Tag: Ballinger Bearcats

by Evan Ren

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: Ballinger senior saw dreams of state evaporate

The “What Might Have Been” feature series is Big Country Preps’ effort to celebrate area athletes who have seen their seasons affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The series will continue through June 15. If you have a suggested story for the “What Might Have Been” series, please contact Big Country Preps at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.

Photos courtesy of Ballinger ISD

Nearly every high school in America has at least one of them — an athlete with dreams of competing for a district, regional or state title that have come to a grinding halt in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ballinger is no different. 

Tucked away in the southwestern corner of the Big Country, some 56 miles south/southwest of Abilene, this quiet community of roughly 3,700 had high hopes for a productive athletic spring. 

Senior track standout Elyssa Korn-Flores was one of the top reasons why. 

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN: Young Ballinger team was hoping for prolific 2020 season

The “What Might Have Been” feature series is Big Country Preps’ effort to celebrate area athletes who have seen their seasons affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The series will continue through June 15. If you have a suggested story for the “What Might Have Been” series, please contact Big Country Preps at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com.

Photos courtesy of  Chad McDufee, Dana Travis and Don Pena

Fantastic.

That one word is how Ballinger softball coach Missy Vaughn described the Lady Cats’ 2020 season before it was prematurely ended.

Vaughn’s seniors had thrived in their leadership positions. Even after junior pitcher Daniella Luna suffered a season-ending knee injury, freshman April Pena had stepped up admirably in her place. 

Sophomore catcher Jenna Battle and her teammates were ripping the cover off the ball. Other underclassmen had emerged as Ballinger won nine of its first 13 games and was undefeated in district.

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by Evan Ren

District 4-3A Division II: Week 7 Report

Callahan

Cisco 47, Coleman 0 — The Loboes rolled up 533 yards in total offense including 490 yards rushing in a big win over Coleman. 

Quarterback Gibson Hearne only threw four passes, but rushed for 150 yards on just five carries for two TDs. Stanley Callahan also had a big night, rushing for 106 yards on six touches with one score.

Five different Loboes had rushing touchdowns as Cisco improved to 5-1 and 3-0.  Coleman, which was limited to 61 total yards, fell to 3-3 and 2-1 and saw a three-game winning streak snapped.

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by Evan Ren

BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Loboes, Bearcats clash in our spotlight game (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)

LAST WEEK: 43-7, .860

OVERALL: 173-34, .835

While the Cisco Loboes have been in countless big games over the last two decades, the last few years have been a bit lean for Ballinger. 

In fact, the general consensus is, when the Bearcats (3-0) play host to the Loboes (2-1) on Friday, this will be the biggest regular season game played in Ballinger in several years. 

At the very least, it’s our Big Country Preps Game of the Week, and deservedly so. 

Continue reading “BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Loboes, Bearcats clash in our spotlight game (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)” →

by Mike Lee, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Ballinger’s Bean a true student of the game

To call Ballinger senior Cooper Bean a student of the game of football is an understatement.

“I’m a coach’s kid so I’ve been around football all my life,” said Bean, a running back and all-state linebacker for the undefeated Ballinger Bearcats. “I love watching film and studying every opponent we play. I like to know what’s coming at me on Friday night.

“I get yelled at by my teachers sometimes for watching film on my phone during class.”

Bean, a starter since his sophomore season, made 296 tackles during the 2017 and 2018 seasons combined. His 165 stops in 11 games last year earned the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Bean all-state honors at linebacker. He’s off to another solid start this season for Ballinger, which is 3-0 entering District 4-3A Division II play Friday.

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by Evan Ren

District 4-3A Division II: Week 4 Report

Anson (1-2) — The Tigers are one of three teams in this district to have won their first game prior to their bye week. Whether that’s an advantage or disadvantage is open for debate.

AHS will open league play next Friday with a difficult road trip to Bangs. 

Ballinger (3-0) — The undefeated Bearcats enjoyed a week off, giving them a little extra time to prepare for the visiting Cisco Loboes in their district opener next week.

This will be one of the biggest games to be played in Ballinger several years.

The winner of that matchup will have a leg up in district play, if the preseason projections are accurate, that is. 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Ballinger’s Nunez ready to follow up on huge junior season

BALLINGER — Edgar Nunez wasn’t exactly a household name throughout the Big Country as he entered his junior season last year.

Having endured all the growing pains expected of a varsity sophomore in 2017 when he replaced his injured brother (Javier) at quarterback, he was an unknown commodity. 

It didn’t take long for that to change. 

Not only did Nunez have a breakout season last year, but he earned All-West Texas and All-Big Country Preps honors in the process — leaving the fans, his coaches, the area and even himself a bit surprised. 

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by Evan Ren

BALLINGER TEAM PREVIEW: Bearcats ready for three-way district dogfight

BALLINGER — It could be argued that third-year Ballinger coach Chuck Lipsey inherited a program at the shallow end of a down cycle in 2017.

It can also be demonstrated that he has gradually taken the Bearcats from mediocrity to the level of area threat. A 4-7 mark in his debut campaign was followed by a 7-4 mark and bi-district loss to Childress last season.

That upward trend is about to continue — at least, if the preseason numbers and natural progression hold true, and the Bearcats avoid injury problems.

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by Evan Ren

PHOTO GALLERY: 7-on-7 Division III state qualifying tournament (93 images)

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by Evan Ren

With foundation set at Ballinger, Lipsey likes what he sees

With a 130-75 career mark over 17 years of coaching, including stops in Winters, Whitewright, Bangs and Brady on his resume, Ballinger football coach Chuck Lipsey has a proven track record.

And needless to say, the expectations of him building Ballinger into a consistent district title contender arrived with him prior to last season — his first with the Bearcats.

There was, however, something he needed to do first — set a foundation.

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by Evan Ren

Older, faster Ballinger Bearcats look to take step forward

The Ballinger Bearcats of 2018 won’t be the biggest team on the block.

But second-year coach Chuck Lipsey will have talent at his disposal that is well-suited for his system, particularly on the defensive side, with a roster filled with above-average speed. In fact, eight of the Bearcats’ top nine players clock 4.9 seconds or better in the 40-yard dash.

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