by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Jim Ned recovers from Game 2 stumble to eliminate Shallowater (two box scores included)

BIG SPRING — While much of the Jim Ned softball team’s 2026 season has been about solid defense, consistent hitting and dominance, Saturday’s Region I-3A DI semifinal with Shallowater was largely about resilience. 

Already leading the series after a 9-6 win in Game 1 on Thursday, the Lady Indians suffered through seven uncharacteristic errors in a 7-6 Game 2 loss at Lady Steer Field to see a 17-game winning streak snapped. Then, almost as if it never happened, Jim Ned quickly regained its form to eliminate Shallowater, 7-2 in Game 3

Not only did the Lady Indians recover defensively, but pitcher Jayden Nunez, who struggled in Game 1 on Thursday, rediscovered her rhythm with four shutout innings at the outset of Game 3. She also added a solo homer for what proved to be the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning.

Jim Ned (29-5) now advances to face Iowa Park (27-7-1) for the Region I-3A DI championship.

It will be the second meeting between the two clubs, with Jim Ned having defeated the Lady Hawks 6-2 on Feb. 21.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Cross Plains’ historic season continues after rallying to sweep Hermleigh in Game 2

ABILENE — Cross Plains softball coach Chad Barron has gone to great lengths to make sure that his team doesn’t take anything for granted.

After winning the first district championship in school history, the Lady Buffs advanced to just their second regional final ever after completing a Region I-1A semifinal sweep of Hermleigh with a 12-6 win on Saturday afternoon at Abilene Christian University’s Poly Wells Field.

Barron had to fight back tears after the game talking about what Saturday’s win meant.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Clemmer drives in seven as Coahoma steamrolls Holliday in Game 3

CLYDE — The way that Region I played out in the Class 3A Division II softball playoffs in 2026 is one that likely won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

A week that was set to feature Coahoma versus Holliday and Jacksboro versus Canadian, following Jacksboro’s 3-2 win over Wall in Monday’s Game 3, started with the Tigerettes dropping out of the postseason on Wednesday due to use of an ineligible player during district play that would have kept Jacksboro out of the postseason entirely.

It then continued on Friday as the Bulldogettes and Lady Eagles engaged in a pair of heavyweight slugfests in their best-of-three regional semifinal as Coahoma took the opening game 22-18 before seeing Holliday take Game 2, 16-12, to set up a winner-take-all showdown on Saturday morning at the Hanner Sports Complex.

In Game 3, Coahoma’s offense showed up in full force, scoring double-digit runs in two different innings to fuel the Bulldogettes to a series-deciding 27-11 win.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Faries dominant again as Wylie sweeps Joshua, earns trip to regional finals

GRAHAM — Junior ace Avie Faries continued her postseason brilliance Saturday, pitching Wylie to a 2-1 win over Joshua to complete a sweep of a Region I-5A Division II semifinals series and lead the Lady Bulldogs to their first regional finals appearance since 2006.

Faries, who pitched a two-hit shutout in Friday’s 4-0 win over the Lady Owls, allowed just one run on five hits and a walk in Game 2, striking out 10 to improve to 6-0 in the playoffs.

The standout right-hander saw her postseason ERA “rise” to 0.85 while keeping her WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) steady at 0.829 and improving her strikeout-to-walk ratio to an eye-popping 44-to-5.

And though she spent an inning trailing 1-0 as a result of a  third-inning solo home run by Landrie Durham, her teammates made a winner out of her with a two-run fourth inning that would ultimately clinch a trip to the Region I-5A DII championship round to face off with Fort Worth Brewer, which swept El Paso Parkland in the other semifinal series.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High rallies for series win over Richland, advances to regional finals for first time ever

STEPHENVILLE — Playing with their backs against the wall after dropping the opener of their Region I-5A Division I semifinal series against North Richland Hills Richland by a narrow 1-0 margin on Thursday, the Abilene High Lady Eagles responded with a historic effort Friday at the Stephenville softball field.

After staving off elimination with a hard-fought 3-0 win in Game 2, coach Jenna Aguirre’s squad pulled away for a 9-1 victory in the deciding third game to advance to the regional finals for the first time ever as a program.

The doubleheader sweep ends a painful regional semifinals history for AHS, which had fallen in that round six times previously, including each of the past two years. And perhaps more importantly, it gives the Lady Eagles a chance and their first state run if they can knock off Aledo for the Region I-5A DI title next week.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Ferguson pegs radar gun at 99 mph; tosses five-inning no-hitter in Game 1 vs. El Paso Americas

MONAHANS — You know you’re having a good season when you toss a five-inning no-hitter with two walks and nine strikeouts and you’re not as sharp as you normally are.  But that is reality for Abilene High School junior George Ferguson, who led the Eagles to a 10-0 mercy rule win over El Paso Americas on Friday in Game 1 of a Region I-5A DII area round series at the Jerry Larned Sports Complex. 

It was the third no-hitter of the season for Ferguson, which includes a perfect game thrown against Abilene Cooper on April 21. He also helped himself at the plate, delivering a two-run homer in the first inning to score Xavier De La Cruz and put the Eagles up for good. 

Also coming up big for Abilene were Brenner Paul, who finished 3-for-3 with a homer and four RBIs and Jaxon Harris (1-for-3, two RBIs). 

The Eagles (25-9-1) can close the series out with a win in Game 2 on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the same venue. Game 3 (if needed) will be 30 minutes after Game 2.  

Americas slipped to 23-7-1 with the loss.

“You know what you’re going to get when (Ferguson) is out on the mound,” Abilene coach Thomas Harmon said. “He’s going to take the ball and compete his tail off and he did that today. At the plate he was loose and relaxed and that showed. It was one of the better all-around games he’s had all year.”

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High drops 1-0 pitchers’ duel to Richland in series opener

STEPHENVILLE — For seven innings Thursday, Abilene High’s Avah Reyes and North Richland Hills Richland’s Stacy Jennings went toe to toe, matching each other almost pitch for pitch and out for out at the Stephenville softball field.

But a single run, scored on a two-out infield hit in the bottom of the fifth, proved the difference as the Lady Royals escaped the thrilling pitcher’s duel with a 1-0 win to land the first punch in the Region I-5A Division I semifinal series.

The two teams will return to the same field Friday for the remainder of the best-of-three affair, with Game 2 slated for 4:30 p.m. With their backs now against the wall, the Lady Eagles will be looking to rebound with a win in that one to force a deciding third game immediately after.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Jim Ned softballers outslug Shallowater in Game 1 of regional semis (box score included)

BIG SPRING — With Shallowater coming off a six-run second inning that saw the Filles cut an 8-0 Jim Ned lead to 8-6, the task of protecting that slim lead fell upon freshman reliever Paige Wilson. 

The momentum was against her and the pressure was suddenly off the scale. Nonetheless, Wilson delivered five straight shutout innings to earn a 9-6 win for the Lady Indians in Game 1 of a Region I-3A semifinal series on Thursday at Lady Steer Field. 

Gabby Cabrea was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Pyper Tilley was 2-fior-4 with two RBIs to pace Jim Ned (28-4), which can close the series with a Game 2 win on Saturday at the same venue. Game 3, if needed, will follow 30 minutes after Game 2. 

Shallowater (22-11-1) was led by Kynsi Sue, Peyton Ramirez and Skyler Stephenson, all of whom homered in the second inning. And it was in that second inning when the game suddenly took on a whole new look — setting the stage for Wilson.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Locked-in Gruben, opportunistic baserunning propels Hamlin past Hermleigh

ABILENE — Several times in his career, Hamlin senior Ian Gruben has flirted with a no-hitter — including taking a perfect game into the fifth inning earlier this year against Aspermont.

On Thursday night, Hamlin’s ace lost his chance at his first no-hitter on a seventh-inning single, but he did more than enough before that as the Pied Pipers took a 12-2 win over Hermleigh in a one-game Region I-1A area-round playoff at McMurry University’s Walt Driggers Field.

While the single by Braidyn Lynch was hard-hit and clean, Gruben said it was on him as he issued a leadoff walk in the frame that had Ian Hutchings holding a runner on base.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wall takes Game 1 in area series with Tolar, tops Rattlers 5-4 (box score included)

EULA — After suffering a bruised rib against Jim Ned in mid April, Wall’s Gage Reichenau has been slowly recovering from the injury and trying to get to the point where he could pitch effectively again. 

That evening came on Wednesday night in a 5-4 win over Tolar in Game 1 of a Region I-3A area round series at the Eula Athletic Complex.

Overcoming a sluggish first inning that saw him allow a pair of runs on three walks and an error, Reichenau found his rhythm and delivered 6.1 solid innings in a come-from-behind victory for the Hawks. 

Reid Ballard and Tyler Klinesmith both had two hits and two RBIs to lead Wall (24-8), which can end the series with a Game 2 win on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Eula. Game 3, if needed, is slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday at the same venue. 

Tolar (19-9) was led by Nolan Cauble, who was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: May walks off with thrilling 5-4 win in 10 innings to open area-round series with Ira

EULA — It took 10 innings and four lead changes to decide, but at the end of a marathon opener to the Region I-1A area-round series between May and Ira, it was the Tigers celebrating a thrilling 5-4 victory at the Eula Athletic Complex.

May trailed 2-1 after 2½ innings and 4-3 heading to the bottom of the ninth, but coach Chad Dail’s squad came through with an answer each and every time it needed one to hold off a spirited Ira squad and improve to 15-1 on the year.

The victory gives the Tigers a chance to close out the series when it resumes at 7 p.m. Thursday back in Eula, while Ira (13-4) will be looking to force a deciding third game with a win. Should a rubber match be necessary, it would be played at noon on Saturday at the same site.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Five-run sixth fuels Stamford to come-from-behind win over Coleman in pivotal Game 3

EULA — Trailing Coleman 4-2 after five innings in a winner-take-all Game 3 of a Region I-2A Division II bi-district series, the Stamford baseball team found itself running out of outs Monday at the Eula Athletic Complex.

When the Bluecats gave them a few extras in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs made sure to capitalize.

Taking advantage of a pair of errors around a dropped line drive that resulted in one out instead of an inning-ending double play, Stamford spawned a five-run rally out of seemingly nowhere to pull out a 7-4 win and outlast CHS for a thrilling series victory.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Wall softball drops Game 3 to Jacksboro for second straight year

EULA — The Wall softball team saw its season come to an end at the hands of Jacksboro in Game 3 of a Region I-3A Division II area-round matchup for the second consecutive year when the Tigerettes put together a stunning seventh-inning rally on Monday for a 3-2 victory at Eula’s softball field.

Monday’s game was a total reverse of the way that Game 3 played out in 2025, but it still ended in a gut-wrenching loss for the Lady Hawks — potentially even worse this year.

Wall coach Allyson Seider was still proud of the way her team battled and competed in this year’s matchup.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wylie sophomore takes this week’s award with a no-hitter

Nothing quite like starting off a playoff series with a masterpiece from your pitcher. 

Wylie sophomore Gehrig Fletcher delivered this artwork last week in a 7-0 win in Game 1 of a bi-district series with Lubbock Coronado. 

Not only did the 10th grader throw a seven-inning no-hitter, but he did it with an unusual twist: he only struck out three batters.

No-hitters are rare enough, but throwing one while pitching to contact is something one almost never sees in a game dominated by aluminum bats. 

“Gehrig is a kid that puts in the work every day,” coach Grant Martin said. He is the epitome of hard work, determination, and resilience.

“He is the best teammate and exemplifies what a student athlete should be. What a performance in a big time setting. So proud of him!”

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by Evan Ren

REGION I-2A TRACK MEET: Bangs boys, Coleman girls score area’s highest team finishes

CANYON — Big Country Region II athletes had a long way to travel for their regional track meet — competing at West Texas A&M University in Canyon on Friday and Saturday.

Bangs was the top team finisher for the area, finishing fourth with 39 points — 28 behind regional champion Abernathy. 

Coleman was the top area finisher in the girls meet with a third-place 52 points — 49 points behind a dominant performance by regional champion Panhandle. 

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by Evan Ren

REGION II-2A TRACK MEET: Hico boys take regional title; Cisco girls take second

SPRINGTOWN — With Porcupine Stadium serving as the backdrop for the Region II-2A Track and Field Championships, a couple of teams from the Big Country Preps coverage area scored big in the event. 

The Hico boys earned the team championship with 78 points, topping Tioga (66) and Bosqueville (62). In the meantime, the Cisco girls earned second in the team standings with 65 points behind Hamilton’s 93. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

CLASS 1A REGIONAL TRACK ROUNDUP: Cross Plains boys, May girls flex muscles at III-1A meet; Guthrie girls strong at I-1A meet

HEWITT — The Cross Plains boys and May girls both finished second in the team race at the Region III-1A meet Friday at Saturday at Panther Stadium to headline a strong showing for the Big Country Preps Coverage area.

The Buffaloes finished with 70 points, 23 behind team champion Saint Jo, while the Lady Tigers tallied 54 points to finish 18 points behind Saint Jo, which also won the girls title.

Blanket (3rd, 62 points), May (7th, 26), Bryson (T8th, 24) and Gorman (T8th, 24) also posted top 10 finishes on the boys side, while Cross Plains (T5th, 37), Newcastle (T5th, 37), Perrin-Whitt (8th, 29) and Gorman (10th, 26) achieved the same feat for the girls, as area athletes combined for 43 total medals and 25 automatic berths to the Class 1A state meet May 16 in Austin.

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by Daniel Youngblood

REGION I-4A TRACK MEET: Brownwood girls run away with team title as area athletes shine

LUBBOCK — The Brownwood girls track team feasted at the Region I-4A meet Friday and Saturday at Lowrey Field, collecting nine medals and five automatic state berths to make a comfortable run to the event’s team championship.

The Lady Lions, who accounted  for all but two of the area’s medals on the girls side, got scoring from 13 entries on their way to 107 points — topping second-place Canyon by 31 points and third-place Krum by 44.

The BHS girls success headlined a strong overall showing by area athletes, who combined to claim 22 medals and 12 automatic spots to the Class 4A state meet May 14 in Austin.

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by Daniel Youngblood

REGION I-5A TRACK MEET: Abilene High’s Jackson, Wylie boys 800 meter relay earn bronze to top local efforts

LUBBOCK — The Wylie 800-meter relay team of Adrian Jurado, Max Thornton, Jett Wilson and Liam Chapman and Abilene High sprinter Jaden Jackson both earned bronze medals Saturday at the Region I-5A meet to top the list of performances by local qualifiers at Lowrey Field.

Behind its relay effort, the WHS boys finished with 12 team points, while AHS earned seven and Cooper finished with two.

On the girls side, meanwhile, Wylie scored two team points and Cooper earned one.

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by Daniel Youngblood

REGION I-3A TRACK MEET: Wall boys defend regional title to headline strong area effort

ABILENE — The Wall boys track team successfully defended its Region I-3A championship Saturday, piling up 141 points to run away from the field at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Stadium.

The Hawks swept all three relays, setting new meet records in two of those, while accounting for all eight of the area’s gold medals on the boys side.

Wall also had the top finish among area girls teams at the Region I-3A meet, taking second in that race behind champion Holliday — three points ahead of third-place Jim Ned, which also made a strong showing.

Collectively, athletes from the Big Country Preps coverage area combined for 37 medals, earning 23 automatic berths to the Class 3A state meet May 14 in Austin.

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by Daniel Youngblood

REGION II-1A TRACK MEET: Gordon boys, girls sweep team titles as area athletes clean up on medal stand

ABILENE — The Gordon Longhorns dominated the Region II-1A track meet for the second consecutive year, piling up an impressive 132 team points to take the boys title by a 50-point gap over second-place Hamlin on Saturday at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Stadium. 

And the Lady Longhorns got in on the championship action as well, though the margin was not nearly as large.

The Gordon girls finished with 58 points to edge second-place Highland by four points and the third-place duo of Menard and Eula (last year’s girls champion) by nine in a tightly contested team race that saw six schools finish within 15 points of the lead.

Together the Longhorns and Lady Longhorns headlined a wildly successful meet for Big Country athletes, who combined to earn 74 medals and claim 40 automatic berths to the Class 1A state meet May 16 in Austin.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Coahoma keeps the dream alive with win over Childress

STAMFORD — Many of those who follow Big Country softball expected the Coahoma Bulldogettes to take a major step backward following the graduation of standout pitcher Hannah Wells (now at the University of Texas). And needless to say, the notion of them winning an unprecedented fourth straight state title hasn’t been getting a large amount of attention. 

Nonetheless, Coahoma remains alive in postseason play in the aftermath of winning a Region I-3A DII area championship on Saturday by eliminating Childress, 5-1, at the Stamford High School softball field. 

Addi Hart and Blakely Rodgers both had solo homers and Kyndal Lee delivered 6.1 innings to get the win in the circle to lead Coahoma (22-3), which advances to face Holliday (29-3) in the regional semifinals. 

Lee was a key element in the win, holding Childress scoreless on two hits through the first six innings. She was eventually replaced by Bentli Wright after giving up a run on one hit and two walks in the seventh.

She finished with four walks and six strikeouts. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Stephenville rallies for extra-innings win over Estacado to keep season alive

ABILENE — Trailing 2-1 and down to their final out in Game 3 of their Region I-4A Division I bi-district series with Lubbock Estacado at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field, the Stephenville baseball team had the guy they wanted coming to bat in junior Trot Jordan.

While he didn’t drive in the tying run, Jordan did enough to extend the inning as the Yellow Jackets rallied for a 5-2 win in nine innings.

Stephenville coach Alec Bryant said there was nobody else on the team that he wanted at the plate in that situation after Jordan set school records for stolen bases and home runs this season.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Mineral Wells holds off Frenship Memorial rally for bi-district sweep

ABILENE — An eventful week for the Mineral Wells baseball team came to a close as the Rams finished off a Region I-4A Division I bi-district series sweep of Frenship Memorial with a 6-4 win Saturday afternoon at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field.

The week started with the Rams dealing with a devastating EF-3 tornado that tore through town and ended with the baseball and softball teams extending their season with playoff sweeps.

Mineral Wells coach Jacob Clay was pleased with how his squad dealt with the events of the week — and the resiliency they showed in the aftermath.

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by Evan Ren

UIL Region I-3A, Region II-1A Track & Field Championships (Day 1)

ABILENE — With Mother Nature doing her best to interfere with sporting events across the Big Country this week, area athletes still managed to gather on Friday at Abilene Christian University for the UIL 3A Region I and II-1A Track and Field Championships. 

The schedule wasn’t exactly as originally scheduled at Elmer Gray Stadium, with all field events bumped to Saturday to escape inclement weather and running preliminaries bumped to late Friday evening. 

There was, however, an opportunity for a pair of area athletes to punch their tickets to the state meet in the 1A  girls and boys 3200 meters, with Jayton’s Jace Chisum and Roby’s Camden Lummus both taking regional gold at 11:49.38 and 9:51.21 respectively. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Methodical offensive approach propels Brock to sweep of Levelland

EULA — Instead of letting a bases-loaded situation with no outs in the first inning that saw them score on two wild pitches and nothing else demoralize them, the Brock baseball team used it as a way to demonstrate that it will take what an opposing pitcher gives it and cruised to a 12-1 win over Levelland to close out a sweep of the Region I-4A Division II bi-district series.

The Eagles achieved the series win without having to use Arizona State University signee Evan O’Connor on the mound — though he was ready and available to start Game 3.

Instead, Brock coach Koby Page turned to Colton Ripple for Game 2 after Weston Pickard earned the win on the mound in the series opener on Thursday. Page said that pitching depth is a nice luxury to have.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Tough break, missed opportunities cost Stephenville in 3-2 loss to Lubbock Estacado

ABILENE — A tough break and some missed opportunities in key spots were the difference between a series sweep and another trip to Abilene for the Stephenville baseball team, which was left asking, ‘what if’ after a 3-2 loss to Lubbock Estacado on Friday in Game 2 of its Region I-4A Division I bi-district series.

Holding a 2-1 advantage after 3½ innings at Abilene Christian University’s Crutcher Scott Field, the Yellow Jackets lost the lead after having a would-be inning-ending double play wiped out by a judgement call. And trailing from that point forward, SHS failed to cash in on a pair of excellent scoring opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in both the fifth and seventh innings.

The end result was a frustrating loss and a deciding third game back at ACU, where coach Alec Bryant hopes to see his team arrive on Saturday more prepared to seize the moment.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Edington leads Coleman past Stamford in Game 2, Bluecats even series with 5-3 win

EULA — Needing a win to avoid elimination after dropping a 1-0 thriller in the opener of its Region I-2A Division II bi-district series against Stamford, the Coleman baseball team stood tall Thursday, defeating the Bulldogs 5-3 at the Eula Athletic Complex to even the series and force a deciding third game on Monday.

And at the center of that effort was the tallest Bluecat of them all, 6-foot-5 junior Hunter Edington, who pitched a complete-game gem and matched teammate Braylon Stewart and SHS standout Alek Hernandez for the game’s hits lead to ensure that the District 7-2A champions would have at least one more game this season.

Edington went all seven innings on the mound for Coleman, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out six Bulldogs hitters. He also had a near-perfect day at the plate, going 2 for 2 with a pair of walks and an RBI.

Together, those efforts sparked a strong response from the Bluecats, who now find themselves in the same situation they were in a year ago — in this same round against the same opponent.

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Baseball stat leaders
by Evan Ren

FINAL Area Baseball Stat Leaders for 2026

Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 30. This will be our final baseball stat leaders post for the 2026 season.

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 Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Stamford’s Hernandez bests Coleman’s Torres in thrilling pitchers’ duel to open series

EULA — For seven full innings Wednesday, Stamford’s Alek Hernandez and Coleman’s Brayden Torres went toe to toe and blow for blow like a couple of heavyweight champs.

With each looking to pitch his team to an early advantage in a high-profile Region I-2A Division II bi-district series between the Bulldogs and Bluecats, the senior starters delivered a pitcher’s duel for the ages in front of a strong and appreciative crowd at the Eula Athletic Complex.

In the end, a single run was all that separated the two, and it took seven innings to score as Hernandez and his SHS teammates outlasted Torres and the Bluecats 1-0 in a thrilling series opener that had both coaches feeling romantic about baseball in its aftermath.

Continue reading “GAME STORY: Stamford’s Hernandez bests Coleman’s Torres in thrilling pitchers’ duel to open series” →

by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Forsan ties area series with Cisco in eight-inning Game 2 thriller

COAHOMA — One great game deserves another. 

Only 24 hours after Cisco had edged Forsan 2-1 in Game 1 of their 2A DI area round series, the Lady Buffaloes evened things up by taking Game 2 in a 7-6 nailbiter in eight innings on Wednesday.

Madi Roach doubled home Elyssa Amaro with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth — the latter of whom was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to lead Forsan (20-10). The decisive third game of the series is currently slated for 8 p.m. on Saturday in Clyde. 

Forsan, which saw leads of 4-1 and 6-4 evaporate by the seventh inning, took the disappointments in stride — retaining a lighthearted demeanor that saw them dancing together as a team during warmups. 

It eventually paid off.

“If they’re not doing some sort of dance routine before the game I know they’re nervous,” Forsan coach Jason Phillips said. “We want them relaxed, because believe it or not, they’re as dialed in as you could ever believe.” 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Big Spring’s offense sputters in series-opening loss to Springtown

ABILENE — For just the second time this season, the Big Spring softball team was held to two hits as the Lady Steers lost the opening game of their Region I-4A Division I area-round series against Springtown 3-1 on Wednesday night at Cooper’s softball field.

The only other time Big Spring was held to two hits this year was a 3-0 tournament loss to Boyd in a game that ended in the sixth inning by virtue of a time limit. The only other time the Lady Steers were held to one run or less this year was in an 8-1 loss to Snyder on April 7.

Big Spring coach Chelsey Jordan was quick to credit Springtown pitcher Kylee Spray for shutting down the Lady Steers’ offense, but she said that the remainder of the series on Friday, starting at 5 p.m., would play out differently.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Hamlin explodes for 19 runs to blow out Cross Plains in series opener

EULA — The Hamlin baseball team kicked off its playoff run in dominant fashion Tuesday, scoring early and often in a 19-2 win over Cross Plains in Game 1 of a best-of-three Region I-1A bi-district series at the Eula baseball field.

The Pied Pipers broke a scoreless tie with a five-run second inning and increased their lead to 9-2 by the start of the fifth, when they exploded for 10 runs to put the run rule into effect.

Ian Gruben limited the Buffaloes to two unearned runs over four strong innings to earn the win, which puts HHS in position to clinch the series when play resumes at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eula.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Cross Plains pulls away for 9-1 win in opener of area-round series with Westbrook

EULA — It took the Cross Plains Lady Buffaloes a few innings to find their offensive stride Tuesday in the opener of their Region I-1A area-round series with Westbrook. But once they did, it was smooth sailing in a 9-1 win over the Lady Cats at the Eula softball field.

With freshman standout Kenzie McLean tossing a gem in the circle, Cross Plains didn’t need to generate much run support. But after breaking through for the game’s first run in the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Buffs put up multiple runs in the each of the next three frames to pull away for the comfortable victory.

McLean, who allowed one hit and one walk while striking out 16 in a complete-game effort, carried a shutout through six innings, before allowing an unearned run in the top of the seventh. The game was well in hand by then, though, putting the Lady Buffs in position to close out the series when it resumes with Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in Eula.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Cisco takes Game 1 in area series with Forsan

ABILENE — Defense and pitching were at the forefront in Game 1 of a Region I-2A DI area round series between Cisco and Forsan on Tuesday at Cooper High School. 

Cisco’s Aubrey Corpus outdueled Forsan’s Makayla Garza in a 2-1 win for Lady Loboes, who can close the series with a Game 2 victory on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Coahoma. If needed, Game 3 of the series will be on Saturday in Clyde at 8 p.m. 

AJ Pevey was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and Corpus was 1-for-3 with the game-winning RBI to lead Cisco (20-8-2), which broke a 1-1 tie when Pevey singled and scored on a Corpus triple in the bottom of the sixth. 

Forsan dropped to 19-10 with the loss.

“Both teams are coached well and both showed up to play today,” Cisco coach Vanessa Longoria said. “(The win) was very important. It gives us the momentum, but we can’t get too calm and take it easy tomorrow.” 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brock’s Blue wins accolade with remarkable performance

If you’re going to top someone who throws a perfect game in our in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column, you had better do something very special.

This rare occurrence took place last week when Brock sophomore shortstop Kayden Blue helped the Lady Eagles to a three-game bi-district series win over Levelland with a truly memorable performance. In the process, she edged Abilene High ace George Ferguson, who delivered a perfect game win over Cooper. 

With Brock sandwiching wins in Games 1 and 3 (5-1 and 5-2) around a 5-4 loss in Game 2, Blue was quite literally unstoppable, going 10-for-10 in the series with five runs scored (accounting for more than a third of BHS’ run tally. Yet it doesn’t stop there. She also posted a pair of walks (one intentional), making her a perfect 12 for 12 in reaching base throughout a difficult series against excellent competition. 

“Kayden showed all the characteristics of a great leader in all three games and was phenomenal in the leadoff spot for us”

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