Olivia Woosley, Kylee Elmore and Lizzy Swindell met in the middle of the infield and embraced. Senior Night is usually the final home game in a player’s career. But not for this trio.
Although the seniors went through the ceremony on Monday, they aren’t finished with their home games. They’ll play again this week on Carter Field beginning Wednesday as Houston hosts the Class 2 District 8 tournament.
HHS coach Brent Hall has encouraged his underclassmen to help their senior classmates conclude their careers as winners.
“I told them to think about what it will be like when it’s their last chance,” Hall said. “You’ll want everyone fighting, clawing and giving everything they have.”
The Lady Tigers, who swept Bakersfield and Willow Springs on Monday in the final games of the regular season, open district play against Liberty. If HHS wins, it will advance to the semifinals at 4 p.m. Thursday against top-seeded East Carter.
While the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the district –– East Carter and Neelyville –– received first-round byes, both will travel nearly two hours from southeast Missouri for districts.
“It’s a bonus to not ride the bus,” Hall said of hosting the tournament. “It’s good for our team, our school and our community.”
Houston (11-12) will lean heavily on its seniors in the postseason.
Woosley, who missed last year with two torn ACLs, leads the Lady Tigers in batting average (.458) and runs (45) as the starting shortstop. Swindell is easily the team leader with 38 RBIs and finished second in batting at .453.
Elmore, who played her first season of softball as a senior, has started every game on the mound.
HHS will need three straight victories to win the program’s second district title. The Lady Tigers had one three-game winning streak during the regular season.
“I definitely feel we can win three in a row,” Hall said, “and win this thing.”
All games on Carter Field
Wednesday’s games
(4) Houston vs. (5) Liberty, 4 p.m.
(3) Willow Springs vs. (6) Alton, 6 p.m.
Thursday’s games
(1) East Carter vs. Houston-Liberty winner, 4 p.m.
(2) Neelyville vs. Willow Springs-Alton winner, 6 p.m.
Friday’s game
Championship, 5 p.m.
Every game of this year’s Class 2 District 8 softball tournament will be streamed online by the Herald at www.houstonherald.com/live.
Admission is $4 per person for the district tournament. Passes are not accepted.