Midland Valley's softball team took the field in an angry mood Wednesday night for a Class AAAA elimination game against Easley.
The Mustangs weren't mad that their season was on the line - or, at least that wasn't the biggest thorn in their side.
It was that they had to wait an extra night to play. Electric skies in the area Tuesday night forced a host of postponements, Midland Valley's game included, and the Mustangs were none too happy about it.
Twenty-four hours later, they took it out on Easley.
The Mustangs' 5-0 win extended their season at least one more night, with an optimistically-scheduled Thursday nighter against Region 4-AAAA rival Airport.
"They're not ready to quit," said Midland Valley head coach Katie Anderson. "They're ready to play more ball. Do-or-die time, and we're ready to rock and roll."
Midland Valley (19-6) did all of the damage it needed to at the plate in the first two innings, scoring a pair of runs in each to take a 4-0 lead that sent the message that the Mustangs were looking to make up for lost time.
That was more than was necessary for the Mustangs' pitching and defense - they limited Easley to one lone hit. Karley Bedenbaugh got the start in the circle and pitched five innings, allowing the hit while striking out seven, and Larue Hicks tossed two perfect innings in relief. Any time an Easley batter made contact, it ended up in one of the sure-handed Mustangs' gloves.
"They were lights-out," Anderson said. "Karley came out ready to pitch. Larue came in those last two innings, same thing, and our defense made plays behind them. Defense, lights-out. We've got to keep hitting the ball."
Midland Valley racked up 10 hits on offense, led by Bailey Seabolt's perfect 4-for-4 night with a double, two stolen bases and a run scored. Haley Thornsberry went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, and Addison Haltiwanger, Jordan Nelson and Anslee Heath each had an RBI.
The win was the Mustangs' second in a row while facing elimination. They bounced back from a road loss last week to Catawba Ridge with a road victory at Riverside, then followed that up with Wednesday's victory.
The forecast hasn't been friendly during the postseason, with the Mustangs having to play their games on pretty much any night other than the one that was originally scheduled.
"They just know that they've got to be ready no matter what," Anderson said. "Any time, any day, and if I tell them we're going, we're going. They know. They're mentally prepared. They're ready to play. They're always ready to play ball, so we're always on go."
Adjusting on the fly night after night like that can be difficult for teams as young as this one - Thornsberry was the lone senior in Wednesday's lineup, and Seabolt was the only junior - yet these Mustangs continue to roll with the punches and show up ready to perform as soon as the ball is put into play.
"That's great. ... I mean, it's exciting," Anderson said. "They're a great bunch of girls and a whole bunch of young girls that love the game and being out here and are never going to quit."
Another potential rescheduling was looming Thursday, with potential afternoon and evening thunderstorms threatening to postpone their matchup with Airport.
The Mustangs took two of three games from the Eagles back in March, winning the first two by scores of 11-3 and 6-5 before falling 5-4 in the finale.
"They know they've got to hit," Anderson said. "They know they've got to come out and be ready to hit the ball and put the ball in play and run the bases. That's it."
