Williams Struck Out 14 in Panther 9-1 Win
The North Hopkins’ baseball team got good pitching and they used two big innings late to pull away from Fruitvale for a 9-1 win at home Tuesday.
Panther pitcher Chase Williams got the win allowing only 3 hits and one earned run in seven innings. Williams struck out 14 Fruitvale batters and he issued only one walk. The Panthers outhit Fruitvale six to three. North Hopkins scored two runs in the bottom of the first. The game stayed at 2-0 until North Hopkins scored three runs in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth to take a 9-0 lead. Fruitvale scored their lone run in the top of the seventh inning.
Williams was also good with the bat going 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored. Caleb Wyatt was 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Colby Cameron had an RBI. Branson Thomas drew four walks and scored two runs. Brycen Gillespie was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and a walk. The Panthers stole five bases with Jesse Rivera swiping two and Gillespie, Victor Rojo and Wyatt getting one apiece. The Panthers received 11 walks.
Solid Pitching and Two Big Innings Provide 7-1 Margin in Lady Cat Win
The Lady Cats’ softball team used two big innings and the solid pitching of Bailey Haggerty to defeat Marshall, 7-1 at Lady Cat Park Tuesday evening.
The Lady Cats broke a scoreless tie with a three-run fourth inning and then added four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to increase their lead to 7-1. The Lady Cats had ten hits. Haggerty allowed only one earned run and three hits over seven innings while striking out 7 and walking none. Haggerty threw 87 pitches and 60 of those were strikes. Brinklee Driver led the hit parade for the Lady Cats going 1 for 3 with a single and two RBIs. Alli Fite was 3 for 4 with a double. Kelsey Wallace was 2 for 3 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Sadie Stroud was 1 for 3 with an RBI, a single and a walk. Nylah Lindley was 1 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Macee Hollins scored two runs and drew a walk. Alyssa Abron and Sierra Smith also had hits. Kate Womack scored a run.
With the win, the first place Lady Cats improved their district record to 9-1. Their season mark is now 22-5. The Lady Cats travel to Texarkana Friday evening to play Texas High.
Wildcats Edge By Marshall
Wildcats’ pitching ace Ryan Humphries threw a complete game two-hit shutout as the Wildcats edged by Marshall, 1-0 in a pitchers’ duel Tuesday night at Wildcat Park. Humphries threw 93 pitches over seven innings and struck out nine and walked only one.
The Wildcats scored the only run Humphries would need in the bottom of the third inning when the Wildcats got both of their only hits. Gavin Millsap led off with a single. He moved to second on a single by Austin Dodd. Millsap moved to third base and Dodd to second on a wild pitch. Millsap scored on a sacrifice fly by Kaden Argenbright. The Wildcats played error-free ball.
Marshall pitcher Trevor Clark took the hard luck loss allowing only one earned run and two hits. Clark struck out three, walked one and hit a batter.
With the win, the Wildcats improve their district mark to 7-1 and their season record to 14-8. The Wildcats take on third place Texas High in Texarkana Friday night.
Lady Cats: 14 Hits, 16 Runs in Victory over Pine Tree; Host Marshall Friday
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo found a lot to like in the Lady Cats 16-1 victory at Pine Tree Monday. The game was rained out Friday and had to be played from the beginning Monday.
Coach Carrillo decided to rest his ace pitcher Bailey Haggerty Monday and he called on Tessa Holt. Holt answered by throwing a two hitter allowing only one earned run and no walks. Coach Carrillo said Holt did an outstanding job. He said when he has dialed her number this year, she has come through. Coach Carrillo called her a winner. He said it was great to give Haggerty a rest with three big district games coming up down the stretch. Coach Carrillo also liked his defense that committed only one error Monday.
The Lady Cats hit the ball all over the Lady Pirates’ field. The Lady Cats had 14 hits. Coach Carrillo said the hitting was better Monday than it’s been in a while. He especially liked Brinklee Driver’s two run line drive homer over the center field wall. Coach Carrillo also got to use his bench as a total of 15 Lady Cats got to play. He said the only negative was that he could only savor the victory for one day.
The Lady Cats host Marshall at Lady Cat Park Tuesday. There will be a JV game at 4:30 p.m. followed by the varsity game at 6 p.m. The last time the two teams played, the Lady Cats scored two runs in the top of the seventh to win, 3-2 in Marshall. The Lady Cats also really want to make amends for their last home appearance. That was a 10-4 loss to Hallsville. The Lady Cats are now 8-1 in district play as they attempt to win a district championship. The Lady Cats shared the district championship with Texas High back in 2009.
Wildcat Baseball in Second Place in District
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack couldn’t have written a script any better than what took place at Pine Tree Monday afternoon as the Wildcats and Pirates finished up a game they started Friday that was postponed due to rain. The Wildcats came in leading 7-4 starting in the top of the fifth inning. First the Wildcats put men on immediately and ended up scoring an additional run to go up 8-4.
Jaxon Chaney pitched the final three innings giving the Pirates nothing. He struck out four. Coach Hammack said it turned out to be a three hour round trip to play 30 minutes of baseball. The more he talked about it, the better he seemed to like the efficiency of it. The win helped the Wildcats keep pace with first place Hallsville. The Bobcats squeezed by Mount Pleasant, 4-3 in 8 innings. Hallsville is now 7-0 and the Wildcats are 6-1 in district play. The Wildcats now have a two game lead over third place Texas High after the Tigers lost to Marshall 3-1. Texas High is now 4-3 in district play and Marshall is 3-4.
Marshall visits Wildcat Park Tuesday night. The Mavs are now 3-4 in district play. Ryan Humphries is expected to pitch for the Wildcats. There will be a JV game at 4 p.m. with the varsity game to follow at 7 p.m. We will bring you the Wildcats and Mavericks game live on KSST Radio Tuesday at 7 p.m. We will also videotape the game for replay at a later date on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Maloney Sentenced to 13 Years in TDJC for Indecency with a Child
Tuesday afternoon in Eighth Judicial District Court a trial before the bench resulted in a 13 year sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and ordered Juddson Maloney, 24, to pay court costs plus attorney’s fees totaling $800 as Maloney was found guilty of Indecency with a Child, a 2nd Degree Felony.
Juddson Maloney
Maloney had been on probation for Indecency with a Child but his probation was revoked after a new offense of evading arrest and failure to report to his probation officer for four (4) months. Maloney will serve 6.5 years before he is eligible for parole due to revocation of parole. Although he will be given credit for approximately 50 days of jail time, he will not receive credit for 90 days jail time that had been required as a part of the earlier probation. Judge Eddie Northcutt noted Maloney had not worked nor performed his community service, which had been a requirement of probation as well.
During the sentencing, Judge Northcutt noted the opportunities afforded Maloney since his first arrest for Indecency with a Child in May, 2015. The judge said that now Maloney will have a number of opportunities presented to complete a college degree, receive treatment for addictions, and treatment leading to cognitive rehabilitation while in prison. Judge Northcutt stated that he based the opportunities he named on his personal visits to a number of prisons in Texas to learn of the programs offered.
The judge said he hoped Maloney would better his life. His statements were made as the judge listed a number of times when Maloney had opportunities including letters submitted that referred to his involvement in mission projects at a younger age. Judge Northcutt noted that Maloney had been in an intensive supervised probation but had refused to cooperate with rules governing his probation. The judge also noted that when Maloney evaded arrest, he had failed to follow commands given by the arresting officer that led to the officer sustaining a sprained ankle and eventually apprehending Maloney. The judge gave kudos to the officer for not tasing or shooting Maloney.
The judge did note that Maloney had admitted his guilt but only partially admitted his guilt. Maloney’s attorney had argued that his poor choices had been made under the influence of alcohol or drugs and due to past abuse. The Judge said in his sentencing that Malony did what he wanted to do and could not blame outside influences. The judged based his statement on the number of times Maloney had refused to follow rules while not affected by outside influences.
Crosstown Trails Update: Work at Pavilion and Kid’s Kingdom
As work continues on the Cross Town Trails project, funded by a grant from TxDOT and matching funds from the city, work is focused on Kid’s Kingdom. A new sign that will include names of those involved in the Kid’s Kingdom project, sidewalks, 15 trees, a number of flowers and other plants will beautify the area. Cross Town Trail will connect Coleman Park to Celebration Plaza in a walk that will take one from Coleman Park to Peavine Pinion Pond, to Kid’s Kingdom to the Civic Center and on to downtown along Connally Street. City workers were busy Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at Kid’s Kingdom.
The Oaks Bed and Breakfast Hosts SS Area Retired School Personnel Program
Vice President Marilyn Powers introduces presenter Ragan Dennis
Ragan Dennis, Case Manager and Prevention Awareness Sponsor for SAFE-T presented a program during the April meeting of the Sulphur Springs Area Retired School Personnel at The Oaks Bed and Breakfast. About three dozen retired school personnel attended.
Ragan described her job duties which include public information about SAFE-T’s hotline, outreach services, residential services and educational programs for schools. She related basic information about SAFE-T (Shelter Agencies for Families in East Texas) and it’s services which include on-call advocacy at hospitals, sheriff or police department for cases of sexual assault, and the SAFE-T shelter. The agency’s shelter is for women and children dealing with domestic violence of sexual assault. SAFE-T serves eight counties in Northeast Texas, is headquartered in Mt Pleasant, Texas and operates an office in Sulphur Springs. You can reach the local office by calling 903-439-0325.
If you wish to become a member or attend meetings of the Sulphur Springs Area Retired School Personnel, you can contact chapter President Tommy Long at 903-438-6069 or visit the website. Sulphur Springs Area Retired School Personnel is a service organization that works to protect and improve your TRS benefits and promote the well-being of its members. Local Unit Meetings are held on the second Tuesday, September thru May @ 10:00 am hosted by The Oaks Bed & Breakfast, 516 Oak Avenue, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482.
SSISD Board Honors Sapaugh; New Hires; Explores Programs
Don Sapaugh, honored for his 11 years of service to Sulphur Springs Independent School District, hiring a new head band director and a new transportation director, along with presentations by the district math and science programs and the middle school robotics team highlighted the April meeting of the SSID Board Monday night, April 9, 2018.
During Public forum, Superintendent of Schools Michael Lamb presented Sapaugh with a plaque honoring his years of service on the board. Lamb pointed out that Sapaugh stepped down to allow Sapaugh’s wife to pursue her passion in teaching.
SSISD Board Hired an experienced Transportation Director Robert Huizinga (left), who currently serves the Chapel Hill ISD at Mt Pleasant and Spencer Emmert (right) as new Head Band Director.
Spencer Emmert was presented to the board as the Superintendent’s recommendation for the district’s new head band director. Lamb noted Emmert’s great energy. Emmert, who served for 12 years as an assistant in the local program and who is the current band director at Winnsboro High School, will fill the vacancy created in the death of Charles McCauley. While director of the Winnsboro band, his bands have won a number of honors on the area and state level. As Middle School band director in Sulphur Springs, Emmert had built the program into a successful program that attracted larger numbers of students to the band. He stated that he is thankful for the trust placed in him. His wife, Christi, currently teaches music on the elementary level in SSISD and four of their five children are in local schools. The fifth child begins school next year.
Superintendent Lamb also presented the new Transportation Director, Robert Huizinga. Huizinga is currently the Transportation Director for Chapel Hill Schools in Mt Pleasant. His experience as a transportation director and his diesel mechanic background made him a good fit for the position according to Lamb. Huizinga’s wife, Susan, is an Elementary Science Consultant at Region VIII Education Service Center.
The board approved resolutions nominating Superintendent Lamb for Superintendent of the Year in Texas. Lamb’s nomination begins at the regional level where he will be interviewed and recommendations will be assessed.
The board voted to purchase playground equipment. The equipment will cost $175,000 and an application for a $150,000 Head Start grant for the equipment at the Douglas ECLC campus was also approved by the board. Money from the grant would be utilized in the purchase. Superintendent Lamb noted that the change of campus for ECLC and Douglas would lead to improvements at each campus. Drainage issues at the current ECLC building will be addressed and an expansion of the parking lot at Douglas is on tap.
New laminate will replace problems created by moisture damage at the Middle School. The new laminate, purchased from 3T Building Materials, will be used for counter tops replacement and will cost just under $85,000. Money from the settlement between the school and contractor will pay for the upgrade. According to Dan Froneburger, District Maintenance Director, much of the laminate would arrive pre-cut and would be installed by school maintenance employees.
Carmen Hammack presented a report on the district math programs that encourage students to think math. The district science report was presented by video featuring Karen Phillips who gave an overview of the program.
Kelly Shutt and Middle School students presented the Robotics Program at the Middle School. The young program has already placed on the state level. 
A demonstration of the robots built and programmed by the students drew the students and board into conversations regarding steps taken, lessons learned, and planning for future robotic program activity.
Deborah Cody presented the required Head Start training on the Roles and Responsibilities of the Governing Board to board members.
PERSONNEL
Contracts
2018-2019 professional employment contracts (teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses)
Retirement
Cathy Bonner MTA/ELAR Teacher Middle School
Resignations
Brandi Brunson Kindergarten Teacher ECLC
Amber Wilson Kindergarten Teacher ECLC
Cassie Fleming Grade 2 Teacher Bowie
Brandy Griffin Grade 1 Teacher Bowie
Theresa Anderson Strings Teacher Middle School
William Giles Government Teacher High School
Tracy Stewart Business Teacher High School
New Personnel
Robert Huizinga Transportation Director Admin. Bldg.
Tanya Bain English Teacher Middle School
Dayton Gifford SpEd Aide Middle School
Kevin Hatcher PE/Coach Middle School
Lauren Robinson English Teacher Middle School
Teri Triplett English Teacher Middle School
Spencer Emmert Head Band Director High School
Personnel Changes New Position/Campus Former Position/Campus
Cindy Welch Pt-time Fine Arts Coord./ Pt-time Band Secretary/
High School (New position) High School
Susan Cook Grade 5 Math Interventionist/ Math Teacher/
SSES Middle School
