Como-Pickton Lady Eagles Win Third Consecutive District Title
Coming into the 2023 season the expectations were high for the Como-Pickton Lady Eagles. After back-to-back district titles, playoff success, and veteran players who have helped the team have successful seasons in the past, the bar was set very high both internally and from outside sources.
The Lady Eagles have done nothing short of surpassing even the highest of expectations so far, going 26-2 in their first 28 games and climbing all the way to No. 2 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association State Softball Poll entering Tuesday night’s game against Rivercrest. Tuesday’s game was a big one for numerous reasons, as Como-Pickton had the chance to clinch their third consecutive district title, and senior ace Mattison Buster needed just five more strikeouts to reach the 1000 career strikeout mark.
Buster wasted no time at all finding a rhythm, striking out the side in order in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning Addi Monk kept the momentum going, hitting an RBI single to put Como-Pickton on the board first.
Their lead wouldn’t last long however, as Rivercrest was able to score a run of their own in the second inning to tie things up at 1-1. Buster did record another strikeout in the frame, however, needing just one more to reach the illustrious 1000 mark.
After a scoreless bottom of the second, Buster opened the third inning with her 1000th career strikeout, as play stopped for a second to let Buster and her teammates celebrate her impressive milestone. She went on to strikeout the next batter and get the following batter to pop up. With her milestone strikeout behind her, the focus was fully on getting the win and the district title now.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth until the Lady Eagles were able to regain their lead, after Saylor Smith opened the frame with a leadoff single. Smith came in to score on an error later in the inning, putting the Lady Eagles back in the lead at 2-1.
Buster continued to mow through the Rivercrest lineup in the fifth inning, recording another pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the frame she was able to help herself out, after being walked in her previous at-bats.
This time Buster was given the opportunity to hit, doing so with one out and Bella Romero on base after drawing a walk of her own. Buster sent the first pitch of the at-bat over the fence, but unfortunately in foul territory.
Two pitches later Buster once again sent the ball over the fence, this time in play, hitting a two-run bomb to extend the lead to 4-1.
With momentum fully on their side now, the Lady Eagles were able to break the game open in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs in the frame. Sarah Corley got the inning started with a leadoff double, and the Lady Eagles went to work, extending their lead to 9-1 entering the top of the seventh.
Needing just three more outs, Buster was quick to put the game away, striking out a pair of batters and securing the 9-1 victory. The win marked the 24th of the season for Buster, bringing her record to 24-1 on the year now.
The Lady Eagles ace went the full seven innings, allowing just one run on a pair of hits and a pair of walks. She also struck out 14 batters, making it the seventh consecutive game in which she had 10 or more strikeouts.
Offensively the team was paced by Monk and Corley who each had a pair of hits. Monk was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Corley was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.
Other Lady Eagles with hits were Romero, Buster (who hit a two-run home run in the only at-bat she wasn’t walked), Smith, Paisley Watkins, Judah Van Rijn and Maggie Brown. Van Rijn also finished the game tied with Buster for a team-high two RBI.
Now with a record of 27-2 and still undefeated in district play, the No. 2 ranked Lady Eagles have officially clinched their third consecutive district title. “These girls still have a long road ahead of them trying to make a state run,” the school said via their Facebook page after the game.
Their No. 2 ranking in the state marks the highest ranking in Como-Pickton history. Stay tuned to Front Porch News for continued coverage of the Lady Eagles postseason run.
