Lady Mules vs. Dimmitt (4-28-14)

Lady Mules vs. Dimmitt (4-28-14)

The Lady Mules blew away the Dimmitt Bobbies Monday evening in a 40 mile per hour west wind. Miranda DeBruin pitched a complete five-inning game and gave up just one run on two hits while striking out 10 batters. She walked three batters.

The Lady Mules blasted 17 hits that included 11 singles, five doubles and one home run to score 28 runs. Dimmitt walked 12 Lady Mules, hit one batter with a pitch and committed six errors. 

Sasha Esparza led the Lady Mules at the plate with three doubles and a single. DeBruin helped her own cause with a double and a three-run home run. Marissa Cortez slammed a two-run double in the fourth inning. Diamond Lopez, Brittany Mendoza, Gaby Chavez and Reagan Reynolds each hit two singles and Amber Lopez had one base hit. 

The 28-1 Bi-District win earned the Lady Mules their second gold glove of the season. The Lady Mules will now face the Coahoma Buldogettes at Lubbock Cooper Friday afternoon at 6:00 PM in the Area round of the State Playoffs.

The Lady Mules jumped in front in the top half of the first inning by scoring two runs. D. Lopez singled to lead off the inning and Esparza, DeBruin and Cortez each walked to bring home D. Lopez. A. Lopez sacrificed home Esparza for the 2-0 lead. 

DeBruin walked the first batter she faced in the game and struck out the next three. 

The Lady Mules turned up the heat in the second inning by pushing six runs across to take an 8-0 lead. Mendoza walked and Chavez singled up the middle. A throwing error allowed Mendoza to score and Chavez to go to second. Reynolds was hit by a pitch. 

D. Lopez walked to load the bases. Esparza doubled to score Chavez, Reynolds and D. Lopez. Esparza tried to stretch the double to a triple and was thrown out at third. DeBruin reached on an error by the short stop. She went to second on a passed ball and went to third on a wild pitch. She stole home when Cortez walked and then motored around first to steal second on the double steal. 

A. Lopez sacrificed Cortez to third and she scored on a wild pitch. The Lady Mules led 8-0 after one and a half innings. 

DeBruin again walked the lead off batter and struck out the next three Bobbies to end the second inning. 

The Lady Mules did not score in the top of the third inning. DeBruin struck out the first batter and gave up her first hit, a double down the right field line. Mireya Ruvalcaba came charging in from left field to make a running catch on a fly ball to short left field and held the runner at second. DeBruin struck out the next batter to end the third inning. 

The Lady Mules batted around two and half times in the top of the fourth inning with the first 20 Lady Mules scoring. The run streak ended with DeBruin’s home run over the left field fence. The Lady Mules led 28-0 with one and a half innings to play. 

The Bobbies only run came in the bottom of fifth inning when the lead-off batter singled to left field. She went to second, third and scored on wild pitches before the game ended with a ground out to DeBruin.

Jr High Tennis @ Levelland (4-26-14)

Jr High Tennis @ Levelland (4-26-14)

The Muleshoe Junior High tennis team traveled to Levelland for their first tournament of the year Saturday. There were 28 Mules and Lady Mules in the tournament and they competed in 75 matches. The wind was blowing at 25 to 35 miles per hour with gust up to 40 MPH. 

Alexis Campos won the consolation medal in the girl’s singles division. She lost her first match to Midland Christian 3-6 but came back to defeat back-to-back Muleshoe opponents with scores of 6-3 and 6-4.

Hallie Myatt defeated Lazbuddie in the first round 6-1. Midland Christian was Myatt’s next victim, losing 6-3. South Crest defeated Myatt 0-6 and Brownfield eliminated her 0-6. 

Brianna Barron lost her first match to South Crest 4-6. She defeated Midland Christian 6-3 and was eliminated by a Muleshoe player 4-6. Noa Rojas fell to Brownfield 0-6 in the first match and was eliminated by a Muleshoe player 4-6. 

Michelle Reyes lost both of her matches. The first being to Brownfield 1-6 and the second was to an unknown player 3-6. 

The Lady Mules did much better in doubles Sofia Sianez and Nancy Martinez taking first place. They defeated Sands 6-1 in the first round and Brownfield 6-1 in the second. A team from Muleshoe also fell to defeat by the team 6-1 in the finals. 

Liliana Barrera and Conley Niblett placed second in the tournament. They defeated Sands 6-0 and a Muleshoe team 6-4. They fell to a second Muleshoe team 6-1.

Kayla Torres and AB Mendoza placed third and defeated Post 6-1 in the first round. They lost their second match to an unknown team 4-6 but defeated Post 6-1 for third place. 

Ileana Gonzales and Hailey Anzaldua made it a clean sweep of the medals by winning consolation. They defeated post 6-0 and won the second round due to a forfeit. A team from Muleshoe was the next victims 6-2.

Kinsey Parker and Madison Hasley lost their first match to an unknown team 3-6. They defeated Post 6-4 but fell to a Muleshoe team 2-6. Lorena Balderas and Xiomara Regalado defeated Lazbuddie 6-0 but lost to a Muleshoe team 4-6. They were eliminated by Sands 4-6. 

Megan Macias and Alexa Herrera lost their first match to an unknown team 0-6 and had to forfeit the second to be eliminated. 

Aron Chacon placed second in the Boy’s Singles Division. He defeated Brownfield 6-0 in the first round and Midland Christian 6-3 in the second. He was defeated by Sudan 1-6 in the championship game.

Estevan Palomares placed third and started by defeating an unknown team 6-4 but lost to Midland Christian 4-6. He defeated Sudan 6-0 for third place. Carlos Balderas won consolation. He lost the first match 4-6 to an unknown player but defeated a Muleshoe player 6-0. Balderas defeated Post 6-1 for consolation. 

Yavet Elizalde defeated Midland Christian 6-4 in the first round but lost to Sudan 1-6 and Midland Christian 3-6. Issac Mendoz defeated Brownfield 6-4 but lost by an unknown score to an unknown player. 

Dacota Van Leer lost to Post 0-6 and to a Muleshoe player 0-6. Ashton Atchley lost both of his matches. 

Jacob Kettner and Cassidy Cage teamed up in Mixed Doubles and won first place. They defeated a Muleshoe team 6-0 in the first round and a second Muleshoe team 1-6 in the second round. 

Ricardo Torres and Anghy Avilez defeated a Muleshoe team 6-2 but lost Kettner and Gage in the finals 1-6. Malachi Rodriguez and Xena Gallegos lost to Kettner and Cage in the first round 0-6 and Torres and Avilez 2-6 in the second.

Reg I Track Meet (4-25&26-14)

Reg I Track Meet (4-25&26-14)

Austin Ross was the only Mule or Lady Mule to qualify for the Texas State Track Meet to be held in Austin May 9-10, 2014. Ross qualified as a wild card by running the fourth fastest time in all four regions in the 200-meter dash. 

Ross ran a time of 22.56 seconds in the 200-meter dash to qualify for the finals. He won the bronze medal in the event with an improved time of 21.92. Since a ninth lane has been added to the Mike Meyers track in Austin the fast time of the regional non-qualifying finalist earns the right to run as a wild card. 

Many felt that Ross had a better opportunity to make the State Meet in the 400-meter run. He qualified for the finals with a time of 50.63 and finished fourth with an improved time of 50.05 for a personal best.

Eli Leal qualified for the finals in the high jump and finished eighth with a leap of six feet even. Jesus Manzanares ran a time of 2:05.85 in the 800-meter run to finish seventh. 

Adrienne Precure finished seventh in the high jump with a leap of 5-00 for seventh place. Mireya Ruvalcaba competed in her first Region I Meet win the 800-meter run and placed fifth with a time of 2:29.34. 

Precure qualified in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.89 and finished fourth in that event with a 17.00. Precure also qualified for the finals in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 47.50. She placed seventh with an improved time of 47.19.    

Ross will spend the next ten days practicing the 200-meter dash in preparation for the State Track Meet.

Mule Baseball vs. Littlefield, Olton & Dimmitt (4-17,19 & 21-14)

Mule Baseball vs. Littlefield, Olton & Dimmitt (4-17,19 & 21-14)

The Mule baseball team clinched second place in the District 2-A race with wins over Littlefield, Olton and Dimmitt to close out the regular season. In the first trip through district the Mules were down with just one win and three losses and still faced the Dimmitt Bobcats. 

The Mules defeated Dimmitt 5-4 to help their record to 2-3 after one loop of district. The Mules then won their next five games to defeat all the teams in the district and complete a six-game winning streak to claim sole possession of second place. 

Nacho Elizalde got the win against Littlefield to improve the Mules to 5-3. He gave up two runs and scattered six hits. Littlefield left six on base. Elizalde struck out six before turning the mound over to Wesley Clarkson. Clarkson took the hill with the Mules leading 5-2 with a Wildcat on second base and nobody out. 

Fortunately for the Mules Clarkson took a fire extinguisher to the mound with him and dowsed the Wildcat fire. He struck out the first batter he faced and got he second batter to fly out to Elizalde in center field. The next batter went down swinging and the Mules were out of inning and still holding the 5-2 lead. 

Clarkson finished the game with ground out to Matt Barron at short stop, a pop fly to Dustin Smith behind the plate and a second ground out to Barron. The win extended the Mules winning streak to four games. 

The Mules continued their winning ways by defeating the Olton Mustangs 9-0. Clarkson pitched a complete game, struck out five, walked one and gave up eight hits. The Mules recorded just one error and the Mustangs stranded seven on base. 

Smith threw out a runner attempting to steal second base with a perfect throw to Barron covering second. Olton only had one runner to reach third base. He slammed a one-out double to left field and was sacrificed to third. A ground to Nathan Rejino at second ended the game. 

Barron had doubled to start the bottom of the first inning and stole third base. Smith was hit by a pitch and stole second base when Barron stole third. Jesus Manzanares ground ball single to left scored both Barron and Smith to put the Mules on top 2-0. 

The Mules sent nine to the plate in the second inning and scored five runs. Clarkson blasted a leadoff double to right-center field. Barron scored Clarkson with a single to left field. Barron stole second and scored when Rejino doubled off the fence in left field. 

Beto Diaz reached on an error by the shortstop and Rejino scored on the error. Smith was hit by a pitch for the second time during the game. Manzanares singled to left field and the fielder was lax in getting the ball back to the infield and Diaz and Smith both scored on the fielding error. The Mules led 7-0 after two innings. 

Clarkson scored a run in the third inning and Manzanares added the final Mule run in the fourth inning. 

The Mules traveled to Dimmitt for the two teams final game of the regular season Monday afternoon. Danny Campos was tapped by Mule baseball coach Wes Boatmun as the starting pitcher. Campos pitched four innings and gave up just one run. He struck out four, gave up two hits and the Mules committed one error. 

Elizalde took over in relief, struck out two, gave up one hit and hit two batters in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Mules rattled the Dimmitt hurler in the top of the sixth inning. 

Grey Johnson drew a walk, went to second on a wild pitch and to third base on an error by the second baseman. Clarkson struck out but the catcher missed the pitch and Clarkson beat the throw to first base. Barron singled to left center to score both Johnson and Clarkson to give the Mules a 2-1 lead. 

Barron was caught attempting to steal second base for the Mules first out. An error on the short stop allowed Rejino to reach first base. Keagan Gonzales pinch ran for Rejino and stole second base. Diaz doubled off the fence in center field to score Gonzales. The Dimmitt reliever balked to score Diaz and end all scoring with the Mules leading 4-1. 

Clarkson relieved Elizalde in the bottom of the seventh inning after Elizalde had hit the first two Bobcat batters. Clarkson walked the first batter he faced to load the bases with no outs. 

He struck out the second batter he faced and the next flew out to Diaz in left field. The final Bobcat to the plate sent a line drive to near the corner in left field. Diaz got a good read on the ball as it came off the bat. He lowered his head and raced toward the corner. 

The ball had just hit the ground when Diaz scooped it up, wheeled and fired the ball to the cutoff man, Barron, in shallow left field. Barron caught and in the same motion fired a strike to Smith at home plate. 

One Bobcat had scored from third base but Smith made a sweeping tag on the runner racing home from second base to end the game.     

Dimmitt had threatened in the sixth inning with runners at first and second with no outs. A ground ball streaked down the third baseline to Campos. He scooped up the ball, stepped on the bag at third and gunned the ball across the infield to Clarkson at first base to complete the double play.  Elizalde struck out the next batter on three straight pitches. 

The Mules appear to be scheduled to face the Boys Ranch Roughriders the May second and third. The time and place of the apparent three game series has yet to be announced. 

MHS Golf @ Regional Tourny (4-14,15,16&17-14)

MHS Golf @ Regional Tourny (4-14,15,16&17-14)

Lariat Adams was the Silver Low Individual Medallist at the Region I Class 2A Golf Tournament last Wednesday and Thursday. The tournament was held on the Ratliff Golf Course in Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium Sports Complex. 

Adams shot a first round 79 but came back the second day with an amazing 73 to be the runner-up with a total of 152 strokes. She finished four strokes behind the Champion, Sydney Dermody of Sonora. By winning the silver medal Adams will compete at the Texas State Class 2A golf tournament in Austin April 30 to May 1. 

The Lady Mule golf team finished in seventh place out of the 16 teams. In addition to Adams 152, Sadie Sudduth had back-to-back rounds of 103 for a total of 206 shots. Miranda DeBruin shot a first round 114 but came back the second day with a 102 for a total of 216.

Sydnie Sudduth also had a first round 114 and returned the second with a 105 for a total of 219. Bailey Bales had rounds of 120 and 112 for a total of 232. 

Monday and Tuesday Conner Harrison and Eli Leal had competed as medalist in the Region I Class 2A Golf Tournament on the Ratliff Course. Harrison shot a first round of 92 and returned the second day with an 87 for a total of 179. Leal finished with rounds of 90 and an 89 to also finish with a total of 179. 

Harrison and Leal tied for 38th place out of 96 competitors. 

“It was cold and windy both days of the boy’s tournament but the guys played through it,” said Mule golf coach Carey Sudduth. “I am very proud of them and the way they handled the harsh conditions.  

“The weather was better for the girls and they did a great job. Lariat (Adams) handled the pressure well and I am looking forward to watching her play in Austin.”

MHS Reg Tennis (4-16-14)

MHS Reg Tennis (4-16-14)

Matthew Barron and Nacho Elizalde were the only Muleshoe High School players to compete in the Region I Class 2A Tennis Tournament held on Odessa’s Ector County ISD Courts. The courts are located in the Ratliff Stadium Sports Complex. 

“Matt (Barron) and Nacho (Elizalde) played in the regional tournament in 2013 but in the boy’s singles division,” said Muleshoe High School tennis Coach Jody Wood. “They chose to team up and play doubles this season. Both boys are seniors and have had an outstanding tennis career.”

Barron and Elizalde defeated Bowie High School’s team of William Bohn and Dallas Johnson 3-6, 6-4, and 6-2 in the opening round. They fell in the second round to Regan County High School’s (Big Lake) team of Turner Stark and Andy Perez 6-1 and 6-3. 

Austin Dragt and Lance Henderson from Wall won the Boy’s Doubles. Ethan Lusk and Boston Hudson of Canadian placed second. Both teams will advance to the Texas State Tournament.

7th Mules Track @ District (4-5-14)

7^th Mules Track @ District (4-5-14)

The seventh grade Mules took the District 2-2A Track Meet by storm and ran away with the team gold with 167.5 points. Littlefield, Abernathy, Tulia, Friona, Olton and Dimmitt trailed the Mules in that order.

Ean Hasley literally jump started the Mules by vaulting seven feet even for the gold medal and Yoel Reyes won the bronze medal by clearing 6-06.00. Israel Vasquez had a bronze medal leap in the high jump and cleared 4-08.00. Noah Russell placed sixth in the same event leaping 4-04.00.

Ryan Rodriguez heaved the shot 35-09.00 for the silver medal. Russell tossed the discus 92-04 for the bronze medal. Hasley and Ethan Gonzales placed fourth and fifth in the 2400-meter run with times of nine minutes 35.14 second and 9:41.11 respectively.

The 4x100-meter relay team of Jaime Vidana, Izaiah Hurtado, Brendon Mehl and Rodriguez won the gold medal with a time of 50.55. Raul Sierra and Luke Del Toro placed fourth and sixth in the 800-meter run with times of 2:46.79 and 2:48.38 respectively.

Russell and Hasley ran gold and silver medal times of 19.71 and 20.18 respectively in the 110-meter hurdles. Yoel Reyes ran a gold medal time of 12.20 in the 100-meter dash and Josh Torres placed fifth with a 13.56.

Vidana, Mehl, Rodriguez and Hurtado teamed up for the silver medal in the 4x200-relay with a 1:47.86. Russell was back on top of the winners stand with a 1:05.38 in the 400-meter dash. Mehl won the silver medal in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 50.64.

Reyes and Vidana topped the winners stand in the 200-meter dash with times of 25.48 and 27.32 respectively. Hasley placed fifth in the 1600-meter run with a time of 6:09.33. The 4x400-meter relay team of Rodriguez, Reyes, Russell and Hurtado won the silver medal in a time of 4:14.54.

The Mules will start off season workouts in preparation for their eighth grade season.