Texas High's softball team must now regroup and win at Greenville on Friday to claim a share of the District 16-5A championship.
The Lady Tigers dug a hole they couldn't climb out of Tuesday on Senior Night, falling into a three-way tie for first place with Mount Pleasant and Sulphur Springs after losing a 5-4 decision to visiting MP.
The good news is that the Lady Wildcats must play at Mount Pleasant Friday, where the winner will capture at least a share of the crown.
"I'm not going to blame it on Senior Night; It was Senior Night for Sulphur Springs last Friday, and look what they did to us," THS coach Robbie Hatfield said. "We simply spotted them too much, and Mount Pleasant is a good, solid team. I was proud of how our girls fought back and gave us a chance."
Mount Pleasant (22-7, 9-2) scored four runs in the first inning with two outs. A hit batsman and two walks forced home the game's first run, and Brooke Smallwood cleared the bases with a double to left-center to make it 4-0.
The margin was 5-0 in the third after Jordan Dickerson smashed a drive that landed on top of the centerfield wall and went over for a home run.
"Some teams would have folded and quit at that point, but ours didn't," Hatfield said. "We want to go into the playoffs on a good note. I talked to the girls after the game about the mental part. I'm concerned because of our last two games, but then I know these girls and know what they can do. I think we'll be ready to go Friday night."
Senior Kenzie Dickson ignited the Tigers' comeback with a one-out triple in the third frame. She scored later on Bailey Groom's single to right. THS (22-5, 9-2) went on to load the bases with two outs, but winning pitcher Averie Ayers got out of further trouble with a fielder's choice grounder.
Texas High made it 5-2 in the fifth when Groom singled to left and stole second. She scored one out later on Braley Turner's single to left. Once again Ayers escaped further trouble when Courtnee Cheek's line drive was caught by shortstop Jordan Dickerson.
Mount Pleasant fans were concerned in the final inning when Ashley Wyrick singled to left and Turner's fly to center dropped between the shortstop and outfielders for a hit with two outs.
Cheek hit a 2-2 offering in the hole between third and shortstop for an infield hit to score Wyrick, and Turner continued home when the throw to first sailed over the first baseman's head, with Cheek taking second as the potential tying run.
MP survived when the next batter popped out to second.
The final stats favored THS, but that didn't help the host Tigers' heartbreak.
Texas High outhit the visitors, 9-4, and losing pitcher Mabry Smith struck out 15.
Mount Pleasant 401 000 0 - 5 4 1
Texas High 001 010 2 - 4 9 1
Averie Ayers and Brooke Smallwood; Mabry Smith and Kylee Spriggs. WP-Ayers; LP-Smith. HR-MP, Jordan Dickerson, 3rd, none on.