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.

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

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

The seventh Lady Mules finished the District Track Meet with the team silver medal by scoring 138 points. Abernathy won the meet and Littlefield, Tulia, Dimmitt, Friona and Olton trailed in that order.

Sophie Reyna and Keely Dunham got the Lady Mules off to a fast start by winning both the gold and silver medals in the first event of the day, the shot put. Reyna heaved the shot 30 feet and three and half inches while Dunham had a throw of 28-11.00.

Citlalli Vargas had a silver medal leap of 13-03.00 in the long jump and Natali Elizalde placed sixth in the same event with a leap of 12-07.50. Vargas hop, skipped and jumped 27-07.00 in the triple jump for the bronze medal.

Lili Martinez won the gold medal in the 2400-meter run with a time of 10 minutes and 3.59 seconds. The 4x100 meter relay team of Natalie Diaz, Vargas, Reina Regalado and Keely Dunham earned the silver medal with a time of 57.50.

Elizalde won the silver medal in the 800-meter run with a 2:50.49. Hallie Gardner finished fourth in the same race with a 2:57.34 and Ab Mendoza placed sixth with a 3:01.01. Gardner also placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 19.98.

Elizalde was fourth in the 100-meter dash with a 14.00. Clarissa Ruvulcaba, Gardner, Diaz and Mendoza finished fifth in the 4x200-meter relay with a time of 2:14.06. Vargas ran a bronze medal time in the 300-meter hurdles with a 1:00.46 and Maddison Price finished fifth with a 1:02.76.

Regalado finished the 200-meter dash in a time of 29.80 for the silver medal. Martinez and Alyssa Wheeler made up a lot of ground for the Lady Mules in the 1600-meter run by winning the gold and silver medals with times of 6:30.84 and 6:39.53 respectively.

The 4x400-meter relay team of Dunham, Elizalde, Regalado and Vargas seemed to run in the same steps as Wheeler to win the gold medal with a time of 4:37.47.

The Lady Mules will move to off season basketball to get ready for their eighth grade season.

8th L.Mules Track @ District (4-5-14)

8^th L.Mules Track @ District (4-5-14)

The eighth grade Lady Mules won the team silver in the District 2-2A Track Meet in Abernathy Saturday by scoring 113.5 points. They were just 16 points behind the district champion team from Abernathy. Tulia, Dimmitt, Friona, Olton and Littlefield finished in that order behind the Lady Mules.

Conley Niblett got the Lady Mules off to a fast start by winning the gold medal in the high jump with a leap of four feet two inches. Brianna Barron tied for the silver medal at a height of 4-00.00.

Niblett earned the bronze medal in the long jump with a leap of 19-03.50 and Liliana Barrera placed sixth at 12-07.50.

Brianna Barron had a gold medal vault of 6-00.00 and Cassidy Cage cleared 5-06.00 for the silver medal. Jennifer Orozco placed sixth in the 2400-meter run with a time of 11 minutes and 17.38 seconds.

The 4x100-meter relay team of Kimberly Lopez, Melody Moran, Niblett and Barron won the bronze medal with a time of 57.52. Cage won the bronze medal and Yvonne Diaz placed fourth in the 800-meter run with times of 2:53.68 and 2:55.19 respectively.

Nancy Martinez was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles with a 20.43. Barron, Lopez, and Moran placed fourth, fifth and sixth with times of 14.20, 14.26 and 14.68 respectively. Alexis Campos, Moran, Niblett and Barron teamed up in the 4x200-meter relay for fourth place with a 2:04.63.

Ricarda Elizalde won the bronze medal in the 400-meter dash and Nancy Martinez placed sixth with times of 1:13.00 and 1:14.66 respectively. Brianna Velasquez ran sixth in the 300-meter hurdles with a 1:03.18.

Lopez finished fourth in the 200-meter hurdles with a 31.35. Cage had a silver medal time of 6:49.16 in the 1600-meter run. The 4x400-meter relay team of Martinez, Velasquez, Niblett and Diaz finished fourth with a time of 4:56.03.

“This has been an awesome group of ladies to work with for two years,” said Lady Mule coach Edie Niblett. “I will miss them terribly, but know they will go on to help other Lady Mule teams be successful.”

8th Mules Track @ District (3-27-14)

8th Mules Track @ District (3-27-14)

The eighth grade Mules swept the District 2-2A Track Meet at Abernathy with 182 points. They finished 40.5 points ahead of second place Littlefield. Friona, Olton, Tulia, Abernathy and Dimmitt trailed the Mules in that order. 

Marco Sanchez won the Mules first medal of the meet by vaulting eight foot six inches for the silver medal. Isaac Mendoza placed fourth in the high jump with a leap of 5-0.00. 

Cesar Olvera-Salas won the Mules first gold medal by heaving the shot put 44-03.00. Carlos Meza had a bronze medal throw of 40-4.50 and Arnulfo Hernandez placed fourth in the same event with a 38-06.50 throw. 

Meza climbed to the top of the winner’s stand with a gold medal throw of 116-00 in the discus. Olvera-Salas was right beside him with a silver medal toss of 112-01 and Sanchez placed fifth with a toss of 91-07. 

Michael Lozano won the 2400-meter run with a gold medal time of eight minutes and 51.06 seconds. Jacob Kettner earned the silver medal with an 8:56.07 and Giovanni Ceja placed sixth with a time of 9:29.19. 

The 4x100-meter relay team of Sanchez, Hernandez, Meza and Jose Lopez won the bronze medal with a time of 49.76. Ceja ran a gold medal time of 2:32.16 in the 800-meter run. Coleman Preston earned the bronze medal with a 2:32. 97.

Joe Waggoner ran a gold medal time of 18.85 in the 110-meter hurdles. Meza placed fourth in the 100-meter dash with a 12.81.The 4x200-meter relay team of Isaac Mendoza, Lozano, Lopez, and Hernandez won the bronze medal with a time of 1:45.25. 

Preston ran a silver medal time of 1:04.46 in the 400-meter dash. Sanchez placed fourth in the same race with a 1:06.05 and Zachery Atwood finished sixth with a 1:07.29. Waggoner was back atop of the winner’s stand after the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 47.72. 

Lopez placed fourth in the 200-meter dash with a 25.79. Lozano and Kettner won the gold and silver medals with times of 5:45.81 and 5:48.50 respectively. 

The Mules could have left before the 4x400-meter relays started but the team of Preston, Meza, Hernandez and Waggoner ran a bronze medal time of 4:09.90.

Mule Baseball vs. Abernathy & Tulia (4-8 & 12-14)

Mule Baseball vs. Abernathy & Tulia (4-8 & 12-14)

The Mules have won their last three baseball games to improve their district record to 4-3 in just eight days. They defeated Dimmitt to get the streak started and then dropped the district leading Abernathy Antelopes 5-1. The Mules traveled to Tulia and also defeated the Hornets 5-1.

Abernathy appeared to be loaded for bear on Tuesday but the Mules knocked the starting pitcher off the mound in the first two innings by scoring five runs. Abernathy’s only run came in the sixth inning but the Mules added two more runs in the bottom half of the sixth.

Nacho Elizalde pitched a complete game and gave up one run on seven hits and stranded six base runners. He struck out 12 batters, walked one and hit no batters. Elizalde only gave up more than one hit in an inning in the sixth when the Lopes scored their run.

Wes Clarkson took the hill at Tulia and pitched six complete innings. He gave up one run on four hits while striking out seven and walked only one. Elizalde relieved him in the top of the seventh inning and hit the first batter he faced. He then struck out three in a row with the last batter going down on a called strike.

The first Abernathy batter got a base hit and then went to second on a wild pitch. Elizalde stuck out the next three to strand the runner at second.

Matt Barron dropped the first pitch he saw into shallow center field for a Texas Leaguer. Nathan Rejino bunted down the third baseline to sacrifice Barron to second. Dustin Smith walked after taking the count full. Barron stole third and Smith took second on a double steal. Danny Campos doubled to left field to score both Barron and Smith to put the Mules on top to stay.  

Elizalde gave up a base hit to the first Lope of the second inning and a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second. The next batter walked to Lopes on first and second with one out.

A pop fly did not have to be caught by the Mules as the “Infield Fly Rule” was enforced for the second out. Rejino fielded a ground ball and tossed it to Smith at first for the third out to end the Lope threat.

Elizalde singled to right field in the bottom of the second inning and Clarkson walked on four pitches. Barron’s ground ball through the hole between second and third seemed to have eyes and brought Elizalde home. 

Rejino lined a single to left field to score both Clarkson and Barron to put the Mules up 5-0.

The Lopes scored one run in the top of the sixth inning on back-to-back base hits. It was the only time during the game Abernathy threatened.

The Mules struck first in Tulia on Saturday with Barron reaching on an error by the shortstop. He stole second base on the first pitch to Rejino. Rejino sacrificed Barron to third with a bunt down the third base line. Barron scored on a second error on the shortstop that allowed Smith to reach first base.

Clarkson struck out the first batter with three straight strikes. A pop fly was caught by Mule catch, Smith. Clarkson struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Tulia tripled in the bottom of the second inning and scored on a base hit to tie the game at 1-1 at the end of two innings.

Barron again reached first on an error by the shortstop. Plate interference was called on Rejino when he attempted to bunt and failed to get out of the way of the catcher as he attempted to throw to second on a steal by Barron. Barron was sent back to first base.

An third error on the short stop permitted Beto Diaz to get to first and Barron to go to second. A double to right field by Smith put the Mules in front to stay when both Barron and Diaz scored.

Tulia tried to mount a threat in the bottom of the third inning with a deep fly ball to center field. Elizalde saw the ball come off the bat, turned his back to the plate and raced out toward the fence.

About 10 feet short of the fence he turned around, again found the ball, made an adjustment because of the wind and made a leaping catch. He went to ground but immediately held up his glove with the ball. That snuffed out the Tulia threat.

The Mules tacked two insurance runs in the top of seventh inning. Keagan Gonzales made it to first on an error by the second baseman. A second error by the second baseman put Mules at first and second.

Rejino advanced the runners with a sacrifice ground ball. Smith slashed a ground ball just out of the reach of the first baseman for a single to score both Gonzales and Barron.

The Mules will put their 4-3 district record on the line Thursday when they host the Littlefield Wildcats. The game was scheduled for Tuesday but had to be rescheduled for Thursday because of the Region I Golf Tournament. The Mules are back in action at home on Saturday when the Olton Mustangs visit.