Second Time Around

Coach Brandon Clemmons and the Big Spring track team are on a roll. The Steers and Lady Steers will face their biggest test March 25-26 when they compete in the San Angelo Relays. Big Spring has competed in three track meets so far. The Lady Steers have finished in the top three at every meet, while the Steers have won every meet. Most recently, the Big Spring Invitational.

The San Angelo Relay is a staple of the West Texas track. This will be the 63rd year for this prestigious event. The folks in San Angelo put on a great show. I've competed in it and watched it as a spectator and sports writer.

Good memories. The fast Central Texas teams like Kileen and Temple teams in the '70s and '80s. I've seen Harold Ledet of San Angelo Central throw the shot put over 62-8 feet in 1975. Van Pearcy of Andrews jumped almost 25 feet in the long jump in 1981. Stanton's Jeremy Stallings ran a 1:52.69 in 1990. But my most memorable moment was in 1976 watching Lampasas' Johnny Jones running a 44.5 anchor leg in the mile relay ( yea was called mile relay at the time) to overtake an Odessa Ector runner with a 40-yard head start.

Back to the Steers. Not a bunch of superstars. Just enough quality personnel to make a good track team. The closest thing you have to a superstar is junior Adrian Solis, who is constantly knocking time off his 800-meter race. His time of 1:57.23 ranks 11th in the state.

Distance runners Roman Perez and Isaac Gonzales are consistent point scorers, and Weight man Braxton Pearson and jumper Isiah Holloway are always in the mix.

Naomi Wines is turning into a freshman sensation for the Lady Steers. She's a 5-4 high jumper and a 16-8 long jumper. Plus, she's a pretty good sprinter,

The San Angelo Relays could be the finest feather in the Steers hat thus far. Here's hoping.

SOFTBALL PICTURE SHAPING UP

I saw three of the best Crossroads Country softball teams play recently against each other. It looks like Coahoma is the cream of the crop. It's a tossup between Big Spring and Colorado City to who's next.

Coahoma displayed strong pitching in its recent tournament. Makayla Calvio and Hannah Wells form a formidable one-two punch. They allowed two runs in a win over Colorado City and a tie with Lamesa. Wells is "Babe Ruth" right now, having hit six homers in the last two weeks.

Colorado City was "Jekel and Hyde" in their games against Coahoma and Big Spring. C-_city couldn't do anything against Coahoma; it's their 9-1 loss. Then the Lady Wolves came back two days later and looked dominating in a 7-0 shutout of Big Spring. The Lady Wolves are without No. 1 pitcher Riley Johnson, who pulled a hamstring muscle running track. No. 2 pitcher Kaci Rivera is doing pretty well herself. She three-hit Big Spring and hit a tworun homer in the win.

Big Spring and Colorado City split in their two meetings this season. Big Spring won the first meeting 7-2. Against Colorado City last week, the Lady Steers looked lackadaisical, fatigued. Maybe some time off will let them regain their swing. They've scored one run in the last two games.

I can't leave the Forsan Lady Buffaloes out of this discussion. I haven't had a chance to see them play personally, but I know they return a lot of players from last year's team to make it to the fourth round of the Class 2A playoffs. Three of their losses were to good softball teams - Monahans, Greenwood, and Big Spring (8-7).

Let the district games begin!!!

SHIFFLETT OUTSHOOTS STATE SILVER MEDALIST

Coahoma sophomore Ryan Shifflett is quickly moving up on the golf charts.

Last week at the Coahoma Invitational, Shifflett shot a 79 to finish second in the medalist race, leading his team to a second-place finish behind Ozona.

In finishing second, Shifflett bested Colorado City's Will Maddox, who shot an 81 to finish fourth. Maddox was the Class 2A silver medalist at last year's state golf tournament. At state, Maddox recorded a 77-39 for 116 total. Unfortunately, only 27 holes played due to Austin's heavy rain, downpour, and lightning.