Tuesday proved to be a high-water mark on the Mexico High School fall sports calendar with the Lady Bulldogs posting varsity victories in 4 different sports. Included was a split of a softball doubleheader with NCMC rival Hannibal at Gallop Field, Mexico winning Game 1 11-7 and losing the second 8-2.
More information on MHS softball outcome will appear in Thursday’s Ledger.

MHS VOLLEYBALL: The Lady Bulldogs snapped a 2-match varsity losing streak, making sure it wouldn’t become a season-long 3, with Tuesday’s 25-12, 25-18 knockout of NCMC rival Kirksville, a first-year program, at the MHS sports complex.
“Last week, our girls came off a tough loss against Hannibal (13-25, 10-25). We simply weren’t playing to win, beating oursevles with too many unforced errors,” MHS coach Rachel Leu said. “We played a more intensive game Monday against Helias (13-25, 9-25); the score isn’t a true reflection of how hard the girls played. We had some really good rallies and came up with some good defensive plays.
“The past 2 nights gives us momentum for Thursday’s game at home against Bowling Green,” she added.
Against the Tigers, Mexico got 7 aces from Khala Fowler and 3 kills from Amanda Nickoley on offense, plus 10 digs apiece from Nickoley and Katherine Wortmann and 2 solo blocks by Erika Miller on defense.
The JV Lady Bulldogs continued their improvement, posting their second win 25-21, 25-12 over Kirksville.

MHS GOLF: The Lady Bulldogs pulled off a victory at the expense of a big-name opponent with Tuesday’s 220-224 triumph  over Hickman at the Mexico Country Club.
““It was a great day for golf. We had beautiful weather, a nice course and a great opponent. Hickman beat us earlier this year, so it was our turn to return the favor while at our home course,” MHS coach Lindsey Yancey said. “This really was an exciting win, one that we were not expecting.
“This was not our best day of golf, but we have continued to be consistent (shooting) in the low 200s,” she added.
Mexico’s Shea Colley earned medalist honors with her 44 for 9 holes. Ashten Travis followed at 54, Ashley Bridgford 60, Kelsay Spurling 62 and Sydney Beauchamp 75 for the 3-5 Lady Bulldogs. Low score for the Kewpies was 51 by Bea DeCastro.

MHS TENNIS: Another 6-3 final ended in Mexico’s favor Tuesday as the Lady Bulldogs completed a sweep of their home-and-away series with Palmyra with an identical score from their previous meeting, but this time on the road.
“We got some close matches to go our way a couple of times and it was a good showing by our girls,” MHS coach Jim Graham said. “Sydney Stamy was a double winner in singles and doubles for the first time this season, and Abby Orscheln and Allison Swopes both played great singles matches and got the win.”
Singles saw Stamy avenge last week’s 8-10 loss to Kelli Fuller with a dominating 10-2 decision. Also for 3-7 Mexico, Brooke Doolittle beat Alana Stansberry 10-5, Becki Hamlett lost to Courtney Cox 5-10, Orscheln beat Katie Dames 11-9, Swopes beat Jessica Martin 11-10 (7-5 TB) and Nadine Bogdon lost to Jordan Meyer 4-10.
Mexico doubles results were Stamy-Doolittle defeating Stansberry-Cox 10-4, Hamlett-Orscheln beating Fuller-Dames 10-8 and Bogdon-Swopes falling to Martin-Meyer 8-10.
In exhibition matches for Mexico, Monica Rothermich-Liesl Walser won 9-7, Veda Crouch-Carrie Finck lost 5-8, Ravin Palmer-Christina Smith won 8-6 and Karli Tumbleson-Emily Pratt lost 3-8.

MHS SOCCER: Tuesday at NCMC rival Hannibal, the Bulldogs gave up 3 goals in the first half of a 5-0 varsity setback.
“Even so, this was once again an improvement for our club. Once we start to play more consistent game in and game out, we will start to be in more games,” MHS coach Bryan Keim said.
“We kind of play at the level of our opponent instead of playing our game at 100 percent,” he continued. “This time we were successful at moving the ball, we created some opportunities on offense and almost converted. We just need to keep our heads up on what we can control as a team and that’s to progressively become a better soccer program.”
Casey Bedford was in goal for 3-7 Mexico and made 10 saves. No. 9 player of the game for the Bulldogs was Danny Rivera.
In the JV match, it was 1-0 Hannibal at the half in a 3-0 final. Logan Ray was the No. 9 player of the game for 2-4 Mexico.

MMS GRADE 8 FOOTBALL: Falling behind 14-0 at halftime against the Southern Boone A-team, the B-team Bulldogs eventually wound up bowing 32-0 Tuesday at Ashland.
“Our kids played hard and nobody got hurt. That’s about all you can say about the game,” MMS coach Dave Okenfuss said. “I think the outcome would have been a lot different if it had been on a more level (of talent) playing field.”

MMS GRADE 7 FOOTBALL: Tuesday at Ashland, the B-team Bulldogs dropped a 28-0 decision to the Southern Boone A-team after trailing 14-0 at halftime.
Laine Chedwick and Matt Bradshaw played well on defense for Mexico, according to MMS coach Don Green.