Softball: Memorial finds going tough

This has been a tough season for the Memorial girls' softball team.

After being playoff regulars for the better part of the last decade, the Mustangs hit a rough patch this season in District 19-5A. Facing tougher competition in the Katy ISD schools, the Mustangs won just one of their first nine district contests.

Despite the difficult season, first-year head coach Stephanie Mosley and the Mustangs are looking at the positives they have gained this season.

"We are a young team, but we have a lot of promising young players," Mosley said. "We play in a tough district, but we have given ourselves a chance to win every game. Even though we haven't gotten the wins we have wanted, we have been able to look at the little victories. We have been doing the little things like hitting better and not making errors."

Small victories aside, the Mustangs are in one of the toughest districts in the region. With Katy, Katy Taylor, Cinco Ranch, Morton Ranch, Seven Lakes and Mayde Creek making up the rest of the competition in the district, it has been anything but easy to get a win.

"The competition across the board is great," Mosley said. "All seven schools, including us, have a lot of talent. We are dealing with teams with more experience, so we are still learning how to deal with that. This is an offensive-minded district, and the teams are more competitive and have a whole lot more experience than what we are accustomed to."

Along with the chance to get a look at the competition and prepare for next season, Mosley is hoping her girls get a bit of a wake-up call out of the season.

"I hope they realize they have to use their time in the offseason to get better," Mosley said. "The girls need to get more at-bats and get more time on the field. I expect us to fight and battle next year, so we're encouraging the players to get more games in."

Memorial has been led by sophomore center fielder Bradleigh Breland, sophomore starting pitcher Griffin Gilbert and senior second baseman Mackenzie Meador. Meador and Julianne Staine are the only seniors on the team.

"Bradleigh is our leadoff hitter and has done good things offensively for us," Mosley said. "She uses her speed on the bases and in center, and she has done a great job. She has been learning more and more as the season has gone on.

"Griffin has done a great job, but she has been battling injuries this year. We are going to miss Mackenzie next year. She been a three-time All-District player, and we will miss her leadership."

Mosley admits the season has been a bit of a disappointment because the Mustangs have become playoff regulars, but they expect a turnaround next season.

"We have been accustomed to making the playoffs and winning a couple games, but we knew what we were in for going into the season," Mosley said. "The things we have learned and what we gained from it is what's important. We learned a lot this year, and it will go a great deal toward the future."