Day 1 of Big Country Preps’ 2020 Photo Tour is now in the books, with seven more days of shooting yet to come from practice fields throughout the area.
Here are but a few of the images collected Monday:
Category: Sweetwater Mustangs
COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: Sweetwater Mustangs
Football is just around the corner, 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 Saturday, Aug. 14. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.
Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 2, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2021 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.
Today, we stay in Class 4A Division II with the Sweetwater Mustangs. On Tuesday, we will take a look at the Big Spring Steers, followed by the Brownwood Lions on Wednesday.
All-Big Country Preps Softball Superlatives: Daniel, Gutierrez, Herrera headline the top spots
Here are our superlative award winners for the 2021 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
- First-Team Selections
- Second-Team Selections (plus honorable mention)
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (Monday night)
LIVE: State Track and Field Meet medalists and Big Country Placings (DAY 1)
CHECK FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT BIGCOUNTRYPREPS.COM
Continue reading “LIVE: State Track and Field Meet medalists and Big Country Placings (DAY 1)”
EVAN REN: Handicapping the boys state track meet.
Having already released our picks for the girls state track meet earlier this evening, we now present the boys event, using the same approach.
We’ll comb through each event involving a Big Country athlete (or athletes) and assess if they are favorites, dark horses or long shots to get on the medal stand.
Let’s not waste any time. Let’s dive in.
EVAN REN: Picking the favorites, dark horses and longshots at the girls state track meet
I don’t care who you are — even if you’re a non-fan when it comes to track and field.
The excitement of the state meet in Austin will capture your attention if you catch sight or sound of it. It’s inescapable.
And once per year, it is my pleasure to examine the multitude of Big Country athletes heading to Austin for the event and pick who we can expect to see on the medal stand from our area.
Let’s begin with the girls side, looking at each event in which a Big Country athlete has qualified for state.
Big Country baseball statistical leaders for 2021 (through April 29)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 29:
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.
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT/BCP PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde’s Phillips earns this week’s spotlight
In a week filled with unforgettable moments, several of our nominees handed in by area coaches could justifiably be called our Capital Farm Credit/BCP Player of the Week.
We finally settled on Clyde sophomore Payton Phillips, who stunned attendees at the Region I-3A meet by taking gold in both the long jump (18 feet, 6 inches) and the 100 hurdles (15.12) — breaking school records that were 25 and 15 years old, respectively.
REGION I-4A TRACK RECAP: Stephenville’s Cameron, Big Spring boys duo headline strong area showing
LUBBOCK — Big Country athletes accounted for 16 medals and clinched eight berths to the state track meet over the weekend at the Region I-4A meet Lowrey Field.
Area athletes claimed four gold medals, four silvers and eight bronzes during a strong all-around showing by the Big Country’s representatives Friday and Saturday.
Headlining the effort on the girls side was Stephenville sprinter Victoria Cameron, who swept the girls 100 and 200 meters, running the former in 12.12 seconds and the latter in a personal-best time of 24.81 to win the event by almost a second over Argyle’s Ja’Liyah Patterson (25.70).
On the boys side, the area’s gold medals came from Big Spring discus thrower Braxton Pearson (personal-best 160 feet, 1 inch) and Big Spring high jumper Kyler Seymore (personal-best 6-6).
FEATURE: Poise, pitching, power, bringing Sweetwater softball team to new heights
SWEETWATER — Much of what we are seeing from the Sweetwater softball team in 2021 may have happened a year ago, when the COVID-19 lockdown forced a complete halt to spring athletics.
The Lady Mustangs have patiently waited for an entire year to demonstrate why.
The newly crowned District 3-4A champions recently locked up the first league title in the program’s history, backed by consistent pitching, a set of dangerous hitters in the middle of the lineup and an uncommon level of poise.
Big Country softball statistical leaders (through April 22)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 22:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches as of April 22. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Big Country baseball statistical leaders (through April 22)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 22:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches as of April 22. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
PHOTO GALLERY: Snyder-Sweetwater softball (60 images)
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
LINK … GAME STORY: Sweetwater overcomes slow start to beat Snyder, take first district title
GAME STORY: Sweetwater overcomes slow start to top Snyder 12-2, claim first district title
SWEETWATER — With their first-ever district championship in softball on the line, the Sweetwater Lady Mustangs had enough poise to overcome a rocky start against area rival Snyder, dropping the Lady Tigers 12-2 in five innings on Tuesday.
Elliannia Perez tossed a complete game and freshman Kendall Daniel was 3 for 3 with a homer, double and five RBIs to lift Sweetwater (16-8-1, 9-0), which locked up the league title by rallying from an early 2-0 deficit.
Snyder slipped to 10-16 overall and 5-4 with the loss. The Lady Tigers were led by Myia and Aaliyah Braziel, who were 2 for 3 and 2 for 2, respectively.
Big Country Baseball statistical leaders (April 15)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 15:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches as of April 15. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Big Country Softball statistical leaders (April 15)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 15:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches as of April 15. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
FEATURE: Sweetwater multi-sport star Foster finds stride on track as one of area’s top hurdlers
To trace the origin of Harrison Foster’s breakout in track, one must look back months ago to Sweetwater’s football season.
Foster emerged as a key player for the district champion Mustangs, catching 10 touchdowns and becoming the team’s second-leading tackler on defense.
“The success I had during the football season brought me with more confidence, and I started believe that I can do more than I thought I could,” Foster said. “With the success we had during football, it brought our team a lot closer. Especially with all the multi-sport athletes, those relationships can carry over and start us off on a good note.”
Foster’s 2020-21 athletic season has a chance to end on a great note as the junior is one of the Big Country’s top hurdlers. Foster owns the area’s top time in the 300-meter hurdles (39.96) and has also run a sizzling 15.12 in the 110 hurdles.
Area baseball statistical leaders (April 8)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 8:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches as of April 8. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Area softball statistical leaders (April 8)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 8:
Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches as of April 8. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions.
Evan Ren’s 2021 Gym Rat Team: The toughest, hardest-working teammates in the Big Country
While scoring and rebounding garner much of the attention in basketball, there are other elements, crucial to success, that seldom grab headlines.
Behind the scenes is where character, effort and sacrifice set the foundation for teams to reach their full potential. And it is with our Big Country Preps Gym Rat Team that we salute the individuals who bring these elements to the table.
This team isn’t about who the best players are — though some of the area’s top players are on this list.
The Gym Rat Team is about outworking, outhustling and outgiving everyone around you, both on the floor and off. Hard-working, honest, selfless, tough, coachable kids are what we seek for this roster.
A Gym Rat Team member can be your best player or the last player off the bench. But the one thing all of them bring is an uncompromisingly good attitude.
It is for that reason that our Gym Rat Team is selected entirely by area coaches. And Big Country Preps is truly honored to present these individuals to you — the best “team players” (boys and girls) that the area had to offer during the 2020-21 season.
Players are listed in no particular order.
Enjoy.
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Russell Lucas joins the show
THIS WEEK: Hamlin’s Russell Lucas talks about his move to Sweetwater
UPDATED: Sweetwater names Hamlin’s Lucas new AD, football coach
The Sweetwater Mustangs have their new head football coach and athletic director and didn’t have to look far to find him.
Sweetwater has tabbed Russell Lucas, Hamlin’s coach for the past 13 seasons, to replace Ben McGehee at the helm of the storied program. McGehee left the program in early February to take over Magnolia West.
That history is one thing that appealed to Lucas, who wasn’t even looking to leave the Pied Pipers. Continue reading “UPDATED: Sweetwater names Hamlin’s Lucas new AD, football coach”
PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene ISD baseball tournament Day 2 (72 images w/ scores)
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
ABILENE ISD TOURNAMENT
Day 2 scores
Cooper 9, Southwest Christian 1
Wylie 3, Brownwood 1
MIdland High 14, Brownwood 3
Midland Lee 10, Wylie 4
Abilene High 13, Sweetwater 0
Wichita Falls Rider 7, Cooper 2
Records — Abilene High 2-12; Cooper 7-7; Wylie 10-3; Brownwood 5-5; Sweetwater 3-9-1
PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene ISD baseball tournament Day 1 (52 images w/ scores)
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
ABILENE ISD TOURNAMENT
Day 1 scores
Wylie 12, Abilene High 3
Cooper 6, Sweetwater 0
Brownwood 7, Sweetwater 5
Southwest Christian 3, Wylie 0
Crandall 4, Brownwood 1
Wichita Falls Rider 11, Abilene High 1
Midland High 5, Cooper 4
Records — Abilene High 1-12; Cooper 6-6; Wylie 9-2; Brownwood 5-3; Sweetwater 3-8-1
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Area hoops official Jeff Groban joins the show
THIS WEEK: Longtime area basketball official Jeff Groban talks to Evan and Dan about the challenges of his profession