Lady Mustangs mount surge into post-season

Whitney Bishop takes a cut at a high pitch here April 15, when the Lady Mustangs knocked off Groesbeck, 8-2, in their third win of a four-game finishing surge in District 19 3-A softball race. Dave Lewis/Madisonville Meteor.

Riding a four-game district winning streak, the Lady Mustangs are headed for the softball playoffs again, and will face Lufkin Hudson at Sam Houston State University at 7 p.m. this Friday for the bi-district title.

As defending District 19-3A champs, the Lady Mustangs have owned that title for the previous three seasons, and their playoff appearances go back six years. This time they enter post-season play as the third seed in the district with a 6-4 record.

After winning both games the week of April 6 over Palestine and Westwood, the ladies created their own destiny by sweeping Groesbeck and Mexia last week.

Against Groesbeck last Tuesday, it was Senior Night for the Lady Mustangs, and the only seniors on the squad - Amy Gault and Whitney Bishop - made the most of the evening. Both players were 2-for-4 at the plate, and Gault was credited with driving in five of Madisonville's runs in an 8-2 victory.

The Lady Mustangs took the home field initiative early to take a 3-0 lead over Groesbeck in the first inning. A dropped third strike enabled Heather Boff to reach first. Boff stole second, and a Bishop single moved her to third. Gault reached on a fielder's choice to score Boff.

Lyndsey Renfrow then drew a walk, allowing Brittney Mills to reach on a fielder's choice to score Bishop. Laci Delesandri worked a bases-loaded walk to bring in Gault and give the ladies a 3-0 edge.

In the Madisonville half of the third inning, Renfrow and Mills got back-to-back singles. Lexi Standley then reached on a fielder's choice that got Renfrow at third. Delesandri then singled to drive in Mills to give the Lady Mustangs their fourth run.

In the bottom of the fourth, Corinne Brassell drew a walk, Bishop singled and Gault hit a screamer up the middle that rolled to the wall for an inside-the-park home run.

Madisonville's final tally came in the sixth. After Brassell doubled, a single by Gault brought her home and sealed the win for Madisonville.

In addition to Gault and Bishop, Mills was also 2-for-4 at the plate. Brassell, Renfrow and Ashley Boullion were all 1-for-3. Delesandri was 1-for-1 with two walks.

Brittney Smith got the win, giving up 7 hits, 3 walks and 1 earned run. Smith also had six strikeouts to her credit.

In Mexia Friday evening, it was Madisonville in a 5-2 win with Smith once again on the mound. Although she gave up eight walks and 12 hits, the Lady Blackcats had just one earned run.

Madisonville put one run on the board in the second when Bailey Hunt doubled in Mills, who had singled ahead of her.

The Lady Mustangs added to their total in the fourth. Gault walked, Renfrow reached on a throwing error at second and Mills reached on an error to load the bases.

Gault was thrown out at home on a grounder from Delesandri to short. Hunt then hit a sacrifice to center to score Renfrow before the final out of the inning.

A three-run outburst in the fifth spelled the difference for the Lady Mustangs.

Boff doubled, and a sacrifice bunt by Brassell moved her to third. Bishop then got an infield single to put runners at the corners. Gault then reached on an error to load the bases.

Up next, Renfrow got aboard on a fielder's choice with Gault called out at home. Mills got aboard on an error to score Bishop, then Delesandri doubled to drive in Gault and Renfrow.

Mexia scored a run in the third on an error. After three straight walks and two outs, it looked like the Lady Blackcats would break it open. However, a pickoff play with Delesandri cutting behind the runner at first allowed Boff to gun down the runner and end the inning.