In case you missed it ...
A recap of Texarkana sports stories gathered by the Gazette the week of March 11
This week saw a lot of ups and downs for Texarkana region teams, but none larger than Hooks’ basketball team making school history by reaching the Class 3A state semifinals.
Unfortunately for the Hornets, though, they fell to second-ranked Hitchcock on Thursday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“We’ve had an unbelievable season, and unbelievable accomplishments,” said Hooks coach Michael Jackson. “We set the school record with 32 victories and we reached the state tournament for the first time in school history.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these great bunch of kids. They played their hearts out all season long and it’s been an unforgettable year.”
SATURDAY
WAID HOMERS AGAIN IN ARKANSAS HIGH LOSS
Another first inning, tworun home run from Razorback senior Ty Waid, as well as a fourth-inning solo blast from catcher Scott Trumble, didn’t prove to be enough offense for Arkansas High (2-1, 1-1) last Saturday afternoon at Razorback Field, as the Hot Springs Lakeside Rams (1-2, 1-1) came from behind to win 8-3.
Waid’s round-tripper already marks his third in as many games this season. Luke Paxton and Trumble added singles for Arkansas High.
The Razorbacks got a gritty effort from senior starting pitcher Trey White, who lasted 4 1/3 innings, but the Rams took advantage of two hit-bypitch mistakes from White, along with costly errors by the Razorbacks in the second and fourth innings.
PG TENNIS PLAYS IN BIG TOURNEY WITH ‘PROMISING’ RESULTS
Pleasant Grove’s varsity tennis squad hit the road again Friday and played in a tournament that featured 22 teams and more than 1,000 matches played.
And, as usual, the Hawks held their own against some stiff opposition, including higher classification teams.
“This was a big opportunity against some of our region’s toughest teams to try some lineup changes,” Pleasant Grove coach Erik Pickett said. “Considering the company, I thought (the) results were very promising. In fact, the results may sway the whole region in some events.”
SUNDAY
PG, THS WRAP UP TWISTED 54 TOURNAMENT
Pleasant Grove and Texas High battled it out against a 21-team field during the Berryhill’s Twisted 54 golf tournament at Woodhollow Golf Course.
Junior Power, Landon Prejean, Saxton Lawrence, Corbyn Spry and Gavin Escamilla fielded the Hawks team. For the Tigers, John D. Patterson, Kaiden Neeley, Fox Hambleton, Evan Sutton and Zach Fulmer participated.
Stillwater’s team won the overall event, shooting a total of 832. HSAA finished second, with a score of 871, followed by Edmond North (873), Edmond Santa Fe (879) and Norman North (879) rounding out the top five.
ARKANSAS HIGH GRADUATE ADCOCK GETS FIRST SAVE IN RAZORBACKS’ WIN
Arkansas High graduate Cody Adcock pitched 2 2/3 innings Sunday to earn his first save and help the University of Arkansas extend its winning streak to four games.
The Razorbacks defeated Wright State, 6-2, to complete the three-game sweep.
Adcock replaced Koty Frank, who left the game two pitches into a relief outing in the seventh inning. Frank, a right-hander, appeared to favor an area behind or below his throwing shoulder. Coach Dave Van Horn said after the game he did not have an update on Frank, but knew the injury was not to his arm.
MONDAY
LAKESIDE GIRLS RALLY LATE TO EDGE ARKANSAS HIGH
It’s never over until it’s over. The Arkansas High Lady Backs(0-2, 0-2) experienced heartache in that very scenario Monday night at home as they played host to Conference 5A-south opponent Lakeside Lady Rams (2-1, 2-0).
After the Lady Backs jumped out to a six-run lead through the first five innings, Lakeside scored seven runs in the final two frames to secure the come-from-behind 7-6 win.
The offense started quickly for Arkansas High, as it took advantage of a leadoff single by Aniya Arnold, a two-rbi single from Macie Lee, two walks and four hit-batsmen to go ahead 5-0 after the first inning.
AN AMAZING SEASON TO REMEMBER FOR FOUKE GIRLS
Fouke’s girls basketball season was one for the record books.
A 34-5 overall record and Elite 8 finish in the Class 3A state basketball tournament. It was certainly a remarkable season, any way you look at it.
“It was definitely a season to remember,” said Fouke coach Mo Williams.
“To be a part of the school history with this group of players is really special to me because of how hard they had to work. How hard we all had to work. Although this team didn’t go as far as the 1989 team (semifinals) this team does now hold the record for most wins in a season in school history (34-5) and advanced at the state tournament.”
This season won’t be forgotten, the coach said.
GENOA CENTRAL TAKES DOWN CLASS 4A TEAM
Genoa Central hit the road and won a contest against Class 4A Arkadelphia on Monday, 5-2
Arkadelphia got things moving in the first inning with an Rbi-double.
The Dragons, however, would answer back in the second with three runs and added an insurance run in each of the fifth and seventh innings.
Connor Reed was the winning pitcher for Genoa Central . The fireballer allowed four hits and two runs over five innings, striking out four and walking none. Braxton Robertson threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.
FOUKE’S HOT START TOO MUCH FOR MURFREESBORO
Fouke defeated Mufreesboro, 10-4, on Monday thanks to a dominating start.
The Panthers scored all 10 of their runs in the first three frames after giving up an early 3-0 lead and never looked back. They pulled away for good with three runs in the second inning, when Dawson Oliver singled on the first patch of his at-bat, scoring one run, and an error scoring the other two runs later in the inning.
They would end their scoring onslaught in the third inning with six runs. Brody Bulkley, Jackson Mcmurray, Oliver and Carson Chandler, all driving in runs in the frame.
Fouke’s Will Mosely led the home team to victory on the mound. The righty went four innings, allowing four runs on three hits and striking out four. Sawyer Jones and Mcmurray entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.
TUESDAY WHITE OAK GIRLS BLANK PG
Larkin Daniels threw her fourth shutout of the young season, homered, and drove in three runs to lead White Oak to a 7-0 win over Pleasant Grove Tuesday night.
In their third year under Nineveh Blankenship, the Ladynecks looked prime for another deep Class 3A playoff run, pounding out 10 hits. Add in four walks, and the hosts kept the pressure on the Lady Hawk defense in every inning.
A year ago, White Oak finished second in its district and went three rounds deep into the playoffs before falling to Hughes Springs.
Sophomores Abby Runion and Sarah Hackelman, and freshman Jacklyn Smith had the Lady Hawk hits.
LADY BACKS LOSE TO BENTON
Benton used two innings, the second and fifth, to defeat Arkansas High, 16-3, in 5 innings in a Conference 5A-south softball game on the Lady Panthers home diamond.
Arkansas High managed five hits, with Aniyah Arnold and Macie Lee getting two hits each. Lee’s was a 2-run triple.
Losing pitcher Jewell Smart gave up 7 runs on 6 hits in 1 1/3 innings in the circle.
TENNIS TIGERS COMPETE IN MIDLOTHIAN
The Texas High varsity tennis team competed Tuesday in the Midlothian Invitational.
Marlee Bledsoe placed third in girls ‘A’ singles and the team of Lakyn Austin and Grace Wilson finished fourth in girls ‘A’ doubles.
“It was a very competitive tournament with many quality 5A and 6A programs,” said Tiger coach Toby Watson. “It was some great matches for our kids.”
TRACK & FIELD HOOKS MEET CANCELED
Hooks’ annual Mo Pepper Relays have been canceled this year because the Hornets’ boys basketball team is competing in the Class 3A state tournament in San Antonio.
Hooks’ boys squad, sporting a 32-5 record, will face Hitchcock (29-7) in the state semifinals.
RAZORBACKS HANG TOUGH, GET PAST BENTON
There’s a saying in baseball that walks will come back to haunt you.
The Benton Panthers (2-2, 0-1) found that out the hard way by walking Arkansas High slugger Ty Waid in all four at-bats, three of those intentional passes, which set up Ryan Wardlaw to do the cleaning up.
Waid, a University of Arkansas signee, scored every time he reached base, and Wardlaw went 3-for-3 with a pair of singles, an RBI double and a walk.
The end result was the Hogs posting an 11-6 Conference 5A-south victory over the Panthers.
DEKALB TOO MUCH FOR PARIS IN 23-1 ROUT
Dekalb had its way with Class 4A Paris, defeating the Lady Wildcats decisively, 23-1, on Tuesday in a non-district bout.
The Lady Bears scored in each inning, including three in the first, seven in the second, five in the third and eight in the fourth to end the game early. Paris’ lone score came in the fourth inning.
Leadoff hitter Emily Barrett led Dekalb with three hits in four at-bats, while teammates Kailyn Betts and Talisha Ingram each collected two. Jaylynn Hayden, Betts and Ingram each had gamehigh three RBIS.
Mallory Obenosky and Lashanea Hope finished with two stolen bases each to lead the Lady Bears, who had a total
of eight in the win.
Gray, who started in the circle for Dekalb and posted the win, allowed just one run on one hit and struck out eight through five innings.
GENOA CENTRAL SHUTS OUT BRADLEY, 12-0
Genoa Central scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in its 12-0 thumping of Bradley on Tuesday in a non-conference matchup.
Kaylyn Hamilton and Gracie Fowler, who posted the win, combined for the shutout. Hamilton struck out four and allowed just one hit through three innings while Fowler struck a game-high six — each batter she faced — in two innings of work.
Genoa Central’s Gracie Ramage went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including a double, and scored three runs. Fowler and Brailey Tefteller combined for four hits and seven RBIS, with Tefteller having four. Callie Fike also collected multiple hits in the win.
TAMU-T WOMEN NOTCH FIRST NAIA VICTORY; MEN LOSE
Texas A&M University-texarkana women’s basketball team, making its first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament, notched its first victory in the tourney Tuesday, defeating Grand View, 70-55.
The Eagles improve to 29-1 overall with their 26th straight triumph.
TAMU-T men’s team, however, wasn’t as fortunate as it fell to No. 6 seeded Tougaloo, Miss., 75-65, in a firstround NAIA game in New Orleans.
WEDNESDAY
ARKANSAS HIGH DRUBS ROSE BUD IN HOT SPRINGS
Arkansas High erupted for nine run in the second inning en route to a comfortable 15-5
rout of Rose Bud on Wednesday at Majestic Park.
After falling to an early 2-0 lead after one, the Razorbacks settled in and scored their nine runs in the second before adding four more in the fourth and two in the fifth innings.
Lee Smith led the Hogs with two hits in three atbats, while teammates Luke Paxton, Ryan Wardlaw, Trey White, Nate Wall, Jackson Shipp and Cash Brookes had one hit apiece. Brookes also had a team-high three RBIS.
University of Arkansas commit Ty Waid drew two walks and was hit by a pitch in the win.
Shipp earned the win on the mound, while striking out five and allowing three runs on three hits through four innings. Wall came in for relief and struck out one and gave up two runs on one hit.
HOOKS’ RESERVE CUT HIS LONG HAIR WHEN HORNETS WENT TO REGIONAL
Hair today, gone tomorrow is the adage.
That took on new meaning for this year’s Hooks Hornets basketball team.
Price Clemmons, a senior reserve on the Hornets’ 325 basketball squad, told his teammates he would cut his long hair that he’s been growing for years if they reached the regional tournament. They did.
And he did.
Hooks reached the Class 3A, Region II tournament and won it, advancing to the state semifinals against No. 2 Hitchcock (29-7) in San Antonio’s Alamodome. Tip off is set for 1:30 p.m. today.
And like he agreed, Clemmons had his long locks cut off.
A&M-TEXARKANA SOFTBALL RANKS NO. 4 IN NAIA POLL
It’s hard to ignore just how well Texas A&m-texarkana has started the 2023 softball season. With a program-best
15-0 start that’s included wins over three schools ranked in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll, not even the coaches around the country could ignore it either.
The Eagles earned the highest national ranking in program history Wednesday, climbing all the way to No. 4 in the first edition of the regular season NAIA Softball Coaches Poll. It’s the program’s first ranking since late last season, when they came in at No. 12 prior to the postseason.
Mobile (Alabama) took the top spot, Indiana Wesleyan is second and Freed-hardeman (Tennessee) is third. Oregon Tech rounds out the Top 5 in the fifth spot. Fellow conference foe Our Lady of the Lake is seventh.
TAMU-T WOMEN FALL IN SECOND ROUND OF NAIA TOURNEY
In just its fourth season, the Texas A&m-texarkana women’s basketball reached amazing new heights in the 2022-23 campaign.
A trip to Sioux City, Iowa, however, just wasn’t in the cards.
The Eagles (29-2) had their season come to an end Wednesday in the NAIA second round, falling to traditional power Marian (Indiana), 63-46, at the PE Center on the Marion campus. The Knights (28-5), ranked eighth nationally, advance to the Sweet 16.
For the Eagles, it was a banner year in more ways than one. They won their first conference title, their first conference tournament, earned their first berth to the NAIA national tournament and first national tournament victory. They went undefeated at home, won 26 straight games, and ranked in the Top 5 nationally in offensive efficiency.
THURSDAY
NO. 2 HITCHCOCK STOPS HOOKS IN STATE SEMIFINAL
Hooks’ incredible basketball season came to an end Thursday as second-ranked Hitchcock handed the Hornets a 69-36 loss in the state semifinal game at San Antonio’s Alamodome.
Second-chance points fueled Hitchcock as the Bulldogs outrebounded the Hornets, 42-19, in the contest, including 19 offensive boards.
“We’ve had an unbelievable season, and unbelievable accomplishments,” said Hooks coach Michael Jackson. “We set the school record with 32 victories and we reached the state tournament for the first time in school history.
“I couldn’t be more proud of these great bunch of kids. They played their hearts out all season long and it’s been an unforgettable year.”
NASHVILLE FALLS SHORT IN REPEAT BID
Farmington capped its season of redemption the exact way it intended it would Thursday afternoon.
The Lady Cardinals got a huge game from Marin Adams, but it was timely baskets late that provided the boost they needed to hold on and beat Nashville, 65-61, to win the Class 4A girls state title inside an energized Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.
Adams collected a gamehigh 22 points off the bench for Farmington (35-1), which had to wait an entire year to get a chance at vindication after the way its previous season ended.
TEXAS HIGH TUMBLES TO BYRD
Texas High managed 11 hits but unfortunately could only get one run across the plate in its 6-1 loss to C.E. Byrd on Thursday during the Bistineau Classic at Lakeside High School in Louisiana.
Byrd, however, managed its six runs on seven hits.
Texas High’s Brenden Allred and Ean Crite both had game-high three hits apiece and teammate Dalton Raley had two.
The Tigers got on the board first in top of the first inning when Allred scored on a fielder’s choice hit by Knox Pilgreen.
Byrd, a Shreveport, Louisiana, school, answered back in the bottom of the frame and added four more in the second inning to secure the win.
Allen Cartwright allowed six runs on six hits while striking out three and walking four through five innings. Austin Treadway came in relief and struck out one in one inning.
PG TENNIS EARNS NINE MEDALS AT SPRING HILL TOURNEY
Pleasant Grove’s JV tennis squad won first in two events and reached the finals in four of the five events to bring home nine medals this week at the Spring Hill tournament.
“This was a very successful day for our JV crew,” Pleasant Grove coach Erik Pickett said. “Our Hawks showed that the future for Pleasant Grove tennis is going to be fun to watch.”
First place winners included Dylan Yost and Heath Wood in the boys doubles and Marley Haak and Tanner Flores in the mixed doubles.
Pleasant Grove will travel to Rockwall on March 17 and will be hosting the PG Spring Invitational on March 21.
REDWATER RALLIES PAST MOUNT PLEASANT
Redwater rallied for four runs in the final frame to not only knot the score at 2, but to eventually rally past Mount Pleasant, 6-3, on Thursday.
A pair of bases-loaded walks, an Rbi-single by Brody Johnson and a fielder’s choice helped lead the charge in the seventh inning.
Jaxon Minter, Levi Johnson, Cade Pipes, Andrew Willis and Brody Johnson collected one hit a piece for the Lions. Conner Holland, Dalton Dwight and Willis all helped lead the charge on the mound.
Willis finished with two strikeouts in the one inning he pitched.
NEW BOSTON FALLS TO WINNSBORO
Winnsboro jumped out to an early lead and never looked back against New Boston, 9-2, on Thursday.
The Raiders scored four runs in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth to seal the victory.
New Boston scored both of its runs in top of the fourth when Xavier Rowden belted an Rbi-double to left field, scoring Eli Barrett and Caleb Kingston.
Will Erwin led the Lions with two hits and Rowden finished with two RBIS. Erwin and Jack Abston combined for four strikeouts on the mound.
FRIDAY
ARKANSAS HIGH BOYS, GIRLS SPLIT
Arkansas High’s boys posted a 4-0 shutout and the Arkansas High girls were no-hit in a 3-inning 15-0 loss to Benton in Conference 5A-south baseball and softball games here Friday.
The Razorbacks’ Ty Waid pitched a complete-game, 3-hit shutout. He struck out 11 and walked two. He only allowed three singles to Benton.
Waid aided his cause with
a triple to drive in two runs. Lee Smith and Ryan Wardlaw had the other hits for the Hogs, with Wardlaw knocking in a run.
In the girls softball contest, Benton broke a scoreless tie by scoring five runs in the second and added 10 more in the third to complete the game by the mercy rule. The winners had 13 hits and the Lady Backs none, but the game only went three innings.
Macie Lee was the losing pitcher, allowing all 15 runs, although only seven were earned.
PLEASANT GROVE GIRLS EDGE GENOA CENTRAL
Sarah Hackleman pitched through a last-at-bat jam
against the heart of Genoa Central’s lineup and Pleasant Grove held on to preserve a 7-5 softball victory at Hawk Field.
A gritty tussle on a cold night between two talented teams, in the end, came down to a couple of balls a rolling a couple of inches in the loose dirt. Twice in the fifth inning, when PG rallied to take the lead, runners scored when a third-strike pitch squirted away.
“If we had a couple of more innings, we might have got them,” said Genoa Central coach Jennie Sanders, who saw her team lose its first game, dropping to 6-1. “We learned that we could play through adversity when we have to.”