Category: Wall Hawks

by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall heading to Dell Diamond after series-clinching win over Boyd

STEPHENVILLE — It’s Wall versus Thrall for all the marbles. 

A 6-2 win for the Hawks over Boyd in Game 3 of a Class 3A DII State semifinal secured this matchup for the Hawks (30-6), who will meet Thrall (39-7-1) for the state championship at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. 

Reid Ballard was 1 for 3 with a double and three RBIs and earned the win on the hill to lead Wall (30-6), which jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and held the Yellowjackets at bay for the rest of the afternoon at the Tarleton State Baseball Complex 

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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 Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall completes sweep of Jacksboro with 2-0 win at Brownwood

BROWNWOOD — The game was sufficiently well-pitched that there were no extra base hits and a combined 19 strikeouts between the two starting hurlers.  

So after the Wall Hawks managed to scratch home a pair of runs in Game 2 of the Region I-3A DII title series on Saturday, a 2-0 lead looked a lot bigger in person than it did on paper.  In fact, it held up for a series-clinching 2-0 win for the Hawks to push them into the 3A DII state semifinals. 

Reid Ballard scattered six Jacksboro singles over six innings with 11 Ks and Kellan Oliver picked up a save on the hill after going 1 for 2 at the plate with a run scored to lead Wall (28-5) which will face Boyd in the state semis with a chance to advance to the title game. 

Jacksboro (24-6) was led by southpaw starter Cannon Valenzuela, who allowed two runs (both earned) with five walks and eight strikeouts. 

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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 Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Reichenau’s dominant performance on the mound leads Wall to win over Henrietta

EULA — Postseason flips in the area round have not been kind to Wall baseball coach Jeremy Gordon during his two years leading the Hawk program.

In both 2024 and 2025, Gordon lost the flip to decide if they would have a single-game playoff or a best-of-three series as well as the flip to decide who would be the home and visiting team.

After falling to Iowa Park last year, Gordon’s team ensured that their season wouldn’t end at the hands of another District 7 team, beating Henrietta 4-2 on Thursday night at Pirate Field behind the strong pitching of Gage Reichenau.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gordon’s Stryker Reed takes our final accolade of 2024-25 school year

As our tradition dictates, we close the books on our Big Country Preps Player of the Week on the first Monday following the UIL State Track and Field Championships in Austin. 

And more often than not, our final award of the school year goes to someone who scored big at the state capital. 

This year is no exception, with Gordon’s Stryker Reed taking the award after helping GHS win the boys team state championship, setting two individual state records and helping to set a new relay mark in the process.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Wall softball takes thrilling 11-inning win before falling to Jacksboro in Game 3

ABILENE — The Wall Lady Hawks showed up to Wylie’s Bulldog Field on Saturday expecting to have a long day of softball after dropping the opening game of their best-of-three Region I-3A Division II area-round series with Jacksboro 17-6 on Friday night.

Nobody expected the Lady Hawks and Tigerettes to wind up playing 18 innings in one day.

Wall took a 6-5 win in 11 innings in Game 2 before Jacksboro rebounded with a 10-5 win to clinch the series and earn a date with Muleshoe next week.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Brownwood girls claim team title; Wall boys narrowly miss out

Cover photo courtesy Brian Hodnett

AUSTIN — The 2025 UIL state track and field meet got underway on Thursday at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium, and the Big Country is bringing home some hardware.

The Brownwood Lady Lions made the most of their trip to Austin, claiming the Class 4A girls team championship on the strength of their three relays.

The Wall boys came “painfully close” in the words of track coach Craig Slaughter to giving the Big Country Preps area a second team title as the Hawks’ 64 points left them just two points behind Holliday in the Class 3A boys team standings.

Even so, Slaughter said that Wall’s relay teams, both boys and girls, all set personal records in an “incredible day.”

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by Evan Ren

AREA BASEBALL STAT LEADERS (Final stat report for 2025)

Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through May 1.

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. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brock’s Mylee Cedillo takes this week’s accolade with two doses of late-game heroics

If one is to play the role of hero, there’s not a better time to do it than in postseason play in your senior year. 

Brock’s Mylee Cedillo lived that experience — not once, but twice in last week’s uber-intense bi-district series with fifth-ranked Levelland that saw the Lady Eagles edge the Loboettes 2-1 and 7-6 in 13 innings. 

It all began Friday night in Game 1, with Levelland pitcher Aubrey Rivas carrying a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning. Cedillo responded to the pressure with an RBI double to drive home both Lily Springstead (who walked) and courtesy runner Emily Faddis (running for Ali Coleman who reached on an error) to give Brock a 2-1 win. 

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by Evan Ren

Final Area Softball Stat Leaders (through April 24)

Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 24:

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. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through April 24)

Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 24.

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. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Jones holds down the top spot yet again

At Big Country Preps, we pride ourselves on sharing the love as much as possible. But Wall senior Briggs Jones has been so spectacular of late, that he’s making that difficult. 

Jones has not only taken our Big Country Preps Player of the Week for a second straight time, but for a third time this year and a fourth time in his athletic career. 

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by Evan Ren

REGIONAL TRACK: Wall, Gordon take boys regional titles; Eula snags 1A girls regional championsip

ABILENE — Both teams had dominated the Big Country and surrounding area for the entire track season, so few were stunned on Saturday when both Wall and Gordon captured the Region I-3A and II-1A boys championships at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Stadium.

It completed a near clean sweep of the regional meets from teams in the Big Country Preps coverage area, with Eula taking the 1A girls title and Wall finishing second to Holliday in the 3A girls regional meet. 

“That’s always awesome ,” Wall coach Craig Slaughter said of taking the regional team title. “You have to have talented kids who perform at the right time.

“We just had some monster performances all weekend long. Kid after kid PR’d and we just had an incredible couple of days.” 

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by Daniel Youngblood

REGION I-3A TRACK MEET: Area athletes nab 12 field event medals on first day

ABILENE — Area athletes got off to a successful start at the Region I-3A track meet, combining to collect 13 medals and earn nine automatic berths to the state track meet during the event’s first day Friday at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Stadium.

With expected overnight storms pushing all field events to Friday, male competitors from the Big Country Preps coverage area tallied seven total medals — four golds, a silver and two bronzes — while area girls athletes claimed six medals, earning two of each shade.

The big winner Friday was the Wall boys, who accounted for five of those medals on their way to an early lead in the team race. The Hawks, who earned 42 points take a 22-point lead on second-place Idalou, will try to close out the team championship when the meet continues at 2 p.m. Saturday with the running finals.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Jones takes the award with spectacular effort at area meet

The best way to describe the area meet performance of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Wall’s Briggs Jones) is to simply let his coach, Craig Slaughter do the talking. 

“He ran a blistering 10.41 to set a school record and win the 100 meters,” Slaughter said. “He broke his long jump record with a jump of 23-11.5. I only let him jump twice because he was running out of room in the pit and I need that dude cranked up this week.

“Then he destroyed his triple jump record with a jump of 48-7.25

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cisco junior takes the top spot with no-hitter

While no-hitters are fairly common at the high school level, the bulk of them are of the five-inning variety — ending early while locking down a mercy rule win. 

Going the full seven innings without allowing a hit, however, is much less common. And in the case of Cisco junior Case Williams, his seven-inning no-no in a 2-0 win over a good Coleman team last Tuesday secured our Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the Week ending April 5.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Briggs Jones takes the top spot

After nursing a sore back which prevented him from jumping for a few weeks, Wall senior Briggs Jones made a return to the stage in a big way last week. 

Competing in Wall’s very own Cotton Patch Relays, Jones took five gold medals, winning the long jump, triple jump, 100 meters, 200 meters and yet another with the 800 relay team. 

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2025 Gym Rat Team: The hardest-working players 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 2024-25 season.

Players are listed in no particular order. 

Enjoy.

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by Evan Ren

Area Softball Stat Leaders (through March 27)

Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 27:

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. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through March 27)

Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 27.

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. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde hurler takes this week’s award

Clyde softball has been overdue for landing a Big Country Preps Player of the Week award and senior pitcher Kaycee Bingham has just ended the drought. 

The Lady Bulldogs have been posting big numbers on a weekly basis, falling just short of the top spot. But Bingham has landed the spotlight with a 26-0 mercy rule perfect game win over San Angelo Grape Creek last week. She followed that with a three-hit 11-0 shutout of Merkel. 

Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde hurler takes this week’s award” →

by Evan Ren

Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through March 20)

20Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 20.

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. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

Area Softball Stat Leaders (through March 20)

Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 20:

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. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall takes down Sweetwater, 20-5

SWEETWATER — After Wall produced 20 runs on 15 hits and three homers (including two grand slams) in Tuesday’s 20-5 win over Sweetwater, the Hawks’ No. 2 ranking in Class 3A was difficult to argue with. 

At least, no challenges to that effect were audible as Sportsman’s Park emptied, with the Hawks (12-4, 4-0) leaving in a first-place tie with Clyde in District 6. 

Hagyn Barbee was 3-for-4 with a grand slam and Caleb Braden was 2-for-3 with another grand slam to lead Wall, which built an 11-1 lead after only two innings and was able to give several reserve players a shot at some playing time. 

Sweetwater dropped to 6-9 and 0-4, led by Jade Rodriguez, who was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Hailie Cauthen earns this week’s spotlight

Fresh off a successful basketball season, Eula’s Hailie Cauthen has transitioned to softball as though she were in mid-season form. 

In fact, the senior shortstop was good enough through five games last week to take our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award for the Week ending March 8. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Area squads have monster second day at AISD Invitational

Five teams from the Big Country Preps coverage area picked up a pair of wins on Friday on the second day of the AISD Invitational.

Abilene High, Cooper and Wylie all had relatively stress-free days, while Brownwood and Brock combined for four wins.

Wall, which struggled at times during its tournament action, closed out its play in the event with a big win over San Angelo Central.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Local schools go 5-1 on opening day of AISD Invitational

Cooper and Wylie swept their opponents as the AISD Invitational got under way on Thursday at three different locations across town, while Abilene High split a pair of games with Brock and Wall.

The Cougars knocked off San Angelo Lake View and Brownwood, while the Bulldogs were able to dispatch Andrews and San Angelo Central in their two games. The Eagles fell to Brock in their tournament opener before rebounding with a resounding win over Wall.

Teams in the Big Country Preps coverage area went a combined 8-4 on Thursday with Brock joining the two Abilene schools with an undefeated day.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephenville’s Gentry lands the top spot

While Stephenville’s Tristian Gentry is no stranger to this column, it’s usually via football that he lands in our Top 10 — especially after missing track last year due to injury.

Well, it’s track season again and it just so happens that the SHS senior is healthy this time around — returning as one of the area’s top guns in that sport. He’s already off to a great start, having captured four gold medals at a talent-loaded Brock meet last week.

Aside from first place leaps in the long jump (21-1) and triple jump (43-2), he also helped SHS’ 400 and 800 relay teams take gold with splits of 43.26 and 1:30.1, respectively. 

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