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Category: Softball
PHOTO GALLERY: Wylie-Lubbock Coronado softball (29 images)
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LOCAL SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Abilene High rallies to eliminate Amarillo High; Wylie blasts Tascosa
Entering the second game of their respective Region I-5A bi-district series at Lubbock Cooper, the Abilene High softball team was hoping force a third game and Wylie was hoping to avoid one. Both accomplished their mission.
The Lady Eagles rebounded from Friday’s 5-0 loss to Amarillo High to sweep the Lady Sandies on Saturday, winning Game 2 by a 7-2 margin and taking the deciding third game 6-2, while the Lady Bulldogs backed up a 10-2 win over Amarillo Tascosa in Game 1 with a 18-4 win in Game 2 to cruise past the Lady Rebels.
With those results, both Abilene High and Wylie are headed to the area round, where the Lady Eagles will face off with El Paso Ysleta and the Lady Bulldogs will play Canutillo next week.
GAME STORY: Cisco takes Game 3 to eliminate Hawley, advances to area round
CLYDE — A solid pitching performance and one big inning carried the Cisco softball team to a decisive 7-2 win over Hawley in Game 3 of a Region I-2A bi-district series on Saturday at the Hanner Sports Complex
Hannah Rogers scattered seven hits over seven innings of work with four strikeouts to lead the Lady Loboes (17-8-1), who now advance to face Miles in the area round.
Along the way, seven Hawley baserunners were stranded, including three in the first inning when Rogers escaped a bases-loaded jam.
GAME STORY: Stephenville evens series with Sweetwater, forces do-or-die Game 3
ABILENE — With their backs against the wall after dropping Game 1 of their best-of-three bi-district series to Sweetwater, the Stephenville Honeybees kept their season alive Friday with a 9-4 win at Abilene Cooper’s Cougar Diamond.
Batting to start the do-or-die Game 2, Stephenville put up two runs in each of the first two innings to build an early lead and answered any attempts at a Sweetwater comeback to pull away in the latter innings and force a deciding third game at 6 p.m. Saturday at he same site.
Mattie-Lynn Dunnam and Presley Gaitan combined to limit the Lady Mustangs to just five hits and got a big game from their lineup, which supplemented seven hits with three walks, two hit batsmen and four Sweetwater errors.
GAME STORY: Cisco, Hawley split Games 1 and 2, will meet for bi-district softball title on Saturday in Clyde
CLYDE — Carrying a huge amount of confidence after an 11-4 win in Game 1 of a Region I-2A bi-district series with Cisco on Friday, the Hawley Lady Cats seemed poised to close things out in Game 2 later that evening.
There was just one problem: Cisco never got the memo. And in a stunning reversal of momentum, the Lady Loboes captured Game 2 at the Hanner Sports Complex, 5-2, to force a decisive Game 3 on Saturday.
That will get underway at 3 p.m. at the same venue. The victor will take home a bi-district title, then advance to next week’s area round where either Ozona or Miles will provide the opposition.
LOCAL SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Wylie routs Tascosa in series opener; Amarillo High too much for Abilene High
Opening the playoffs on opposite ends of their district’s seeding spectrum, the Wylie and Abilene High softball teams found opposite results in their respective postseason openers on Friday at Lubbock Cooper.
Wylie, District 4-5A’s No. 1 seed, had little trouble with Amarillo Tascosa in a 10-2 victory in Game 1 of a best-of-three bi-district series, while fourth-seeded Abilene High ran into a buzzsaw in a 5-0 loss to Amarillo High.
Both the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Eagles will conclude their first-round series on Saturday back at the Lubbock Cooper softball field for Games 2 and 3, if necessary.
GAME STORY: Snyder opens series with 11-1 victory over Brownwood
ABILENE — With a .911 winning percentage on the season, the No. 10-ranked Snyder softball team entered the postseason on an eight-game winning streak heading into its Region I-4A bi-district series with Brownwood.
The Lady Tigers also owned 9-0 and 7-1 wins over the Lady Lions during nondistrict play.
Friday afternoon at Cooper’s Cougar Diamond, Snyder made it 3 for 3 against Brownwood with an 11-1 win to take a 1-0 series lead.
GAME STORY: Ashley, Sweetwater best Stephenville in Game 1 of bi-district series
ABILENE — The Sweetwater Lady Mustangs struck the first blow in their best-of-three bi-district series against Stephenville on Thursday, topping the Honeybees 5-3 at Abilene Cooper’s Cougar Diamond to pull within a win of advancing to the Region I-4A area round.
Sweetwater, District 5-4A’s No. 3 seed, scored two runs in the top of the first to take a lead it would hold the rest of the way, adding a single run in the fifth and two in the seventh to go up 5-1 before Stephenville tried to mount a rally in its final at-bat.
Pitcher Mikayla Ashley was strong in the circle, allowing just one earned run in a complete-game effort to best her counterpart Presley Gaitan and give the Lady Mustangs a chance to close out the series when it resumes at 7 p.m. Friday at the same site.
SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Bangs, Coahoma open postseason with run-rule wins
SAN ANGELO — The Bangs Lady Dragons and Coahoma Bulldogettes both opened their playoff runs with comfortable wins Thursday afternoon, easily dispatching of their opponents in lopsided fashion.
Opening the doubleheader of one-game bi-district playoffs, the Lady Dragons wasted no time in burying McCamey 22-1 win in the day’s early action. And as an encore, the Bulldogettes saw Mia Clemmer hit two home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, as Coahoma hammered Ingram Moore 17-0.
FEATURE: Freshman Munoz, junior Goodney ready to power potent C-City squad into playoffs
There’s a test that probably everyone who has watched a baseball or softball game on television will ace. It has but one question, the answer to which will come without the need for research — or even much thought. It goes like this:
A batter hits the ball in the air to the outfield. The announcer says, “Going … Going …”
What is the next word he/she is most likely to utter?”
If you bellowed “GONE!,” pat yourself on the back. You just completed the phrase most often associated with a batter hitting a home run. And every time you hear those first two words — when your team is at the plate — you can’t wait to hear the third, because that means you’re about to be happy.
For those keeping score at home, Colorado City’s dynamic duo of Bryanna Munoz and AJ Goodney has made Wolves’ fans VERY happy this spring. VERY often.
FEATURE: Wolf, Bangs eyeing another deep playoff run
There’s not a coach in Bangs’ girls athletic program that doesn’t get excited about the junior class.
Leading the charge on the softball diamond is Abby Wolf, who’s shaken off an early-season knee injury and helped the Lady Dragons to a district title.
Bangs (19-8) begins its postseason journey this week with high expectations as the Lady Dragons are looking to build off last season’s regional semifinal appearance.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Cauthen takes our weekly award through three sports
There is very little that Eula’s Halie Cauthen isn’t good at athletically. Already an Honorable Mention All-Big Country Preps basketball player, the EHS junior showed her full range of versatility last week with three big performances in three different sports.
To begin with, Cauthen opened the week by qualifying for the 1A state golf tournament as an individual at the regional tournament, closing with rounds of 103 and 105.
Then, after playing 54 holes of golf in three days, Cauthen rushed back to compete for the district championship in softball against Cross Plains.
With a game time of 7:30 p.m., she arrived from the golf tournament at 7:25 and went 4 for 4 with three triples, three RBIs and four runs scored to help Eula clinch the district title in a 10-1 victory.
But Cauthen wasn’t finished quite yet.
GAME REPORT: Wylie softball clinches share of district title, top playoff seed with 6-2 win at Lubbock Cooper
WOODROW — The Wylie softball team clinched a share of the District 4-5A title and locked up the league’s No. 1 playoff seed Friday night with a 6-2 road win over Lubbock Cooper.
The Lady Bulldogs, who closed district play on a five-game winning streak, scored the final five runs of the game to pull away for the win after the Lady Pirates had taken a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
The victory improved Wylie (24-8 overall) to 9-3 in 4-5A play, setting up a three-way tie atop the standings between itself, Lubbock Cooper (17-13, 9-3) and Lubbock Monterey (20-12-2, 9-3). But the Lady Bulldogs earned the top playoff seed by virtue of a 3-1 record against those two squads.
PHOTO GALLERY: Stamford-Haskell softball (36 images)
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FEATURE: Hico star Fincannon looking to close legendary senior season with deep playoff run
As the Hico softball team has been attempting to cap an unbeaten run in District 12-2A play this week, Lady Tigers pitcher Kiersten Fincannon has been laying the foundation on something even more remarkable: becoming a local legend.
Lest you doubt the veracity of that statement, consider how Fincannon’s 2024 season has gone so far. The last two words need to be added because Hico will begin postseason play next week as the top seed from the district, and the best may be yet to come.
FEATURE: Wylie softball riding an offensive surge into district finale, the postseason
Just under three weeks ago, the Wylie softball team entered its open date off a three-game losing streak that culminated in the Lady Bulldogs being no-hit in a 2-0 loss to Abilene High.
At the time, coach Heather Collier had a simple message for her squad. “Softball … can be a rollercoaster ride,” she said, adding that the key was to “hang on for it” and remain confident in the process that had helped WHS open District 4-5A play at 4-0.
If there was any question about that message or whether it was received, the Lady Bulldogs have answered it emphatically since, averaging an eye-popping 13.8 runs in their last four games — all wins.
FINAL Big Country Regular Season Softball Statistical leaders for 2024 (through April 18)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 18.
With the end of the regular season, this will be our FINAL softball leaders posting for 2024.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
LOCAL SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Abilene High, Wylie earn important wins
While the District 4-5A baseball race garners hype and headlines, the softball race may be just as compelling.
Wylie beat Lubbock Coronado 15-4 on Tuesday night while Abilene High knocked off district leader Lubbock Cooper 5-4, creating a logjam among the league’s four teams jockeying for playoff positioning.
Tuesday’s win by the Lady Eagles leaves them at 8-4 in district play with their season complete while it dropped the Lady Pirates to 9-2. Wylie, meanwhile, is now tied for second place with Lubbock Monterey at 8-3.
GAME STORY: Stamford edges Haskell 3-2 to force four-way tie
HASKELL — With the District 7-2A/1A softball standings teetering on the brink of a rare, four-way tie for the top 2A seed, the Haskell Maidens had a chance to clarify things on Tuesday if they could knock off Stamford in the regular season finale for both clubs.
It didn’t happen.
Emma Follis tossed a five-hitter with 13 strikeouts and Jasmine Whitaker had a two-RBI single in the seventh inning to lift Stamford to a crucial 3-2 win on Haskell’s home field.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde senior tosses no-no, takes the award
With plenty of competition for the top spot, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week goes to Clyde senior pitcher Trip Ancheta.
When in doubt, a dominating no-hitter is usually a solid choice.
Ancheta did exactly that in a 14-0 mercy rule win over Grape Creek that saw him work all five innings with 11 strikeouts — narrowly missing a perfect game by one walk.
Big Country Softball Standings (through April 14)
Here are the standings for all softball districts involving Big Country schools through April 14:
Continue reading “Big Country Softball Standings (through April 14)”
FEATURE: Breckenridge workhorse Chloe Whitmire not afraid to live on the edge while in the circle
BRECKENRIDGE — Chloe Whitmire isn’t your standard, cookie-cutter-mold high school softball pitcher.
While many pitchers carry a grim look on their faces heading into the circle, it’s not uncommon to spot Whitmire wearing a smile, even while under pressure.
While the majority of hurlers focus on keeping the ball down and changing speeds, this 17-year-old Breckenridge senior spends much of her time up in zone, aggressively challenging hitters with a hard riseball and screwball.
Her numbers are uncommon as well.
GAME STORY: Wylie snaps losing streak with 19-1 win over Cooper
Riding a three-game losing streak into Friday’s home matchup with crosstown rival Cooper, the Wylie softball made it apparent early it had no intention of seeing that skid reach four games.
The Lady Bulldogs scored six runs in the first inning and eight more in the second to build a 14-0 lead and cruised from there to a dominant 19-1 win at Bulldog Field.
The victory improved WHS (20-8 overall) to 5-3 in District 4-5A play, pulling coach Heather Collier’s squad a half-game ahead of Abilene High (16-12-1, 5-4) for third in the league standings after the Lady Eagles’ 4-1 road loss to second-place Lubbock Monterey (18-11-2, 7-2) on Friday.
GAME STORY: Breck girls use long ball to drop Comanche, take district lead
BRECKENRIDGE — Using a combination of clutch hitting and power, the Breckenridge Lady Buckaroos took sole possession of first place in District 8 on Friday with a 9-5 win over Comanche to break a tie between the two clubs atop the league standings.
Joni Jackson was 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, Reagan Robinson was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Mia Castillo was 3-for-4 with a double, a homer and three RBIs to spearhead a 14-hit day for Breckenridge (20-9-1, 9-1),. which avenged a 12-6 loss to CHS on March 12.
Big Country strikeout leader Chloe Whitmire earned the win in the circle and helped the Lady Bucks avenge a 12-6 loss to CHS on March 12. Her complete game win saw her allow three earned runs on seven hits with 11 strikeouts — pushing her season total to 285 Ks in 159 innings.
Big Country Baseball Statistical Leaders (Through April 4)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 4.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Big Country Softball Statistical Leaders (Through April 4)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 4.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
GAME STORY: Silva tosses second straight no-hitter as shorthanded Abilene High cruises past Cooper
Coming off a no-hitter against Wylie on Thursday, Abilene High senior Diana Silva wasn’t expecting to pitch in Tuesday’s crosstown matchup against Cooper.
But when a family emergency forced a pair of her teammates to miss the game, the senior ace responded in the best way she could — with her second no-hitter in as many outings.
Pitching around a couple of walks and her own throwing error in the seventh, Silva was nothing short of dominant, striking out 13 Lady Cougar hitters in a 8-0 victory at Cougar Diamond.
Big Country Softball Standings (through March 31)
Here are the standings for all softball districts involving Big Country schools through March 31:
Continue reading “Big Country Softball Standings (through March 31)”
GAME STORY: Abilene High ace Silva throws no-hitter in dominant effort against Wylie
After finishing on the losing side of a 3-2 pitchers’ duel in her first matchup with Wylie on March 5, Abilene High ace Diana Silva left nothing to chance in Thursday’s rematch.
The senior right-hander no-hit the Lady Bulldogs, allowing just two baserunners all game, to make the same run total hold up in a 2-0 win at the AHS softball field.
Silva struck out eight while walking one batter and hitting another to complete the seven-inning gem in just 86 pitches, pulling her Lady Eagles (15-11-1 overall, 4-3 in district) into a third-place tie with Wylie (19-8, 4-3) in the in District 4-5A standings.
Big Country Softball Statistical Leaders (Through March 28)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 28.
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Big Country Softball Standings (through March 25)
Here are the standings for all softball districts involving Big Country schools through March 25:
Continue reading “Big Country Softball Standings (through March 25)”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hermleigh senior takes this week’s accolade
Sometimes the mercy rule and cheat a player a bit, limiting their number of plate appearances or the number of innings they can pitch.
But in District 15-1A, there is an added mercy rule, beyond the standard 10-run lead after five innings. There, a 15-run lead after three frames is enough to end a game early, which left our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Hermleigh’s Summer Smith) short of what may have been a staggering set of numbers.
PHOTO GALLERY: Merkel-Clyde softball (81 images)
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GAME STORY: Jeffers’ walk-off blast lifts Clyde to win over Merkel, earns coach Sewell his 400th career win
CLYDE — If the calendar says its March 22 and the Clyde softball team is facing Merkel, there’s a good chance that something big is on the horizon for Lady Bulldogs coach Reagan Sewell.
After getting the 300th win of his career on March 22, 2019 against the Lady Badgers, Sewell’s squad got him No. 400 on Friday in memorable fashion — with a walk-off home run.
Jaci Jeffers blasted the second pitch she saw from Merkel ace Josie Whitehead deep to center as the Lady Bulldogs rallied for a 7-6 win on their home field.
GAME STORY: Abilene High ace Silva notches 300th career strikeout in 6-0 win over Coronado
Abilene High senior Diana Silva struck out 11 batters over 5.2 shutout innings Tuesday to pitch the Lady Eagles to a 6-0 home win over Lubbock Coronado, reaching an impressive milestone in the process.
The AHS right-hander closed her outing with the 300th punchout of her career to move within 85 strikeouts of the school record set by 2019 graduate Kaylen Washington.
Silva’s performance, which featured just one Lady Mustangs hit and a pair of walks, was one of many highlights in the game for the Lady Eagles, who pounded out 12 hits in improving to 14-10-1 overall and 3-2 in District 4-5A play.
GAME STORY: Wylie outlasts Monterey in nine innings, walks off with wild 12-11 win
Hosting Lubbock Monterey with sole possession of the District 4-5A lead on the line, the Wylie softball team needed nine innings and an extra out Monday to outlast the Lady Plainsmen.
But after seeing a 10-4 lead after five innings turned into an 11-10 deficit after 8½, the Lady Bulldogs finally put MHS away, taking advantage of a two-out throwing error to tie the game before getting a walk-off double from Kinsley Turner to end it.
The ninth-inning error was the only one made behind Monterey ace Anays Perez, who was roughed up for 21 hits in a complete-game loss. The last of those — Turner’s two-out double to the gap in left-center — allowed Wylie (18-5 overall) to celebrate a big home win and a perfect 3-0 start to district play.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall junior has huge day in San Angelo to capture our award
Wall junior Briggs Jones may be on the verge of a major breakout season in area track and field.
Our Big Country Player of the Week not only won five medals at the coveted Angelo State Spring Break meet, but he broke two solo school records and helped break a third. It seldom gets much better than that.
Aside from setting school marks in the long jump at 23-9.5 (for gold) and the triple jump at 45-2 (for gold), Jones was part of the 800 relay team’s silver medal performance of 1:28.49 — another Wall school mark.
GAME STORY: Wylie bats apply steady pressure in 13-3 win over crosstown rival Cooper
The Wylie softball team improved to 2-0 in District 4-5A play with its second crosstown win in as many weeks, following last Tuesday’s 3-2 triumph over Abilene High with a 13-3 victory over Cooper on Thursday Cougar Field.
The Lady Bulldogs scored in every inning but one, using a five-run fourth to break open a 3-1 game before putting the finishing touches on a dominant effort with a four-run top of the seventh.
The victory, which featured 14 hits, including five for extra bases, improved Wylie to 17-5 overall, while Cooper fell to 9-14-1 on the season and 0-2 in league play.
PHOTO GALLERY: Coahoma-Clyde softball (48 images)
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GAME STORY: Silva, Lady Eagles too much for Cooper in 9-0 crosstown win
Coming off a difficult 3-2 loss to Wylie in its District 4-5A opener with a full week to think about that result, the Abilene High softball team bounced back with an impressive showing Tuesday afternoon against rival Cooper.
Led by senior Diana Silva, who pitched four dominant innings while going 2 for 2 at the plate, the Lady Eagles cruised to a 9-0 home win over the Lady Cougars, evening their league record to 1-1 in the process.
After managing just three hits in the loss to Wylie, AHS (12-9-1 overall) pounded out 12 singles against Cooper freshman Payton Ellis while adding four walks and a hit batsman to put constant pressure on the Lady Coogs defense. Leading 7-0 after three innings, the Lady Eagles were never able to put the run-rule into effect, but they maintained firm control throughout the contest.
GAME STORY: Bulldogettes dominate Clyde to take District 6-3A lead
CLYDE — They are the defending 3A state champion, they are currently ranked No. 1 and when they took the field against highly regarded sixth-ranked Clyde on Tuesday, they were unbeaten.
Roughly 90 minutes and five innings later, the Coahoma Bulldogettes had improved to 14-0 overall and 4-0 in District 6-3A after a 13-0 run rule win at the Hanner Sports Complex.
Hannah Wells tossed a five-inning shutout and was 3-for-4 at the plate with a homer and two RBIs to lift Coahoma, which blew the game open with a three-run second inning and a five-run third.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jayton’s Gentry takes this week’s award
Big moments attract big-time players and our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, certainly made the most of his opportunity over the weekend.
After scoring nine points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing four assists in a state semifinal win over Fayetteville last Thursday, Jayton sophomore Colt Gentry, saved his best for last in a 60-53 win over Benjamin in the 1A boys state title game on Saturday.
Gentry charted a team-high 19 points to go with six boards, four assists, a steal and a block to help the Jaybirds to the state title and earn state tourney MVP honors in the process.
It was his second straight week of huge performances under pressure, the first of which helped the Jaybirds win the regional tournament.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Colorado City freshman takes this week’s award
As if the Big Country’s collection of softball catchers wasn’t already “scary-good,” the area can count a worrisome new addition to its ranks: Colorado City freshman Bryanna Munoz, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the week ending March 2.
How’s this for frightening?
Munoz, who was in junior high only a year ago, was an absolute wrecking ball in last week’s Brownfield Tournament, hitting a combined .818 in the event with an 18 of 22 tally at the plate. But that’s not the half of it.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Anson freshman takes the spotlight
It may be a little too early to label Anson freshman softball pitcher Kayme Elrod as a star in the making. But our Big Country Preps Player of the Week is off to a pretty good start.
Last week her performance was nothing short of startling, both offensively and defensively.
In the circle, Elrod finished with a 5-0 record with a five-inning no hitter, a 0.77 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 27 innings of work.