New Faces for Sulphur Springs City Council Following Election
It was a busy day for city staff and election judges as they accommodated registered voters, poll watchers, and those who thought they had lost something, like Charles Oxford, as observed while this writer waited to vote, who spent several minutes looking at and around voting machines and the judges’ table during the time others were present to vote in the City of Sulphur Springs municipal election. By early afternoon, the elevator at city hall was down and election judges were taking ballots to the first floor for those who could not climb the stairs. Elections judges were also under the watchful eye of a representative of the Texas Secretary of State Office. A request for a poll watcher was signed by 16 registered voters who questioned the integrity of the local election process.
Other than that, a larger than usual number of voters turned out to cast ballots for those who will sit in Place 1, 2, and 3 of the Sulphur Springs City Council for the next three years. Elected to Place 1Erica Armstrong with 751 votes to incumbent Craig Johnson who drew 435. Elected to Place 2, Jimmy Lucas with 657 votes to Sara Gibson’s 540. Elected to Place 3, Norman Sanders with 685 votes to Oscar Aguilar’s 509. Andy Lowen received 29 votes and Justin Davidson 42 votes even though both had withdrawn from the race.
Interested in Playing Duplicate or Party Bridge?
Lady Cats Win Area; Face Forney in Regional Quarterfinals
The Lady Cats’ softball team pounded out twelve hits and pitcher Bailey Haggerty tossed a three-hit shutout in a 13-0 romp over Little Elm Friday night that wrapped up an Area round series two games to zero at McKinney North. Thursday night the Lady Cats came from behind to defeat Little Elm, 7-5.
Friday night, Haggerty struck out four and issued no walks in five innings. Brinklee Driver was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and she drove in three runs with a deep home run well over the wall at the large field. Kelsey Wallace was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Sierra Smith was 1 for 4 with a run scored, two RBIs and a triple. Alyssa Abron was 4 for 4 with three runs scored, an RBI, a double and a stolen base. Sadie Stroud was 2 for 2 with an RBI. Alli Fite was 1 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI. Kate Womack was 1 for 4 with a run scored. Macee Hollins scored a run. Landri Bell scored two runs.
The Lady Cats wasted no time getting started with the first three batters of the game all scoring to give them a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning. The Lady Cats added two more runs in the top of the second to go ahead 5-0. After a scoreless third inning, the Lady Cats sent 12 batters to the plat and scored eight runs on five hits, four walks and a fielder’s choice. The game was called after five innings due to the ten run rule.
The Lady Cats are now 28-5 for the season. The Lady Cats now face powerful Forney in the Regional Quarterfinals with details still to be worked out.
Bi-District Game 2: Wildcats Play Wylie East at McKinney Boyd
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack finally decided that there was no way Wildcat Park would be able to host bi-district baseball games against Wylie East on Friday or Saturday. His quest for a dry field led him to McKinney Boyd. The Wildcats bi-district series will resume there Saturday at 1 p.m. with game two of the best two out of three series.
The Raiders lead the series 1 game to zero after a home win over the Wildcats, 9-3 Wednesday night. If a third game is needed, it will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of Saturday’s game two. Ryan Humphries, the Wildcats ace, will pitch for the Wildcats. He is well rested having last pitched on Friday, April 27. The Wildcats have a current season record of 16-13.
Wildcat Playoff Game Postponed Due to Wet Grounds; Saturday Schedule Not Set
The Wildcats’ baseball team’s Friday (May 4) night playoff game against Wylie East scheduled for Wildcat Park for 7:30 p.m. has been postponed due to wet grounds. Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack hopes to have the field ready on Saturday (May 5) to finish up the best two out of three bi-district series. The Wildcats trail in the series one game to zero after the Raiders won at home Wednesday (May 2) night, 9-3.
Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens suggested the series may have to return to Wylie East’s all turf field if Wildcat Park is still too wet on Saturday. Coach Hammack said he liked that the Wildcats showed they had some fight in them by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday. He said 9-3 is better than 9-0. Coach Hammack said hopefully the Wildcats can build on this. He said the strategy for a coach that losses game one to tell his team if they can win game two, the momentum then swings to the team that takes the second game.
Wildcats ace Ryan Humphries is expected to pitch game two with plenty of rest. Coach Hammack said he could also use either of the two pitchers that threw Wednesday night or even the pitchers that went last Saturday during district playoff seeding games. He said the Wildcats would compete and battle back.
Jury Duty Cancelled for JP Court, Precinct 2, May 9th
Jury duty for Hopkins County Justice of the Peace Court, Precinct 2 for May 9, 2018, has been cancelled according to Judge Brad Cummings. Jurors do not need to report.
Lady Cats Area Game 2 Against Little Elm At McKinney North Friday Night
Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo had no doubt that his team was capable of making a comeback when they fell behind 5-1 against Little Elm at McKinney North in game one of their best two out of three area series Thursday (May 3). Coach Carrillo told his team they had been there before.
He told them to play better defensively and keep the Lady Lobos at five runs. He said he felt better after the Lady Cats cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Coach Carrillo said the Lady Cats moved the ball around and put it in play the whole game and finally the hits began to come. He said the Lady Cats made some mistakes that they don’t usually make to fall behind. Coach Carrillo said the Lady Cats found a way to win and he said he takes his hat off to them.
He said he felt especially good with Brinklee Driver batting with the bases loaded and the score tied during the big sixth inning rally. Driver hit a double to put the Lady Cats up 7-5. Coach Carrillo said Driver had a great night with three hits. She also drove in four runs in the game.
He also praised pitcher Bailey Haggerty for not getting rattled when the Lady Cats did not play well early. She only allowed two earned runs. Coach Carrillo said the Lady Cats continue to play with confidence.
The Lady Cats improved their record to 27-5. Game two of the series takes place Friday at 7 p.m. back at McKinney North. We will bring you Lady Cats softball against Little Elm live on KSST Radio beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. We will also videotape the game for replay later on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable.
Cumby Catcher Bailey Busby Receives Scholarship
Cumby softball catcher Bailey Busby has received a $500 scholarship from the Tyler Lone Star Softball Umpires Chapter of TASO, the Texas Association of Softball Officials. Bailey is the daughter of Mark and Casey Busby.
The annual scholarship awards ceremony took place last Sunday afternoon (April 29) at the Tyler Rose Gardens Center. Thirteen young ladies from all over East Texas were selected to receive scholarships. Scholarship recipients, their families and coaches were invited to the ceremony that included light refreshments and scholarship awards recognition.
SSHS All-Sports Banquet is Monday, May 7, 2018
The Sulphur Springs Wildcat All-Sports Banquet will be taking place Monday (May 7) starting at around 6 p.m. in the High School Cafeteria. The highlight at any Wildcat Sports Banquet is presentation of the Forrest Gregg MVP Awards for a Wildcat and a Lady Cat as well as the awarding of the James Cameron Fighting Heart Awards for a Wildcat and a Lady Cat.
Participants in sixteen different sports will be introduced by head coaches and MVP’s will be announced for each team. Wildcats Athletic Director Greg Owens is expected to present some special awards to athletic support groups such as cheerleaders, the band and the drill team.
A Special Olympics award is also presented.
Big Smith’s Barbeque will cater the event. Tickets are $8 at the door.
