Lady Mustangs’ season was one to remember
AUSTIN—Hughes Springs walked off the softball field for the final time this season Wednesday, a day before the high school season ended for everyone.
The Lady Mustangs fell to Little River Academy, 3-2, in both teams' first appearances in the state semifinals at Red and Charline McCombs Field. HS' season ended at 34-4.
Hughes Springs, which was ranked No. 1 throughout the playoffs, left eight runners on base—five in scoring position— the loss to the Lady Bumblebees, who went on to win the state championship, 5-3, Thursday over Santa Gertrudis Academy.
The Mustangs can hold their head up high in the fact that the lost to the best, and with only right fielder Katelyn Roth graduating from the team, they should be a favorite to repeat at Region II-3A champions next spring and contend for a state title again.
The team will return 12 lettermen, five seniors and seven juniors, next season.
The Mustangs not only made the deepest drive in the program's history into the playoffs, they did so in dominant fashion.
Hughes Springs won a pair of 1-game playoff round games, swept two more series, and rallied back from an opening loss to defeat Lone Oak, 4-0 and 5-1, in the regional quarterfinals— the furthest the Mustangs had ever made it in the postseason.
Hughes Springs swept Howe, 8-3 and 9-6, to clinch the first regional title in its history and advance to the state tournament.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs' road ended to Little River Academy on Day 1 of the state tournament. The big hits that had propelled Hughes Springs to the final four didn't come as hard-hit balls landed in the gloves of the outfielders or were fielded by the Bumblebee infielders.
LRA built a 3-0 lead in the
top of the first inning, but the Mustangs scored in the bottom of the inning without the benefit of a hit.
Two innings later, doubles by Shelbi Fickling and Marisol Kennedy sandwiched around a single by Haylee Wilson scored another run. HS had just one more hit the rest of the way.
The Hughes Springs faithful can only imagine what might have been had a long drive by Peyton Blythe with one on not hooked foul over the right-field wall. Or if a sharply-hit ground ball up the middle by Kensley Echols had made its way through to the outfield.
Any number of plays could've turned the tides for the Mustangs in the final game of a magical season, but they'll take their experience and prepare for what comes next.