The Lady Bulldogs needed a game like this after scoring four combined runs in two losing efforts.

In a five-inning contest Thursday at home, Mexico scored 12 runs on nine hits against Hannibal in the team’s first shutout of the season. Abby Bellamy and Maddy Feger each hit home runs, moving Bellamy into the team lead with Hannah Loyd at two homers and giving Feger her first long ball of the season and of her varsity career. 

Bellamy drove in five RBI thanks to a grand slam, and Feger had two RBI on her home run. Jo Thurman finished with two RBI and two stolen bases, and Eboni Mayfield struck out eight Lady Pirates on a one-hitter.

Mexico was ahead 3-0 in the second inning until Feger hit one out to center field. With two outs and an 8-0 lead in the third inning, Bellamy also went deep to center field. 

Eight of Hannibal’s runs were recorded as unearned thanks to three errors compared to Mexico’s zero.

Williams’ 7 RBI, Kirksville defeat Mexico 12-4

Mexico just couldn’t stop the bleeding Tuesday.

After falling behind early at Kirksville, a five-run sixth inning sealed a 12-4 loss in the North Central Missouri Conference matchup. Olivia Williams hit a grand slam in the frame for the Lady Tigers second long ball of the game and to give her seven RBI on the day.

Maddy Feger finished with two RBI, and Jo Thurman and Brooke Teel each added another. Kierstan Epperson went 2-for-3 at the plate, and Emma Cunningham pitched all six innings for Mexico, allowing 13 hits.

An error in the first inning eventually extended the inning for a two-run single by Williams — who went 3-for-4 — before Kirksville widened its lead to 6-0 after two innings following a two-run homer by Jada Jackson — who went 2-for-3.

Mexico used small ball to counter Kirksville’s long ball as Teel bunted to score the Lady Bulldogs’ first run in the fifth inning and then Lexie Willer’s bunt passed the baton to Ghurman, who singled on a line drive to left field and made it 6-4.

Another Mexico error led off the sixth inning until Williams stepped to the plate with an 8-4 lead. She lifted the second pitch over the left field fence for a home run Mexico didn’t have an answer for in the final inning.

Mexico (7-6, 1-1 NCMC) hosts Hallsville and Monroe City in a triangular starting at 10 a.m. today.

Volleyball

Lady Bulldogs win five-setter against Marshall

Neither team could get the advantage Thursday until Mexico at the end.

The Lady Bulldogs defeated North Central Missouri Conference foe Marshall at home in five sets, alternating sets with the Lady Owls. Mexico took the first and third sets 25-23 and 25-18 but dropped the second and fourth sets 26-24 and 25-20. Mexico won the deciding fifth set 15-9.

Ali Walotka finished with a double-double at 15 assists and 12 digs as did Jessica Stephens with a team-high 11 kills and 19 digs. Walotka led the team with five service aces followed by Jaclynn Cline’s four, and Ally Wilson had a team-high 21 assists. Five Lady Bulldogs had at least five kills, starting with Stephens and including Capri’Ona Fountain with six and Cline, Wilson and Emily Moppin each with five.

Mexico (2-3, 2-1 NCMC) defeated Marshall for the third straight time and looks to take down the reigning conference champion Hannibal on Thursday at home.

Mexico can’t force fifth set in loss vs Hallsville

Mexico wanted a fifth set Tuesday but couldn’t get one.

The Lady Bulldogs lost in four sets at home to Hallsville, dropping the first and second ones 25-16 and 26-24 before winning the third set 25-20. The Lady Indians took the match after a 25-19 fourth set.

Mexico had its highest hitting percentage — 0.222 — in the fourth set. Jessica Stephens led the team with 14 kills and 22 digs, and Ally Wilson led with 17 assists and three service aces. Tessa Haefling also had 22 digs to share the team lead with Stephens.

Mexico (1-3) hosted North Central Missouri Conference foe Marshall on Thursday before staying in conference and at home Thursday against the reigning NCMC champion Hannibal.

Boys soccer

Mexico boys sluggish in 9-1 loss at Marshall, 6-1 defeat at Battle

The Mexico boys were fatigued after two tough games on back-to-back days.

On Tuesday, Marshall took the momentum at the end of the first half against Mexico and didn’t let go of it as the Bulldogs couldn’t stop the undefeated North Central Missouri Conference foe from scoring seven second-half goals to lose 9-1 and then lost ground Wednesday in a 6-1 loss at Battle. James Branson scored Mexico’s lone goal in the 18th minute, thanks to an assist by Gage Walker, to take an early 1-0 lead against Marshall and then Branson was assisted by Walker again Wednesday to cut Battle’s lead to 2-1 at the time.

On Tuesday, the Owls tied the game about seven minutes later before taking the 2-1 lead right before halftime. Mexico fell apart in the second half, head coach William Gleeson said, after the Bulldogs were successfully able to pull Marshall offsides in the first half. He also complimented goalkeeper Emile Scanavino’s ability to limit the damage, including on a penalty kick and rebound attempt off that shot.

“We came out in the second half sluggish and tentative,” Gleeson said. “We did not get the offsides calls we were getting in the first half and they took advantage. We lost our positioning and they scored goal after goal to which we had no answer.”

On Wednesday, Mexico was without midfielder Kevin Lopez because of ineligibility. Gleeson said much of the Bulldogs’ speed and experience in the midfield was clearly missing against the Spartans.

“They were quick, and we did not have the speed we normally do,” Gleeson said.

Mexico (1-3, 0-2 NCMC) hosts Moberly on Monday on what will be the third attempt for the Bulldogs’ first conference win.

Girls tennis

Mexico girls defeated 8-1 by Capital City, Hannibal

Some aspects are starting to come together.

That is what Mexico girls tennis head coach Kim Costley thought about her team after an 8-1 loss Sept. 1 at home to Capital City and then after dropping an 8-1 home match Tuesday to Hannibal. Against Capital City, Messiah Simpson won the Lady Bulldogs' only match 8-5 at No. 5 singles, and Estrella Ramirez and Jocelyn Garcia played a competitive match in an 8-5 loss in No. 1 doubles. Against Hannibal, Simpson had another victory with Jyllian Whitworth in No. 3 doubles by a score of 10-6.

“Even though we lost, we had some highlights and played with more intensity,” Costley said about Capital City. “Messiah Simpson played a great match and pulled out our only varsity win of the night. Estrella and Jocelyn are starting to come together a bit and gave the No. 1 doubles team all they wanted. Capital City is a very good team, and it doesn’t hurt us any to play some great competition.”

Claire Hudson had the next two smallest margins of defeat as she lost the No. 6 singles match 8-3 and the No. 3 doubles match 8-4 with Lani Blair.

Mexico junior varsity won three of the six matches played, highlighted by Daida Herrera-Garcia winning her singles match 8-6, and Melanie Hernandez-Jarquin and Yolitza Rodriguez Rios being victorious in their doubles match 8-6.

On Tuesday, Lani Blair came the closest to a second victory for Mexico at No. 4 singles in a 10-8 loss. Blair also played a competitive No. 2 doubles match with the returning Katie Gooch, losing 10-6.

“It was a rough night on the courts,” Costley said. “Hannibal is currently leading the conference so we knew it was going to be a test. We came out flat and never really recovered. Jyllian Whitworth and Lani Blair had their best singles match in their young career.”

Hannibal is 3-0 in the North Central Missouri Conference and has won 11 straight matches against conference opponents spanning back to a 2020 loss to Marshall.

Mexico junior varsity won six of eight matches, highlighted by an 11-9 victory by Baylea Porter and Sandra Cruz-Jarquin in a doubles match.

The Lady Bulldogs won their Thursday match at Kirksville 5-4 for their first North Central Missouri Conference win.

Mexico (2-5) played at Battle on Wednesday before traveling to Kirksville on Thursday and the Lady Pirate Open in Boonville on Saturday.

8th grade football

Mexico loses shootout against conference foe Hannibal

The Bulldogs offense had to be ready for the first game.

Mexico lost 58-32 Tuesday to North Central Missouri Conference foe Hannibal after trailing 46-6 at halftime. Five different Bulldogs scored touchdowns.

Head coach David Okenfuss said Mexico just couldn't overcome the first half so it's back to basics before its next game Tuesday at home against Warrenton.

"We will emphasize fundamentals and tackling as we prepare for a very good Warrenton squad for our home opener," Okenfuss said.

Hunter Love  had a 40-yard touchdown reception, and Carter Ford caught a score for 50 yards  on a bottleg pass. Titus Grubb and Braylon Jeffries each rattled off 60-yard touchdown runs. Landon Johanber returned a kickoff for 65 yards for a touchdown, and Brayden Arnold ran for a two-point conversion.

Okenfuss said Ford had "several boomking kickoffs and punts," and Aaden Shaw was "stout" on the defensive line.