The Mustang Broncos knocked off Norman Monday night, but the game’s ceremonial first pitch was the highlight of the evening.
Parker Henderson, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in January, completed the honorary toss prior to Mustang’s 13-3 win over the Tigers.
Henderson attends Riverwood Elementary and has been on the hearts and minds of the softball community, especially in Mustang. Her courage and strength continue to be recognized and she even threw out a first pitch at the Women’s College World Series in June.
The Broncos followed Henderson’s pitch with their fifth straight victory.
Mustang (18-7, 11-1) scored five runs in the top of the second inning before plating four in both the fourth and fifth innings to secure the win. The team also benefited from another fine performance from starting pitcher Kiera McGahee (Sr.)
McGahee racked up 10 strikeouts over five complete innings as the team improved to 11-1 in District 6A-1. She allowed just four hits and two walks.
Catcher Logan Pickelsimer (Sr.) drove in the first run of the game with a bunt single in the bottom of the second, scoring left fielder Arionna McElroy (Jr.) who led off with a double.
Two batters later, pinch runner Olivia See (Sr.) and left fielder Lexi Kierstead (Fr.) scored on a fielder’s choice with an error off of the bat of first baseman Emerson Pegram (Jr.). Right fielder Kenzie Sessions (Jr.) followed with an RBI-triple and later scored on a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead.
Mustang blew the game wide open in the fourth inning.
Shortstop Reese Poage (Fr.) did most of the damage, including a three-RBI triple before scoring on a wild pitch to make it 9-0.
Second Baseman Fae Cornish (Jr.) and Landry Garza (Sr.) drew walks after Pegram reached on an error to start the frame. All three scored on the triple. Poage finished with a game-high two hits and four RBI.
The Tigers scored three runs on a walk, two hits, and an error in the top of the fifth inning. The Broncos answered in the bottom half.
Cornish drew a bases-loaded walk to extend Mustang’s advantage to 10-3. Kierstead and Abigail Keele (Fr.) led off the inning with back-to-back singles before a free pass to Sessions to juice the pads.
Garza and Poage followed with two straight RBI-singles before a sacrifice fly from McElroy to make it 13-3.
MUSTANG 10, EDMOND SANTA FE 0
EDMOND – Garza dominated from the circle and at the plate as the Broncos rolled past Edmond Santa Fe last Thursday.
The senior hurler tossed five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit with six strikeouts. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a solo home run and an RBI-single, helping fuel a 10-0 win over the Wolves.
Garza’s RBI-single in the top of the first plated the team’s first run while her homer in the top of the second made it 7-0.
Mustang racked up nine hits total, including two apiece from Pickelsimer (C) and Poage (SS, 1B). Pickelsimer went 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI while Poage went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The duo produced three runs on back-to-back knocks in the first inning, following Garza’s single to give the team a 4-0 lead.
Pickelsimer’s third RBI gave the Broncos an 8-0 lead in the top of the fifth. McElroy (CF) doubled home two runs to make it 10-0 later in the inning.
The win marked the fourth straight for the Broncos and third straight in District 6A-1. The team continues action Monday with a doubleheader against US Grant.
