The Buffalo Island Central Mustangs rode a 20-3 record , a conference championship , a district championship , and a regional championship all the way to the 2A State Semifinals . In order to get back there and possibly take the next step , Coach Chad Broadway will have to find a mix of returning starters and newcomers to fill some gaps . “ I think we have more athleticism this year than we have had in the past . So , we definitely need to use that athleticism to our advantage . We have to throw strikes and compete on the mound and when the situation calls for it we need to execute ,” Coach Broadway explained . Nick Patterson will be one the Mustangs rely on offense and defense . Patterson hit . 503 with 17 runs and 19 RBIs in the middle of the lineup . On the mound , he posted a 1.50 ERA with 117 strikeouts . Patterson commands both sides of the plate with three pitches , hitting high 80s with his fastball with movement . Hank Hurst hit in the nine-hole last season and was very dependable . Hurst has good speed and should increase his stolen bases this season . Brayden Mullis hit in the middle of the lineup last year and should be a big help at the plate after a year of experience . Jax Whitley will add depth to the pitching staff . Whitley saw limited time last season , but forced soft contact and kept runners off of the base paths when he did pitch . Coach Broadway is looking for him to continue to grow and provide big innings for the Mustangs . A couple of old faces that will see more playing time will be Lathan Crane and Dawson Stewart . These two had significant roles last year and did a great job of helping in key situations . Stewart will likely see more time in the lineup and in the outfield , utilizing his great speed , while Crane will be the everyday first baseman . Seth Ibanez is a freshman that could see some time behind the plate . NEA Sports predicts the Buffalo Island Central Mustangs to once again be near the top of the 2A-3 Conference battling for conference , regional , and state positions .