Wildcats Baseball in Sherman-Denison Tourney; Player Evaluation Continues
Wildcats Baseball Coach Jerrod Hammack said Wildcats’ coaches and players did not panic after three bad losses in a Lindale tournament last weekend. The Wildcats bounced back to defeat the host Lindale, 5-3 Saturday night.
Coach Hammack called the Saturday night game a good barometer for the Wildcats. After all, he said Lindale is a good team picked to win their district and he noted they played very well in a Tyler tournament the week before. Coach Hammack said the bounce back win was almost enough to make him forget a 5-3 loss to Atlanta where they played like the game was a big deal while the Wildcats just went through the motions, a 13-7 loss to Brook Hill that the Wildcats led after one inning, 7-1 and ended up putting 16 runners on base for free with walks and errors and a 7-2 loss to All Saints Episcopal that got out of hand due to an inside the park grand slam homer.
But back to Saturday. Coach Hammack pitched ace Ryan Humphries and he said he threw well. Coach Hammack was pleased to see Pacen Edwards pitch the final two innings and do a good job. He said he would continue to evaluate personnel during the tournament portion of the schedule to get ready for the first district ballgame.
The Wildcats hope to play five games in a Sherman-Denison tournament that gets underway Thursday. He said a couple of those games might be played like district games. Coach Hammack said he has learned a lot about his team from games in the first two tournaments of the season. The Wildcats are 3-5 for the season.
Carrillo Notches 400th Career Win; Lady Cats Begin District Play Tuesday at Lady Cat Park
The Lady Cats’ softball team won 4 and lost 2 in a Wylie tournament this past week. The Lady Cats’ win early Saturday was the 400th in the career of Lady Cats Softball Coach David Carrillo. Coach Carrillo’s career spans 20 years and he is in his 12th year at Sulphur Springs.
In Wylie Thursday, the Lady Cats shut out McKinney, 8-0 and then lost a close one to Sachse, 7-6. On Friday the Lady Cats outslugged Lubbock Cooper, 15-14. Coach Carrillo liked this one. He said his team refused to lose. He liked their competitiveness. Later Friday the Lady Cats downed Sherman, 6-1.
On Saturday, the Lady Cats got good pitching from Bailey Haggerty and good hitting to top Burleson Centennial, 7-2. Coach Carrillo said Brinklee Driver hit a home run. Coach Carrillo said his team was weary in a 15-0 loss to Rockwall to end the tournament.
He said he feels his team will quickly forget that game as they get ready to open district play Tuesday night at home against Greenville.
Wildcat Golf Continues Preparation for District Tourney
After lots of rainy and cold weather , the Wildcats’ golf team made up for lost time by playing the grueling Twisted 54 Tournament in Longview last week. That tournament features 36 holes on Friday and 18 more holes on Saturday on a longer and more challenging golf course.
Wildcats Golf Coach Chris Owens said it’s a great tournament and he was pleased his team got to play a lot of golf while enjoying nice weather. He said the tournament is taxing but he thought it was good for the players because it’s also a mental challenge. Coach Owens said his team shot 304 and 325 on Friday and then 330 at Pine Crest Saturday. He said the Wildcats were led by Carter Lewis who shot 75, 80 and 79. Coach Owens said Cameron Morris shot 77, 79 and 83.
With good weather expected this week, Coach Owens said he looked forward to the Wildcats improving with lots of practice this week. Then Friday the Wildcats will play at a district preview at Rockwall Golf and Athletic Club. That’s the site of the district tournament next month and most if not all district teams are expected to be in the field Friday.
Dugan, Blanch Qualify for State Powerlift Meet
Two Wildcats’ powerlifters qualified for the state meet at a regional meet at Lindale Saturday. D’Idrec Dugan won the 242 pound weight class to qualify. Ian Blanch finished third in the 242-pound weight class but will go to state for lifting the qualifying weight of 1500 pounds.
Three other Wildcats scored points. Alex Rodriguez finished third in the 123-pound weight class. Joe’ell Morales was third in the 132-pound weight class. Wildcats Powerlifting Coach Casey Jeter said Morales missed out on making the state meet by 5 pounds. Vincent Morales was fourth in the 181-pound weight class.
The Wildcats finished fifth as a team at the regional meet. Dugan and Blanch will compete at the state powerlifting meet in Abilene on March 24.
District 23-A All District Team Announced
The Miller Grove and Saltillo boys’ basketball teams were well represented on the 23-A All-District Team. Sulphur Bluff also earned some selections.
The district’s MVP was Miller Grove senior Andjelo Alcox.
Offensive Player of the Year was Saltillo senior Walker McGill.
Defensive Play of the Year was Miller Grove senior Albert Serrano.
Newcomer of the Year was Saltillo freshman Chris Boekhorst.
District Coach of the Year was Miller Grove’s Gary Billingsley.
District First Team selections included Sulphur Bluff senior Brennon Seymor, Saltillo seniors Trevor Moore and Lyle Bench, Miller Grove senior Luke Brignon and Hornet’s junior Treyton Andree.
Second Team selections included Sulphur Bluff senior Isac Foley, Saltillo senior Branson McGill, Saltillo junior Matt Gurley, Miller Grove freshman Kobe Robertson and Miller Grove senior Jack McCoy.
On the Honorable Mention list were Miller Grove juniors Grant Earp and Grant Sharp, Sulphur Bluff seniors Joe Forshee and Turner South and Saltillo junior Levi Hoover.
Iwuakor Named District MVP; All-District Team Announced
Eight Wildcats’ basketball players made the All-District team selected by the district’s head coaches recently.
Wildcats’ junior post player Victor Iwuakor was chosen as the District’s Most Valuable Player.
Junior guard Keaston Willis, sophomore forward Godsgift Ezedinma and sophomore point guard Michael Jefferson were selected First Team All-District.
Senior Bryson Lynn and senior Dedric Godbolt made Second Team All-District.
Junior post Xavier Cork and sophomore forward Sadaidriene Day Day Hall made Honorable Mention All-District.
Earning Academic All-District honors for the Wildcats were Lynn, Jefferson, Willis and Cork.
Memorial Services Set for Rancher, Contractor, Community Leader Jack D. Gillis
Jack D. Gillis passed away peacefully at age 94 on March 5, 2018 in the presence of his family.
Mr. Gillis was born on September 21, 1923 in Cumby, Texas to parents A.K. and Ruth Record Gillis. He graduated from Cumby High School and then attended East Texas State College in Commerce and Texas A&M University in College Station. On May 1, 1943, he married his girlfriend from the first grade, Ruth Plunkett Gillis, who preceded him in death in 2015.
Drought, floods, fire, hail, wind and snow… Jack Gillis has about seen it all as he stood guard over one of the oldest and largest ranches in Hopkins County. The Gillis Family Ranch, founded in 1873, is headquartered in Cumby. The Ranch is home to a large herd of registered Santa Gertrudis cattle that he used to work with his favorite horse up until his 80s. Mr. Gillis loved the Gillis Ranch and all of those cows. Jack also got his pilot’s license at age 37 and drove to Alaska twice. To make sure his family had a place to gather for holidays and other family occasions, Jack also developed a separate ranch which his family affectionately calls “The Barn” and is where he celebrated his 90th birthday with family and friends.
Through A.K. Gillis and Sons, Inc., Jack and his brother Bobby employed thousands of people over the years throughout Texas and Louisiana, and still do today. Mr. Gillis enjoyed the many years he served on the Sulphur Springs State Bank/Alliance Bank board of directors. He was a good listener and gave good advice.
Jack is survived by two daughters, Judy Gillis of Sulphur Springs and Janet and Mike Jordan of Mt. Vernon; grandchildren, Ashley and Drew Roberts of Austin, Josh and Kayce Jordan of Mt. Vernon, Julianne and Jason Evans of Dallas and Alison and Charlie Bagley of San Antonio; great grandchildren, Katelyn, Lucy and Anna Roberts, Emerson and Katherine Jordan, Gillis and Jordan Evans, and Jack and John Bagley; brother-in-law E. A. Junell of Cumby and nephew John and Debbie Gillis of San Antonio. He is preceded in death by his wife Ruth Plunkett Gillis and brother Bobby Gillis.
A visitation will be held on March 7th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at West Oaks Funeral Home. Mr. Gillis will be buried in a private ceremony on March 8, 2018 and a memorial service will take place at 2:00pm at West Oaks Funeral Home. All are welcome to attend the memorial service and celebrate the life of Mr. Gillis.
Pallbearers are Josh Jordan, Drew Roberts, Jason Evans, Charlie Bagley, Barry Ward and Randy Hall.
Honorary Pallbearers are the Alliance Bank Directors, John Gillis, E.A. Junell, Don Deaton, Red Cross, Lee Teetes and Vic Ponder.
Officiants are Dr. Dan Hoke and Mr. Charles Moore.
Soloist – Betsy Gekiere
Pianist – Mark Beggs
In lieu of flowers, please donate to First Presbyterian Church of Sulphur Springs.
Amazing Heart and Passion For Our Kids: Charles McCauley
By Jim Rogers
March 5, 2018 – Sulphur Springs High School band students wore their band shirts to school Monday in memory of their beloved director and SSHS Fine Arts Director Charles McCauley. McCauley died Sunday morning. Social media has been filled with pictures and comments honoring his life and work.
McCauley was one of those unique people who enabled all to find in him a friend. His love for his work, his students, his church, and his community brought him in contact with not just hundreds but thousands of people. He made a contribution to each life. Disciple tempered with compassion would easily describe his motivation for students. He was not turf driven in his work. He saw his leadership of the band as just one more piece of the puzzle that provides success to the various programs of the local school.
In a statement to KSST News, Superintendent of Schools Michael Lamb noted, “Sulphur Springs ISD lost an incredible family member over the weekend. Charlie McCauley, our long-time Band and Fine Arts Director, has passed. Charlie had an amazing heart and passion for our kids, their futures, and teaching them to be great citizens and leaders in our community. Over his 20 years of service with our district, he touched the hearts and lives of thousands of our students, and I know that we were blessed to have known him. Mr. McCauley has been a truly inspirational leader for our fine arts program, particularly for our Wildcat Band. My own son has been in the program for 5 years, and I have felt Charlie’s positive influence in my son’s maturity and leadership ability over the years. I will truly miss my friend and truly miss the service he has provided for so many of our students. He will be greatly missed.”
Greg Owens, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at SSHS, said, “I’m going to miss my friend Charlie McCauley. We had a very unique relationship as Head Football Coach and Band Director—always got along great. Charlie loved his family and the kids he taught. He had a huge heart for people. The only negative I could find was his love of the Arkansas Razorbacks, but he couldn’t help that! The Band man was full of joy and loved to laugh. He made a huge impact in our school and to all he taught. We are going to miss our friend.
KSST News and Sports shares the loss. Charlie was always ready to accommodate an interview and prepared information regarding the band, blazes and half-time shows for us for Football season.
We shall all, and I personally, shall miss him…
A video tribute to McCauley by Channel 18 News will soon follow.
Add-On-Money Boosts Junior Market Livestock Sale of Champions
The 2018 Junior Market Livestock Show Sale of Champions dollar total eclipsed the 2017 total by $55,000. The final count of add-on-money that came in after the sale brought the 2018 total to $431,404.
Results of Saturday February 24th sale stood at $402,000. This is another record year for the Junior Market Livestock Show. There were 142 FFA/4-H kid’s projects sold Saturday afternoon.
Organizers of the show stated their thanks to “…our caring citizens and businesses in Hopkins County” following the Sunday night final total.
Euless Man Arrested for Burglary by Cumby Police
Cumby Police located Preston Redmond, 69, of Euless on County Road 4722 around 8:30 a.m. Sunday after a call was received regarding the Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle at the location. Redmond was walking along the roadway near the vehicle when found.
Advised of his rights, Redmond admitted to entering without consent the home of a female and taking the keys to the car. Officers found a broken window at the residence. The window was broken to gain entrance to the residence. Redmond was arrested and transported to Hopkins County Jail where a jailer located a green plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine on Redmond.
Redmond is charged with Burglary of a Habitation, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, more than 1-gram but less than 4-grams. His bonds total $40,000.
