Month: May 2023

by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Lady Dragons sweep Hamlin to advance to regional quarterfinals

SAN ANGELO — The Bangs Lady Dragons demonstrated two distinct ways to win in Friday’s area round series with Hamlin — a come-from-behind 3-1 victory in Game 1, followed by a harrowing 10-9 escape in Game 2. 

By night’s end, Bangs had clinched a spot in the Region I-2A quarterfinals where it will face Hawley next week at a site and time to be determined. 

Abby Wolf earned two complete game wins in the circle and was a combined 3 for 8 with three RBIs to lead Bangs (26-4), which is now enjoying one of the most successful seasons in the program’s history. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Hawley uses back-to-back five-run innings to pull away from Coleman in Game 1

For 3½ innings, the Coleman and Hawley baseball teams were locked in a pitcher’s duel Friday at McMurry University’s Walt Driggers Field. 

But after going to the home half of the fourth tied 1-all, the Bearcats broke loose for five runs in that inning and five more in the next to pull away for an 11-1 run-rule victory in Game1 of a Region I-2A bi-district series.

Hawley collected 10 hits and took advantage of seven Coleman errors to provide far more offense than needed for starter Westyn Balch, who limited the Bluecats to two hits in a complete-game gem to outduel CHS starter Ryland Gentry.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

LOCAL SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Wylie bats explode late against Parkland; Hanks rallies past AHS

What looked like it would be a banner day for the Abilene High and Wylie softball teams in the Permian Basin on Friday quickly evaporated in the span of just three outs for the Lady Eagles.

AHS saw El Paso Hanks score five runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 7-6 comeback win.

Wylie also had a three-out swing in its game, but the Lady Bulldogs were on the other end as they walloped El Paso Parkland 20-1.

Both best-of-three series will resume on Saturday.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME RECAP: Breckenridge’s hit, Bennett’s pitching lead Abilene High past Amarillo High

WOODROW — Jake Breckenridge’s first-pitch single in the bottom of the sixth inning scored Beckham Paul from second base and the Abilene High baseball team upset District 3-5A champion Amarillo High 6-5 in the opening game of their Region I-5A bi-district series Friday afternoon at Lubbock Cooper.

The hit was part of a key frame in which Trey Simpson drove in Saul Vazquez with a single to tie the game immediately before Breckenridge delivered, as the Eagles started the sixth with two walks sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt.

With the offense breaking through late, it made a winner out of Brady Bennett on the mound. Bennett threw a complete game, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits. He walked four and struck out five.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Young Abilene High softball squad making waves ahead of schedule

After graduating six key seniors from last year’s 17-13 squad, Abilene High softball coach Jenna Bane admits she wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a much more youthful team this season. 

The Lady Eagles were making the move from Class 6A to Class 5A, but they’d be doing so with a number of freshmen and sophomores in key roles.

But what began as a leap of faith on the part of the AHS coaches and players has turned into one of the area’s most noteworthy success stories.

At 27-5, the Lady Eagles have outpaced all reasonable expectations placed on them. And entering a tough area-round playoff series against a 34-1 El Paso Hanks squad this weekend in Fort Stockton, Bane’s bunch is looking to continue that trend right into the Region I-5A quarterfinals.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Big day at plate, Regala’s catch help Wylie open playoffs with run-rule win over Plainview

The Wylie baseball team passed its first playoff test with flying colors Tuesday at Bulldog Field, earning a 15-5 run-rule over Plainview in Game 1 of the best-of-three Region I-5A bi-district series. 

After waiting out an hour lightning delay, coach Grant Martin’s team took early control with a seven-run bottom of the first inning and survived some wildness on the mound to put the visitors away with a four-run sixth. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Coahoma ends Holliday’s season for second straight year

Coahoma’s Brynn Rodgers (left) and Holliday’s Jaci Shepherd watch a pitch in the third inning of Thursday’s area round game at Hawley.

HAWLEY —What took three days and two games to achieve a year ago was over in a little more than 90 minutes this time around. 

In a rematch of last year’s Region I-3A championship series, Coahoma and Holliday met in a one-game winner-take-all area round clash on Thursday, with CHS ending Holliday’s season for a second straight year with a 4-0 win. 

Hannah Wells tossed a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts and was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs to lead Coahoma (29-3) which advances to face either Comfort or Henrietta in the Region I-3A quarterfinals.

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: With slow start in rearview, battle-tested Yellow Jackets ready for postseason run

As the Stephenville baseball team prepares for this week’s playoff opener (more on that intriguing scenario in a moment), the Yellow Jackets will be prepared for pretty much anything that could come their way.

That’s so, because … well … pretty much everything has come their way to date.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephenville’s Cameron takes this week’s award

It’s always a great accomplishment to go to the state track meet in multiple events. But when it’s done in dominating fashion at the Class 4A level or above, you’re generally talking about a very special, gifted athlete. 

Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, Victoria Cameron of Stephenville, falls directly into that category and she has the regional hardware to prove it. 

Taking four gold medals at the Region I-4A meet, Cameron scored 30 individual points while clinching four berths to the state meet. 

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