10 Students From 5 Schools Named 2019 Hopkins County Bright Star Scholars
Students from five county high schools were recognized Tuesday night as the very first Hopkins County Bright Star Scholars.
Honorees include Akayshia Smith,Cumby ISD; Faith Wheeler and Amy Sprague, North Hopkins ISD; Nathan Valenzuela, Saltillo ISD; Casey Bass, Sulphur Bluff ISD; and Jennifer Lopez-Cervantes, Maddie Millsap, Madelyn Ray, Rhett Reid and Landry Tyson, Sulphur Springs ISD.
Each of the 10 students were awarded a $4,000 per semester scholarship from the John and Deborah Gillis Foundation, renewable for up to eight semesters, to pay for college, up to total of $32,000 each.
Any Bright Star Scholar who graduates college in less than four years can continue to apply the rest of their award, $4,000 per semester through the full fourth year or eight semesters toward graduate school, if they choose to pursue a master’s degree or higher.
The selection process was difficult due to the high caliber of students applying for the scholarships, but using the rubric scale established to evaluate each application and part of the process, they believe the best choices were selected, according to John Gillis and Foundation Executive Director Robin Schrode.
“This is a wonderful group of students that interviewed. It was so hard to pick just 10,” said John Gillis during a recognition ceremony Tuesday for the Bright Star Scholars.
“That was some tough competition. As a county, I want you all to be so proud of the young people of this county that’s going to move forward and become the adults that’s going to leading you further into the 21st century. They are amazing, absolutely amazing,” Shrode said.
She commended the parents of the 2019 Bright Star Scholars for the “incredible job” they’ve done raising “some of the brightest, kindest, caring-beyond-themselves young adults I’m going to have the pleasure of meeting and working with.”
“Bright Star Scholars, this is only the beginning of my relationship with you. I get to take this four year ride with you and I am so excited. I can’t wait to see what each one of you are doing with your lives. I know you are not only going to represent the foundation well but you are going to represent your families and community as well,” Shrode told the Bright Star Scholars.
Gillis said he hopes this effort to help 10 students annually will be the start of a movement, to really get the ball rolling, to produce additional ways to increase the number of students receiving financial assistance to continue education beyond high school annually.
The scholarship program is the second platform of the Gillis Foundation’s commitment to local education.
In February, the foundation awarded three grants – one each to Como-Pickton, Sulphur Bluff and Cumby school districts – for a total of $100,000 for innovative programs in their schools. The purposes of the grants are to support schools are they prepare students who graduate from high school to be college and career ready whatever their life goals may be.
The grant funding’s intentions are ultimately to increase Hopkins County graduates’ chances of competing in a global society for college entrances of their choice and competitive career opportunities.
Information regarding the process of applying for the Grants to Schools and Bright Star Scholarship programs can be found on the foundation’s website: www.jdgillisfoundation.org
Lady Cats Fall Into First Place Tie After One-Sided 9-1 Loss To Mount Pleasant On Senior Night
Mount Pleasant 9, Lady Cats Softball 1
The Lady Cats’ softball team fell into a first place tie in district Tuesday night, April 16, after a miserable 9-1 loss to Mount Pleasant on Senior Night at Lady Cat Park.
Both the Lady Cats and Lady Tigers are now 7-2 in district play with one game left for each team. Little went right for the Lady Cats as Mount Pleasant dominated play almost from the beginning.
The Lady Tigers opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the second inning. The Lady Cats got their only run in the bottom of the fifth.
Sadie Stroud hit a long fly to left field that looked like it might had hit on the top of the fence on the yellow line and then bounced back onto the field. Stroud was initially given a double. The umpires huddled and then ruled the ball a home run. It cut the lead to 3-1 and that was as close as the Lady Cats could come.
Mount Pleasant added two runs in the top of the sixth to go up, 5-1. They padded their lead with four more runs in the top of the seventh to make it 9-1.
The Lady Cats only managed the single run and two hits. Stroud and Sierra Smith had the hits. Mount Pleasant made 11 hits.
Bailey Haggerty took the pitching loss for the Lady Cats. Over seven innings, Haggerty allowed 11 hits and nine runs, eight of them earned. She walked six and had five strikeouts.
Averie Ayres befuddled the Lady Cats for the second time this season. In Mount Pleasant, she allowed only one run and three hits. This time, over seven innings Ayres allowed two hits and one run striking out eight and walking one.
The Lady Cats season record slips to 21-6. The Lady Cats still hope to earn part of a co-championship. To do so they probably will have to defeat Texas High in Texarkana Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m.
The Lady Cats honored ten seniors on Senior Night Tuesday night: Kelsey Wallace, Brinklee Driver, Sadie Stroud, Sierra Smith, Bailey Haggerty, Maddie Millsap, Landri Bell, Tessa Holt, Abbi Baier and Darby Williams.
Wildcats Baseball Team Uses Pitching, Defense To Eke Out 1-0 Victory Over Mount Pleasant
Wildcat Baseball 1, Mount Pleasant 0
The Wildcats’ baseball team utilized strong pitching and defense to squeeze by Mount Pleasant, 1-0 in a district game Tuesday night, April 16, at Wildcat Park.
Wildcats pitchers Will Sims and Jake Davis combined to throw a shutout. Sims got the win going 5 1/3 innings allowing only one hit and no runs with two strikeouts and one walk. Davis went 1 2/3 innings allowing three hits and no runs with no strikeouts and a walk. Neither team committed an error.
The Tigers actually outhit the Wildcats four to one but could never push a run across the plate. Sims had the lone Wildcat hit, a double. Austin Dodd scored the game’s only run. He scored in the bottom of the second on a ground ball hit by Jase Thompson.
The Wildcats improved their district record to 4-8. They remain one game behind Royse City in the district standings and the Bulldogs own the tiebreaker over the Wildcats having swept the series between the two, 3 games to 0.
Royse City defeated Greenville Tuesday night, 4-2. Mount Pleasant, in third place in district, slips to 6-6 in district play but now they are only one game ahead of 5-7 Royse City.
The Wildcats are 12-10 for the season. They play at Mount Pleasant Thursday night at 7 p.m.
North Hopkins Baseball Wins Handily over Cumby, 11-0 Tuesday
The North Hopkins Panthers’ baseball team was too much for Cumby defeating the Trojans, 11-0 in six innings at Cumby Tuesday (April 16). The Panthers scored in all six innings.
Caleb Wyatt got the win for North Hopkins. Hit leaders for the Panthers were Geoffrey Stewart, Victor Rojo and Branson Thomas. North Hopkins RBI leaders were Rojo, Colby Cameron and Stewart.
Forum For City Council Candidates Planned April 23
How well do you know the six candidates on the May 4 Sulphur Springs City Council ballot? Have something you’d like to ask?
An open City Council Forum is being hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at The ROC, by the Hopkins County Republican Club for that purpose.
“We want to inform folks so they can make informed decisions, whoever they vote for,” said Melonie Findley, president of local Republican Club.
While community members are encouraged to ask questions, Findley said those questions should be submitted in advance either by texting them to 903-348-0648, emailing them to [email protected] or bringing them April 23 written down to submit for consideration during the forum.
Each question selected will be asked, and each candidate will have the option to respond to it. The first person asked the question will then have the option later in the round to rebut or clarify their answer. The next round of questions will be posed first to the next person in order, with that individual given the option of rebuttal or clarification, and so on through the candidate order. Questions posed will be those presented in advance. No questions will be asked directly by people in the audience, to make the event fair for all candidates, Findley explained.
The opening dialogue for the forum will be candidates briefly introducing themselves, stating what they want people to know about them
“This is a neutral forum. Do do not want anyone to be attacked. This is a place where they can put their best foot forward,” she said.
All city council candidates have been invited and have confirmed intent to participate except one candidate. She plans to attend if she can make it back from an out-of-town family commitment prior to the forum, Findley reported.
Candidates are for Place 1 incumbent Freddie Taylor and challenger Reiko Alexander, for Place 5 incumbent Emily Glass and challenger Jeff Sanderson, and incumbent (appointed) Place 6 Doug Moore and challenger Landon Thornton.
Spring Football Begins Wednesday For Wildcats
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens has become a believer in spring football. For the fourth straight year, the Wildcats will have spring football. It means one less week of practice in August and just one scrimmage in August instead of two.
This year, spring football begins with two acclamation days. Those will be Wednesday and Thursday, April 17-18, and will take place during the athletic periods during the school day. Players will be in helmets, t-shirts and shorts.
Work in pads will start Monday and will take place after school from around 4 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. Workouts will take place Mondays through Thursdays through May 15.
The Spring Game is now scheduled for Friday, May 17, at either 6 p.m. or 7 p.m.
All dates are subject to change depending on other things that might arise.
Coach Owens said spring football is good for the Wildcats and the coaching staff. He said it is particularly useful in developing the offensive line and the defensive line, linebackers and safeties.
Coach Owens is losing 32 seniors to graduation. He is expected to depend on a lot of youth to fill the void. Rather than having to wait until August to see what he’s got, a lot of decisions concerning players are expected to be made during spring drills.
Coach Owens said he has seen some players gain confidence during the spring. Rather than preparing for an opponent like in the fall, spring football is all about the Wildcats.
Everything is videotaped and coaches use the tape to instruct the players and help them improve.
After having veteran quarterbacks for several years, the signal calling job may be more wide open this year. Hopefuls include sophomore Kaden Wallace, Noe Ponce and Aidan Walker are senior to be QBs. Coach Owens said there are also a couple of sophomores-to-be who will get a look.
The Wildcats will be squeezing in 18 workouts in 34 days according to UIL rules.
Training Truckers at PJC
Baseball and Softball on This Tuesday Game Day
The Wildcats’ baseball team and the Lady Cats’ softball team will both be playing Mount Pleasant at home in important ball games on this game day Tuesday, April 16.
With a senior night win, the Lady Cats could wrap up the district championship. The Lady Cats are 7-1 in district play and in first place. Mount Pleasant is 6-2 in second place. Mount Pleasant won the first match between the two, 3-1 at Mount Pleasant back on March 29. The Lady Cats got only three hits in that one but they have hit very well since then.
At Lady Cat Park, the JV game will start at 4 p.m. Senior night activities for ten Lady Cat seniors are scheduled to start at 5:50 p.m. The varsity game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.
KSST Radio will bring you the Lady Cats and Lady Tigers senior night battle live beginning at around 6:30 p.m. The game will also have live streaming video. The game will also be videotaped for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
The Wildcats’ baseball team also has an important game at home against Mount Pleasant on this Tuesday game day.
A JV game will start at 4 p.m. The varsity game begins at 7 p.m.
The Wildcats are 3-8 in district play and they are tied for fifth place with Greenville. Royse City is 4-7 and is in the fourth and final playoff spot. Mount Pleasant is 6-5 and in third place. The Wildcats only have four district games left to get back into the playoff picture.
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo Predicted Lady Cats Comeback Friday
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo believes in the power of positive thinking. He may have picked up some converts Friday night, April 12, in the Lady Cats dramatic come from behind win over Lindale, 7-6 at Lady Cat Park: the members of his Lady Cats’ softball team.
When the team came into the dugout in the bottom of the seventh, Lindale had just scored three runs to take a 6-4 lead. First, Coach Carrillo told the Lady Cats to not be down. He said they had their two, three and four hitters coming to bat in the inning. Then, Coach Carrillo went further. He told them he was taking his phone out of his back pocket and was putting it in his bag because he said the phone tends to bother him when he’s jumping around and celebrating. Coach Carrillo said if you don’t believe you can come back, you are already defeated.
The first two Lady Cats’ batters, Ali Fite and Brinklee Driver, both drew walks. Then clean up hitter Kate Womack hit a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall and the Lady Cats won, 7-6 on the walk over home run.
Coach Carrillo said the game felt like a playoff game. He called the win one of the most exciting in his long coaching career — definitely in his top ten, perhaps right up there with a dramatic win over Marshall years ago that caused Coach Carrillo to do a forward flip walking toward home plate before back slapping Mac Morgan at home plate after she scored the winning run.
Now, comes the rematch with Mount Pleasant. The Lady Cats are 7-1 in district play. There lone loss was to Mount Pleasant. The Lady Tigers come in 6-2. If Mount Pleasant wins, they would be tied with the Lady Cats and own the tiebreaker, 2 wins to zero. The Lady Cats have been tearing the cover off softballs since they got only three hits in a 3-1 loss at Mount Pleasant back on March 29.
Friday night will be an emotional game on a lot of levels. It’s senior night for the largest senior class Coach Carrillo has ever had by far, 10 seniors. Coach Carrillo said the game would be a barn burner, and who wants to miss that.
