and Kennedy owns a 16-2 record.
Blythe leads the team with a .502 batting average, and Northam sports a .452 batting average. Fickling hits .408, Wilson .396, Kennedy .372 and Echols .370.
Games will be broadcast on STAR 96.9 FM and at easttexasradio.com.