Wildcats Baseball Season Over At Area
Wildcats Baseball Team’s Season Ends With Pitchers’ Duel Loss to Joshua Saturday
The Wildcats’ baseball team saw their season come to an end as they lost 3-1 to Joshua in the decisive third game of their Area series at Rockwall Saturday afternoon. Pacen Edwards deserved a better fate for the Wildcats taking the pitching loss despite allowing one earned run and three hits over six innings. Edwards struck out five and walked two. Joshua got a well pitched game from junior Zach Peters who won the pitchers’ duel going seven innings allowing one run and four hits while striking out 13 and walking one. The Owls scored first getting two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Their first two runners in the inning got on on errors. The second one was controversial. On a ball hit to third baseman Will Sims, he threw to first where first baseman Jaxon Chaney stretched and appeared to catch the ball with his foot on the bag before coming off the bag. The first base umpire, just feet from the play, ruled it an out. Joshua appealed to the home plate umpire, who observing the play from 90-feet away, overruled the first base umpire. The extra base runner made a difference. The next Owls’ hitter singled driving home a run. The Owls’ second run came home as the Wildcats turned a double play from second to short to first. Joshua added an insurance run in the bottom of the six to go up 3-0. They had a single, fielder’s choice and an RBI triple. The Wildcats scored their lone run in the top of the seventh. Kamren Harrison opened the inning with a double. Jase Thompson’s one out triple drove in Harrison. The Wildcats end the season with an 18-12 record.
Rains, Como-Pickton Teams Take Top Honors In SSHS BBQ Build Off, Cooking Honors Won By Bland
Top honors in the Sulphur Springs High School BBQ Build Off Friday went to Rains High School ag students for their smoker and to Bland High School in the cooking contest.
Rains team accepts their first place awards at the SSHS BBQ Build Off. 
The Rains ISD team with their first place barbecue smoker at SSHS BBQ Build Off.
The annual contest featured teams of three and four students from nine different high schools, including Sulphur Springs, Miller Grove, Rivercrest, Lone Oak and Commerce school district. Students demonstrated and honed their skills to construct a barbecue smoker, using the same materials provided by SSHS and their own tools and abilities, between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Two teams also brought an additional member, who cooked meat to be judged on site Friday.
Two of the Bland team members with their project; Bland won the cooking contest at the SSHS BBQ Build Off. 
The Como-Pickton team with their second place smoker at the SSHS BBQ Build Off
Three community members served as judges, evaluating each barbecue smoker based on a form. Teams were awarded 50 points for complete their smoker, 10 for how it acts, 10 for condition, 15 points for welding quality, 15 for fit and form and potential 20 more points for any extra efforts and features they put into the smoker.
Shortly before 3 p.m., SSHS agriculture teacher John Luper commended all of the teams for their efforts. He announced the Bland team as the winner of the cooking contest. Honors in the build-off went to Rains County as the overall winners. Earning second place honors was the Como-Pickton team and third place went to the Greenville team. The judges also commended Commerce’s team members were for their perseverance in sticking with the project even after taking the worst of the morning’s rain.
The Greenville team accept their third place prizes 
The Greenville team with their third place project.
Winners received a welding bag with a variety of tools and other useful welding items. Each team also got to take home their project.
The Rivercest Team with their project 
The Commerce team with their project 
The Lone Oak team with their project 
The SSHS team with their project 
The Miller Grove team with their project
SSPD: Disturbance Involving Teen Reportedly Ends With Misdemeanor Assault Charge
A disturbance with a teen Friday afternoon resulted in a 27-year-old Shreveport, Louisiana man being arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs police reportedly responded during the noon hour Friday to a disturbance report on North Jackson Street.
The Shreveport man was alleged to have been involved in a disturbance with his 15-year-old cousin. One cousin hit the other, causing a fight, police reports alleged. The Shreveport man then is accused of grabbing the cousin in a headlock. The cousins reportedly were separated to end the fight. The 15-year-old suffered minor scrapes around the neck, police alleged in arrest reports.
The Shreveport man was reported to be “very uncooperative with officers and threatened to physically move an officer” in order to re-enter the Jackson Street residence, according to arrest reports.
When told he was under arrest, the Shreveport man allegedly began to pull away from the officer, who then reported using minimal force with his hands to control the man to the ground, where he was placed into handcuffs and taken to jail, the officer alleged in the arrest report.
When given an opportunity to tell his side of the story, the man reportedly refused to speak, police noted in arrest reports. The Shreveport man was charged with the Class A misdemeanor offense family violence assault causing bodily injury, according to arrest and jail reports. His bond was set at $2,000 on the charge Saturday, according to jail reports.
Man Jailed For Allegedly Choking His Girlfriend During Altercation
May 11, 2019 – Police arrested a 39-year-old Sulphur Springs man for allegedly choking his girlfriend during an altercation Friday.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Brandon Murphy reported responding to a disturbance reported in the 600 block of Houston Street. Upon arrival, officers reported seeing James Wesley Whitworth on his front porch, yelling at bystanders. Whitworth was detained and placed into handcuffs “due to his agitation,” while police investigated further,.
As a result of that investigation, police determined Whitworth was an aggressor in a physical altercation. He was accused of intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to his girlfriend by choking her during the physical altercation. Murphy alleged injuries on the girlfriend supported the description given to police regarding the alleged assault.
Whitworth was taken to jail for assault of a family or household member that impeded breathing or circulation, a third-degree felony offense.
Whitworth violated his parole on the assault charge in November in 2023 and was arrested.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Wildcats Baseball Team Has Winning Streak Snapped, Decisive Area Game Saturday
During the Wildcats’ eight game winning streak, good defense has been a big part of the story. Friday night, May 10, in game two of the Wildcats Area round series with Joshua, the Wildcats committed six errors that contributed greatly to a one-sided 13-2 loss.
The series is now tied at one game apiece. The deciding game takes place Saturday at noon at Rockwall.
Friday the Owls got off to a strong start using an error to score three runs in the top of the first inning. The Wildcats scored one in the bottom of the first but trailed 3-1.
Joshua scored three more times in the second inning to go up, 6-1.
The Wildcats were able to score a single run in the bottom of the third but still trailed 6-2.
The Owls scored four more runs in the fourth inning and three more in the sixth to wrap up the game.
Joshua only outhit the Wildcats 8-6. Joshua also had two errors compared with six for the Wildcats.
Jaxon Chaney took the loss for the Wildcats going three innings allowing three hits and six runs, all of them unearned due to errors. Chaney struck out three and walked three.
Jake Davis went 2/3 of an inning allowing two hits and four runs with all of them unearned. Davis struck out two and walked two.
Kamren Harrison finished up, pitching 2 1/3 innings allowing three hits, three runs with two strikeouts and two walks.
Kaden Argenbright and Chaney led the Wildcats with two hits apiece. Argenbright was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two doubles. Chaney was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Kolson Hale drove in a run was was 1 for 3 with a double. Austin Dodd was 1 for 3.
The Wildcats season record slips to 18-11.
200 Athletes Compete In 10th Annual Hopkins County Track and Field Meet
Friday’s early morning rain may have forced the 10th Annual Hopkins County Track and Field Meet inside, but it did nothing to dampen the excitement and enthusiasm of the 200 student athletes competing in the special sports day at Sulphur Springs High School Friday.
Students from Barbara Bush, Lamar and Travis Primary campuses, Sulphur Springs Elementary, Middle and High School in Sulphur Springs ISD were joined by student athletes from Clarksville, Commerce, Emory Rains schools and the Hopkins County Co-Op.
As they entered the Multipurpose Building Friday morning, students were greeted with cheers and applause from SSHS and SSMS cheerleaders, Key Club and SSMS Student Council members.
After checking in, the event kicked off with an opening ceremony, which featured a parade of athletes to music played by Sulphur Springs band students, presentation of flags by Sulphur Springs Boy Scouts, the pledge to the American flag lead by Ridge Browning, pledge to Texas flag lead by Riley Joslin, singing of the National Anthem by Morgan Deaton, opening remarks and invocation by SSISD administrators, Special Olympics Oath lead by Alyson Vaughn, and declaration of the competition open by SSISD Special Programs Specialist Rachel Kistler.
On the field, students were organized into groups to compete in a number of track and field events, including the 50 and 100 meter walk and dash, 10 meter dash, 25 meter walk, 10 and 25 meter assisted walk; and 10, 25 and 100 meter wheelchair events, as well as a tennis ball throw, javelin, softball throw, running long jump and standing long jump. Each student was paired with at least one Key Club, Student Council, Blue Blazes and cheerleaders , who also helped staff the events.
A special lunch was provided by Alliance Bank for each athlete, student volunteers, staff and others involved in the day’s activities.
Of course, the event would not be possible without sponsors’ contributions and the numerous volunteers, staff and others, recognized on the event t-shirt and program.
SaDavia Porter Finishes Sixth in State in Class 5A 100-Meter Dash
Lady Cat sprinter SaDavia Porter finished in sixth place in the Class 5A 100-meter dash at the State Track Meet Friday night. May 10, at Mike A. Myers Stadium at UT Austin. Porter ran in lane one. Out of the nine competitors in the event, Porter came in with the seventh best time.
She finished second at the Regional Track Meet at UT Arlington on April 27 to qualify for state. Porter won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Area Track Meet and at the District Meet.
She has signed a letter of intent to run track at UT-Arlington after graduation.
Lady Cats Softball Team Ends Season With Heartbreaking Loss in Regional Quarterfinal Series Friday
Hallsville 3, Lady Cats Softball 2 (9 Innings)
The Lady Cats’ softball team lost a heart breaker Friday, losing 3-2 to Hallsville in the bottom of the ninth inning of game two in a regional quarterfinal series at Grand Saline Friday, May 10. Hallsville also won game one, 4-2 in the series Thursday evening at Grand Saline.
On Friday, Hallsville took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning without the benefit of a base hit. They used two walks, a fielder’s choice, a sacrifice and an error to get on the board.
The lead lasted until the Lady Cats took the lead scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning. Brinklee Driver led off the inning with a home run over the left field wall. With one out, Sadie Stroud walked and Abbi Baier came in to run for her. Sierra Smith singled and Baier went to second. Baier then stole third base. Smith took second on an infield out by Addison Caddell. Baier stayed at third. Maddie Millsap’s single scored Baier and apparently Smith.
Hallsville claimed Smith failed to touch home plate and the home plate umpire agreed calling Smith out. Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo argued the call but, to no avail. KSST video appears to show Smith touching home base. When the dust settled, the Lady Cats led 2-1.
Hallsville got a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 2-2. A walk and an error set the table and a single scored the run.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth when Hallsville won it. They had a walk, a sacrifice, a ground out and a soft single that landed fair just over the infield in shallow left field.
The Lady Cats outhit Hallsville 10-4 but left nine runners on base. Bailey Haggerty took the hard luck loss pitching 8 2/3 innings allowing four hits, three runs only one which was earned with two strikeouts and six walks. Driver, Stroud, Smith and Nylah Lindley all had two hits apiece. Stroud hit two doubles. Millsap and Kelsey Wallace also had hits.
The Lady Cats end the season with a 26-8 record. They were again district champions and also won bi-district and area round series.
Ten seniors played their last Lady Cat game: Kelsey Wallace, Brinklee Driver, Sadie Stroud, Sierra Smith, Bailey Haggerty, Maddie Millsap, Landri Bell, Tessa Holt, Abbi Baier and Darby Williams.
* Update: Identity Of Man Who Died After Being Struck By A Train Released
Sulphur Springs Police Interim Chief Jason Ricketson identified the 51-year-old Sulphur Springs man who died at the hospital Friday evening from injuries sustained when he was struck by a train as William Wilemon.
According to Ricketson, officials responded at 5:14 p.m. May 10 on South Locust Street at the railroad tracks to what was reported as pedestrian versus train crash.
After arriving, police discovered the 51-year-old man had been struck by an eastbound train while pushing a bike north over the railroad tracks. Wilemon was transported to the hospital, where he died a short time later Friday evening, Ricketson said.
SaDavia Porter Runs at State Meet Friday Night, Plus Some Sports MVP’s
Briefly in sports, Lady Cat track sprinter SaDavia Porter will compete at the State Track Meet Friday night (May 10), weather permitting. Porter will run in the Class 5A 100-meter dash at UT Austin beginning at 7:05 p.m. Porter will run in lane one in the nine athlete field.
Without a main SSHS athletic banquet this year, each sport is having their own gathering and their MVP’s are being announced.
Wildcats Golf Coach Chris Owens announced Friday that his team’s MVP is senior Carter Lewis. Lewis will be playing college golf at UT Tyler.
Lady Cats Soccer Coach Joel Bailey announced his team’s MVP’s earlier this week. Selected were senior defender Alli Stephens and senior forward Keeley Hudgins.
