Continuing our countdown of the top 10 sports stories at PCM high school in 2022-2023, our #5 moment saw the Mustangs softball team overcome adversity before the season even began.

Shortly before practice was set to begin on Wednesday, May 17th, juniors Ella Schendel, Lark Drake, Eliana Buswell, and Reese Palm were involved in a car accident. While injuries were sustained in the accident, PCM head coach Shaun Hudnut said that the team was thankful the situation played out like it did. 

“The thing we’re really grateful for is everything turned out about as possibly as good as it could have been from what we initially thought could have been the outcome and from what information was given back to us from parents that were on site.”

The Mustangs rallied around their four juniors and with a bond stronger than ever, PCM opened the season by blowing out Nevada 19-0 on Monday, May 22nd. While PCM went 15-10 following that game, juniors Eliana Buswell and Reese Palm said that the support the received throughout the season from not only their team, but others as well is what they’ll take away from this season. 

Eliana: “I know that a lot of them did give us treats and stuff, which we really, really loved, and they were delicious. But one that really stuck out to me, and I think all of us, was the Saydel and Ballard games that they raised money for us and gave us flowers and stuff, but it just like that meant a lot to us.” 

REESE: “It means so much like it shows the softball really is more than a game. Like everybody was showing support for us. Like people went as far to raise money for us. Some people just brought like treats to show that they were thinking of us. I mean it really, it meant so much to all of us. I don’t think they know how much it meant.” 

Three of the four girls were cleared from their injuries and returned to the diamond for PCM at various points during the summer. The Mustangs season came to an end on Thursday, July 6 in the opening round of Class 3A Region 4 action with an 8-6 loss to West Marshall. Listen to the full feature on this story that aired on the Today’s Radio Sports Page program below.