Leaving ducks on the pond is the metaphor used when runners are left on base at the end of an inning.
The Mustang softball team left nine runners stranded on the bases in a 3-0 loss to Yukon Thursday in the regular season finale.
“We load the bases in the first inning and second inning, but you can't take anything away from Yukon, because they made some good plays,” head coach Tim Wade said.
Mustang loaded the bases in the first inning with no outs. Kylee Rounsaville hit into a double play, and Yukon escaped the inning unscathed.
The Broncos loaded the bases in the second inning with one out. The Millers managed to get out of the inning without any damage done once again.
It seemed as if the lack of scoring runs let the air out of the MHS team.
The Millers capitalized in the third inning when they loaded the bases. They scored two runs on a hard hit ball to second base that took a bad hop. Courtni Clark knocked it down but was unable to get the runner at first base.
Yukon added an insurance run in the seventh inning off a solo home run over the fence.
The loss was Mustang's first in 6A play. The Broncos finished the regular season with a 31-3 record.
“All the girls were saying after the game, this game was nothing,” catcher Kylee Rounsaville said. “Everyone is aiming for state and getting a championship.”
Mustang was also 12-1 in conference play, but a conference champion had not been named with Yukon rounding out with a 9-1 conference record.
The Broncos now move on to host a regional. They will face US Grant in the first round. That game will be played at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
The winner will face the victor of No. 18 Westmoore and No. 20 Norman North. The regional begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday if needed.
“I think we're lucky and got the short end of the stick in the regional — pretty easy teams I think,” Rounsaville said.
The only team Mustang played out of the other three is Norman North. The Broncos defeated the Timberwolves 11-2 in that matchup.
Mustang also beat Choctaw Tuesday on Senior night, 9-1.