Author: Daniel Youngblood

by Daniel Youngblood

BRADY FEATURE: Two-way lineman Menefield a one-man wrecking crew for Bulldogs

When watching the Brady football team play, it doesn’t take long to find Nasir Menefield. At 6-foot-5 and 365 pounds, the senior lineman draws eyeballs like a porchlight draws moths.

But Menefield’s substantial size is only part of what makes him unique. It’s what he can do with it that makes him such a special player on both sides of the football.

With good feet and surprising athleticism built into that sturdy frame, Menefield is a true game-wrecker for coach Jaron Roberts and the Bulldogs. And with one final season to play at BHS, the four-year varsity starter has hopes of making his last year of high school football his best.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 BRADY FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Youthful Bulldogs hope to continue program’s recent run of success

With just nine returning lettermen from last year’s 7-4 team, the Brady Bulldogs will have a new look in 2026.

Relying heavily on junior varsity call-ups after graduating an 18-player senior class, coach Jaron Roberts’ squad will need to come together and grow up quickly if it hopes to match or exceed last year’s success, which included a shared district championship.

A move from Class 3A Division II to Class 2A DI should help the Bulldogs’ cause as they try to claim their program’s seventh consecutive playoff berth. And if they can fight through some natural growing pains during a tough nondistrict schedule, Roberts expects them to do just that despite their youth.

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by Daniel Youngblood

HICO FEATURE: Senior Hunt ready to take on increased role on, off the field for Tigers

Last year, with quarterback Tyler Jackson and fellow senior Cole Heutzenroeder carrying the bulk of the on- and off-field leadership load for Hico, Tyler Hunt was able to shine in a supporting role.

After rushing for 764 yards and eight touchdowns in that capacity, the senior will be graduating to leading man status this fall.

Hunt, who doubles as a linebacker on the defensive side of the ball, will be asked to be a two-way standout and key senior leader for an HHS team that’s entering a tough new district that features four teams ranked in Dave Campbell’s preseason top-25. And second-year head coach Britt Hart said those roles couldn’t be in better hands as the Tigers look to earn their sixth playoff berth in seven years.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 HICO FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Tigers hope to contend for playoff spot in brutal new district

During his time at Hico, as both a coordinator and head coach, Britt Hart has helped establish the Tigers as a consistent playoff threat.

But after leading HHS to a 6-5 record and its fifth postseason appearance if six years last fall, the veteran coach could face his stiffest challenge to date in 2026.

Grouped with perennial toughies Cisco, Hawley, De Leon and Anson in District 5-2A Division I, the Tigers will have their work cut out for them if they hope to earn an 11th game this season. But with 13 of 20 lettermen back, including seven starters on each side of the ball, Hart feels like his team has a chance to do exactly that.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FORSAN FEATURE: Senior linebacker Worden a strong leader, disruptive force for Buffaloes defense

If an experienced Forsan team is to achieve the type of success it’s hoping to this season, there’s a good chance senior linebacker Korbett Worden will be at the center of it.

The playmaking senior linebacker was certainly in the middle of his share of action last year, tallying 101 tackles from his spot in the Buffaloes defense.

Now entering his final high school season, Worden is hoping to build on the success he experienced as a junior and lead FHS to a better season in the process. And second-year Forsan coach Casey Thompson is looking forward to watching both happen.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 FORSAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Senior-heavy Buffs out to make big gains in Thompson’s second year

The Forsan football team went through some growing pains in its first year under coach Casey Thompson, but wins in three of their final four regular-season games allowed the Buffaloes to close the 2025 season in the playoffs.

With the bulk of the roster back from that 4-7 squad, including 18 seniors and nine starters both ways, Thompson and his players are expecting the momentum gained through that strong finish to carry over in a major way this fall.

The Buffs will have to replace do-it-all standout Hayden Bowlin, who accounted for most of the team’s offensive production a year ago, but the staff feels they’ll have the talent, depth and experience to put pressure on opponents in ways they weren’t able to for most of last season.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SANTO FEATURE: Junior QB Griffith a dynamic player, leader for Wildcats despite modest measurables

rioAt 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, Rylan Griffith isn’t the biggest quarterback around. Nor is the fastest or strongest.

But there’s no one Santo coach Devon Mann would rather go to battle with in his flexbone-based option offense.

An intense competitor who pulls out the best in those around him, Griffith helped the Wildcats snap a two-year playoff drought out of one of the state’s toughest district’s last year as a sophomore. And with a loaded roster around him in a new Waco-area league, the fearless junior is ready to lead SHS to one of its best seasons in years in 2026.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 SANTO FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Talented Wildcats have sights set high as they make move to new district

In 2025, a Santo team with just four seniors fought through one of the state’s toughest Class 2A districts to snap a two-year playoff drought.

With the bulk of that roster back and call-ups from a 10-0 junior varsity team ready to fill what few holes they have, the Wildcats have set their goals higher this year.

SHS, which brings back eight starters both ways among 21 returning lettermen, feels it has the talent, experience and depth to compete near the top of a new district that features Waco-area toughies Crawford and Mart. And coach Devon Mann has loaded up his nondistrict schedule in hopes that it will prepare his team for a deep playoff run when the time comes.

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by Daniel Youngblood

STAMFORD FEATURE: Talented QB Follis ready for spotlight after shining in late-season call-up

When Miles Follis opened the 2025 season as Stamford’s junior varsity quarterback, it was the expectation that he’d finish the year in that same role. But fate had other plans.

As it would turn out, Follis — then a sophomore — was simply too good to keep off the varsity roster and out of the starting lineup.

After excelling against the SHS defense as the Bulldogs’ scout team quarterback, he was called up for Stamford’s final four games, drawing starts in the last three — a regular-season finale at Hawley and playoff games against Sonora and New Home. All he did was was follow a 142-yard, two-touchdown performance off the bench against Olney with three quality efforts as the starter, finishing the year with 990 passing yards and a 10-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

While the result of those efforts was a hard-luck 1-2 record featuring a pair of one-score losses around a bi-district blowout, he showed more than enough to establish himself as coach Wayne Hutchinson’s quarterback for the foreseeable future.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 STAMFORD FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Move to 2A Division II brings new challenges for speedy Bulldogs

After spending the past couple of alignments on the lower end of the Class 2A Division I enrollment spectrum, the Stamford Bulldogs will enjoy a role reversal in 2026.

But a move to Division II won’t lighten the schedule any for coach Wayne Hutchinson’s squad, which was placed in District 7-2A DII with perennial power Albany and a historically strong Goldthwaite program that’s expecting one of its best teams in years.

The Bulldogs will tackle that challenge with a good group of returners after bringing 18 lettermen back from last year’s 7-5 outfit, including seven starters on both sides of the ball, But Hutchinson knows his team is, indeed, in for a challenge as it looks to build on a legacy of success that includes a state championship game appearance as recently as two years ago.

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by Daniel Youngblood

MILES FEATURE: Junior RB/DB Satepauhoodle ready to take game, team to next level in 2026

In 2025, little came easy for a Miles squad that returned just six lettermen and two starters both ways from an 8-3 team the previous year. But through a tough 2-8 campaign, the play of then-sophomore Ryder Satepauhoodle shined through as a major bright spot for the Bulldogs.

Running behind an inexperienced and undersized line, Satepauhoodle finished with 735 yards and seven touchdowns on 195 carries. And playing out of position at linebacker, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound athlete was one of the Bulldogs’ most prolific tacklers.

With that experience under his belt and added depth allowing him to drop back to a safety position on defense, Satepauhoodle is poised for an even bigger junior season. And Miles coach Jayson Wilhelm is hoping the standout will help lead a more experienced team to bigger things as well.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 MILES FOOTBALL PREVIEW: More experienced, deeper Bulldogs expecting bounce-back campaign

Last season, a young Miles team took its lumps after graduating a large and impactful senior class that had helped fuel the Bulldogs to their best three-year run in program history.

Coming off that 2-8 campaign with virtually their entire roster intact, coach Jayson Wilhelm and his squad are expecting much bigger things in 2026.

MHS brings back 15 of its 19 lettermen from last year’s squad, including nine starters on both sides of the ball. And with close to 50 kids in the program total, the Bulldogs are expecting to go to battle with a more talented, more experienced and deeper team this fall.

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by Daniel Youngblood

CROSS PLAINS FEATURE: Senior Schuman a versatile weapon, selfless leader for Buffaloes

When Cross Plains coach Jared Sanderson hired former Eastland coach Bobby Schuman to be his defensive coordinator, he knew he’d be getting an excellent athlete in Schuman’s son, Kye. 

The only question was where he would play the then-junior to maximize his impact for the team.

After starting the 2025 season at quarterback, Kye Schuman ended up finding a home at running back and linebacker for the Buffaloes. But the versatile standout left an impression on his coach with both his ability and willingness to contribute wherever he was needed.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 CROSS PLAINS FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Buffs seek to build on foundation laid in Sanderson’s first year

For second-year Cross Plains head coach Jared Sanderson, the 2025 season was an exercise in foundation-laying. While Sanderson was promoted from Daniel Purvis’ staff after the former longtime Buffaloes coach left for Plains, he brought a number of schematic and philosophical changes to the program that he knew would take time to implement.

The Buffs, who switched from the spread to a power run-based scheme on offense and the 3-4 to a four-man front on defense, experienced some growing pains but battled through them to go 4-7 and reach the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 years.

And now that that transition year is in the rearview, the coach is hoping a talented group of returners can help Cross Plains take the next step in a difficult district that features perennial toughies Albany, Stamford and Goldthwaite, in addition to fellow playoff hopefuls Hamlin and Miles.

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by Daniel Youngblood

ROSCOE FEATURE: Seniors Alford, Montoya helping fill leadership void left by big graduating class

After graduating a 13-player senior class that was responsible for the bulk of his team’s production in 2025, Roscoe coach Dan Loyd entered his first full offseason as the Plowboys coach looking for a new crop of leaders to emerge.

With a young roster that will feature a number of juniors in key positions, he found what he was looking for in seniors Mason Alford and Alan Montoya.

While more on the quiet side vocally, Alford and Montoya have brought exactly the type of toughness, dependability and grit that Loyd wants to be a hallmark of his program. And the example those two have set has the coach eager to see where they can help take the Plowboys this fall.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 ROSCOE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Northbound Plowboys look to take step forward in Loyd’s second year

Dan Loyd’s first year at Roscoe was something of a whirlwind. The longtime Seymour coach was hired in April, 2025 to replace Jake Freeman and led an experienced Plowboys squad through a tough nondistrict schedule to go 3-2 in district and reach the playoffs for the sixth straight year and 10th time since 2024.

The 3-8 overall record wasn’t quite what he and his squad were hoping for, but way the team fought through adversity to finish the year strong helped lay the foundation for the type of program he wants to build and, he hopes, will serve as a springboard into a more successful Year 2.

While the Plowboys graduated 13 seniors and return just 12 lettermen (four offensive and five offensive starters among them), Loyd is confident that RHS is starting from more sturdy footing in 2026. And he’s excited to see what his squad can do in a new district and region.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: First-inning rally, complete-game gem by Larsen lifts Groveton Centerville to 2-0 win over Gordon

ROUND ROCK — A two-out, two-run single by Chris Fry in the top of the first inning proved the difference in the game Saturday as Groveton Centerville edged Gordon 2-0 for the Class 1A state championship at Dell Diamond.

The Bulldogs’ three first-inning hits accounted for more than half their total for the game, but that mini outburst against Longhorns ace Aiden Shank was all the run support necessary for Kolt Larsen, whose complete-game shutout had him holding the MVP trophy after the game.

Fry’s single, the only hit by either team in 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position, forced Gordon to play catch-up the rest of the way. And despite a strong pitching performance of their own from Shank and reliever Stryker Reed, the Longhorns could never close the gap, leaving seven runners on base in the loss.

With the victory, Centerville (24-1) claimed its first state championship in program history, while Gordon (23-5) finished as the state runner-up for the second consecutive year.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Clutch hit eludes Brock as Robinson small-balls way to 3-1 win in Class 4A DII title game

ROUND ROCK — The Brock baseball team outhit Waco Robinson 10-3 on Friday in the Class 4A Division II state championship game, but it wasn’t enough as a scrappy Rockets squad did more to capitalize on its opportunities in a 3-1 win at Dell Diamond.

With lefty starter Cayden Birkes pitching into and out of trouble for six strong innings and his lineup turning three singles, three Brock errors, three walks and a pair of hit batsmen into consistent base traffic, Robinson never trailed, scoring the game’s first run in the bottom of the first before breaking a 1-all tie with a pair of runs in the fifth.

The teams combined to go just 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position, with Cayden Coe’s two-run single in the pivotal fifth inning serving as as the difference both in that statistical category and the game.

Brock, which closed its season at 32-7, falling in the state championship game for the second time in three years, loaded the bases in the top of the seventh. But Robinson reliever Eddie Villarreal got Asher Strait to pop out to end the game, setting off a dogpile near the mound as the Rockets (30-10) claimed their first state title in program history.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Argyle rallies in the sixth to down Wylie 6-3, deprive Bulldogs of first state semifinals trip since ’17

GRAHAM — Heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, things were shaping up nicely for the Wylie baseball team in Game 3 of its Region I-5A Division II championship series against Argyle.

The Bulldogs held a 3-2 lead, had their best bullpen arm on the mound and had the meat of their lineup due up in the top of the seventh should they need additional offense to put away the Eagles.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go at all to plan for Wylie from that point forward, as Argyle scored four runs off reliever Myles McCarty in the sixth — three of those with two outs in the inning — to pull away for a 6-3 win and deprive the Bulldogs of their first trip to the state semifinals as a Class 5A program.

The loss ended Wylie’s best season since winning back-to-back Class 4A state championships in 2016 and 2017 at 27-8-1, while the Eagles (24-15-1) advanced to the state semifinals for the seventh time in program history — all since 2014.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie rebounds from Game 2 loss to take series from Burleson, advances to regional finals

GRAHAM — After routing Burleson 11-4 in the opener of its Region I-5A Division II semifinals series on Thursday, the Wylie baseball team found itself in a position it didn’t want to be in Friday — facing elimination at the Graham High School Baseball Field.

But the Bulldogs bounced back from a 5-3 loss in Game 2 with another dominant effort in the series clincher, using a pair of five-run innings to pull away for a 14-4 run-rule win and punch their ticket to the regional finals.

After seeing 11 hits, including two home runs, result in just three runs in Friday’s early game, Wylie turned 12 hits, seven walks and six Burleson errors into a huge run total in the rubber match, taking pressure off its pitching staff early on the way to earning a date next week with all-sport playoff nemesis Argyle.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Aledo run-rules Abilene High, ends Lady Eagles’ deepest playoff run ever in regional finals

GRAHAM — Heading into her team’s one-game Region I-5A Division I finals playoff against state power Aledo on Friday, Abilene High coach Jenna Aguirre knew the Lady Eagles would need to play their best game of the year to have an opportunity to extend their best season in school history to their first state semifinals appearance.

So when a leadoff error in the second inning led to three unearned runs on a two-out home run by Ladycats pitcher Tempe Perry, the coach knew her team might be in for a long day.

That early miscue proved a harbinger of things to come, unfortunately, as Aledo tacked on another unearned run in the third inning before busting the door down completely in a nine-run fourth to put the wheels in motion for a 13-0 win at Graham’s Hogan Field.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Faries returns to dominant form as Wylie bounces back to take Game 2 from Brewer

 Photos from Thursday’s Game 1

STEPHENVILLE — Before Thursday’s series opener against Fort Worth Brewer, Wylie ace Avie Faries had yet to allow more than two runs in any of her previous six playoff starts.

So it took a special effort from the Lady Bears to kick off the Region I-5A Division II finals with an eight-run outburst that included four home runs off the standout junior.

In Friday’s Game 2, a determined Faries looked more like her dominant self with her team’s season on the line, limiting that same explosive lineup to just three hits and single run in a 3-1 Wylie win. The right-hander walked two and struck out six to improve her playoff record to 7-1 and help the Lady Bulldogs earn a decisive Game 3 against Brewer at 1 p.m. Saturday back at the Stephenville softball field.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Long ball, four-run fifth fuel Fort Worth Brewer past Wylie in series opener

STEPHENVILLE — For 4½ innings, the Wylie and Fort Worth Brewer softball teams were locked in a back-and-forth battle in the opener of the Region I-5A Division II finals series Thursday at the Stephenville softball field.

But a four-run bottom of the fifth highlighted by a trio of big extra-base hits provided the Lady Bears the separation they needed to pull away for an 8-4 win and an early advantage in the best-of-three affair that will continue with Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday.

Included in Brewer’s pivotal outburst was a pair of home runs — two of four for the Lady Bears on the day — which served as the difference in a game that was otherwise very competitive.

Continue reading “GAME STORY: Long ball, four-run fifth fuel Fort Worth Brewer past Wylie in series opener” →

by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Faries dominant again as Wylie sweeps Joshua, earns trip to regional finals

GRAHAM — Junior ace Avie Faries continued her postseason brilliance Saturday, pitching Wylie to a 2-1 win over Joshua to complete a sweep of a Region I-5A Division II semifinals series and lead the Lady Bulldogs to their first regional finals appearance since 2006.

Faries, who pitched a two-hit shutout in Friday’s 4-0 win over the Lady Owls, allowed just one run on five hits and a walk in Game 2, striking out 10 to improve to 6-0 in the playoffs.

The standout right-hander saw her postseason ERA “rise” to 0.85 while keeping her WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) steady at 0.829 and improving her strikeout-to-walk ratio to an eye-popping 44-to-5.

And though she spent an inning trailing 1-0 as a result of a  third-inning solo home run by Landrie Durham, her teammates made a winner out of her with a two-run fourth inning that would ultimately clinch a trip to the Region I-5A DII championship round to face off with Fort Worth Brewer, which swept El Paso Parkland in the other semifinal series.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High drops 1-0 pitchers’ duel to Richland in series opener

STEPHENVILLE — For seven innings Thursday, Abilene High’s Avah Reyes and North Richland Hills Richland’s Stacy Jennings went toe to toe, matching each other almost pitch for pitch and out for out at the Stephenville softball field.

But a single run, scored on a two-out infield hit in the bottom of the fifth, proved the difference as the Lady Royals escaped the thrilling pitcher’s duel with a 1-0 win to land the first punch in the Region I-5A Division I semifinal series.

The two teams will return to the same field Friday for the remainder of the best-of-three affair, with Game 2 slated for 4:30 p.m. With their backs now against the wall, the Lady Eagles will be looking to rebound with a win in that one to force a deciding third game immediately after.

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by Daniel Youngblood

DANIEL YOUNGBLOOD: Hico’s unique identity a draw for Hart, past football coaches

Hico, Texas is a special place. 

If you need evidence of that, just ask the men who have served as head football coach there over the past three decades.

Chasing them down might be a surprisingly easy task, as Hico High School has had just four coaches since 1996 — a testament itself to the unique nature of a small town and community that many have decided is worth investing and laying roots in.

This fall, Britt Hart will become the Tigers’ fifth coach in 30 seasons, joining mentors Wade Williams (1996-2007) and Keith Wood (2008-2016) and former boss Todd Swearengin (2021-2024) on the list of Hico program heads. And the special, magnetic qualities of Hico are certainly not lost on the new head man, who is back in a town and district where he student taught and spent two separate stints as an assistant.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: First-Team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: Second-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: First-team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: Second-team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Fayetteville holds off late rally to knock off Gordon 4-2 in Class 1A title game

ROUND ROCK — A shaky start and several missed opportunities at the plate spoiled a storybook ending for the Gordon baseball team, which saw its first trip to state end with a 4-2 loss to Fayetteville in the Class 1A championship game on Saturday at Dell Diamond.

In a game that was well-pitched and cleanly played by both teams for the most part, the Longhorns fell behind 3-1 after two innings and could never get closer than that despite getting runners to scoring position in five of the seven innings.

That included a seventh-inning rally that saw Gordon plate a run to pull within two and advance the tying to run to second base with two outs, before a foul out by Evan Jackson ended the threat and the Longhorns’ best campaign in program history at 23-6.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wall blasts Thrall 14-2 to claim program’s second state championship

ROUND ROCK — In 2023, with a number of their current upperclassmen filling contributing roles, the Wall Hawks reached the Class 3A state title game only to watch another team (Boyd) leave with the championship trophy.

Last year, with a loaded roster and expectations of a Round Rock return, WHS saw its season end in a shocking area-round loss to Iowa Park. 

On Thursday, with both of those experiences serving as competitive fuel, coach Jeremy Gordon’s squad left nothing to chance against Thrall, using a four-run first inning to set a tone it would maintain for five dominant innings on its way to a 14-2 win in the Class 3A Division II state championship game at Dell Diamond.

The victory capped a brilliant 31-6 campaign for the Hawks, who claimed their second state title in their fourth state trip, joining the 2019 squad as the only other Wall team to leave Round Rock with state gold around its neck.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Defending state champion Ira Bulldogs sweep May with another shutout in Game 2

ABILENE — After watching teammate Jeren Pena toss a complete-game shutout against an excellent May lineup on Friday in the opener of a best-of-three area-round series with the Tigers, Brandt Cox nearly matched the feat on Saturday.

In fact, the only thing that kept him from having a chance to do so was a pitch count that was inflated in large part by 13 strikeouts.

So instead, the junior right-hander had to settle for six shutout innings and a victory, outdueling May co-ace Kobey Morris in a 6-0 win at Abilene Christian Schools’ Hudson Wade Memorial Field that completed a two-game sweep and earned the defending state champion Bulldogs a Region I-1A semifinal date with Hamlin next week at a time, date and place to be determined.

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