Haskell’s girls relay teams truly believe they can beat anybody at the Class 2A level.
That confidence was instilled last year when they captured three relay medals at state. It’s only grown under new coach Mindy Myers, who’s no stranger to success on the sport’s biggest stage.
Last week’s area track meet was the next step of progression for the Lady Indians, who ran their fastest times of the year in the 4×100 (50.01), 4×200 (1:45.27) and 4×400 (4:06.42).
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Coleman-Winters softball (54 images)”
BROCK — Under former coach Hart Hering, the Brock baseball team had nearly turned “small ball” into a science — literally bunting and pitching its way to a state tournament appearance in 2021.
The Eagles were so good at it that frustration on the part of the opposition wasn’t uncommon.
But with the arrival of new coach Tim Arden, came a completely different offensive approach — not dissimilar to that used by former Baltimore Orioles manager, Earl Weaver. Rather than scratching a few runs across, then protecting the lead with pitching, the Eagles are now playing for big innings early on, while saving the short game for situations when it benefits them most.
WINTERS — For four innings Friday, the Coleman softball team had trouble solving Winters pitcher Kacie Lindley.
The Bluekatts had at least one base runner in each of those frames, leading off the first inning with a double by Brylei Gilbreath and the second with a triple by Alana Young, but they had no runs to show for their efforts as Lindley made the pitch she needed to escape trouble each time she found herself in it.
That changed in the fifth inning, though, when Coleman finally broke through against the Lady Blizzards starter, pushing across three runs to erase a 1-0 deficit and open the offensive flood gates in a 7-2 win at the Winters softball field.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: District 4-5A track meet (58 images)”
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Lubbock Cooper-Wylie softball (35 images)”
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 14 (top 25 in each category).
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
The Wylie softball team used a four-run third inning to take control Thursday, and junior Rylee Moore handled the rest, shutting out Lubbock Cooper through the first six innings of a 6-3 victory at Bulldog Field.
Moore went the whole way in the circle, pitching around seven hits and two walks while tallying 13 strikeouts in the victory.
Her teammates, meanwhile, provided ample support, following their four-run third with two more runs in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead before holding off a late Lady Pirate rally in the seventh.
When Winters senior Saleen Jalomo steps into the batter’s box, everyone holds their breath.
One dugout prepares for Jalomo to either rip the ball into the gap or over the fence, while the other dugout braces for potential damage.
Lady Blizzards coach Kendra Bryant knows something special could happen on the next pitch. Meanwhile, Jalomo simply focuses on waiting for a good pitch.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 14 (top 25 in each category).
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Early-Brock baseball (55 images)”
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Lubbock Cooper-Wylie baseball (76 images)”
BROCK — Chasing Brock for first place in baseball and softball, Early had opportunities in both sports to tighten the District 8-3A races on Tuesday.
The two area powers came away with a split — Brock edging Early 3-2 on the baseball diamond and Early squeaking past Brock in softball, 1-0.
The Wylie softball team picked up a big win over District 4-5A co-leader Lubbock Coronado on Tuesday, riding a complete-game gem from junior Reese Farrar to a 2-1 victory at Bulldog Field.
Farrar gave up just three hits and four walks while striking out 11, putting up zeros in the final three innings to allow the Lady Bulldogs to go ahead for good on Hanna Hood’s RBI single in the fifth.
Hosting top-ranked Lubbock Cooper with a share of the District 4-5A lead on the line, the Wylie baseball team saw a rocky start and a couple of missed opportunities sink any hope it had of upending the Pirates on Tuesday in a 10-1 loss at Bulldog Field.
Hurt by some sloppy defense early, the 11th-ranked Bulldogs fell behind 5-0 just two innings into the game. And they came away with just one run in their best chance at a big inning, allowing Cooper to maintain control throughout.
The loss dropped Wylie to 15-4 overall and 8-2 in league play — two games behind the Pirates (18-6, 10-0) with one more game remaining against them on Friday.
When the Wylie baseball team takes on Lubbock Cooper for a pair of games this week, it will do so with the District 4-5A lead on the line.
The Bulldogs enter Tuesday’s 5 p.m. home matchup just a game back of the defending champion Pirates, despite graduating a 10-player senior class that fueled the WHS program to a 46-25-2 record through its first three seasons at the Class 5A level, including a district title in 2019 and a trip to the Region I-5A semifinals last spring.
With six players in key roles who are seeing significant varsity action for the first time, the 2022 Bulldogs are far less experienced than last year’s model. But the team’s combination of strong senior leadership and youthful exuberance has been a winning one so far, evidenced by its 15-3 overall record and 8-1 mark in league play.
Back-to-back shutouts.
Under normal circumstances, that’s enough to capture the Capital Farm Credit/BCP Player of the Week award.
But when one of the shutouts is a no-hitter, that’s a rock-solid insurance policy.
Photos by Stephenville girls’ track coach Jeremiah Butchee
Victoria (Tori) Cameron is a soccer player blessed with sprinter’s speed for track and field.
The Stephenville High School junior just completed the 2022 soccer season as a forward for the Honeybees, who finished 21-1-2 after a 1-0 loss to Midlothian Heritage on Friday in the Class 4A regional semifinals. It was Stephenville only loss all season. The Honeybees were ranked fifth in the state and allowed only five goals all season.
Photos courtesy of Cassie Gang Photography
Coleman’s Devinar Roberson has an explosiveness that can’t be taught.
He’s motivated by a play-to-win mentality. And he doesn’t mind putting on a show, either.
Those qualities make Roberson not only a state title contender in multiple field events, but also a must-watch competitor every time the senior jumps.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Ballinger-Clyde baseball (66 images)”
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Ballinger-Clyde softball (70 images)”
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Comanche-Bangs softball (63 images)”
MIDLAND — The Abilene High softball team won its third consecutive game Friday, using a four-run third to erase an early deficit before exploding for eight fifth-inning runs to pull away for a 14-3 victory over Midland Legacy.
With the victory, the Lady Eagles improved to 13-10 overall and 4-4 in District 2-6A play, keeping pace with Odessa High for third place in the league standings while pulling a game ahead of Permian, which lost to first-place Frenship on Friday.
LUBBOCK — The Wylie baseball team completed a season sweep of Lubbock Coronado on Friday, scoring 11 runs over a three-inning span to turn an 4-2 deficit after three innings into a comfortable 13-6 victory.
The Bulldogs, who defeated the Mustangs 7-6 on March 17 in Lubbock and 7-5 on Tuesday in Abilene, avoided any late-inning drama in the third meeting, using a two-run fourth to tie the game, before answering a one-run Coronado fourth with four runs in the fifth and five in the sixth.
The victory improved the Bulldogs to 15-3 overall and 8-1 in District 4-5A, keeping coach Grant Martin’s squad within a game of league leader Lubbock Cooper (16-6, 9-0).
CLYDE — Entering Friday’s game at Clyde tied with the Bulldogs for third in the District 6-3A standings, the Ballinger baseball team arrived at CHS hoping to solidify its playoff positioning with a big road win.
Despite trailing for much of the game, the Bearcats did just that, using a six-run sixth to rally past the Bulldogs for a 9-6 victory.
Ballinger, which improved to 13-4 overall and 6-3 in District 6-3A with the win, remained two games back of Wall for second place in the league standings. But more importantly, the Bearcats picked up a game on both Clyde and Brady, creating some welcomed breathing room in its pursuit of one of the league’s four playoff spots.
CLYDE — Stepping up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, the bases loaded and her team trailing the visiting Ballinger Ladycats by a run, Clyde’s Jaci Jeffers was going to end Friday’s game one way or another.
In the midst of a marathon affair with more twists and turns than any rollercoaster, the sophomore third baseman chose to do so in the most dramatic way possible.
Facing a 1-2 count two pitches after blasting a hooking fly ball well over the left-field fence but foul, Jeffers timed the next one right, hitting a no-doubter into fair territory this time. The result: a walk-off grand slam that lifted the Lady Bulldogs to an 18-15 win — roughly three hours after her team had fallen behind 8-0 during a disastrous first inning.
BANGS — The good news for the Bangs Lady Dragons was that they outhit visiting Comanche 12-5 on Friday. Also, Bangs’ starting pitcher, Abby Wolf, carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning before finishing with a five-hitter and nine strikeouts.
The bad news for the Lady Dragons, was that they committed six errors, allowed nine unearned runs and eventually fell 11-10 at home on Friday as Comanche picked up a crucial league win.
Riley Riordan went the distance in the circle and was 1 for 2 with a double, two walks and three runs scored to lead Comanche (13-11, 4-6 District 8-3A), which stays in the playoff hunt with the win.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Odessa High-Abilene High baseball (56 images)”
The Abilene High baseball team has had its fair share of struggles this year with a young squad and a front-loaded District 2-6A schedule.
But on Friday afternoon at Blackburn Field, the Eagles snapped a six-game district losing streak with a 5-3 win over Odessa High.
The victory marked AHS’ second consecutive win — the Eagles beat crosstown rival Cooper in a nondistrict game on Saturday — and gave coach Lee Fletcher’s team its second win in district over the Bronchos.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 7 (top 25 in each category).
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
HICO — The name of Kiersten Fincannon is likely to be unfamiliar to most Big Country softball fans at this point.
That’s about to change.
The Hico sophomore, who played much of last season at Dublin with an ailing knee, was far below her potential even as a freshman. But with the arrival of the 2022 campaign, a now-healthy knee is allowing the 16-year old to pitch to the level she is capable of and the results are stunning.
ANSON — A year ago, the Anson Tigers couldn’t have come much closer to reaching the state tournament. Stopped within one victory of a trip to Round Rock, the Tigers fell in three games to New Deal in the Region I-2A championship series in Seminole.
At first glance, a Game 3 loss to New Deal was a disaster, ending in a 10-2 loss. But Anson was trailing 4-2 after five complete innings — still competing for a shot at state when New Deal broke things open with s six-run sixth inning.
That is the memory that is currently fueling the 2022 Anson Club, which is hoping to navigate its way back through a tough Region I bracket to reach the promised land for Class 2A teams: Dell Diamond in Round Rock for the state tournament.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 7 (top 25 in each category).
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking on the “Buy on SmugMug” link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Wylie-Cooper softball (84 images)”
The Wylie baseball team rode a fast start Tuesday to its fifth consecutive victory, scoring three runs in the first and two more in the second to set the tone for a 7-5 home win over Lubbock Coronado.
The Bulldogs, now 14-3 overall, pounded out 10 hits and took advantage of four Mustang errors in improving to 7-1 in District 4-5A play.
The Wylie Lady Bulldogs picked up a big win over crosstown rival Cooper on Tuesday, outlasting the Lady Cougars for a 6-4 victory to close out the first half of District 4-5A play on a three-game winning streak.
WHS, now 14-6 overall and 3-2 in district, never trailed in the game, but it wasn’t until the final out was recorded at Cougar Diamond that the Lady Bulldogs could finally breathe easy knowing the outcome was secure.
Leading 6-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Wylie saw Cooper pull within two on a leadoff home run by Karrigan Parrott and threaten to do more damage before finally running out of outs to play with. The Lady Cougars sent three batters to the plate as the tying run in their final at-bat, but following a 50-50 call on a sacrifice bunt that resulted in the first out of the inning, Wylie pitcher Rylee Moore induced a pair of ground outs to close out a complete-game victory.
In a week loaded with top-flight performances, Big Country Preps would have had a difficult time choosing the Capital Farm Credit Player of the Week.
But Stephenville pole vaulter Ben Kirbo made the decision easy by accomplishing something which hasn’t been done by a Stephenville track athlete in nearly three decades.
Payton Phillips knows where she wants to visit next month.
The Clyde junior enjoyed her first experience at the UIL state track meet last spring, competing in the 3A long jump and 100 hurdles. It left Phillips wanting more.
“My experience at state was eye-opening because I got to see competition like I haven’t seen before,” Phillips said. “Seeing so many great athletes pushed me to run and jump to my fullest potential.”