Month: May 2025

by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall heading to Dell Diamond after series-clinching win over Boyd

STEPHENVILLE — It’s Wall versus Thrall for all the marbles. 

A 6-2 win for the Hawks over Boyd in Game 3 of a Class 3A DII State semifinal secured this matchup for the Hawks (30-6), who will meet Thrall (39-7-1) for the state championship at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. 

Reid Ballard was 1 for 3 with a double and three RBIs and earned the win on the hill to lead Wall (30-6), which jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and held the Yellowjackets at bay for the rest of the afternoon at the Tarleton State Baseball Complex 

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

GAME STORY: Gordon rallies past Hamlin in Game to complete sweep, earn first trip to Round Rock

ABILENE — After routing Hamlin 14-1 in the opener of its Class 1A state semifinal series on Thursday in Graham, the Gordon baseball team faced a much stiffer test from the Pied Pipers on Saturday at Abilene Christian University’s Bullock Brothers Ballpark.

But despite trailing 6-3 after 3½ innings in Game 2, the Longhorns proved up to the challenge, rallying for a 9-6 win to complete a series sweep and lock up their first state championship game appearance in program history.

GHS, which saw a five-run Hamlin second erase an early 2-0 lead, plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to pull within a run at 6-5, before exploding for four runs in the fifth for what proved to be the game-winning rally.

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

GAME STORY: Boyd uses big sixth inning to pull away from Wall in Game 2, force do-or-die Game 3

STEPHENVILLE — Hoping to close out Boyd with a sweep after downing the Yellowjackets 6-1 in the opener of its Class 3A Division II state semifinals series on Thursday, the Wall baseball team saw one bad inning eliminate that possibility in Friday’s Game 2 at the Tarleton Baseball Complex.

Trailing just 4-3 after 5½ innings with the top of their lineup due up in the seventh, the Hawks surrendered five runs in the bottom of the sixth, turning a game that was nip and tuck to that point into a 9-3 loss.

The outcome, which forces a deciding third game at 4 p.m. Saturday back at Tarleton State University, spoiled a strong start from junior left-hander Kellan Oliver, who went toe-to-toe with Boyd ace Will McIntire for five innings before handing the game over to the bullpen in the sixth. 

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

GAME REPORT: Brock’s season ends with Game 2 loss to Longview Spring Hill

DALLAS — One night after seeing a 5-2 lead slip away in a Game 1, 7-6 loss in eight innings, the Brock Eagles suffered another heartbreaker at the hands of Longview Spring Hill, falling 2-0 in Game 2 of a 4A DII state semifinal on Friday at Dallas Baptist University. 

Landon Bartell tossed a complete-game two-hit shutout and Cayson Wilkins was 2-for-2 with an RBI and one run scored to lead Spring Hill (33-7), which now advances to the state championship game.

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

GAME STORY: Wall overcomes shaky start to take Game 1 from Boyd, moves within win of trip to Round Rock

ABILENE — Before this week, the last memory any Wall baseball player had of playing Boyd was watching the Yellowjackets celebrate a 6-4 win over their team in the 2023 Class 3A state championship game.

On Thursday, the Hawks took a big step toward replacing that memory with a more pleasant one, downing BHS 6-1 in the opener of a best-of-three Class 3A Division II state semifinals series at Abilene Christian University’s Bullock Brothers Ballpark.

Playing for an opportunity to return to Dell Diamond in Round Rock for the fourth time in program history — all since 2017 — Wall overcame a slow start, answering a one-run top of the first by Boyd with two runs in the home half of the inning. And junior ace Gage Reichenau handled the rest, shutting the Yellowjackets out the rest of the way to put his team in position to close out the series when it resumes at 7 p.m. Friday at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.

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 make history with third straight state title

AUSTIN — Perhaps no softball pitcher in Big Country history has been more intimidating than Coahoma’s Hannah Wells, with a fearsome look of determination and velocity to match it. 

But in the wake of Thursday’s 6-1 win over Lexington in the Class 3A DII State Championship game, Wells showed that she has a soft side, bursting into tears as soon as the final out was made at Red and Charline McCombs Field

The win clinched the third straight state championship for the Bulldoggettes (35-1), who became the first team in UIL history to record three straight state titles in softball. Wells, a senior, was the winning pitcher in all three, with Thursday’s win officially being her last at Coahoma. 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

GAME STORY: Coahoma overcomes adversity with Game 3 whipping 

HOLLIDAY – Hannah Wells’ prolific high school career is ending the only place it was meant to end.

But Wells and her Coahoma teammates had to play twice Saturday to ensure a trip to Austin would occur after S&S Consolidated snapped the Bulldogettes’ 90-game winning streak.

How would Coahoma respond after suffering its first defeat in more than two years? With complete domination.

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

GAME STORY: Jonesboro rallies past Hermleigh to deny Lady Cardinals fourth straight trip to Austin

WEATHERFORD — Entering the second day of their Class 1A state semifinals series with Jonesboro one win shy of a fourth consecutive trip to the University of Texas’ Red & Charline McCombs Field, the Hermleigh Lady Cardinals saw their playoff journey end in heartache Saturday at Weatherford’s WHS Softball Complex.

Coming off a 10-8 win in the series opener Thursday at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, coach Sammy Winters’ team couldn’t close out a feisty Lady Eagles squad, losing Game 2 by a 13-3 margin in five innings before dropping a 7-6 heartbreaker in the series’ decisive third game.

With those results, the Lady Cardinals closed their season at 25-4 — one win shy of the Class 1A state championship game. 

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

GAME STORY: Wall completes sweep of Jacksboro with 2-0 win at Brownwood

BROWNWOOD — The game was sufficiently well-pitched that there were no extra base hits and a combined 19 strikeouts between the two starting hurlers.  

So after the Wall Hawks managed to scratch home a pair of runs in Game 2 of the Region I-3A DII title series on Saturday, a 2-0 lead looked a lot bigger in person than it did on paper.  In fact, it held up for a series-clinching 2-0 win for the Hawks to push them into the 3A DII state semifinals. 

Reid Ballard scattered six Jacksboro singles over six innings with 11 Ks and Kellan Oliver picked up a save on the hill after going 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored to lead Wall (28-5) which will face Boyd in the state semis with a chance to advance to the title game. 

Jacksboro (24-6) was led by southpaw starter Cannon Valenzuela, who allowed two runs (both earned) with five walks and eight strikeouts. 

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

GAME STORY: Historic season for Mineral Wells ends with Game 3 loss to Seminole

GRAHAM — A magical season for the Mineral Wells baseball team has drawn to a close.

After going 7-17-1 in Jacob Clay’s first year as head coach, the Rams finished Year 2 at 20-14-1, beating Seminole 7-2 in Game 2 of their Region I-4A Division I championship series, before getting no-hit into the fifth inning in a 5-0 loss in Game 3 on Saturday at the Graham High School Baseball Field.

The 2025 season marked the first time that Mineral Wells advanced to a region final since 1958.

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

GAME STORY: Coahoma opens state semifinals with 2-0 win over Sadler S&S

HOLLIDAY — Effective pitching, cleanly played defense and raucous enthusiasm is what one generally expects from a softball state semifinal. 

And that is precisely what two-time defending state champion Coahoma and Sadler S&S Consolidated delivered in Game 1 of a 3A DII state semi on Friday when the Bulldoggettes topped the Lady Rams 2-0 at Holliday High School. 

Hannah Wells tossed a one-hit shutout and hit a fourth-inning solo homer to lift Coahoma (33-0-1) which is now one win away from returning to the state title game for a fourth straight year. 

It was the 90th straight win for Coahoma, which can clinch a trip to Austin if it defeats S&S (26-2) in Game 2. Action picks up again at Holliday High School at noon on Saturday. Game 3, if needed, will follow 30 minutes after Game 2. 

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

GAME REPORT: Reichenau’s gem, late offensive flurry fuels Wall past Jacksboro in series opener

GRAHAM — Locked in a pitcher’s duel that could have gone either way for six innings, the Wall baseball team finally broke through in the seventh Friday, scoring five runs off Jacksboro starter Wyatt Gavit to pull away for a 6-1 win in the opener of its best-of-three Region I-3A Division II championship series against the Tigers.

The Hawks, who trailed 1-0 after four innings at the Graham High School Baseball Field, had five of their 13 hits during the late scoring barrage, giving ace Gage Reichenau the run support needed to finish off a complete-game two-hitter with a win.

The victory puts Wall one victory away from advancing to the state semifinals with the series set to resume at 3 p.m. Saturday in Brownwood.

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

FEATURE: Baseball helps begin the healing process for Gordon in wake of EF-1 tornado

STEPHENVILLE — While the National Weather Service has classified the tornado that struck Gordon on Sunday evening as an EF-1, Longhorn athletic director Mike Reed says the devastation to the community of 489 people was far worse.

“The state didn’t declare that we lost enough homes to receive aid, but 90 percent of our town was affected because the school was hit,” he said. “If this would have been in the Metroplex, one school wouldn’t have as much effect, but being in a rural town, it affects a huge percentage of us. They may call it an EF-1 based on the damage, but we watched it on the security cameras at the football field before everything went out. It was pretty devastating.”

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

GAME STORY: Brock downs district mate Graham 7-0 in one-game region final to earn state semis bid

STEPHENVILLE — Facing off with a familiar opponent in a one-game playoff for the Region I-4A Division II championship and trip to the state semifinals, Brock coach Koby Page was a bundle of nerves heading into Thursday’s matchup with Graham at the Tarleton Baseball Complex.

If his Eagles shared that nervousness, they didn’t show it, using a three-run third inning to take a lead that ace Evan O’Connor would protect the rest of the way in a 7-0 victory over their District 6-4A rival.

The win, which was punctuated by a second three-run outburst in the top of the seventh, earns Brock another week of baseball against the winner of the Region II-4A Div. II championship series between Carthage and Longview Spring Hill.

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

GAME STORY: Resilient Gordon Longhorns roll to 13-2 win over Perrin-Whitt in series opener

STEPHENVILLE — After spending all week cleaning up from a devastating EF-1 tornado that hit town on Sunday, it would have been easy for the Gordon baseball team to just go on cruise control in the opening game of its best-of-three Region II-1A championship series against Perrin-Whitt on Thursday night.

Instead, the Longhorns showed the same focus, drive and determination that has been on display all week, riding a nine-run first inning to a 13-2 win at Stephenville High School.

It was an effort that got to Longhorn coach Ligon West.

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

GAME STORY: Lady Tigers fall 3-1 to Aubrey as Lady Chaps clinch 4A DII state semifinal series

STEPHENVILLE — Despite suffering from a groin injury, Aubrey’s Mya Cherry walked away from a Class 4A DII State Semifinal series with Snyder as the star of the show. 

After tossing a three-hit shutout in a 2-0 win in Game 1 on Wednesday, the senior righthander returned on Thursday to throw a four-hit complete game in a series-clinching 3-1 win at Stephenville High School. 

The Lady Chaparrals (33-3) will now advance to the state championship game where they will meet either Waco Robinson or Ingleside for title.

Despite playing well in both games, Snyder saw its season come to a close at 27-10, with Lea Aviles, Micaela Martinez, Jenna Rodriguez and Ella Aviles all producing a single each to lead the Lady Tiger offense. 

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

GAME REPORT: Snyder falls 2-0 to Aubrey in opener of state semifinals series

STEPHENVILLE — The Snyder Lady Tigers dropped the opener of their Class 4A Division II state semifinal series on Wednesday, falling 2-0 to Aubrey at the Stephenville softball field.

Sydnee Gomez pitched around seven hits and eight walks to limit a potent Lady Chaparrals lineup to just two runs, but SHS could never solve Aubrey starter Mya Cherry, who surrendered just three hits and three walks in a complete-game shutout.

That allowed the Lady Chaparrals to take the win with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, putting the Lady Tigers in a must-win situation when the series resumes at 7 p.m. Thursday back at Stephenville. If Snyder can force a Game 3, the series would then be decided at 2 p.m. Saturday.

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

GAME REPORT: Hermleigh outlasts Jonesboro in Game 1, 10-8

With 10 combined fielding errors, it may not have been the prettiest game of softball played by either team. But by the end of the evening, the Hermleigh Lady Cardinals played well enough to defeat Jonesboro, 10-8 in Game 1 of a Class 1A State Semifinal at Tarleton State University. 

Dejah Richardson was 2-for-5 with a triple and four RBIs and Peyton Miller delivered seven solid innings of pitching to lead Hermleigh (25-2), which now leads the series 1-0. Jonesboro (16-10-1) was led by Julie Henderson, who was 3-of-4 with two RBIs. 

Action will resume on Saturday with Game 2 at 5 p.m. in Weatherford. Game 3 (if needed) will take place 30 minutes after Game 2. 

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

GAME STORY: Snyder earns pair of one-run wins to rally past Monahans, earn spot in state semis

BIG SPRING — It took a slugfest, a pitcher’s duel and a whole lot of grit, but at the end of a thrilling Region I-4A Division II championship series, it was the Snyder Lady Tigers left standing Saturday at the Big Spring ISD Softball Complex.

Entering Day 2 of their best-of-three series with Monahans off a tough 4-3 loss on Friday, the Lady Tigers needed to take two from a strong Lady Loboes squad Saturday to extend their season and advance to the state semifinals.

While nothing about that task was easy in theory or practice, coach Regina Cummings team managed to accomplish it nonetheless, following a heart-stopping 9-8 win in Game 2 with a gutsy 1-0 victory in the series clincher to earn a date with Aubrey (31-3) next week at a time, date and location to be determined.

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

GAME STORY: Botos homer, patient offense, pitching staff help Hamlin rally to oust Ira

EULA — When Hamlin senior first baseman Jantz Botos stepped to the plate just before 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, he didn’t know that with one swing of the bat he would trigger another five hours of baseball at Pirate Field.

With two outs in the fifth inning, the left-handed Botos, who had never homered in his career, was trying to hit a ball into the gap with the Pied Pipers trailing Ira 2-1 in Game 2 of their Region I-1A semifinal.

The senior swatted a 1-2 pitch from Brandt Cox for a three-run home run to left, propelling Hamlin to an 8-4 win in Game 2 before the Pipers outlasted Ira 15-11 in eight innings in Game 3.

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

GAME STORY: Coahoma takes another regional title with 8-2 win over Jacksboro

ABILENE — Two streaks were kept alive at Abilene Christian University’s Poly Wells Field on Saturday in the Region I-3A Division II championship series — both of which belong to the Coahoma Bulldoggettes. 

In winning Game 2 over Jacksboro, 8-2, Coahoma extended its current streak of regional titles to four and also pushed its current unbeaten streak to 89 straight games. 

Hannah Wells threw a complete game four-hitter with nine strikeouts and Baylor Wright was 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs to lead Coahoma (32-0-1) which now advances to face Sadler S&S in the state semifinals. 

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

GAME STORY: Wells’ no-hitter has Coahoma one win from state semifinals

Hannah Wells threw her second no-hitter of the postseason — and third of 2025 — as Coahoma beat Jacksboro 10-0 in the opening game of the Region I-3A Division II championship series on Friday night at Abilene Christian University’s Poly Wells Field.

The senior standout struck out 11 and faced just two batters over the minimum in notching her second win over the Tigerettes this season.

Wells, a University of Texas signee, also beat Jacksboro on March 1 with an 11-strikeout one-hitter in a 4-0 win.

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

GAME STORY: Rams top West Plains to reach first regional final since 1958

COLORADO CITY — After winning the flip a few days prior to the Region I-4A DI semifinal series with Canyon West Plains, Mineral Wells elected to go with a one-game, winner-take-all format and rely on Texas Tech-bound righthander Holden Hering. 

It paid off with a thrilling 3-1 win for the Rams — but not exactly as it was planned. The normally efficient Hering reached his pitch count of 110 in the top of the sixth and was switched to the outfield.

He did, however, continue his heroic effort with a massive two-run homer to dead center in the bottom of the sixth to supply the winning runs. 

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

GAME STORY: Wylie baseball season comes to close with 4-0 loss to Grapevine in Game 2

GRAHAM — The Wylie baseball team saw its season come to an end Friday, falling for the second time in as many days to Grapevine in a Region I-5A Division II semifinal series at the Graham High School baseball field.

After dropping the opener 5-0 on Thursday, the Bulldogs were shut out again Friday, falling 4-0 in Game 2 to close their fifth consecutive campaign in the region semifinals.

The loss moved Wylie’s record for the year to 23-7-1, capping another successful season with a frustrating couple of days of baseball.

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

GAME STORY: Ira rallies in seventh to take Game 1 from Hamlin, 5-1

EULA — Leading Ira 1-0 with one out in the top of the seventh, the Hamlin Pied Pipers found themselves in position to grab a leg up on the defending state champs in the opener of their best-of-three Region I-1A semifinals series on Thursday.

But the Bulldogs turned a rare Hamlin error into a five-run rally against Ian Gruben, spoiling a stellar start for the Pied Piper right-hander in a 5-1 win.

The rally made a winner out of Ira ace Jeren Pena, who spun a gem himself, and put coach Toby Goodwin’s squad (24-1) in position to play for a sweep when the series resumes at 1 p.m. Saturday back at the Eula baseball field.

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

GAME STORY: Sundown goes yard three times in 13-3 win over Haskell in Game 1

WOLFFORTH — With outfield dimensions of only 198, 198 and 198 feet, along with a stiff wind blowing out to left field, it seemed only a matter of time before softballs began leaving the park in Game 1 of the Region I-2A DII championship series between Sundown and Haskell on Thursday. 

Unfortunately for Haskell, it was Sundown which played longball throughout the afternoon in a five-inning 13-3 mercy rule win for the Roughettes. 

Brynly Gregory was 3-for-4 with two doubles and a walk-off solo homer to activate the mercy rule and give Sundown a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 will take place on Friday at Wylie beginning at 3 p.m. 

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

GAME STORY: Wylie drops opener to Grapevine despite gutsy effort from starter Gay

GRAHAM — Wylie senior pitcher Brady Gay did not want coach Grant Martin or athletic trainer Kathryn Gay, his aunt, to come out of the dugout in the bottom of the sixth inning after a hard-hit line drive hit his ankle and ricocheted into right field.

As soon as the play was ruled dead, Martin and Gay were quick to the mound to check on the senior who continued to wave them off and needed just one warm-up pitch to prove that he was still fit to stay on the mound in the Bulldogs Region I-5A Division II matchup with No. 1 Grapevine.

In a night in which he was hit hard, both literally and figuratively, Gay gave his squad everything he had in a 5-0 loss in which the Mustangs pounded out 13 hits and drew two walks while striking out just three times.

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

SIGNING DAY: Twelve Cooper athletes make their futures official

Cooper football coach and campus athletic coordinator Aaron Roan had a hard time hiding his elation Wednesday at Cougar Gym, where 11 student-athletes from four sports (baseball, track, soccer and golf) and a cheerleader made their college decisions official.

The signees’ school choices ranged from Division I to junior college, but getting to continue their careers while pursuing further education is what really mattered.

While most are staying in state, Asharee Davis is heading to Tennessee Tech of the Ohio Valley Conference, where she will take part in the long jump and triple jump for the Golden Eagles.

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

GAME STORY: Hermleigh rallies for pair of wins to oust Eula for fourth straight year

ABILENE — Hermleigh softball coach Sammy Winters said he only got about three hours of sleep on Friday night after his team lost 6-4 to Eula in the opener of its Region I-1A semifinal series at Abilene Christian University’s Poly Wells Field.

Winters left the school at 1 a.m. and was still wound up as he was replaying the game, studying GameChanger and poring over statistics before finally falling asleep a little after 3:30 a.m.

The extra time and effort paid off as the Lady Cardinals, who were down to their final strike in the seventh inning of Game 2, rallied to claim a 6-5 win in eight innings before finishing off the series with a 6-1 win in Game 3.

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