Author: Evan Ren

by Evan Ren

ALL BIG COUNTRY BASEBALL SUPERLATIVES: Oliver, Ferguson, McCarty, Shindler and West take top honors

Here are our superlative award winners for the 2026 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

2026 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Baseball Team: The top sophomores and freshmen in the area

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2026 All-Big Country Preps baseball teams. 

Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.

For the rest of this year’s baseball selections, please click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

ALL BIG COUNTRY SOFTBALL SUPERLATIVES: Hart, Reynolds, Smith, McLean and Orosco win our top awards

Here are our superlative award winners for the 2026 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

2026 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Softball Team: The top sophomores and freshmen in the area

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2026 All-Big Country Preps Softball teams. 

Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.

For the rest of this year’s softball selections, please click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Thunderstorm halts FCA football game with Red team leading

ABILENE — One of God’s own inventions stood in the way of an interesting finale to the Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival on Saturday. 

With the Myrle Greathouse All-Star Football Classic providing a competitive Day 3 conclusion to the event, an afternoon thunderstorm moved into the area, bringing lightning with it. 

 It was at that point that game officials elected to cancel the remainder of the event, rather than subject those in attendance to endless delays and possible safety concerns. 

For the record, the Red team was leading 22-14 early in the third quarter when the stoppage occurred.  Brownwood’s Judson Coalson had thrown for 122 yards with TD passes to Abilene’s Jeremiah Collins and Jim Ned’s Breck Lawson. 

Blue, which had outgained Red 157-146 at that point, was led by Cooper’s Jaden Carillo with 26 yards rushing and one TD to go with four catches for 31 yards. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: FCA Red and Blue teams exchange lopsided wins on Day 2 (box scores included)

ABILENE — Day 2 of the Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival was a lot more about fellowship than anything else. 

With Abilene Christian University hosting the FCA Girls and Boys All-Star Basketball Games at Moody Coliseum on Friday, neither game provided a great deal of drama. 

In fact, the Red and Blue teams exchanged a pair of blowouts, with the Red Girls defeating the Blue 72-39 in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Blue Boys returned the favor in the night cap, defeating the Red team 91-54. 

As is the custom at the FCA All-Star Festival, both teams joined hands in prayer following each game, and the fact that neither contest was close hardly seemed to matter. 

“It was a lot of fun said San Angelo Central boys coach Arsenio Geter, who guided the boys blue team. “Everybody had a smile on their face the whole time. And that’s what we wanted. We wanted everyone to have a chance to play one more game and have fun doing it.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Big Country Christians put on a show in FCA volleyball match

ABILENE — They didn’t have much time to shake off the ring rust, but both teams involved in the Bev Ball All-Star Volleyball Classic at Wylie High School. 

Part of the Day 1 lineup of this year’s Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star Festival, the Bev Ball Classic saw the Blue All-Stars rally to top the Red 17-25, 29-27, 15-8 to take this year’s title. This, after splitting a pair of warm-up games with Blue winning 25-20 and Red taking Game 2 25-21.

Wall’s Emery Harper had 10 kills and an ace and Abilene High’s Olivia Weatherford had six kills, three blocks and an ace to lead the Blue team, which rallied from a 6-5 deficit with a 10-2 run to win Game 3. 

The Red team was led by Match MVP Aniah Hines, who nearly took over the contest with 17 kills, four blocks and five aces. 

“I don’t even have the words,” said Abilene High’s Emily Gravitt, who coached the blue team. “The girls were such a blessing, the atmosphere was such a blessing and the FCA is an incredible organization.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Liberty dominates Lady Eagles in 4A DII state title game (box score included)

AUSTIN — Liberty (founded in 1831) is in fact, one of the oldest communities in the state of Texas. But its status as a softball powerhouse is relatively new. 

With seven state tournament appearances (all since 2018), the Lady Panthers added their fourth state championship in less than a decade on Friday by defeating Brock, 12-0 in six innings at McCombs Field.  

Game MVP Bayleigh Taylor tossed a two-hit shutout and was 3-for-5 with a double, triple and five RBIs to lead Liberty (39-6), which dominated the Region I champions from start to finish. 

Brock was led by Jayci Smith (1-for-3) and Trinity Franklin (1-for-2 with a double). The Lady Eagles closed their season at 32-11 while making their ninth state tournament appearance.

“We ran into a good team today,” Brock coach Gregory Connors said. “They were hitting on all cylinders and it showed. But we know what it takes to get here and how to overcome that.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Coahoma’s historic quest comes to an end with 8-1 loss to SGA (box score included)

AUSTIN — In an attempt to become the first Texas high school softball team to win four straight state championships, the Coahoma Bulldogettes fell one victory short of that goal with an 8-1 loss to Santa Gertrudis Academy in the 3A DII state championship game on Thursday at McCombs Field.        

Game MVP K’Lee Bazan was 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Hailey Ortega was 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs to lead SGA (40-4), which captured its first state title since 2018 and second overall in six state tournament appearances. 

Coahoma, which was limited to three hits on the day, was led by Mia Clemmer (1-for-2), Emery Doporo (1-3, one RBI) and Bentli Wright (1-for-3).  The Bulldogettes were making their fifth consecutive state tournament appearance with a string of three straight state titles to their credit coming in.  

“It’s a tall mountain to climb, whether you’ve done it one time or five times,” said Coahoma coach Alex Orosco, whose team finished the season at 27-5. “It doesn’t get any easier if you’ve done it before.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Eagles advance to state semis with sweep of Lubbock-Cooper Liberty (box score included)

ABILENE — There was no postgame dogpile following Brock’s series-clinching 4-0 win over Lubbock-Cooper Liberty at Crutcher Scott Field on Saturday. 

The Eagles, having just secured the Region I-4A DII championship, had a moderate celebration, knowing that they still must defeat Frisco Panther Creek in the state semifinals in order to reach their goal of playing for a state championship. 

It was a fitting reaction to a workmanlike victory over the Patriots that saw Brock scratch home four runs in support of a four-hit shutout from southpaw Evan O’Connor. 

“I’m just proud of our boys, to be honest with you,” Brock coach Kobe Page said. “We don’t play a lot of day games starting at (noon) and after a late night, it’s a quick turnaround and it kind of throws you off schedule a little bit.

“But I love our fight, I love our guys and what they bring every single day to the table. … Anyone who sees Brock on the other side knows they’re in for a dogfight, whether we have our best stuff or not. They know we’ll grind it out — every pitch, every out.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Brock takes Game 1 in dominating fashion, handing Lubbock-Cooper Liberty a 9-0 loss at ACU

ABILENE — To say Brock is in a good position to win the Region I-4A DII championship might be an understatement. That’s based on the fact that the Eagles defeated Lubbock-Cooper Liberty 9-0 in Game 1 on Friday without their top pitcher, Evan O’Conner, throwing so much as an inning at Crutcher Scott Field.

Instead, Game 1 saw a gutsy effort from Brock starter Weston Pickard and nine runs of combined offense in the first two innings to lead the Eagles (29-6), who can clinch the series with a win in Game 2, slated for noon on Saturday at the same venue. 

Pickard escaped bases-loaded jams in the first and fourth innings and left with a shutout intact when he was relieved by Austin Gallogly in the top of the fifth. Pickard allowed four hits and four walks, but six strikeouts helped him strand eight baserunners in four frames. 

Liberty fell to 31-11 with the loss. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Cisco’s magical run ends with a pair of losses to Bosqueville (two box scores included)

STEPHENVILLE — The single greatest season in Cisco softball history has officially come to a close. 

Having reached the 2A DI state semifinals (its first-ever state semi) Cisco fell to in two straight games to Bosqueville on Wednesday, 4-3 and 10-2 at the Stephenville Softball Complex. 

The losses brought the curtain down on a 26-9-2 campaign that saw the Lady Loboes finish 8-3 in postseason play with the deepest playoff run in its history.

“We’ve had an outstanding year,” Cisco coach Vanessa Longoria said. “At the very beginning we scheduled some tough teams to help get us here.

“Getting them this far was fantastic and a lot of fun.” 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reed takes our final award for 2025-26

As is our tradition, with the UIL State Track and Field Championships now over, we conclude our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column for the 2025-26 school year.  We’ll pick it up again on Monday, Aug. 31. 

In the meantime, our final award of the school year belongs to Gordon senior Stryker Reed, and with good reason. At the state track meet, Reed won state titles in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, breaking his own state records in both events at 14.20 and 37.24. He took an additional gold with the 1600 relay team with a 47.8 split and bronze in the pole vault at 14-0.  He nearly captured a fifth medal in Austin, taking fourth in the high jump at 6-2.

Oh, and did we mention he plays baseball? 

Well, he does — well enough to help the Longhorns to a series sweep of Oglesby last week, going a combined 4 of 5 with a double, triple, two RBIs, three runs scored and two steals. He also pitched in Game 2, allowing one earned run in three innings of work with four strikeouts. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wylie softballers fall in Game 3 to Fort Worth Brewer (box score included)

STEPHENVILLE — After guiding Wylie to one of its best seasons ever, WHS softball coach Shelby Elkins had the unenviable task of speaking to her heartbroken players following an 11-7 Game 3 loss to Fort Worth Brewer in the Region I-5A DII title game on Saturday.

Brewer had just eliminated Wylie behind five homers at the Stephenville High School Softball Field. But Elkins quickly reminded a group of tearful players that there were several important achievements they should remember years from now.

“You just highlight the positives,” said Elkins, whose team had reached the program’s first regional title series since 2006 and its first ever in Class 5A. “For us to make it this far, they’ve done some great things this year. 

“Every single one of them shattered their own records. … And that’s what we looked at from the very beginning of the season. The number of hits they had, the number of defensive plays  — I wanted to give all of them goals to set and every one of them did a phenomenal job. 
“I’m very proud of them.”  

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by Evan Ren

GAME REPORT: Jim Ned falls 12-2 in Game 1 vs. Iowa Park (Box score included)

GRAHAM — A huge fourth inning, a few key mistakes and multiple controversial calls handed the Jim Ned Lady Indians a 12-2 loss in Game 1 of a Region I-3A DI title series with Iowa Park on Friday at Hogan Field.

Five Lady Hawks — Halli Kennedy, Callista Berrett, Bailey Martinez, Jacie Barnes and Jordyn Noble — all had two hits with a combined six RBIs to lead Iowa Park (31-7-1), which overcame a 2-0 deficit with 12 unanswered runs over the final three innings.

Jim Ned, which missed some crucial scoring opportunities early on due to several controversial calls, finished with six total hits. Gabby Cabrea and Paige Wilson were both 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Lady Indians (30-6), who suffered their only mercy rule loss of the season in six innings. 

The series resumes with Game 2 today at 4 p.m. at the same venue. Game 3, if needed, will begin 30 minutes after Game 2.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Brock sweeps Randall with crushing 15-1 win in Game 2 (box score included)

ABILENE — A year removed from reaching the Region I-4A DII semifinals, the Brock Lady Eagles have now pushed all the way to the state tournament. And they’ve done so, in dominating fashion. 

After defeating Canyon Randall 9-1 to open the regional championship series on Thursday, Brock completed a two-game sweep on Friday with a crushing 15-1 win at Poly Wells Field.

Kayden Blue was 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored and Alison “Gator” Coleman scattered five hits in a complete game win to lead Brock, which will face either Van Alstyne or North Lamar in the state semifinals at a site and time to be determined.

Randall finished its season at 30-10.

“We knew they were going to come out hard and we had to match their intensity,” said Brock coach Gregory Connors, whose team improved to 32-10 with its seventh straight postseason victory. “We knew what to expect. We’ve been here before and it’s a (great) experience for a young team.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Brock routs Canyon Randall in Game 1 of regional championship series (box score included)

ABILENE — In the end it was all a matter of Brock being Brock, and Alison Coleman being Alison Coleman. 

Game 1 of the Region I-4A DII softball championship series ended with a relatively easy 9-1 win for Brock over Canyon Randall at Poly Wells Field. This involved the Lady Eagles doing what they do best — wreaking havoc on the basepaths and backing it with solid pitching and defense.

Jayci Smith was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Coleman tossed a two-hitter with no earned runs allowed and three Ks to lead Brock (31-10) which can close the series with a win in Game 2 at 6 p.m. on Friday at the same venue.

Taking advantage of some early Randall nerves, Brock jumped on the Lady Raiders with two runs on two hits, one error and a walk in the top of the first and never relinquished the lead. Kathryn Utley supplied both early RBIs with a single to score Kayden Blue and Smith. 

This supplied Coleman with all the support she would eventually need. 

“We have speed and we’ve shown that,” Brock coach Gregory Connors said. “And when our sticks go along with our speed it creates chaos.” 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ferguson takes our top spot with area round no-hitter vs. EP Americas

With the school year winding down, so is area athletic activity. And as is our custom, we will be ending the Big Country Preps Player of the Week next Monday following the state track and field meet.  In the meantime, a familiar face as taken the top spot, despite seeing his team’s season come to a close. 

Abilene junior pitcher George Ferguson has taken our weekly accolade for a third time in the wake of a 5-inning no hitter in a 10-0 win over El Paso Americas last week in Monahans. 

Ferguson, who is already committed to the University of Texas, hit 99 MPH on the radar gun during the win, which saw him strike out 10. He also finished the series with a combined 3-for-9 tally at the plate with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Jim Ned recovers from Game 2 stumble to eliminate Shallowater (two box scores included)

BIG SPRING — While much of the Jim Ned softball team’s 2026 season has been about solid defense, consistent hitting and dominance, Saturday’s Region I-3A DI semifinal with Shallowater was largely about resilience. 

Already leading the series after a 9-6 win in Game 1 on Thursday, the Lady Indians suffered through seven uncharacteristic errors in a 7-6 Game 2 loss at Lady Steer Field to see a 17-game winning streak snapped. Then, almost as if it never happened, Jim Ned quickly regained its form to eliminate Shallowater, 7-2 in Game 3

Not only did the Lady Indians recover defensively, but pitcher Jayden Nunez, who struggled in Game 1 on Thursday, rediscovered her rhythm with four shutout innings at the outset of Game 3. She also added a solo homer for what proved to be the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning.

Jim Ned (29-5) now advances to face Iowa Park (27-7-1) for the Region I-3A DI championship.

It will be the second meeting between the two clubs, with Jim Ned having defeated the Lady Hawks 6-2 on Feb. 21.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Ferguson pegs radar gun at 99 mph; tosses five-inning no-hitter in Game 1 vs. El Paso Americas

MONAHANS — You know you’re having a good season when you toss a five-inning no-hitter with two walks and nine strikeouts and you’re not as sharp as you normally are.  But that is reality for Abilene High School junior George Ferguson, who led the Eagles to a 10-0 mercy rule win over El Paso Americas on Friday in Game 1 of a Region I-5A DII area round series at the Jerry Larned Sports Complex. 

It was the third no-hitter of the season for Ferguson, which includes a perfect game thrown against Abilene Cooper on April 21. He also helped himself at the plate, delivering a two-run homer in the first inning to score Xavier De La Cruz and put the Eagles up for good. 

Also coming up big for Abilene were Brenner Paul, who finished 3-for-3 with a homer and four RBIs and Jaxon Harris (1-for-3, two RBIs). 

The Eagles (25-9-1) can close the series out with a win in Game 2 on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the same venue. Game 3 (if needed) will be 30 minutes after Game 2.  

Americas slipped to 23-7-1 with the loss.

“You know what you’re going to get when (Ferguson) is out on the mound,” Abilene coach Thomas Harmon said. “He’s going to take the ball and compete his tail off and he did that today. At the plate he was loose and relaxed and that showed. It was one of the better all-around games he’s had all year.”

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Jim Ned softballers outslug Shallowater in Game 1 of regional semis (box score included)

BIG SPRING — With Shallowater coming off a six-run second inning that saw the Filles cut an 8-0 Jim Ned lead to 8-6, the task of protecting that slim lead fell upon freshman reliever Paige Wilson. 

The momentum was against her and the pressure was suddenly off the scale. Nonetheless, Wilson delivered five straight shutout innings to earn a 9-6 win for the Lady Indians in Game 1 of a Region I-3A semifinal series on Thursday at Lady Steer Field. 

Gabby Cabrea was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Pyper Tilley was 2-fior-4 with two RBIs to pace Jim Ned (28-4), which can close the series with a Game 2 win on Saturday at the same venue. Game 3, if needed, will follow 30 minutes after Game 2. 

Shallowater (22-11-1) was led by Kynsi Sue, Peyton Ramirez and Skyler Stephenson, all of whom homered in the second inning. And it was in that second inning when the game suddenly took on a whole new look — setting the stage for Wilson.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall takes Game 1 in area series with Tolar, tops Rattlers 5-4 (box score included)

EULA — After suffering a bruised rib against Jim Ned in mid April, Wall’s Gage Reichenau has been slowly recovering from the injury and trying to get to the point where he could pitch effectively again. 

That evening came on Wednesday night in a 5-4 win over Tolar in Game 1 of a Region I-3A area round series at the Eula Athletic Complex.

Overcoming a sluggish first inning that saw him allow a pair of runs on three walks and an error, Reichenau found his rhythm and delivered 6.1 solid innings in a come-from-behind victory for the Hawks. 

Reid Ballard and Tyler Klinesmith both had two hits and two RBIs to lead Wall (24-8), which can end the series with a Game 2 win on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Eula. Game 3, if needed, is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday at the same venue. 

Tolar (19-9) was led by Nolan Cauble, who was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wylie sophomore takes this week’s award with a no-hitter

Nothing quite like starting off a playoff series with a masterpiece from your pitcher. 

Wylie sophomore Gehrig Fletcher delivered this artwork last week in a 7-0 win in Game 1 of a bi-district series with Lubbock Coronado. 

Not only did the 10th grader throw a seven-inning no-hitter, but he did it with an unusual twist: he only struck out three batters.

No-hitters are rare enough, but throwing one while pitching to contact is something one almost never sees in a game dominated by aluminum bats. 

“Gehrig is a kid that puts in the work every day,” coach Grant Martin said. He is the epitome of hard work, determination, and resilience.

“He is the best teammate and exemplifies what a student athlete should be. What a performance in a big time setting. So proud of him!”

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by Evan Ren

REGION I-2A TRACK MEET: Bangs boys, Coleman girls score area’s highest team finishes

CANYON — Big Country Region II athletes had a long way to travel for their regional track meet — competing at West Texas A&M University in Canyon on Friday and Saturday.

Bangs was the top team finisher for the area, finishing fourth with 39 points — 28 behind regional champion Abernathy. 

Coleman was the top area finisher in the girls meet with a third-place 52 points — 49 points behind a dominant performance by regional champion Panhandle. 

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