The Mustang Broncos moved one step closer to their ultimate goal on Monday, capturing the 2022 Class 6A District 1 championship and setting themselves up with homefield advantage in regional play.
The Broncos (20-8, 13-1) posted two blowout wins over US Grant (8-20, 1-15) in a home double header to clinch the title. They won the first game 11-0 and the second 10-0.
Mustang will now host Northwest Classen, Yukon, and Lawton in the regional tournament Oct. 4-5, looking to punch its ticket to the state tournament.
The Broncos scored 11 runs on nine hits in the first game, including two hits apiece from starting pitcher Landry Garza (Sr.), catcher Logan Pickelsimer (Sr.), left fielder Rylee Hannon (Jr.), and first baseman Emerson Pegram (Jr.).
Garza and Pickelsimer each racked up a double and a triple while combining for three RBI. Pegram plated three runs herself while shortstop Reese Poage (Fr.), right fielder Mackie Vaught (Sr.) and center fielder Olivia See (Sr.) each finished with one RBI.
Garza picked up the win, nearly recording a strikeout for each of the team’s outs. She finished with eight Ks without giving up a hit or a walk over three innings.
Mustang racked up eight hits in its Game 2 win, including two apiece from second baseman Kenzie Sessions (Jr.) and left fielder Lexi Kierstead (Fr.).
Kierstead drove in two runs with a double and a triple while Sessions produced a pair of singles with three runs scored. Sessions also stole two bases.
Catcher Arionna McElroy (Jr.) went 1-for-1 with a two-RBI double while third baseman Rylann Beeson (Fr.) picked up an RBI-single. Right fielder Natalia Delgado (So.) and Amelia Mason each went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Kiera McGahee recorded the win, matching Garza with eight strikeouts over three innings. She allowed just one hit with three walks.
DEER CREEK 3, MUSTANG 2
Mustang wrapped up the regular season with a 3-2 loss to Deer Creek on Tuesday. The Antlers won the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Broncos allowed two runs early but battled back to tie the game in the fifth inning. Deer Creek reeled off three singles in the final frame to hand Mustang its eighth loss of the campaign.
After allowing a home run in the bottom of the first inning, the Broncos tied the game on an error off the bat of Hannon. Kierstead, who reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on the play.
Deer Creek regained the lead in the bottom of the second inning before the Broncos once again tied the game in the top of the fifth.
Sessions led off the inning with a single and advanced to third base after stealing second. She scored on a sacrifice fly by infielder Fae Cornish (Jr.) to make it 2-2.
Sessions, Garza, McElroy, Pickelsimer, Poage, Kierstead, and Pegram all produced one single in the game. Cornish drew the team’s only walk.
McGahee suffered the loss, but was solid in her outing. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits with no walks, striking out five over 6 1/3 innings.
