The Mustang Broncos picked up two wins in the 2024 Oklahoma High School Fast Pitch Festival last weekend at USA Hall of Fame Stadium.
The Broncos (6-5, 4-0) shutout the Class 4A Bethany Bronchos and the home school Oklahoma City Broncos while dropping a close game to the Westmoore Jaguars during the two-day event.
Coach Lacy Darity’s squad totaled 26 hits, including five extra-base knocks. Lexy Kierstead (Jr.) hammered a pair of home runs while Amelia Mason (Sr.), Aubree Hall (Sr.), and Skyla Hagan (Fr.) combined to give up just 11 hits on the weekend.
MUSTANG 8, BETHANY 0
Mustang opened the festival with a blowout win over the 4A Bronchos, racking up 10 hits while holding Bethany to just two.
Hall was sensational from the circle, tossing five shutout innings while giving up just two hits and one walk. She finished with seven strikeouts on 68 total pitches.
The team’s lineup had Hall’s back, including four players with at least two hits. Kierstead, Mason, left fielder Weslyn McCorvey (Fr.), and third baseman Adyson McGavock (So.) each produced a multi-hit performance, including a double by Kierstead.
First baseman Rylann Beeson (Jr.) also added a three-run home run.
The Broncos broke the game open with five runs on five hits, two free passes, two errors, and a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the third inning.
Second baseman Abigail Keele (Jr.) got things going, reaching on a hit-by-pitch before scoring on a sac-bunt by right fielder Reece Fixico (So.) and a Bethany error to give the team a 1-0 lead.
McGavock followed with a single before shortstop Reese Poage (Jr.) reached on a second error by the Bronchos. Each scored on a three-run blast by Beeson in the next at-bat, extending the advantage to 4-0.
A walk to Jade Ashbaugh (So.) and singles by Kierstead and McCorvey loaded the bases before Mason pushed across the team’s fifth run of the frame with a single to right field.
Mustang closed the game out with three runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the fifth.
Kierstead started the run with a one-out double before scoring on an RBI-single by Mason two batters later. Pinch runner Madison Smith (Fr.) scored on an error off the bat of Keele before a single by pinch hitter Bailey Summa (So.) ended the game at 8-0.
MUSTANG 8, OKC BRONCOS 0
The Broncos closed the festival with their second shutout, led by Mason in the circle and 13 hits at the plate.
Mason was strong, allowing just three hits and one walk with three strikeouts. She needed just 64 pitches to cruise through five innings of work.
Poage sparked the team’s lineup with four hits and two RBI from the leadoff spot. Keele, McGavock, and left fielder Natalee Nichols (Jr.) each collected two hits while Kierstead added her second home run of the weekend.
Mustang jumped on the board early, scoring three runs on four hits and two sacrifice bunts in the top of the first inning.
Poage and Beeson singled to start the frame before a sac-bunt by Ashbaugh moved the duo to second and third base. Kierstead gave the team a 3-0 lead with a homer to left field in the following at-bat.
The Broncos extended the lead to 7-0 with four runs on four hits, a sac-bunt, and a free pass in the top of the second.
Nichols led off with a single before moving to second on a sac-bunt by McGavock. Poage followed with an RBI-single to extend the team’s advantage to 4-0. Ashbaugh followed with a second RBI-single, scoring Poage for a 5-0 lead.
Kierstead reached base with a hit-by-pitch in the following at-bat before a two-RBI double by Keele made it 7-0.
Mustang finished off the win with one run in the top of the fifth.
Nichols and McGavock reached on two-out singles before an RBI-knock by Poage extended the lead to 8-0 and ultimately sealed the victory.
WESTMOORE 2, MUSTANG 1
Poage, Kierstead, and Keele combined for three hits in a closely contested loss to the Jaguars.
Hagan suffered the loss but pitched well from the circle. She allowed just three hits and one walk while racking up four strikeouts over six innings.
Westmoore grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, scoring on a passed ball after a catcher’s interference and a single earlier in the frame.
Kierstead’s first homer of the festival tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, however, the Jags answered in the top of the sixth with one run on a single and a sac-bunt which ultimately sealed the game.