Month: May 2019

by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Washingtons lead AHS past Odessa High in 10-inning thriller

LUBBOCK — After outscoring Arlington High 41-0 over two games in its bi-district series, the No. 3 Abilene High softball team got a much stiffer challenge from Odessa High in Friday’s area-round opener at Lubbock Cooper.

But as has been the case so often this season, the Lady Eagles rose to the occasion when needed.

Hardin-Simmons University-bound senior Kaylen Washington pitched out of jam after jam, and junior phenom Alyssa Washington wowed the crowd with her glove, arm and bat as coach Jim Reese’s team outlasted the Lady Bronchos for a 5-4 win in 10 heart-pounding innings.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Bulldoggettes fall 10-0 to Henrietta in Game 1 (w/ video, box score and photo gallery)

 

Friday was a rough day for the Coahoma Bulldoggettes, on two fronts at Abilene Christian University. 

Aside from losing Game 1 of a Class 3A area round series with Henrietta, 10-0 in five innings, CHS had to do without the services of ace pitcher Makynlee Overton, who collapsed in the circle during the fourth inning before being taken to the hospital with a case of heat stroke.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Cisco runs past Merkel and into the second round

Stephen Bird

CISCO — After Merkel freshman pitcher Blaine Palmer needed just 12 pitches to retire the first five Cisco batters, Stephen Bird knew he needed to draw out his first at-bat.

Bird drew a six-pitch walk before scoring on Dawson White’s RBI double to jumpstart the Cisco offense which routed Merkel 12-0 at Cisco College on Friday to finish off a sweep of the Region I-3A bi-district series.

Cisco advances to face the winner of the Brock-Childress series next week.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

GAME RECAP: Buck does it again, blasts walk-off slam to lift Wylie to another sweep

PECOS — Junior pitcher/first baseman Bailey Buck blasted a series-clinching walk-off home run for the second time in as many weeks Thursday, lifting the the Wylie Lady Bulldogs to a sweep of El Paso Eastwood and into the Region I-5A quarterfinals.

Buck, who hit a three-run shot to push Wylie past Canyon Randall in the bi-district round on Saturday, smashed a grand slam to center to fuel the Lady Bulldogs to a 7-5 win in Thursday’s second game. That came after coach Heather Collier’s team scored a 14-5 victory in Game 1 and pushed its winning streak to 11 games.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Clyde takes two from Bangs, moves on to area round

The Clyde baseball team punched its ticket to the Region I-3A area round Thursday, taking two games from Bangs at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field.

The Bulldogs (24-6) downed the Dragons 6-3 in Game 1, before rallying from a 4-0 deficit to clinch the best-of-three series with a 5-4 win.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Young Wylie pitching staff keying team’s surge into playoffs

Wylie baseball coach Clay Martin has never shied away from playing young players when their talent and performance levels have justified it. 

But in most of the cases you can point to in the past, it was judgment, preference and/or fit driving those decisions, not necessity.

This year was a little bit different for the 26th year Wylie coach, who has more than 600 wins and two state championships on his resume. After graduating the bulk of his pitching talent and depth off last year’s roster, Martin had no choice but to put youth on the mound in 2019.

With a look a look at the stat sheet (where the Bulldogs have a team ERA under 3) or the standings (where they’re 15-7 after claiming a district title in their first season in Class 5A), you wouldn’t know that Martin’s been working with such a young staff. And while certainly pleased with the performance and growth of his team as a whole, even he’s surprised things have gone as smoothly as they have.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Maidens take Game 1 from Winters (two videos, box score and photo gallery w/34 images included)

HERMLEIGH — With a steady, strong wind blowing out directly to center, the stage was set for offensive fireworks in Wednesday’s Class 2A area round game at Hermleigh High School’s softball field.

Haskell and Winters delivered it in a 17-7 win for the Maidens. 

Ryanna Rodriguez was 4 for 4 with three home runs and seven RBIs and Lauren Alexander was 4 for 5 with two homers, a double and three RBIs to lead Haskell (22-8-1), which can wrap up the best-of-three series with a win in Game 2 at 5 p.m. Friday in Hermleigh. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Haskell baseball team takes pair from Winters, advances to area round

The Haskell baseball team passed its first postseason test Wednesday, sweeping Winters 9-7 and 13-6 at Hermleigh’s Cardinal Field to advance to the Region I-2A area round.

In Game 1, the Indians used a six-run sixth to rally from a 7-3 deficit, and in Game 2, they scored five in the fourth and six in the fifth to take control of what had been a scoreless contest through three innings.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 44: Daniel Youngblood, Brandon McAuliffe discuss baseball, softball playoffs

The high school baseball and softball playoffs are in full swing, and the Big Country has a number of promising teams and intriguing story lines on both sides.

With Evan Ren out of pocket for the week, Daniel Youngblood is joined by contributor Brandon McAuliffe to discuss all of the top developments and matchups involving local and area baseball and softball teams in this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Daniel and Brandon chat about recent football coaching moves and give a rundown on all the programs that will have new faces in 2019. 

by Evan Ren

EVAN REN: The baseball horses are at the post and Big Ev makes his picks

How many Big Country baseball teams, if any, will see action at this year’s state tournament? 

We’re about to settle that issue — at least, on paper. 

With high school baseball’s second season getting underway this evening, let’s take a quick peek ahead and narrow it down to the Big Country teams that have the best chance claiming a regional title. 

Let’s dive in, shall we?  Keep in mind, I’m restricting my selections to teams within our coverage area. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us