Baseball Game Preview: Natalia Mustangs vs. Hondo Owls

Natalia hasn't had much luck against Hondo recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Mustangs will host the Owls at 7:00 p.m. Natalia will be strutting in after a win while Hondo will be coming in after a defeat.

Having struggled with seven losses in a row, Natalia turned things around against Dilley on Monday. They came out on top against the Wolves by a score of 6-3. Surprisingly, this marked the fifth straight game that the away team has come away the victor.

Natalia's victory was truly a team effort as five different players contributed at least one hit. One of them was Leo Buentello, who scored two runs and stole a base while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. That's the most runs Buentello has posted since back in April of 2024. Another was Mosses Leija, who went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Meanwhile, Hondo unfortunately witnessed the end of their eight-game winning streak on Monday. They fell just short of Lytle by a score of 4-3.

Derek Elizondo spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered four earned runs on ten hits and racked up seven Ks. He has been consistent : he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.

Hondo's defeat was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 7-1 and their overall record down to 14-5-1. As for Natalia, their win was their first in the district, bumping their district record up to 1-7 and their overall record up to 4-16.

Natalia couldn't quite get it done against Hondo when the teams last played two weeks ago as they fell 6-2. Will the Mustangs have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.