MHS VOLLEYBALL: Keeping their focus on the business at hand, Mexico High School volleyball girls evened their varsity record at 4-4 Thursday night with a 25-23, 25-22 triumph over Bowling Green at the MHS sports complex.
“We showed a lot of heart on the court. One of our biggest battles in games has been to stay aggressive the entire time; we did an excellent job of doing just that,” MHS coach Rachel Leu said.
“The girls finally understand the importance of having that intensity and how it can raise a team’s level of play,” she added.
Erika Miller and Khala Fowler led the Lady Bulldogs offensively. Miller totaled 5 kills and 7 assists, while Fowler scored 2 aces.
On defense for Mexico, Loren Littrell stood out with her 15 digs, while Miller added 5 solos and 1 double block.
The Lady Bulldogs dropped the JV contest 10-25, 8-25 with serve receiving continuing to be a problem.
Mexico’s varsity returns to action Saturday in the Rolla Invitational.

MHS SOCCER: Home against NCMC rival Moberly, the Bulldogs gave up a pair of goals in each half Thursday in a 4-0 setback.
“Once again, we struggled with putting the ball in the back of the net. We had opportunities we just didn’t finish,” MHS coach Bryan Keim said.
“I think when we actually do get opportunities to score we put pressure on ourselves to finish, and we rush and don’t capitalize,” he continued. “We’ll keep working on finishing drills in practice, so when we do get those chances in a game it’ll be just a routine finish.”
Mexico’s varsity record fell to 3-8/0-4. No. 9 player of the game for the Bulldogs was Ross DeLong for his excellent play at forward, according to his coach.
The Bulldogs return to action Monday at Southern Boone.

MHS SOFTBALL: Thursday at NCMC rival Moberly, the Lady Bulldogs bowed 2-0 in the varsity contest and 4-1 in the JV game.
In the main event, Courtney Fischer struck out 6 and walked 1, but the 2 runs she allowed in the fourth inning proved to be the difference. Callie Bracht, Liz Crews, Kayla Winterbower and Vanessa Hays all had singles for 3-11/1-8 Mexico, while Delaney McNeil led the way with a pair of singles.
“We put the ball in play all night and had the opportunity to come back in the seventh,” MHS coach Christiana Gerber said. “I’m proud of the team for not giving up.”
In the JV contest, Kelsey Creed struck out 2 and walked 1 in performing the mound duties for Mexico. The only run for the Lady Bulldogs came in the third inning when Paislee House led off with a single, Lexie Abbott singled, Jasmin Kelly hit into a fielder’s choice, putting runners on first and second, and Creed hit a double to score Abbott.
Kelly later had a single in the game as did Creed, Emilie Lierheimer and Danielle Ingrum for Mexico.
“We have improved in so many areas since our first game,” Gerber said. “When we play aggressively, it’s fun to watch.”
The Mexico varsity competes
Saturday in the Centralia Invitational, taking on North Callaway at 8 a.m.

MHS GOLF: Mexico’s Shea Colley claimed top individual honors at Thursday’s Brookfield Invitational with her 40-44/84 for 18 holes, while the Lady Bulldogs posted their lowest team score for 18 on the season.
“We had another beautiful day for golf,” MHS coach Lindsey Yancey said. “In the past, this course has been known to be long and a little difficult for women golfers, but the course has been shortened by adding new tee boxes, which makes it a more normal length for women.
“Our team makes this trip every year anticipating a tough day and higher than average scores. This year, that just wasn’t the case,” she added.
Sydney Beauchamp (59 on the front 9) and Ashten Travis (44 on the back 9) scored their career low for 9 holes. Travis totaled 58-44/102, Ashley Bridgford 63-59/122, Beauchamp 59-68/127 and Kelsay Spurling 61-67/128.
Marceline beat out Kirksville for the team title 364-367. Then came Trenton 391, Brookfield 393 and Mexico 435 to lead an 8-team field.
“The competition was tough, the best we’ve seen all year,” Yancey said. “So, while we didn’t place well among the teams, I’m still very pleased with how we competed. We did the best we could.”
The Lady Bulldogs compete again in Monday’s Kirksville Invitational.

MHS TENNIS: With Becki Hamlett out of the lineup due to illness, the Lady Bulldogs struggled Thursday in a 7-2 loss at School of the Osage.
“We started with doubles instead of singles and never got untracked,” MHS coach Jim Graham said.
In singles for 3-8 Mexico, Sydney Stamy lost to Leslie Barnes 1-8, Brooke Doolittle lost to Ashley Uhl 0-8, Abby Orscheln lost to Abby Audet 2-8, Allison Swopes lost to Gabby Kerr 5-8, Nadine Bogdon won over Keali Dickerson 8-5 and Monica Rothermich lost to Lin DeGraffenreid 2-8.
In doubles for the Lady Bulldogs, Stamy-Doolittle lost to Audet-DeGraffenreid 4-8, Bogdon-Swopes lost to Barnes-Uhl 1-8 and Orscheln-Rothermich won over Kerr-Dickerson 8-6.
Mexico exhibition results saw Liesl Walser-Veda Crouch lost 6-8, Carrie Finck-Ravin Palmer win 8-3 and Karli Tumbleson-Christina Smith lost 7-9.
The Lady Bulldogs play Monday at NCMC rival Moberly.

MHS G9 FOOTBALL: A nice balance of running and passing enabled the Bulldogs to bag their first win of the season Thursday at Kirksville in a 27-0 decision.
After a scoreless first quarter, Mexico’s Shia Miller opened the scoring with a 3-yard run after a key completion from Brennan Wells to Tyus Williams. Nick Jones kicked the extra point.
Another successful pass from Wells, this time to Austin Reed, set up a 14-yard TD run by Miller, followed by another Jones PAT. Then, with just 8 seconds left in the first half, Miller tossed a 27-yard halfback pass to Williams for a TD and Jones kicked the extra point again.
Miller completed the scoring with a 34-yard touchdown run in the third period.
“After that, we just tried to keep grinding away and run out the clock,” MHS coach Andy Baker said. “We showed good balance on offense and this was the first game where everybody on defense did their job.”
Miller finished with 12 carries for 72 yards, while Wells completed 6 of 8 passes for 102 yards with Reed catching 3 for 50 and Williams 3 for 69.
Defensively for the 1-2 Bulldogs, Williams had 10 solo tackles and Reed an interception. Outside linebacker Josh Cuno also had 5 tackles.
Mexico is home Thursday against Fulton.