Oilers eye history repeat; Manvel wins
Pearland out to get past Clear Creek again in third round
Pearland has been happy to make its struggles late in the regular season a thing of the past. There is one part of past, however, the Oilers would like to repeat.
A third-round playoff victory over Clear Creek. Pearland will meet Clear Creek for the second year in a row at the same stage in the postseason. The Oilers won last year’s series in three games on their way to the regional championship.
Beating the Wildcats again would further solidify the Oilers as one of the teams to beat in the Houston area because the Wildcats have been one of the best all season long.
“They bring everyone back, which makes them scary,” Pearland coach Anthony Scalise said.
Clear Creek coach Brent Kunefke said he believes the teams are similar from what they were last year. Scalise sees it differently. The Oilers lost some of their top offensive players, though they maintained their pitching depth.
“If we can figure out a way to score a few runs we should be able to make it a good series,” Scalise said. “Our kids are playing with a lot of confidence. You always worry when you drop some games late. It’s kind of gut-wrenching knowing you’re in the most important part of the year and you don’t feel good about things. But I feel good about it now. Kempner is a pretty good team and we beat them in two games.”
The most important aspects, Scalise added, will be pitching and defense just like they have been all year. Clear Creek has the type of offense that can get hot in a hurry. The Wildcats have a couple of standout pitchers, too, but Scalise believes pitching depth is an advantage for the Oilers.
“If we can win one out of the first two and push them to a game three I think our chances are pretty good,” he said.
The first game will be Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Clear Creek. The second game will be Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Pearland. If necessary, the third game will be played Saturday at Deer Park at a time to be determined. Manvel wins state
The Manvel boys track team won the Class 6A state championship last week in AUstin. The Mavericks outscored runnerup Port Arthur Memorial, 55-44. All three of Manvel’s relays finished in the top three. The Mavericks even got 10 points from Deontay Anderson’s first-place finish in the 200-meter dash.
Two jumpers from Dawson came home withe medals. Brett Winnegan finished second in the long jump for the second year in a row. Taylar Prier placed third in the triple jump. She also placed seventh in the long jump. Clear Brook had a pair of point-scoring performances, too. Brandon Taylor placed third in the 100 dash. Maygen Smith finished fifth in the 400 dash. 7-on-7 opener
This week is the first for 7-on-7 state qualifying tournaments. Four local teams will be in action at Manvel on Saturday. Two teams from each tournament qualify for the state competition, which will be held July 10-11 in College Station. The local teams are Dawson, Friendswood, Manvel and Pearland. Pool play games are scheduled for 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Garcia wins again
Asa Garcia has been in the headlines much of the last two years for her accomplishments in track and field. Garcia made another one of those last week, but the Texas City senior one-upped herself on Saturday.
She graduated from college. Not bad for a kid who is not finished with high school.
Garcia, who has signed with the University of Texas track team, earned an associates degree from College of the Mainland Saturday after two years of working on that and her regular high school course work at the same time. Texas City’s graduation is not until June 5.
It means Garcia will be a college junior by the time she takes her first class in Austin. After her four years of athletic eligibility is up she could have a Master’s degree.
“It is definitely a big accomplishment,” Garcia said. “I have worked hard for the last two years. It’s a big deal to my family.”
Her college graduation came two days after she won the Class 5A state championship in the triple jump, her second-straight state title in the event. Her winning mark was less than three inches away from the Class 5A state meet record. Four of her jumps were better than the best jump of the runnerup.
On Friday Garcia placed fifth in the long jump - an event she won the state title in last year. After fouling on each of her final three attempts she said she thought she could have done better.
It will not hold her back from going after big things this summer. Saturday in Waco she will compete in the inaugural Texas Track and Field Coaches Association’s Meet of Champions, which will bring together state champions and other top athletes from all of Texas’ governing bodies like UIL, TAPPS and SPC.
Later this summer Garcia will try to qualify for the United States’ Junior National team.
Her time as a high school athlete is winding down. She’s already proven herself as one of the nation’s best in that area. When she arrives at college with an associate’s degree in hand she’ll have a big head start on the rest of the freshman in academics as well.
“I coudn’t even believe I was in the position I was on Saturday,” Garcia said. “I had to keep reminding myself that I had actually made it. I did it.” State track highlights
Garcia was not the only local athlete to bring home a medal from the state track meet. Texas City teammate Melicha Smith won the 100-meter dash. Four athletes from Clear Creek ISD scored points with top-five finishes.
Clear Springs’ Thai Williams placed second in the long jump. Clear Falls’ Skyler Ruszkowski finished third in the high jump. Clear Brook’s Brandon Taylor placed third in the 100 dash. Clear Brook’s Maygen Smith finished fifth in the 400 dash.