The Madisonville baseball team improved to 2-1 in district play with another complete game, shutout performance by pitcher Rayce Hudson in a 13-0 win over Connally in Waco Friday. The Mustangs returned to MHS to host Mexia Tuesday and will travel to La Vega to conclude their first round of district Friday.

“What is helping (Hudson) out so much is that he is getting ahead in the count,” said head coach Adam Borgfeld on Hudson’s second straight dominant start in district. “The key to any pitcher being successful is throwing strikes. If you can get ahead in the count, it makes you much better on the mound. We have also been playing really good defense behind him. That always helps.”

Hudson allowed just one hit in the five-inning contest, striking out nine batters and walking two. He has allowed just one hit in district play after tossing a no-hitter in the league opener in Robinson last week.

Offensively, the Mustangs ensured an early night with 13 runs on nine hits in five innings. Cody Borgfeld led the team with three runs batted in while Hudson and Cameron Thrower added two apiece.

“One of the things that has helped us at the plate is being more aggressive, and understanding the count” said Coach Borgfeld. “We are trying to hit the fastball more than anything, which is key. We have had a better approach at the plate lately than we did earlier in the season. They are more comfortable with what their approach should be every at bat.”

Hudson helped his own cause and broke an early scoreless tie in the top of the second inning with a solo homerun to left field.

The Mustangs padded their lead in the third with a Thrower double to plate Cade Hathorn before Hudson drove home Rudis on an RBI-single. Thrower would come home to cap off the inning via a Borgfeld RBI-groundout.

The next inning, Madisonville took advantage of a pair of Connally errors to extend their lead to nine. Thrower brought home a pair on their second error before Borgfeld and Tyler Moseman drove home runs with RBI singles.

The Mustangs brought home four more to put the mercy rule in play in their final at-bat in the top of the fifth inning, which included an RBI-triple by Borgfeld.

The win gave the Mustangs a winning record in district entering Tuesday’s home matchup against Mexia.

“I think for the most part we are coming together as a team, working together a lot better, understanding each other and having more confidence in each other,” said Borgfeld. “Of course, winning does that; winning builds confidence. We just have to keep getting better everyday.”

Brad Rudis toed the rubber for the Mustangs against Mexia Tuesday and Hudson is the probable starter for the team’s road game in La Vega Friday. Madisonville will then face all five district opponents again at the opposite location as the first round.

Off the field, the Madisonville baseball program participated in their annual food drive, in which attendees were encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at MHS home games through the month of March.

“I thought we did real well,” said Borgfeld on the food drive. “With (COVID-19) and everything, it probably dropped a little bit, but overall, we probably collected 4-500 canned goods to help the (Son Shine Outreach Center).”