Mexico rolls through lineup to defeat Moberly in six, win 7th straight

Mexico softball’s offense couldn’t be stopped on Thursday at home. 

Mexico vs Moberly Photo Gallery

For the previous seven games, the Lady Bulldogs have continued rolling as their 17-7 six-inning victory against North Central Missouri Conference and district foe Moberly extended their winning streak to seven. Karlee Sefrit had the RBI single to trigger the run rule and put her total at four RBI, Hannah Loyd had a two-RBI single in an eight-run second inning and finished with five RBI, and Emma Cunningham finished 3-4 at the bottom of the order and turned in 2⅔ shutout innings in relief.

Head coach Hanna Branch said Mexico’s defense has been solid all season and was again against Moberly (, compared to the Lady Spartans’ eight errors and nine unearned runs. The Lady Bulldogs’ offense has allowed the team to breathe easier during this recent stretch, averaging 8.1 runs per game and showing an ability to do so late.

“Our bats are getting hot, and we are finally figuring out our approaches,” Branch said. “We’re being aggressive early in the count, we’re taking good at-bats and then getting on base, and we are figuring out good ways to get runners around. Our pitchers have gained a lot more confidence, especially with the more runs that we’re getting.”

The Lady Bulldogs did whatever they could to advance runners in their eight-run second inning. In all, 11 batters came to the plate as Moberly committed half of its errors in the inning. 

Mexico’s starting pitcher on Thursday Aleigha Henderson hit a sacrifice fly to take advantage of a bases-loaded situation and then Brooke Teel laid down a bunt prior to Maddy Feger attempting a bunt to put more pressure on Moberly’s defense. 

“I love that a couple of our girls can not only hit the ball hard but they can small ball it a little bit,” Branch said. “When you are hitting the ball that well sometimes, teams can be playing back and be caught off guard. Our girls pick up on that and are always thinking ahead. Them putting those bunts down — reading the corners and reading the field — are going to help us get on base.”

Loyd didn’t need small ball as she lined a triple that allowed two runs to score and eventually allowed her to cross the plate on an errant throw to third base, making it 9-3 Mexico. Prior to her Little League round tripper, Loyd has crushed a handful of home runs over the fence this season. That particular inning was fun for Loyd, but this recent stretch of offense has been enjoyable for the Lady Bulldogs.

“It feels awesome to be able to do, accomplish something for my team and get the job done,” Loyd said. “Our team has come together and realize we have to do it for each other, pass the bat throughout the lineup and hit the ball.”

Moberly was able to answer with four runs in the fourth inning as opposing starting pitcher Mia Faught picked up another RBI hit to put her day at 2-for-3 with three RBI. Cunningham came to pitch then, and while she allowed two inherited runners to score, she limited Moberly to four hits and no walks in her outing, which made her catcher Loyd happy.

“Emma comes in with a drop ball and changeup,” Loyd said. “It throws them off and keeps the game time down.”

Cunningham said she wanted to throw as much spin as she could at the Lady Spartans to keep them at bay. At the plate, Moberly couldn’t keep Cunningham the hitter at bay as she finished with one of four Mexico doubles.

Mexico’s Nos. 6-8 hitters of Kenley Jones, Landri Teel and Cunningham combined to go 6-for-10 with five runs, three RBI and two walks. Adding in Henderson’s production from the No. 9 hole, she had a double and a RBI. Branch said it is easy to have two pitchers in her lineup as she has used Cunningham as a designated player multiple times this season.

“I’ve kept as a DP for a majority of games just because she does take really good at-bats,” Branch said. “She has drawn some walks, and she’ll hit the ball hard. It might be right at somebody, but she’ll hit the ball hard. Today, it was finally going her way. A lot of people when they think of a pitcher, they think, ‘Oh, they don’t get to hit very often’ but both of our pitchers can hit so I let them hit.”

Cunningham said her experience as a pitcher helps her recognize the spin when she’s in the batter’s box, deciding quickly whether to foul the pitch off or crush it.

Mexico heads into two games today in Ashland, facing Class 3 No. 9 Southern Boone (11-9-1) at 10 a.m. and Palmyra (6-9) at 12:15 p.m. The senior Cunningham said the Lady Bulldogs have been playing better and have brought more positive attitudes into games, as they plan to do today.

“We come together a lot more, we kept our attitudes up and we just learned how to be together,” Cunningham said.

Mexico girls tennis earns six all-conference players in Hannibal

Around a handful of Lady Bulldogs became decorated before districts happen in Mexico today.

Lucy Gleeson, Lani Blair, Katie Gooch, Jyllian Whitworth, Alexis Smythe and Claire Hudson each earned all-conference honors on Wednesday in Hannibal and Palmyra at the North Central Missouri Conference meet. Mexico finished fourth in the tournament standings with 34 points — behind Marshall’s winning 50 points — but finished second in NCMC season standings with a 4-1 record.

Katie Gooch and  Lani Blair each finished second in their singles brackets. Gooch won 10-2 but then lost 11-9 to a Marshall opponent, and Blair won 10-3 and then lost 11-9 to her Marshall opponent.

Lucy Gleeson was third in her singles bracket, and Jyllian Whitworth was fourth in hers, with Gleeson winning 10-5 and 8-5 but losing her second match 10–1 to Marshall and Whitworth winning 10-7 before losing the next two 10-5 and 8-5. 

“It was a warm one and the first place matches were in the hottest part of the day,” head coach Kim Costley said. “We didn’t come out on top in singles, but we never stopped battling for every point. As a coach, that’s all you can ask.”

Alexis Smythe earned first-place all-conference honors in doubles with her partner Claire Hudson after winning 10-3 and then 10-4. The senior Smythe is a first-year player, Costley said, and Hudson has seen limited time this season.

Lady Bulldog tennis spreads court time at Battle before final stretch

Mexico girls tennis wants everyone sharp for the end of the season.

Before the Lady Bulldogs competed in the North Central Missouri Conference tournament in Hannibal and districts today in Mexico, they won their final regular season dual 8-1 at Battle High School in Columbia on Tuesday to move their record to 12-8.

“Our goal was to get everyone a little court time before the conference tournament (Wednesday),” head coach Kim Costley said.

In singles, Katie Gooch won 8-0, Jyllian Whitworth won 8-1, Lucy Gleeson won 8-2 and Lani Blair won 8-0. In doubles, Daida Herrera-Garcia and Alexis Smythe won 8-2.

Mexico boys soccer defeats MMA 2-1 in crosstown matchup

Missouri Military Academy fell for Mexico’s trap on Thursday.

The Bulldogs won 2-1 at MMA in a crosstown soccer rivalry that has seen the schools alternate wins and losses in the previous six meetings. 

After the Class 1 No. 4 Colonels (9-4) scored first off a defensive miscommunication, head coach Bill Gleeson said the defense locked down MMA to give Mexico (6-6-2) time to catch up. Jesus Garcia tied the game near the end of the first half off a kick from goalkeeper Emille Scanavino and then Gage Walker scored in the middle of the second half that caromed off the goal post before being fumbled by the goalkeeper into the net.

“We had worked on the offside trap (Wednesday),” Gleeson said. “After the first goal (of the game by MMA), we used it perfectly, catching them offsides multiple times.”

Mexico (0-5 NCMC) plays at North Central Missouri Conference foe and Class 2 defending state champion Marshall (6-4, 2-3 NCMC) at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Mexico girls golf hosts final match of season

Mexico girls golf wrapped up its regular season on Tuesday at home.

At The Oaks, Mexico played Fulton and Wright City in a scramble as Alexis Henderson led the Lady Bulldogs with a 49, and Reagan Craig and Ella Connell each had a 54.

“The girls have come a long way since the start of the season,” head coach Layne Meyers said. “They are hitting the ball further and making great putts. We have been putting in solid work on the driving range this year to get them where they are now.”

Mexico plays in districts on Oct. 9 in Eldon.