Game Day: Lady Cats Second Game in Bi-District; Wildcats at Hallsville; Lady Cats at Regional Track Meet
It’s another big Friday game day. The Lady Cats’ softball team plays game two of their best two out of three series Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Lady Cat Park. The Lady Cats lost at Lovejoy Thursday night, 17-7. We will bring you Lady Cats’ softball live on KSST Radio from Lady Cat Park at 7:30 p.m. Friday. We will also videotape the game for replay on Channel 18 on Suddenlink Cable at a later date.
Meanwhile the Wildcats’ baseball team will be attempting to nail down sole possession of the district championship at Hallsville at around 7 p.m. The Wildcats have a one game lead with one game to play. In case of a tie after Friday’s game, the two teams plan to have a seed-determining game Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mike Carter Field in Tyler.
The regional track meet is also underway in Arlington at UTA Stadium. Both Wildcats qualifiers in the 300-meter hurdles, Mason Buck and Ryan Humphries, will be playing baseball Friday night and will not participate in the track meet. For the Lady Cats, they have six athletes in seven events at the two-day regional meet. Imani Taylor is in the long jump. Sydney Washburn is in the 3200-meter run. Abbi Baier will compete in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. N’ysa Dugan is in the 100-meter dash. The Lady Cats 4X 100-meter relay team and 4 X 200-meter relay team are competing. The 4 X100-meter relay team consists of Taylor, Dugan, Baier and Sadavia Porter. The 4 X 200-meter relay team has Taylor, Rita Hill, Dugan and Porter.
Wood County Sheriff’s Report April 19-25
April 19th
Deputies were dispatched to CR 3120 in Quitman at 2:06 a.m. on a theft call. The reporting party stated that a noise from outside of the residence woke him from his sleep. He walked outside and saw a man running from his shed toward a vehicle parked on the roadway. He checked his shed and noticed his leaf blower was missing. This has been forwarded to investigators for follow-up.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 4540 in Winnsboro at 12:55 p.m. regarding theft of livestock. The complainant reported that 2 black calves are missing from his property. He has been unable to locate them, either alive or dead, so he ascertained that an unknown person had taken them. Investigators are assigned to the case.
At 2:13 p.m., deputies were dispatched to E. U.S. Highway 80 in Hawkins on an assault call. The victim stated that a person known to him had hit him in the head with a baseball bat. He was later transported to the hospital for his injuries. The suspect, Timothy Allen Means, 30, of Gilmer was still on the premises and was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
April 20th
Deputies were dispatched to Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins at 8:14 a.m. in reference to a theft. The complainant stated that someone had stolen some computer items from his dorm room. The security guard provided the deputy with video surveillance of 4 students, who were identified, entering the complainant’s room. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
At 9:00 a.m., deputies were dispatched to FM 2088 in Winnsboro on a deceased person. A male, 101 years old, was found deceased in his residence and transported to a local funeral home.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 4837 in Winnsboro at 11:56 a.m. in regard to a cat bite. The victim was walking when she was bitten by a stray cat. The deputy caught the cat and transported it to a local veterinary clinic for quarantine to ensure that it does not have rabies.
Deputies were dispatched to FM 49 in Mineola at 8:55 p.m. on a disturbance call. The complainant had contacted the constable’s office about an intoxicated person known to her who was making threats and refused to leave her residence. When the deputy arrived, George Bradley Hanson, 56, of Mineola was arrested for Public Intoxication. He was also given a criminal trespass warning and advised not to return to the property.
April 21st
At 9:46 a.m., cows were reported out on Highway 69 N at CR 1610.
Deputies were dispatched to FM 17 in Alba at 12:50 p.m. The complainant reported that a person known to her called and threatened to beat her up. Investigators will follow-up.
Deputies were dispatched to Mother Francis Emergency Room in Winnsboro at 1:48 p.m. on a dog bite. The victim reported that, while delivering mail to a location on CR 3990 in Winnsboro, she was bitten on the hand by a dog. The deputy spoke to the owner of the dog and was cited for failure to vaccinate. The dog will be quarantined for 10 days for observation.
At 3:50 p.m., deputies were dispatched to CR 1610 in Alba on a theft call. The reporting party stated that a person known to her had taken a rifle from her residence. This case has been forwarded to investigators.
Deputies received a phone call from a citizen at 5:00 p.m. regarding a theft. She reported that she had purchased a 5th wheel camper trailer from a party, but did not take possession immediately. She then received a call later from the seller stating that she should not worry about picking up the trailer because it was gone and she should pick up her money instead. This case has been forwarded to investigators to follow-up.
At 5:57 p.m., cows were reported out on CR 4255 in Winnsboro.
At 6:53 p.m., cows were reported out on Highway 37/FM 779.
Deputies were dispatched at 7:19 p.m. to Highway 515 in Winnsboro on a vehicle driving recklessly. The deputy located the vehicle, made a traffic stop and discovered that the driver did not have a driver’s license. The driver, Jose Jesus Flores, 37, of Winnsboro was arrested for Driving While License Invalid.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 3802 in Hawkins at 7:37 p.m. in regard to a burglary. The complainant reported that an unknown person had entered her home and stolen 2 rifles. The case has been forwarded to investigators.
At 7:51 p.m., cows were reported out on Highway 69 near the AG School.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 2841 in Mineola at 9:38 p.m. The reporting party stated that an unknown person had stolen the gasoline out of his vehicle. Investigators will follow-up.
April 22nd
At 8:38 a.m., deputies were dispatched to CR 2954 in Alba in reference to a damaged mailbox. A 2nd call came into the Sheriff’s Office to report a damaged mailbox on PR 6956 at 9:41 a.m. While patrolling the area, the deputy observed another damaged mailbox on CR 2958, but was unable to make contact with the owner.
At 12:08 p.m., deputies were dispatched to Holiday Villages in Quitman regarding a disturbance. The victim stated that a family member threatened him and assaulted him. Michael Andrew Long, 57, of Quitman was arrested for simple assault.
A citizen came to the lobby of the Sheriff’s Office at 12:11 p.m. to report a dog bite that had occurred a few days before on CR 2270. She had been on the property when a dog, which was chained up, attacked her by biting her twice. The owner of the dog stated that the rabies vaccination is up to date. The dog will be quarantined for 10 days for observation.
Deputies were dispatched to CR 1785 in Yantis at 4:35 p.m. on an assault. The victim stated that she got into an argument at her residence with a person known to her and was assaulted. This case has been forwarded to investigators to follow-up.
At 8:20 p.m., cows were reported out on 80/564 east.
Deputies were dispatched to Holly Lake at 4:32 p.m. on a theft call. The complainant reported that she had accidentally left her wallet on top of her car while getting gasoline in her car. Her wallet was later turned in to a worker at the gas station, but it was missing her I.D. card, credit card and some cash.
April 24th
Deputies were dispatched to Highway 69 in Alba at 10:26 a.m. on an assault call. The victim reported that she had been involved in an argument with a person known to her who then assaulted her. Steven Williams, 29, of Alba was arrested for Assault Family Violence.
Deputies were dispatched to Peaceful Wood Trail in Hawkins at 10:31 a.m. in reference to credit/debit card abuse. The victims reported that they discovered 89 transactions, not approved by them, on their bank statements totaling over $2500.00. This case has been forwarded to investigators to follow-up.
At 1:03 p.m., cows were reported out on FM 2869 @ FM 2088 in Winnsboro.
At 1:53 p.m., cows were reported out on FM 14 and CR 3260 in Quitman.
April 25th
At 6:34 a.m., cows were reported out on Highway 69, ¼ mile north of AG ISD.
At 8:05 a.m., cows were reported out on CR 1610 in Alba.
At 8:06 a.m., cows were reported out on CR1246 and FM 2225.
At 8:07 a.m., cows were reported out on CR 4560 in Winnsboro.
At 10:19 a.m., cows were reported out on CR 3260 in Quitman.
At 10:21 p.m., horses were reported out on FM 17.
Total Jail Count – 148 prisoners – 117 males and 31 females.
Civil Process for March – 96 civil papers received – 70 were served and 26 were either unable to be served or were recalled. These civil papers range from Subpoenas to Writs of Execution.
North Hopkins ISD Provides No Dull Moment for Superintendent Jolly
In May, 2016, the North Hopkins Independent School District Board of Trustees named Dr. Darin Jolly as finalist for Superintendent to replace the retiring Donna George. He was chosen from a pool of 55 applicants. Jolly had been recommended to the school district by the Texas Association of School Boards Executive Search Services. He has had no dull moment since arriving at North Hopkins.
Charlie Vaughn, Robert McPherson, David James, Allen Joslin, Jim Westbrook – Photo Courtesy of Cindy Roller
Sherry Smiddy, Dr. Darin Jolly, Vicki Ferrell
The North Hopkins Board determined that Jolly, who had 21 years of experience in education, brought a broad and extensive set of leadership skills to the position. Having served as a superintendent, high school principal, junior high principal, assistant principal, director of fine arts, and classroom teacher, Jolly understands the needs in education at all levels. While serving at North Hopkins those leadership skills have been utilized to the fullest. His experience, including a bump in the leadership road while serving the Kenedy ISD, is proving valuable. According to Jolly and the board at North Hopkins at the time of his hire, a full investigation of his service and any questions raised had been fully answered and he was deemed worthy of hire. He seems to have proven his value to the district (see list of accomplishments later in story); although, his time as superintendent has not been without questions asked.
During the April board meeting at North Hopkins, Dusti James, a parent of student in the district, addressed the board during public forum. She was the only one to speak and the board could not answer her question as guided by state law. James read an email that she had sent to board members and school administration. In the email, she questioned the reassignment made for next school year of the elementary school principal and the questioning of students in third grade regarding assistance on a Benchmark test. The reassignment of the principal had been made in previous board meetings.
The reassignment of LeAnn Tadlock to reading specialist was seen as a demotion according to James and others who discussed the issue with KSST News. Kodi Wright, a former teacher at Cooper Junior High, will become elementary principal with the Fall 2017 semester. Wright has been serving North Hopkins as an Instructional Specialist, a new position in the district created during Jolly’s administration.
The question regarding the way third grade students were questioned regarding the Benchmark test stated that students were questioned without the prior knowledge of Mrs. Tadlock or Assistant Principal Tim Henderson. Jolley told KSST News that the questioning of students by staff was done with students and that the principal and teacher should have been told before the students were questioned. He stated that mistake would not happen again. According to a statement by a student to a member of administration, it seemed that the teacher had given inappropriate help on the Benchmark test. It was found that the teacher had not overstepped her bounds.
The Benchmark test is a preparatory test for the STARR, a mandated test for all school districts. During the board meeting this past week, it was noted that STARR scores had increased over the past two years for elementary students at North Hopkins. There are 266 students on the elementary campus and 259 students on the secondary campus, according to a report given by Mrs. Tadlock, the Elementary School Principal.
Jolly told KSST News, “I’m thankful for an amazing faculty and staff in North Hopkins. This year, we’ve been focusing on improving academic engagement for our students in all subjects. Our teachers care for our students and we’ve seen growth in learning and increased Career and Technology opportunities. We’re in review and improvement mode in all areas of our school operation, facilities, transportation, academics and experiences for students. I’m excited about the future of North Hopkins ISD as we focus on excellence.”
Jolly said, “I’m thankful for everyone’s hard work and dedication to our school. Our staff, board of trustees, and community is student-focused and that’s what it takes to build and maintain a foundation for learning in schools. We’re diligently maximizing our staff and resources to improve the learning quality and experience for all students.”
Jolly presented KSST News with an overview of areas that the district has been reviewing and improving for the best interest of students and education in 2016-2017. He stated that school operations have been reviewed for safety, quality, and efficiency.
The cafeteria service has increased food choices and extras available while improving the quality of the food served.
A review of transportation included developing a long-range plan for replacement and purchases of additional vehicles for the fleet including an SUV and auto for drivers’ education.
The facilities have seen an analysis of mechanical, roof, and structures for current and future utilization. Increasing energy efficiency and meeting energy needs has also been on the front burner of planning and preparation.
Custodial staffing and scheduling for efficient and quality of operation has included training for quality and maximizing effort for the staff. A localized custodial service has been implemented. Formerly, custodial services were outsourced. Also a reduction of overtime has been realized.
In education, a focus on “best practice” for higher quality of classroom instruction and student engagement has been made a priority. Increased technology opportunities for learning in the classroom and implementation of Google Classroom and other applications along with improved teacher support for technology in the classroom have been added. Embedded professional development and teacher collaboration opportunities, expansion of extra-help and tutorial opportunities for students, heightened reading instruction and foundational learning in elementary school are being implemented. Also included are curriculum planning and alignment for learning improvements along with increased CTE course offered.
A restructuring of staff for maximized impact for district needs and staff analysis for staff/student ratios in regards to funding have been studied.
A new program for sixth grade students is band. There are 35 students in the band.
Jolly stated that changes will slow as the development of what is now in place continues in efforts to continue to provide quality education at North Hopkins.
Warrant Served While Speaking with Investigator at Police Station
April 28, 2017 – While William Ryan Miller, 26, of Sulphur Springs was speaking with a Sulphur Springs Police Department investigator at the city police station, an officer was notified that Miller was wanted on an outstanding warrant for Endangering a Child, a State Jail Felony. Miller was arrested at that time.
William Ryan Miller
Miller is in Hopkins County jail charged with Endangering a Child and is being held on a $30,000 bond.
Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault of Child Turns Himself In at Jail; Bonded Out
Hopkins County law enforcement had been seeking Bradley Curtis Kougher, 41, of Kentucky who was wanted locally for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 6-years of age. The search had been on going for some time. Kentucky law enforcement had been assisting in the search.
Wednesday, Kougher and his attorney showed up at the Hopkins County Jail where Kougher turned himself in, was booked in, and bonded out immediately. Local law enforcement was unaware of the book in until KSST News brought it to their attention. They had wanted to question Kougher regarding the incident. Now that becomes more difficult according to the Sheriff’s investigator.
Kougher is charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child that was 4-years old at the time of the assault in Coleman Park. According to the Sheriff’s investigator, the child made an outcry to its mother, what was an ex-girlfriend of Kougher.
Kougher’s warrant had a set bond of $100,000.
Know Your Weeds By Mario Villarino
Know your weeds: MacCartney Rose
Macartney rose, also known as “Cherokee rose,” “hedge” and “rose hedge,” presents severe management problems for livestock producers in Texas. Imported from the Orient in the late 1800s as a hedge for fencing purposes, the plant has escaped and naturalized . It now occupies more than 500,000 acres of Texas rangeland . This rose species forms dense stands that eliminate forage production and hinder livestock management. Macartney rose has some use as browse and for wildlife cover, but if it is allowed to establish excessive cover, the disadvantages greatly outweigh its limited merits. Dense stands can be controlled somewhat by using herbicides, mechanical methods and prescribed burn ing, but no single method has been totally effective. The most successful approach to control Macartney rose is to implement an integrated system using sever- al methods applied sequentially. The plant is easiest to manage when there are low densities of single, small plants (disturbed or undisturbed). Here is a three-step method to control Macartney rose that is easy, inexpensive and environmentally responsible. It involves spraying a small but potent concentration of herbicide directly on each plant. Using this Brush Busters method, you’ll be able to kill more than 7 of 10 plants you treat. Your results may vary with weather and other conditions. The following method for Macartney rose control was developed and approved by professionals with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension, both agencies of The Texas A&M University System.
Works Best: On individual disturbed or undisturbed Macartney rose clumps. Undisturbed plants that are 5 feet or less in height and diameter. Disturbed are mowed or otherwise disturbed plants should be treated within 3 years of disturbance. However, avoid spraying them earlier than 9 to 12 months after mowing or when the plants have a high percentage of new growth. Expect poor control if plants are less than 3 feet tall when sprayed.
When to Apply: Begin in the spring under good growing conditions when the soil temperature reaches 75 degrees F at 12 to18 inches deep. Stop in late spring during flowering and hip (“apple” or fruit) formation. Begin again in late summer or early fall under good growing conditions, and continue until soil temperatures drop below 75 degrees F.
Prepare Equipment : Small pump-up garden sprayers, backpack sprays, cattle sprayers or sprayers mounted on 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATV) work well. For a few plants, garden sprayers are best; in denser stands, backpack sprayers are usually the most efficient; and in large acreages or as the distance between plants increases, ATV sprayers become more efficient. Larger plants require higher sprayer pressures. Make sure your sprayer has an adjustable nozzle that can deliver a coarse spray (large droplets) to the top of a 5-foot clump. Conejet 550 x -6 or x -8 adjustable cone nozzles work well.
Mix Herbicide Spray: You can achieve 76 to 100 percent rootkill by spraying Macartney rose with Grazon P+D™, which is a restricted use pesticide. A Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Pesticide Applicators License is required to buy or apply this product. To prepare the spray mix, add Grazon P+D™ at a concentration of 1 percent to water. To make sure that the spray sticks to the waxy foliage, add either liquid dishwashing detergent or a commercial surfactant to the spray mix. It may be helpful to add a dye, such as Hi- Light™ Blue Dye, to mark the plants that have been sprayed. Macartney rose can be sprayed in either the spring or fall under good growing conditions. You should not spray when flowers or fruits are present or when the soil temperature is below 75 degrees. The spray period may last through late October. Wet the entire foliage in the canopy of each Macartney rose plant until the leaves glisten, but not to the point of dripping. The spray pressures may need to be high to penetrate larger plants with heavier canopies.
Keep these points in mind:
- Follow herbicide label directions.
- For best results, don’t spray when:
- rains have stimulated new growth.
- leaves are wet.
- plants are less than 3 feet tall after mowing.
- foliage shows damage from hail, insects or disease.
- soil temperatures are below 75 degrees F.
- you are working immediately upwind of desirable trees, shrubs or crops.
- flowers or fruits are present.
- Treat only what can be managed in a year. Control measures may suffer if too much is taken all at once.
- The cost of treatment increases rapidly as the rose hedge becomes larger and more dense. Also, control- ling Macartney rose is not a one-time job. You’ll need to go over your land now and then to eliminate unwanted rose hedge sprouts.
- Macartney rose generally grows on soils with a high clay content. Soil-applied herbicides generally should not be used on such soils and are generally ineffective for controlling rose hedge.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic, please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
Mario Villarino DVM, Ph.D.
Hopkins County Extension Agent for Ag and NR
1200B Houston Street
Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482
903-885-3443
Dinner Tonight – Cooking with Chef Cruz By Johanna Hicks
Dinner Tonight – Cooking with Chef Cruz
I’ve been giving little teasers in the media about “Dinner Tonight”, and now that the plans have been finalized, I’m excited to announce all the details! Dinner Tonight is a program developed by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension to provide information about family meals, kitchen tips, and nutrition while providing recipes and cooking demonstrations. A multi-county team of Family & Consumer Sciences agents from Hopkins, Hunt, Rains, and Wood Counties worked several months to put together an exciting event that should be of interest to both men and women. “Dinner Tonight – Cooking with Chef Cruz”
We have partnered with Hidden Lakes Hunting Lodge to bring “Dinner Tonight – Cooking with Chef Cruz” to northeast Texas. Chef Cruz Minjarez will be the featured chef, demonstrating healthy cooking techniques for wild game, including Red Stag, Buffalo, Duck, and Quail. Extension FCS agents will be sharing recipes for delicious side dishes to pair with the wild game, as well as food safety and nutrition information for the dishes. Chef Cruz is originally from San Antonio, and prior to become the Executive Chef at Hidden Lakes Hunting Lodge, he served as a chef in Sitka, Alaska.
“Dinner Tonight – Cooking With Chef Cruz” will take place on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at Hidden Lakes Hunting Lodge, in Yantis. Pre-registration is $20 if paid by May 12. The first 20 people to register will be on the tasting panel! Registration after May 12 is $25. Seating is limited, so if you would like to attend, please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443. You may also contact the Hunt, Rains, or Wood County Extension Offices.
Each attendee will receive a goody bag, and door prizes will be given. Directions to Hidden Lakes can be found on the registration form. In the meantime, please call if you have questions.
Say Yes to FCS
Do you know of a high school senior who will be entering college in the fall? A special “signing” will take place on Thursday, May 4, to recognize students who will be going into any number of areas under the Family & Consumer Sciences field. Below is a list of areas that will be recognized:
- Education and Early Childhood
- Facilities Management
- Family & Consumer Services
- Food Production and services (culinary arts)
- Food Sciences, Dietetics, and Nutrition
- Hospitality, Tourism, and Recreation
- Housing and Interior Design
- Human Development
- Parenting and Child Development
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Health and Wellness
- Textiles
- Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising
- Consumer and Family Resources (Extension education)
A special signing event will be held at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs, on Thursday, May 4 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. This is a come and go event, and media will be on hand to cover the event. The student does not have to be from Sulphur Springs! All school districts in Hopkins County are encouraged to help us share this information with their students.
One of the slogans for Family & Consumer Sciences is, “Without us, you’d be uneducated, homeless, hungry, broke, dysfunctional, and naked.” We teach life skills that can be carried all through life, so we wanted to take the opportunity to recognize students who are helping us to make this impact on our communities. If you have questions, please feel free to call my office at 903-885-3443.
Closing Thought
“You cannot help people….permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves” – Abe Lincoln
Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Wyatt Throws No-Hitter; Struck out 16 as Panthers Defeat Yantis
North Hopkins pitcher Caleb Wyatt threw a no-hitter and struck out 16 Yantis’ batters as the Panthers defeated the Owls in Yantis Thursday afternoon.
The game was scoreless through three innings but then the Panthers got a run in the fourth inning and two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings. They scored the runs on five hits. Wyatt was also 1 for 4 at the plate with a run scored and two RBIs. Brycen Gillespie was 1 for 4 with an RBI. Wyatt Wharton was 1 for 2 with a run scored. Javier Rojo was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Colby Cameron was 1 for 1with one run and two walks. The Panthers stole nine bases. Chase Williams and Colby Cameron had three apiece, Wharton had two steals and Javier Rojo one.
Miller Grove News April 28, 2017
Not too much new in old MG this week. Spring is rolling along and end of year school activities are at hand. Next week I’ll list the upcoming events again as a reminder but for now I’ll ask that you keep in mind Miller Grove Cemetery’s annual homecoming that will be Saturday, May 6. The service will begin at 10:30 am – hope to see you there.
Tuesday was a busy day for me. I took a day off of work and went to have lunch with my niece and nephew at their school for my niece’s 8th birthday. After that I was able to work in the garden and then go to the MG Elementary’s Open House. I was glad to see the halls and classrooms filled with parents and students who were meeting with their teachers and showing off the things they have been working on during class. I was even able to meet a few of the newer teachers that I had not been introduced to at the time that they were hired. It also felt nice to stroll down the new building that so many teachers and parents are proud to have. I know in talking with two teachers in particular, Marisela Carpenter and Ginger McCreight, they expressed how much they have enjoyed the new elementary addition. While I was there I made a stop by the library to check out the shelving that was built by one of the school’s maintenance men that had been a cabinet maker. They shelving looked incredible and to my surprise there was enough room for the library to grow and add many more books to the collection for several more years to come.
Happy Birthday to Aaron Baylus & Billy Wren on May 2; Johnny Burns, Ray Sparks, & Lindsey (Smith) Beaver on May 3; Kyle Smith, Angela (Pitts) Gress, & Tara (Russell) Spencer on May 5; and Dianne (Sparks) Wicks on May 6.
As you travel the highways and byways don’t forget that all roads lead back home and back to Miller Grove. Please send me any newsworthy information. My email address is [email protected].
Lovejoy Wins First in Bi-District Best of Three; Lady Cats Host Lady Leopards Friday in Second Game
Give the Lady Cats’ softball team credit for not giving up but Lovejoy, the #8 ranked team in Class 5A, put together a sold evening of hitting and aggressive base runner to take a 17-7 win in game one of a bi-district best two out of three series at Lovejoy Thursday evening. Lovejoy outhit the Lady Cats 13 to 8. The Lady Leopards also swiped eight bases.
The Lady Cats got the game’s first run as Sadie Stroud hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning. Lovejoy tied the score in the bottom of the inning with a homer of their own. The Lady Cats went back into the lead with a run in the top of the third. Hannah Crowson single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Brinklee Driver double. The Lady Leopards batted around in the bottom of the third scoring six runs on four hits plus three walks and a Lady Cat error. Lovejoy led 7-2 after three innings.
The Lady Cats reduced the deficit with two more runs in the top of the fourth. Stroud walked and then scored on Kelsey Wallace’s triple. Wallace came home on a wild pitch. Lovejoy’s lead was now just 7-4. Lovejoy batted around in the bottom of the fourth scoring six more runs on four hits plus a hit batter, one walk and a Lady Cat error. The Lady Leopards now led, 13-4 after four innings.
Once again the Lady Cats rallied scoring twice in the top of the fifth. Alyssa Abron walked, Crowson singled and Stroud drove home two runs with a double. The Lady Cats now trailed, 13-6. Lovejoy got two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth and they led 15-6. The Lady Cats got one more run in the top of the sixth on a Wallace home run. Lovejoy now led 15-7. The Lady Leopards used a walk and three straight hits to end the game at 17-7 due to the ten run rule.
Alli Fite took the pitching loss working the first five innings against Lovejoy allowing 15 runs on ten hits. She walked six and struck out four. Cheslee Roberts pitched the sixth allowing two runs on three hits and a walk.
After the game, Lovejoy presented the Lady Cats with some gifts to encourage them after the very hard week they have had.
Lovejoy is now 26-5 for the season and the Lady Cats are 22-8. Game two will be at Lady Cat Park Friday at 7:30 p.m. Game three, if necessary, will be at Royse City at noon on Saturday.
