It’s August and it’s hot. High school softball season is officially here.
The Mustang Broncos square off against the Midwest City Bombers to open their 2022 campaign Tuesday. It’s the first of 14 Class 6A District 1 games for the Broncos and the first of three over the first three weeks, along with a pair of tournaments at Broken Arrow and Southmoore.
“Our goal is always to win a state championship,” Mustang coach Lacy Darity said. “But in order to set ourselves up in the best possible position to do that, our first goal is to be district champions.”
Here is how the schedule shakes out for Darity’s team this season:
DISTRICT GAMES
Midwest City – 8/9 (ROAD) & 8/30 (HOME) – The Broncos open the regular season Tuesday against the Bombers, who went 4-16 in 2021. Mustang won both matchups last year by a combined margin of 27-1.
Southmoore – 8/16 (ROAD) & 9/8 (HOME) – The two teams split their district matchups last season, both one-run games. However, the Sabercats, who went 33-6, knocked the Broncos out of the playoffs on route to the state title. Mustang will be out for revenge early in 2022.
Edmond Santa Fe – 8/18 (HOME) & 9/15 (ROAD) – The Broncos take on the Wolves in their home opener next Thursday. Mustang swept the season series in 2021 by a combined margin of 14-1. Santa Fe went 16-18 overall.
Lawton – 8/22 (ROAD) & 9/13 (HOME / SENIOR NIGHT) – Mustang won both district matchups against the Wolverines last year by a combined margin of 35-0. The Broncos will honor the team’s seniors prior to the September meeting. Lawton went 4-17 overall in 2021.
Moore – 8/23 (HOME) & 9/12 (ROAD) – The two teams split the district series last year with each team winning on the road. The Lions went 24-9 in 2021 but fell to Edmond Memorial in a regional final.
US Grant – 8/29 (HOME / DOUBLEHEADER) – Mustang will host US Grant in a home doubleheader late in August. The Broncos won the season series last year by a combined margin of 23-1.
Norman – 9/6 (ROAD) & 9/19 (HOME) – The Broncos and Tigers meet in September for the first of two district matchups. Mustang won the series last year by a combined margin of 24-4. Norman went 15-16 in 2021.
NON-DISTRICT GAMES
Westmoore – 9/1 (ROAD) – The Broncos take on the Jaguars in their first non-district game and first game of September. Westmoore won the only matchup last year 4-1. The Jags went 26-6 in 2021 and fell to Stillwater in the state quarterfinals.
Blue Springs South (MO) – 9/2 (ROAD at PIEDMONT) – Mustang takes on Blue Springs South out of Missouri in a non-district matchup at Piedmont. Deer Creek – 9/27 (ROAD) – The Broncos and Antlers square off after meeting four times in 2021 and going 2-2.
Deer Creek, who went 29-9, won in the COAC tournament, however the Broncos won two of three games in the regional tournament for a ticket to state. Yukon – 9/29 (HOME) – Bedlam is set to be played at home this year. Mustang won the lone matchup last year in the COAC tournament.
Yukon went 22-16 in 2021.
TOURNAMENTS
Broken Arrow Tournament – 8/12-13
Southmoore Festival – 8/19-20
Choctaw/Carl Albert Festival – 9/9-10
Piedmont/Deer Creek Festival – 9/16-17
Regional Tournament – 10/4-6
State Tournament – 10/13-15
