Sometimes in sports, things do work out according to expectations.

Coming into the week at the USA Softball JO Cup, the Wichita Mustangs looked to be the favorite, especially after a strong showing at the TC/USA Nationals in Reno.

Coach Mark Grigg’s team had effectively used the combination of explosive hitting with stifling pitching all summer to defeat opponents and that recipe held true this week at the JO Cup.

The Kansas-based team had allowed no more than three runs to any of the six opponents it beat including Saturday’s finals opponent, the EC Bullets-Schnute team, which it knocked out of the Winner’s Bracket on Thursday by doubling up 6-3.

That game, though, was in question for the Mustangs as it trailed 3-2 until the sixth inning before it exploded for four runs.

Saturday’s JO Cup Championship at Mt. SAC in Walnut, Calif. was also close for most of the game as the well-rested Wichita Mustangs jumped out to a run in the top of the first and then added another pair in the fourth when outfielder Elise LeBeouf (2015, Houston) singled home catcher/first baseman Reagan Hathaway (2015, Texas).

The Mustangs added its third run of the day later that inning as outfielder Taryn Antione (2017, LSU) singled to left field to score Ryleigh Buck (2016, Central Florida).

The pre-tournament favorites tacked on one more insurance run in the top of the seventh and that would be the final, 4-0.

While the offense was doing its part, the story of the game had to be pitcher Sydney Smith (2015, LSU) who capped a strong month of July with perhaps her best showing of the summer.

Smith gave up only two hits while walking three and struck out three in the complete gave victory.

“Sydney was incredible,” Coach Griggs said after the victory. “She’s ready to go into the SEC right now.”

Smith pitched 28.1 innings for the Mustangs this week at the JO Cup and gave up just five earned runs for a 1.23 ERA. She also struck out 22 opponents.

Overall, though, Coach Griggs made sure to emphasize the success of the Mustangs was because of everyone working together.

“I have never had more fun coaching a group of girls,” he added. “They have amazing chemistry and they just love playing the game together and it shows on the field.”

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The first game of the day Saturday saw the match-up of two talented teams East of the Mississippi who battled to come out of the Loser’s Bracket.

In the 9 am game, the East Cobb Bullets-Schnute squad exploded for four runs in the top of the first inning on a grand slam by corner infielder Caroline Hardy (Alabama) on its way to a 5-3 win.

The Bullets had loaded the bases on singles by infielders Katie Warrick (2015, Tennessee State) and Kelly Sinclair (2015, College of Charleston) and a walk to Sydney Pennington (2017, Oklahoma State).

Warrick would account for the fifth Bullets’ run as she doubled to left in the bottom of the fifth to score Sinclair.

The Chaos made it interested by scoring three in the top of the seventh as Brittany Stevens hit a three run homer to left field, but Parker Conrad (2016, Missouri), who went the distance and closed the door on any hope of a Chaos rally.

Conrad gave up six hits and two walks, but struck out eight in the win.