Hammack on Wildcats’ Season Ending Loss
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack expressed disappointment with his team’s Area loss to Prosper on Friday and Saturday. The Eagles won Friday, 7-4 at Rockwall and 9-6 Saturday at Rockwall. Coach Hammack said he felt going in the Wildcats could win the series. He said they matched up well with Prosper and competed hard. With the Prom Saturday night, Coach Hammack said his players left no doubt that they were there Saturday to win. The Wildcats got off to s good start with three runs in the first inning and two more in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Coach Hammack said the Wildcats had a bad bottom of the second inning and Prosper scored four runs to make it only a 5-4 Wildcat lead after two innings. The Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the third and two more in the bottom of the fourth to go up 9-5 after four innings. The Wildcats were only able to score one more run, that one in the top of the fifth, to make it 9-6. Coach Hammack said for the second straight game, the Wildcats out hit Prosper but had trouble getting the big hit. The Wildcats left eight runners on base Saturday and Coach Hammack said the Wildcats twice left the bases loaded. He said the Wildcats had a couple of innings Saturday where pitching and the defense struggled. The same thing happened Friday night. Coach Hammack said that ultimately determined the outcome of both games in the series. Pacen Edwards started Saturday and got the pitching loss allowing six hits and seven runs, only four of them earned, over three innings. Jaxon Chaney threw the last three innings and allowed two runs and two hits. The Wildcats had twelve hits Saturday. Kaden Argenbright was 3 for 3 with a run, an RBI and a double. Austin Dodd was 2 for 3 with two runs, a walk and a stolen base. Chaney was 2 for 4 with a run, an RBI and a home run. Edwards was 1 for 3 with a run, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Ryan Humphries was 1 for 3 with a sacrifice and a double. Triston McCormick was 1 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Dawson Draper was 2 for 4. Gavin Millsap drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. The Wildcats end the season with an 18-15 record. For the second year in row, the Wildcats took part of the district championship. They were co-champs last year and tri-champs this year. Texas High and Hallsville are still playing. Coach Hammack said this year’s Wildcats were a great group with seniors who will be missed.
Carrillo on Lady Cats’ Season Ending Loss to Forney
Lady Cats’ Softball Coach David Carrillo knew the Forney Lady Rabbits were the real deal. He said their batting order, one through nine, was the best the Lady Cats had seen this season. After a 14-2 win at Forney Friday night, the Lady Rabbits wrapped up the Regional Quarterfinal Series with a 14-5 win at Lady Cat Park Saturday. Coach Carrillo said his team ran into a third round buzz saw. Nevertheless, Coach Carrillo said the Lady Cats did a lot of good things this season. He said there is no disgrace in being beaten by a potential state champion. Coach Carrillo said he wanted his team to play the best game Saturday that they could. Despite Prom Saturday night, he said the Lady Cats gave it all they had Saturday against Forney. When the Lady Rabbits started a pitcher other than their ace, Forney pulled her out when the Lady Cats got to within 10-4 and were threatening to score more. Coach Carrillo said the Lady Cats had a great year and went on a great journey. He said he wouldn’t trade his team for any other. Coach Carrillo said they bought in to the concept of We Over Me all year long. The Lady Cats ended the season with a 28-7 record. They won an outright district championship, Coach Carrillo’s first one in Sulphur Springs. He said he is losing four wonderful seniors. Coach Carrillo said they will go off and do great things. Three of them have softball college scholarships. Coach Carrillo is already looking forward to next season. He has an incredible junior class this year led by pitcher Bailey Haggerty, first baseball Brinklee Driver, second baseman Sierra Smith, shortstop Kelsey Wallace and left fielder Sadie Stroud. Coach Carrillo added sophomore Alli Fite really stepped up with her hitting this year. He also liked the way Tessa Holt pitched against powerful Forney Saturday. Coach Carrillo predicted the Lady Cats would be good next year also.
Coach Abron on Imani Taylor at State Track Meet
Lady Cats Track Coach Triston Abron said senior Imani Taylor, who finished seventh in long jump at the State Track Meet in Austin Friday, did a great job of representing Sulphur Springs and the Lady Cats’ track program. He said Taylor was in second place after her first jump Friday but he said she could not hang on. Still Coach Abron said he was pleased that Taylor got the chance to compete on the big stage. After three fruitless years at the Regional Track Meet for Taylor, she broke through this year on her fourth try. Taylor and Coach Abron were joined at the State Meet by Taylor’s position coach Kurt McCain and by Lady Cat sprinter Sadavia Porter. Coach Abron told Porter he expects her to return to the State Meet next year and not have to pay to get in. Porter went to the Regional Track Meet and competed in both the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and as a member of the Lady Cats’ 4 X 100-meter relay team.
