Natalie Clinton's teammates wait for her to arrive at home plate after her home run in Thursday's district opener.
The Houston softball team opened district play with a record-setting performance.
The top-seeded Lady Tigers scored 31 runs – the most in program history – in a 31-0 romp Thursday afternoon of Steelville at the Trojan Sports Complex in Potosi.
HHS (16-7) will face No. 4 Potosi in the Class 2 District 3 semifinals at 4 p.m. Monday. Second-seeded Salem plays No. 3 Bourbon in the other semifinal at 5:30 p.m.
Record-setting number of runs
With 12 runs in the first inning and 19 in the second, the Lady Tigers easily eclipsed the program record of 26 runs scored in a game. That total had been reached twice – last season at Salem and the opener of the 2015 season against Stoutland. Senior Katy Evans (pictured) doubled twice off the fence as part of a 2-for-2 afternoon with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored.
Clinton has huge day from 9 hole
Natalie Clinton, pictured rounding the bases after hitting a two-run homer, had a huge offensive day from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. The senior was 3-for-3 with a homer, double and 5 RBIs. She also scored 4 times. Clinton’s home run — her third of the season — was the 24th of the year for the Lady Tigers to match last year’s total.
Kincaid puts up big numbers
Senior Lilly Kincaid joined Clinton with a 3-for-3 day with 5 runs knocked in. She had a pair of doubles and scored a team-high 5 times along with 4 stolen bases.
McNiell establishes HHS runs record, top 40 in state
With 4 runs scored against Steelville, senior Gracyn McNiell established a new program record with 52 runs scored – topping the previous record of 50 held by Olivia Woosley. She’s now tied for the 40th most runs scored in a single season in MSHSAA history. McNiell also had 3 of the team’s 11 stolen bases and is 26-for-26 in steal attempts this season. She has 64 consecutive stolen bases without being thrown out – the fourth most in state history.
HHS tops 300-run mark
With its offensive outburst in the district opener, the Lady Tigers topped 300 runs for the season – an average of 13.0 per game. The total is 2 more than the 2025 team, which averaged a program-best 12.4 runs per game.
Lady Tigers stay hot
Houston won its sixth consecutive game and is 9-2 in its last 11 under first-year coach Conaley Aaron. The Lady Tigers have not played their semifinal opponent, Potosi, who rallied past Licking 10-9 on Thursday.
