Category: Clyde Bulldogs

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Clyde Bulldogs

Football is fast approaching, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Friday, Aug. 16. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Running through the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2019 as part of our “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

After featuring Early on Wednesday, we stay in District 3-3A Division I with the Clyde Bulldogs. On Friday, we will take a look at the Breckenridge Buckaroos, followed by the Eastland Mavericks on Saturday.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 54: Evan, Daniel talk San Saba football with Andreas Aguirre

After serving as the defensive coordinator on coach Jerod Fikac’s staff during San Saba’s breakout 2018 campaign, Andreas Aguirre was hired in February to replace Fikac when the former Armadillo coach left to take over the Georgetown East View football program.

Earlier this week, Aguirre took some time to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood on inheriting a 14-1 team, maintaining last year’s momentum and his vision for the program in this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the upcoming football season and their work on the Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview. 

by Evan Ren

BCP BOYS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND SUPER DOZEN: Yeager claims top spot

On the heels of announcing our first-ever Big Country Preps Girls Athlete of the Year, it’s now time to announce our first boys winner.

Again, our Athlete of the Year and subsequent “Super Dozen” represent the Big Country Athletes who contributed the most to their athletic programs — most often over a broad range of disciplines. 

So, at this time, Big Country Preps proudly announces its Boys Athlete of the Year: Kevin Yeager of De Leon. 

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by Evan Ren

BCP GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AND SUPER DOZEN: Masonheimer takes top spot

An Athlete of the Year award for the Big Country has been a long time coming, and Big Country Preps is officially ending the wait. 

What better way to end our first school year than by honoring our top all-around athletes. By that, we mean those athletes who competed at a high level over a broad range of disciplines and had the biggest overall impact on their athletic programs (as nominated by area athletic directors). 

So without further ado, we proudly announce our first Big Country Preps Girls Athlete of the Year: Anna Masonheimer of Eula. 

From start to finish, Masonheimer was a key contributor to Eula’s athletic success during the 2018-19 school year, beginning with her helping the EHS cross country team reach the regional meet. 

She was the MVP of Eula’s district champion basketball team, earning all state honors from both the Texas Association of Basketball coaches and the Texas Girls Coaches Association. But she was just getting started at that point. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 52: Evan, Daniel take look at ‘Texas Football’ projections

The arrival of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine means the high school football season is just around in the corner.

In this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast, Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood break down Texas Football’s projections for Big Country area schools, looking at team rankings, key district races and some local and area individuals honored by the publication. 

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Baseball-Softball All-Hustle Team: Our hardest-working players!

OTHER 2019 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS

Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Friday and Saturday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2019. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring. 

This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.

The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.

It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.

Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the the Big Country had to offer during the 2019 season.

The players below are listed in no particular order. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

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

Here are our first-team selections for the inaugural 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

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

Here are our second-team selections for the inaugural 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

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Baseball (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

The 2019 baseball season was a wildly successful one for schools in the Big Country Preps coverage area. Wall won its first state championship in program history, Albany got back to the Class 2A state tournament for the second time in three years and a number of other programs made deep playoff runs and/or took big steps forward.

Now, it’s time to take a look back at the season we just completed and celebrate the teams and games that made 2019 unforgettable.

Without further ado, let’s dive in and hit the highlights.

Continue reading “2018-19 IN REVIEW: Baseball (w/ two photo galleries)” →

by Evan Ren

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Softball (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for fastpitch softball — I admit it. 

A long time ago, it was common for men to play the game. My dad played it. I played it. So I still thoroughly enjoy getting to as many girls softball games as possible — just to see some fastpitch again.

So, it is with pleasure that I review the the 2019 season — the top teams, the top games, the top surprises and the clubs that are about to make a splash in 2020.

 That said, it’s time to dive in.

Continue reading “2018-19 IN REVIEW: Softball (w/ two photo galleries)” →

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 51: Evan, Daniel discuss Baird’s move to six-man, look back at 2018-19 athletic year

With Baird’s decision this week to join the six-man football ranks, which follows a trend set in recent years by fellow Big Country Class 1A schools Rotan, Gorman, Bronte and Roby, the Bears will be entering a whole new world this fall.

On this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast, Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood explore that transition from all angles. 

Also in this week’s episode, Evan and Daniel take a look back at the 2018-19 athletic year and discuss some of their highlights from the football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball seasons.

by Evan Ren

2018-19 IN REVIEW: Girls basketball (w/ two photo galleries)

Prior to the release of our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams on Friday and Saturday, Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood will review the 2018-19 school year throughout this week and the top athletic stories produced by the area in football, boys and girls basketball, baseball and softball.

Our review of the 2018-19 athletic school year continues today with girls basketball, which, while it didn’t produce a state title for the Big Country, was never boring. 

It is a long-standing Big Country hoops tradition to be very strong in both Class 1A and Class 3A girls basketball, and last season was no exception. 

The area sent two representatives (Wall and Hermleigh) to the state tournament in San Antonio, continuing the area’s stronghold in both classes.

That said, let’s not waste time. Let’s dive in and take a look at the season’s highlights, shall we?

Continue reading “2018-19 IN REVIEW: Girls basketball (w/ two photo galleries)” →

by Evan Ren

FCA BASEBALL: Fun-filled FCA week ends with victory for North baseball squad

SAN ANGELO — Clyde baseball coach Colby Rowley didn’t waste any time discussing strategy with his players when given the job of coaching the North team in this year’s FCA All-Star Baseball Game. 

He did, however, have one standing order: have fun — an edict the northerners followed to the letter, both in their preparation for Friday’s game and in coming from behind to win it 6-5. 

Hamlin’s Jared Woods drove in Zachary Duran with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to lead the North, which overcame a 5-2 deficit over the final three innings in an expanded nine-inning FCA format. 

“It was a fun week,” Rowley said. “You could tell it changed a lot of lives in a positive way.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Brock hangs on to beat Clyde in decisive Game 2 (w/ two videos and box score)

With Brock handing Clyde a 10-0 drubbing in Game 1 of their Region I-3A quarterfinal series on Thursday, it may have been tempting for those watching to simply write off the Bulldogs in Game 2.

Brock coach Hart Hering knew better. 

With Clyde facing elimination, the Bulldogs nearly forced a Game 3, falling to Brock 8-6 at Abilene Christian University on Saturday.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 46: Evan, Daniel catch up with Gorman softball coach Guthery

Gorman softball coach Nick Guthery has led the Lady Panthers to a 26-0 record this season and has his team one win away from its first state tournament appearance in school history.

Earlier this week, Guthery took some time to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about the run his team is on, his Region II-1A opponent, Dodd City, and the program he’s built for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Podcast.

Also on this week’s episode, Evan and Daniel recap last week’s baseball and softball playoff action and take a look forward to this weekend’s top matchups.

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Tomlinson takes our final award for 2018-19

After a disappointing finish in the high jump Friday morning as the defending champion in that event, Early’s Trinity Tomlinson had one chance at redemption at the state track meet in the 100-meter hurdles. 

She cashed in on the opportunity, finishing in 14.93 seconds to take gold. In doing so, she also earned our final Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the 2018-19 school year. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

SIDEBAR: Clyde softball driven to repeat 2018’s success

After falling in the regional final last year to Brock, the Clyde softball team has had one goal in mind for the 2019 season — make it back to the final.

The Lady Bulldogs took the next step on Saturday as they finished off a two-game sweep of Eastland in the Region I-3A quarterfinal to setup a date with District 1-3A champion Bushland next week.

The disappointment of last spring’s run ending just shy of a state tournament berth pushed Clyde through the offseason and during the 2019 spring.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Clyde takes Game 1 from Eastland 9-4

The old adage that good pitching stops good hitting doesn’t always hold true. 

The ninth-ranked Clyde Lady Bulldogs gave an example of this on Friday, handing No. 7 Eastland and ace pitcher Brynna Foster a 9-4 loss at ACU’s Poly Wells Field. 

Jacie Roberts was 3 for 4 with a double, a triple and four RBIs, and Brooke Widener was 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead Clyde (28-5), which held off an Eastland rally after building an 8-0 lead by the fifth inning.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 45: Evan, Daniel talk baseball with Clyde coach Rowley

Clyde baseball coach Colby Rowley has consistently fielded a strong product during his nine years coaching for his alma mater, and things are no different this season. His Bulldogs are currently 24-6 and slated to take on Bowie this weekend in the area round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Earlier this week, Rowley took a few minutes to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about this year’s team, his time at Clyde and more for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also on this week’s episode, Evan and Daniel recap last week’s baseball and softball playoff action and forecast this week’s slate of games.

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Haskell’s Rodriguez goes yard four times to take award

Back in the old days, Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium, home of the Atlanta Braves until the late 1990s, was commonly referred to as “The Launching Pad.”  

I submit to you that since that facility was demoed in 1997, the nickname is now free game and applicable wherever we may choose to use it. 

I choose to apply it to Hermleigh’s beautiful, but not exactly pitcher-friendly softball complex, where our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, Haskell’s Ryanna Rodriguez, put on such a dazzling hitting display. So dazzling that she even eclipsed a no-hitter for our top spot. 

Keep in mind, Rodriguez hadn’t homered all season prior to last week’s area-round series with Winters. But with a strong wind blowing to left-center at The Launching Pad, Rodriguez was transformed into Hank Aaron. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Clyde takes two from Bangs, moves on to area round

The Clyde baseball team punched its ticket to the Region I-3A area round Thursday, taking two games from Bangs at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field.

The Bulldogs (24-6) downed the Dragons 6-3 in Game 1, before rallying from a 4-0 deficit to clinch the best-of-three series with a 5-4 win.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 44: Daniel Youngblood, Brandon McAuliffe discuss baseball, softball playoffs

The high school baseball and softball playoffs are in full swing, and the Big Country has a number of promising teams and intriguing story lines on both sides.

With Evan Ren out of pocket for the week, Daniel Youngblood is joined by contributor Brandon McAuliffe to discuss all of the top developments and matchups involving local and area baseball and softball teams in this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Daniel and Brandon chat about recent football coaching moves and give a rundown on all the programs that will have new faces in 2019. 

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Edmondson takes this week’s spotlight

For Big Country sports fans, the name of Hallie Rose Edmondson is usually associated with basketball, and it will likely stay that way for some time.

An All-Big Country Preps pick on the hardwood, the Roby senior has been a part of a successful RHS varsity program dating back to 2016 when, as a freshman, she saw significant minutes with the Lady Lions in their march to the state semifinals in San Antonio.

She is now committed to play hoops at Hardin-Simmons University beginning next season and, frankly, I’m not surprised.

It is through track and field, however, that Edmondson has found her way into this week’s area spotlight, qualifying for the state meet in four events to capture our BCP Player of the Week award. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Big second-inning fuels Clyde past Coleman 9-3

The Clyde Lady Bulldogs used a five-run second inning to build all the cushion they would need Thursday for a 9-3 win over Coleman in a one-game bi-district softball playoff at Abilene Christian University’s Wells Field.

Up 6-0 after two, the Lady Bulldogs added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, before the Bluekatts showed some signs of life late to stave off the possibility of a run rule.

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN: With area softball teams at the starting gate, Big Ev makes his picks

I can’t help but compare a playoff bracket to a horse race, with the bi-district round serving as the starting gate. 

There are favorites, there are possible surprises and there are longshots. And in the end, picking who has the best chance of hitting the finish line at the state tournament is part knowledge and part luck — mostly luck.

 At this track, I’m restricted to making Big Country choices — the area teams I believe have the best chance of getting to McCombs Field at the University of Texas in Austin from May 29-June 1. 

Will a Big Country team have a shot when we get to the home stretch? We shall see. 

Here’s my picks for the 2019 softball playoff run: 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 43: Wylie softball coach Collier joins show to talk district title, more

After rocky start to the season, the Wylie softball team rebounded to win a district title in its first season as a Class 5A program. Now, the Lady Bulldogs are set to open the Region I-5A playoffs with a best-of-three bi-district series against Canyon Randall on Friday and Saturday at Lubbock Cooper.

Earlier this week, 19th-year Wylie head coach Heather Collier took a few minutes to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about her team’s run to the District 4-5A championship, what awaits the Lady Bulldogs in the playoffs and more for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this week’s episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the best softball pitchers in the Big Country and give a run down of some of the top storylines on the local and area baseball scene.

by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Clyde takes 5-3A district championship with 5-3 win over Jim Ned

TUSCOLA — The Clyde baseball team clinched its fourth consecutive district championship with a 5-3 win over Jim Ned on Monday night in District 5-3A play.

Riley Rice went 6.2 innings and allowed three runs while scattering four hits. Rice also struck out eight and walked three as he outdueled Jim Ned freshman Tate Yardley.

Yardley went 5.1 innings, giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out four. He walked one and hit four others.

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Wylie duo splits this week’s award

Wylie juniors Kaylee Philipp and Bailey Buck share much in common.

They both split their time on the diamond between the pitcher’s circle and first base.

They are both leaders — in word and deed — for the now-District 4-5A champion Lady Bulldogs.

And most recently, they’ve both been selected to share our Big Country Preps Player of the Week honor for the week ending April 20.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 42: Brownwood’s Lynn talks Lady Lion softball with Evan, Daniel

Led by senior ace Chyanne Ellett, the Brownwood softball team is in the midst of another outstanding season, sitting at 20-2-1 overall and 6-1 in District 74A heading into Thursday’s regular season finale against Mineral Wells.

Earlier this week, Lady Lions coach Jessica Lynn took some time to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about the season her team is having and what makes this group special for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this week’s episode, Evan and Daniel recap the latest developments and look ahead to the biggest games of the Big Country baseball and softball season.

by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Clyde pitching trio equips Bulldogs for possible playoff run

CLYDE — While it isn’t impossible for a high school baseball team to reach the state tournament without pitching depth, one would likely need two things in order to achieve it: extraordinary hitting and/or extraordinary luck.

Both avenues are longshots, with hitting serving as compensation and luck helping the pitching-challenged to avoid three-game series via successful coin flips. 

The 2019 Clyde Bulldogs (18-4, 7-1 District 5-3A) have no such concern. And it’s a good thing, coming in a region that features Wall, Brock and Breckenridge — ranked first, third and 15th respectively by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 41: Breckenridge’s Bartley talks Buckaroo baseball with Evan, Daniel

First-year Breckenridge baseball coach Kevin Bartley has the Buckaroos in the midst of one of their best seasons ever. Fresh off a win last Friday over then-No. 1 Brock and a run-rule victory over Peaster on Monday, Bartley’s squad is 20-2 overall, 8-1 in District 7-3A play and ranked 12th in Class 3A.

This week, Bartley took a few minutes to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about the Brock victory, the season his team having and the future of his program for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the latest developments of the Big Country baseball and softball season. 

by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Laughlin, Clyde stop Anson 5-1

CLYDE — With Clyde’s Payton Laughlin on the hill, the Anson Tigers knew coming into Tuesday’s District 5-3A road game that they would have to take advantage of what few opportunities that came their way. 

Unfortunately for AHS, Laughlin was able to close the door nearly every time it opened, stranding four Tigers in scoring position in a 5-1 Clyde win. 

Tossing a three-hitter with 12 strikeouts, Laughlin (6-1) overcame three errors behind him and three of his own walks to earn the win with his seventh complete game of the year. His ERA dropped to 1.12 in the process. 

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Woodward tops nearly 50 nominees for award

When selecting our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, the quality of competition is one of the top considerations we look at.

And in a week that is absolutely loaded with nearly 50 quality nominations from area coaches, choosing the player to occupy the top spot was no easy task.

Our choice: Breckenridge junior Owen Woodward, who helped Breckenridge in its stunning 3-0 win over top-ranked Brock with a three-hit, no-walk, 12-strikeout complete game.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Clyde’s commitment to excellence paying off

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” — Vincent T. Lombardi 

CLYDE — When he took over a successful softball program at Clyde three years ago, coach Reagan Sewell had to find a way to elevate something that was already quite good, without falling into the trap of fixing something that wasn’t broken.

He may have found a way, in a simple motto: Be legendary.

Simply put, Sewell wanted a motivational tool that would lead the Lady Bulldogs toward an absolute commitment to excellence and an unwillingness to settle for anything else. 

Apparently, it stuck. Because over Sewell’s three-year tenure at CHS, you would be hard-pressed to find a more successful Class 3A program in the Big Country. 

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