A Proud Legacy
Senior Lady Mustangs leave mark on program
Greatness always has a starting point. That moment in time isn’t always realized until much later down the line, once that potential has grown, been pushed, and the fruits of one’s labor has come to the forefront.
For Hughes Springs’ softball program, that all started when the senior class first showed up for their first high school practice as freshmen back in 2015. The Lady Mustangs made the deepest runs in school history that spring, and it was the start of record after record being rewritten for the school.
“These six seniors have left a legacy that no one can ever take from them,” Hughes Springs coach Tisha Thompson said. “The hope is, we’re back here again next year. Maybe the third time’s a charm.”
Hughes Springs’ seniors collected six of the team’s nine hits off Santa Gertrudis Academy pitcher Saidi Castillo Thursday in the 3A state championship game, losing to the hard-throwing right-harder and her Lady Lions, 8-3, for the state title.
Castillo had thrown a perfect game a day before, the first in 3A state tournament history.
The Mustangs took a little bit to adjust to her craft in the circle, but it was a rough first inning on defense and a big swing after a pair of errors extended the inning that gave SGA a 4-0 lead.
Zoe Lanier absorbed the loss, despite all the runs she allowed being unearned. Marisol Kennedy pitched 5 2-3 innings of relief after picking up the semifinal win on Wednesday in extra innings.
Thursday’s championship game was the final time six young ladies would suit up for Hughes Springs.
The graduation class includes Peyton Blythe, Kennedi Northam, Haylee Wilson, Kensley Echols, Charlie Reeves and Silver Montgomery.
“All of those seniors have provided something for us for four years, and they can’t be replaced,” Thompson said. “We’ve got six juniors behind them, and we expect them to step up and play just as hard as those seniors did.”
The Lady Mustangs have set a high standard for future groups to reach for and aim to eclipse in seasons to come. When that starts is always a mystery, until you’re able to look back at the accomplishments.