by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Hamlin set for Gordon rematch in state semifinals after sweeping O’Donnell

COLORADO CITY — The Hamlin baseball team takes great pride in its approach to hitting with two strikes and that approach paid off in droves on Saturday in Game 2 of the Pied Pipers’ Region I-1A series at AW Phillips Field against O’Donnell.

Nine different batters reached base safely on Saturday when facing a pitch with two strikes as the Pied Pipers beat the Eagles 6-0 to earn a state semifinal matchup with Gordon next week.

Hamlin coach Lynn Turner and Saturday’s starting pitcher Isaiah Hutchings both heaped praise on the offense, which chased O’Donnell starter Willie Luera in the fifth inning after he reached the 110-pitch count limit. Hamlin had six batters work a full count on Saturday with four of them reaching base via a walk.

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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 Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Argyle rallies in the sixth to down Wylie 6-3, deprive Bulldogs of first state semifinals trip since ’17

GRAHAM — Heading to the bottom of the sixth inning, things were shaping up nicely for the Wylie baseball team in Game 3 of its Region I-5A Division II championship series against Argyle.

The Bulldogs held a 3-2 lead, had their best bullpen arm on the mound and had the meat of their lineup due up in the top of the seventh should they need additional offense to put away the Eagles.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go at all to plan for Wylie from that point forward, as Argyle scored four runs off reliever Myles McCarty in the sixth — three of those with two outs in the inning — to pull away for a 6-3 win and deprive the Bulldogs of their first trip to the state semifinals as a Class 5A program.

The loss ended Wylie’s best season since winning back-to-back Class 4A state championships in 2016 and 2017 at 27-8-1, while the Eagles (24-15-1) advanced to the state semifinals for the seventh time in program history — all since 2014.

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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 Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Unrelenting offense, strong start by Garrett fuel Wylie to 17-0 win over Argyle in Game 2

Following Wylie’s 7-5 loss to Argyle in Game 1 of the Region I-5A Division II championship series on Wednesday in Saginaw, Bulldogs coach Grant Martin said he expected his team to respond well when the series came to Abilene Christian University for Game 2.

On Friday at Crutcher Scott Field, the Bulldogs did that and then some, trouncing the Eagles 17-0 in a run-rule victory to force a deciding Game 3 at 1 p.m. Saturday in Graham.

The game was never close as Wylie followed a five-run first inning with a nine-run second, quickly turning Argyle’s post-graduation trip to Abilene into a nightmare and ensuring that the Eagles’ drive back east would be a long — and likely quiet — one.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Missed opportunities, defensive miscues cost Cross Plains in series opener against Jonesboro

STEPHENVILLE — The Cross Plains softball team outhit and outpitched two-time defending champion Jonesboro in the opener of its Class 1A state semifinal series Thursday at the Stephenville softball field.

Unfortunately for the Lady Buffaloes, that wasn’t enough due to miscues in the field and missed opportunities at the plate.

Standout pitcher Kenzie McLean limited the Lady Eagles to three hits (two of those bunt singles) and no earned runs in a complete-game gem. But four unearned runs left the freshman and her teammates on the losing end of a 4-3 tally and needing two wins Saturday to extend Cross Plains’ best season ever into the state finals.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Wall capitalizes on late Jacksboro error to claim Region I-3A DII crown

ABILENE — As the last two teams standing in Region I-3A Division II, the Wall and Jacksboro baseball teams matched each other nearly play for play during their regional final series as they squared off at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark.

The Hawks took the series opener 7-2 on Wednesday after scoring six times in the final two innings before using another sixth inning offensive rally to finish the series off with a 4-3 win on Thursday.

Kellan Oliver improved to 10-1 on the season — and 3-0 in the postseason — with a complete game three-hitter in which he allowed just one earned run on 101 pitches while walking four and striking out six in his 10th start of the year. Thursday marked Oliver’s eighth complete game this year and probably the one where he’s dealt with the most inconsistent strike zone.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Four-run sixth inning lifts Wall to 7-2 win over Jacksboro to open Region I-3A DII finals series

ABILENE — Due to lightning in the area, it took an extra hour and a half for the Wall and Jacksboro baseball teams to get on the field for the opener of the Region I-3A Division II finals series Wednesday at Crutcher Scott Field.

And once the first pitch was finally thrown, it took five innings for either to team gain any sort of upper hand.

But with the score tied at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, the Hawks finally solved JHS starter Wyatt Gavit, scoring four runs in the frame to create some separation on their way to a 7-2 win.

The victory puts Wall in position to complete the sweep when the series resumes at 7:30 p.m. Thursday back at Abilene Christian University. Game 3, if necessary, would be played at 7 p.m. Saturday.

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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 Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

GAME STORY: Argyle takes advantage of nine walks, fast start to down Wylie 7-5 in Game 1

SAGINAW — The Argyle Eagles walked past the Wylie Bulldogs 7-5 in the opening game of their best-of-three Region 1-5A Division II final series Tuesday afternoon.

You pretty much can add the word “literally,” if you want to.

Wyle pitchers issued nine free passes, including five in the first two innings, and Argyle used the Bulldogs’ generosity to score six runs in their first two at-bats.

The Bulldogs gamely answered the Eagles’ three-run first inning with three runs of their own in the top of the second, but Argyle put up a carbon-copy bottom half of the inning. And while Wylie made it interesting down the stretch, the Eagles (23-14-1) held on and are now a win away from a trip to the state semifinals.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Brock’s top of lineup ready to slap way into state finals 

Do you know what’s more annoying than facing a lefty slap hitter leading off a lineup?

How about facing two lefty slap hitters right off the bat who are quick with the bat.

That’s the reality for anyone facing Brock this season as sophomore Kayden Blue and freshman Jayci Smith have helped set the tone offensively for the Lady Eagles’ state semifinal run.

Brock (32-10) enters its best-of-three 4A series against Van Alstyne on a seven-game win streak where it’s averaged 9.3 runs. The Lady Eagles are two victories away from playing for the 4A Division II title next week in Austin.

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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 Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Jim Ned goes down swinging in season-ending loss to Iowa Park

GRAHAM — On paper and on the scoreboard, Jim Ned’s 17-6 loss in Game 2 of its Region I-3A Division I finals series against Iowa Park on Saturday didn’t look much different than the 12-2 one the Lady Indians suffered in the series opener on Friday at Hogan Field. 

The two games even bore a fair number of similarities in the way they played out and, eventually, got out of hand.

But it was the one key difference that had coach Erica Jones beaming with pride at the end of Saturday’s game, rather than steaming with frustration, as she was the night before.

After allowing 12 unanswered runs to close out a run-rule loss in Game 1, Jim Ned allowed 17 runs in a row after opening Game 2 with an identical 2-0 lead. But this time, the Lady Indians went down fighting, scoring four runs in their final trip to the plate to end what was arguably the best season in Jim Ned softball history in a way more befitting of the team that achieved it.

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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 Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Wall finishes sweep of Coahoma with dominant all-around effort

ABILENE — A day after a three-run top of the first inning propelled the Wall baseball team to a 13-1 win over Coahoma in Game 1 of the Region I-3A Division II semifinal at McMurry University’s Walt Driggers Field, the Bulldogs started Game 2 off with their own crooked number.

Coahoma, however, was unable to sustain the momentum of the fast start as the Hawks finished off a sweep of the best-of-three series with a 9-3 win on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs managed just four hits off Wall starting pitcher Gage Reichenau — and they were just fractions of an inch away from only getting one hit in his four innings of work.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Big Country dominates Class 1A meet as Gordon sweeps team titles

Cover photo courtesy of Gordon ISD

AUSTIN — The 2026 University Interscholastic League track and field state championships came to a conclusion on Saturday at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Meyers Stadium with the Class 1A and Class 6A meets.

Over the first two days of the meet, area athletes earned a total of 30 medals — taking a dozen during Thursday’s Class 3A/4A portion and 18 on Friday in the Class 2A/5A/Wheelchair meet.

Given their chance to shine along with Class 6A athletes, the best of the Big Country’s Class 1A participants didn’t disappoint.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie rebounds from Game 2 loss to take series from Burleson, advances to regional finals

GRAHAM — After routing Burleson 11-4 in the opener of its Region I-5A Division II semifinals series on Thursday, the Wylie baseball team found itself in a position it didn’t want to be in Friday — facing elimination at the Graham High School Baseball Field.

But the Bulldogs bounced back from a 5-3 loss in Game 2 with another dominant effort in the series clincher, using a pair of five-run innings to pull away for a 14-4 run-rule win and punch their ticket to the regional finals.

After seeing 11 hits, including two home runs, result in just three runs in Friday’s early game, Wylie turned 12 hits, seven walks and six Burleson errors into a huge run total in the rubber match, taking pressure off its pitching staff early on the way to earning a date next week with all-sport playoff nemesis Argyle.

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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 Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Aledo run-rules Abilene High, ends Lady Eagles’ deepest playoff run ever in regional finals

GRAHAM — Heading into her team’s one-game Region I-5A Division I finals playoff against state power Aledo on Friday, Abilene High coach Jenna Aguirre knew the Lady Eagles would need to play their best game of the year to have an opportunity to extend their best season in school history to their first state semifinals appearance.

So when a leadoff error in the second inning led to three unearned runs on a two-out home run by Ladycats pitcher Tempe Perry, the coach knew her team might be in for a long day.

That early miscue proved a harbinger of things to come, unfortunately, as Aledo tacked on another unearned run in the third inning before busting the door down completely in a nine-run fourth to put the wheels in motion for a 13-0 win at Graham’s Hogan Field.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Lefty Oliver, bullpen shine for Wall in Game 1 win over Coahoma

ABILENE — Wall baseball coach Jeremy Gordon knows that at this point in the season, bullpen depth becomes more and more important with each passing week.

That’s why, with Kellan Oliver in the middle of a one-hitter in Wall’s 13-1 win over Coahoma in Game 1 of their best-of-three regional semifinal series at McMurry University’s Walt Driggers Field on Friday, he turned to Wyatt Jost and Kalan Sanders for the final two innings.

After the game, Gordon was quick to note why getting Jost and Sanders on the mound was important.

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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 Brandon McAuliffe

STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Area 2A, wheelchair athletes earn 18 medals on second day of meet

AUSTIN — The second day of the 2026 University Interscholastic League track and field championships saw Classes 2A and 5A take the stage, along with the wheelchair division, at Mike A. Meyers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.

Big Country athletes combined to win 10  events and staked their claim to several state records on an exciting day of action.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Faries returns to dominant form as Wylie bounces back to take Game 2 from Brewer

 Photos from Thursday’s Game 1

STEPHENVILLE — Before Thursday’s series opener against Fort Worth Brewer, Wylie ace Avie Faries had yet to allow more than two runs in any of her previous six playoff starts.

So it took a special effort from the Lady Bears to kick off the Region I-5A Division II finals with an eight-run outburst that included four home runs off the standout junior.

In Friday’s Game 2, a determined Faries looked more like her dominant self with her team’s season on the line, limiting that same explosive lineup to just three hits and single run in a 3-1 Wylie win. The right-hander walked two and struck out six to improve her playoff record to 7-1 and help the Lady Bulldogs earn a decisive Game 3 against Brewer at 1 p.m. Saturday back at the Stephenville softball field.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Long ball, four-run fifth fuel Fort Worth Brewer past Wylie in series opener

STEPHENVILLE — For 4½ innings, the Wylie and Fort Worth Brewer softball teams were locked in a back-and-forth battle in the opener of the Region I-5A Division II finals series Thursday at the Stephenville softball field.

But a four-run bottom of the fifth highlighted by a trio of big extra-base hits provided the Lady Bears the separation they needed to pull away for an 8-4 win and an early advantage in the best-of-three affair that will continue with Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday.

Included in Brewer’s pivotal outburst was a pair of home runs — two of four for the Lady Bears on the day — which served as the difference in a game that was otherwise very competitive.

Continue reading “GAME STORY: Long ball, four-run fifth fuel Fort Worth Brewer past Wylie in series opener” →

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 Brandon McAuliffe

STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Wall boys narrowly miss out on team title; Stephenville boys finish fourth as area athletes have strong first day

AUSTIN — The 2026 University Interscholastic League state track and field championships got under way on Thursday with the Class 3A and Class 4A competitions at Mike A. Meyers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas, and it was a day of pride for a pair relay teams from Wall.

The quintet of Evan Boehle, Reid Robertson, Hagyn Barbee, Bryson McFarden and Levi King had a memorable day in both the 800 and 1,600 meter relays, running Class 3A record breaking times, but finding themselves in a gaggle of finishers in both races.

In the midst of a banner 12 months for Wall athletics, the Hawks boys team finished in second place overall in the team race.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Hamlin rallies to take Game 1 from May to open regional semifinals series

EULA — The Hamlin baseball team scored the final four runs Wednesday to rally for a 5-2 win over May in the opener of a Region I-1A semifinal series at the Eula Athletic Complex.

Trailing 2-1 after an inning, the Pied Pipers bookended a two-run fourth with single runs in the third and fifth, and that was more than enough offense for starter Ian Gruben, who shut the Tigers out in the final six innings of a complete-game gem.

The victory improved Hamlin to 17-1 on the year and gives the Pipers an opportunity to close out the best-of-three series when it resumes at 6 p.m. Thursday with Game 2. Should the Tigers (16-2) bounce back to take that one, a decisive third game would be played on Monday.

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Jayton’s Chisum ready to shine in final state meet

Jayton’s Jace Chisum admits she’ll likely feel nervous when competing in her final state track meet Saturday.

The senior has earned silver medals in the Class 1A 3,200 and 1,600 the past two seasons in Austin. When Chisum lines up for the 3,200 that morning, it’ll mark her eighth state track race in four years.

But Chisum isn’t anxious because she’s diligently prepared for moments like this.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Speedy Abilene High outfielder Reed announces McMurry as next stop on softball journey

Abilene High softball standout Brieyonna Reed took the first step toward extending her career to the collegiate level on Monday, making her commitment to McMurry University official at a signing day ceremony at Eagle Gym.

Flanked by gymnast Azurae Martin (Hardin-Simmons University for cheerleading), distance runner Aldo Sanchez (HSU for cross country and track) and tennis player Syler Richardson (Gordon College in Massachusetts), Reed signed her college paperwork in front of a mob of maroon-clad supporters — an experience that was a dream come true for the speedy slap hitter and center fielder.

Reed, who missed her junior season while pregnant with daughter Mai’lani, wasn’t sure what her softball future held a year ago. But she was able to return this season to help lead AHS to its deepest playoff run in school history and will now get to extend her playing days into her college years after finding the perfect opportunity right at home in Abilene.

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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 Brandon McAuliffe

UPDATED: Abilene ISD promotes Roan to assistant athletic director

Abilene ISD has named Cooper football coach Aaron Roan as the district’s new assistant athletic director as he will replace the retiring Lou Mora as Jim Garfield’s right-hand man.

Roan has spent the past eight seasons leading the Cougars program, compiling a 52-40 record in making the playoffs each season. His deepest playoff run came in 2019, when he led the Cougars to the third round of the playoffs. Cooper won six playoff games under Roan.

Roan said he’s excited about the challenge that lays ahead and that a move to athletics administration has been something that he’s considered for some time.

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by Mike Lee, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Dearth spins his way into the Stephenville record book

Photos by Stephenville ISD coach Nolan Vosburg

Kolton Dearth prepares for an attempt in the shot put.

Observers talk about how Kolton Dearth’s maturity, strength and experience all came together this year in helping the senior break the Stephenville school record in the shot put with a throw of 62 feet, 10.75 inches.

The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Dearth broke the 60-foot barrier and set the school record at the area track and field meet on April 17 in Abilene. Two weeks later, he won his second consecutive Region I-4A shot put title and qualified for this week’s state meet with a mark of 59-8.

Dearth’s 59-8 was the farthest regional throw and made him the favorite for the UIL Class 4A State Track and Field Meet at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium in Austin. The 4A boys’ shot put is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

“He’s learned how to contain his adrenalin and emotions,” Stephenville throwing coach Nolan Vosburg said of Dearth. “When he was younger, he wanted it so bad that it sometimes took away from what he was trying to accomplish.

“Being part of a state championship football team helped things slow down for him in other sports. He’s not as hard on himself now as he was as a freshman and sophomore.”

While maturity, strength and experience came together for Dearth this year, he’s always had a sense of discipline and staying the course. James Dearth, Kolton’s dad and the throwing coach at Tarleton State, coached his son to use the spin or rotating motion through the ring as he threw as a junior high athlete.

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