Lady Cats Defeat Hallsville 2-1; Enter Bi-District as Second Place Team in District
The Lady Cats’ soccer team defeated the district’s top team Hallsville, 2-1 at the SSHS Track Complex Tuesday night to nail down the number two seed in the district. Lady Cats Soccer Coach Jesus DeLeon believes the Lady Cats will now face Royse City in a bi-district playoff game. Details still need to be worked out.
In the game, Hallsville actually scored first at 19:59 of the first half on a nice crossing play. Lady Bobcat Mariah Martinez was camped right in front of the goal and scored. At 11:10 of the first half, Lady Cat Sophie Young maneuvered past defenders and put a shot on goal that the Hallsville keeper got hands on but could not keep the ball it from getting behind her. It was 1-1 at halftime. With possible overtime looming with just 3:15 left in the second half, Lady Cat Mileena Zirretta found the ball through a crowd around the goal and scored the go ahead goal. The Lady Cats held on and celebrated the hard fought win.
The Lady Cats ended district play with an 8-4 record. They are 13-7-2 for the season.
Wildcats Are in Playoffs Following Victory at Hallsville
For the second year in a row, the Wildcats’ soccer team has faced a must win game at Hallsville to get into the playoffs. For the second straight year, the Wildcats came through with the win.
The Wildcats jumped on the Bobcats with 3 first half goals and led 3-0 at the half. Hallsville could only get one goal back and the Wildcats tacked on a late goal to take the 4-1 win. The win gave the Wildcats the fourth and final playoff spot in the district. It is believed that the Wildcats will face Lovejoy in bi-district action. Details need to be ironed out. The Wildcats ended district play with 5 wins, 2 shootout losses and 5 outright losses. Their season record is now 12-6-3.
Wildcats Soccer Coach Nicky Wiggins noted earlier this week that his team was playing solid soccer late in district play like they did in non-district games. The Wildcats solid finish overcame their slow start in early district play.
Lady Cats Softball 2-1 in District
The Pine Tree Lady Cats jumped out to a 4-0 lead after 4 innings and then held on to defeat the Lady Cats’ softball team, 5-3 at Pine Tree Tuesday night.
Pine Tree led 5-1 after five. The Lady Cats managed single runs in the sixth and seventh but it wasn’t enough. The Lady Cats outhit the Lady Pirates 11 to 8. Bailey Haggerty pitched all six innings for the Lady Cats allowing 5 runs on 8 hits and she struck out 6. The Lady Cats committed one error behind her. Leading hitters for the Lady Cats with two hits apiece were Kristen Allen, Jaye Doughtie and Brinklee Driver. Alyssa Abron gor a walk. Hannah Crowson and Driver each had one RBI.
The Lady Cats slip to 2-1 in district play. They are 15-5 for the season. The Lady Cats will play Marshall at home Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at Lady Cat Park.
Wildcats Baseball Wins District Opener
First the good news. The Wildcats’ baseball team opened district play with a win on the road at Pine Tree Tuesday night. However the game may have set a new standard for winning ugly.
The Wildcats won 13-8. They hit the ball well rapping out 12 hits. Pine Tree pitchers issued 8 walks, hit two batters and committed 6 errors. Wildcats pitchers issued 10 walks and they made 4 errors. 337 pitches were made in the 3 hour and 2 minute seven inning game. Each team was guilty of catcher’s interference. The Wildcats had 1 passed ball and 3 wild pitches. Pine Tree had one pass ball and 4 wild pitches. The game was tied at 1 after one. Kaden Argenbright singled and scored on a catcher’s error. The Wildcats scored the next 5 runs to lead 6-1. In the second Michael Arnold walked with one out. Kyle Dodd got on on catcher’s interference. Jamal Hobson-Cox scored on a fielder’s choice, an error, a stolen base and a wild pitch. Mason Buck walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an Argenbright single. Heston Golightly had a single and Triston McCormick had an RBI single. In the third, Easton Silman was hit by a pitch, advannced on a wild pitch and a single by Arnold and scored on a squeeze bunt hit by Dodd.
Pine Tree reduced the lead with 3 runs aided by a walk, an error, a pass ball another walk and catcher’s interference. The Wildcats led 6-4 after 3 innings. The Wildcats plated two more runs in the fourth. Buck was hit by a pitch, stole a base and advanced on an error. Golightly got on on an error which scored Buck. McCormick’s double plated Golightly. The Wildcats led 8-4 after 4 innings. The Wildcats added a ninth run in the fifth. Buck doubled and scored on an Argenbright single and a Pirate error. The Wildcats led 9-4 after the top of the fifth. Pine Tree scored one run in the fifth and 3 in the sixth to trim the Wildcats lead to 9-8 after six. The Pirates three runs in the six were done without a hit. The Wildcats walked five straight batters and threw 2 wild pitches. The Wildcats scored 4 insurance runs in the top of the seventh. They benefited from three straight walks and two wild pitches. McCormick drove home two with a single and Silman had an RBI single. Pine Tree went down somewhat quietly in the seventh going three up and three down after an inning starting walk.
Ryan Humphries got the pitching win going four and two third’s innings allowing 5 runs but only 2 earned on four hits. He struck out two and walked 4. The Pirates only had 4 hits. Buck scored 4 runs. Argenbright was 3 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI. Golightly was 1 for 4 with 2 runs and an RBI. McCormick was 4 for 5 with a run and 4 RBI’s.
The Wildcats are 1-0 in district play and 7-5-1 for the season. They play Marshall at home Friday night.
Wildcat and Lady Cat Senior Nights
On Friday, March 10th, the Sulphur Springs Wildcats held Senior Night on the Sulphur Springs home field. 10 senior boys and their families were recognized. On Tuesday night, the Lady Cats held Senior Night, honoring 7 senior girls and their families. Below are pictures of Senior Night presentations and a few of our favorite Wildcat and LadyCat pictures.
Lady Cat Track Travels to Lindale After Spring Break
Lady Cats Track Coach Triston Abron liked the Gilmer Track Meet last Friday for several reasons. He was able to bring more competitors as he fielded both a JV and Varsity team. Coach Abron said due to the tougher competition in this meet, the Lady Cats did not finish first.
He enjoyed competing against solid East Texas teams such as Liberty-Eylau, Gilmer, Marshall and Tatum. Coach Abron said the step up in competition gave him a better gauge of where his team is right now and showed him things his team needed to work on.
Coach Abron has been hoping to see hurdler Abbi Baier compete in the long jump and she had that chance Friday. Baier finished second despite jumping well in front of the board. N’ysa Dugan and Imani Taylor also jumped. Coach Abron said his throwers competed well despite not placing. He said for the first meet this year his relay teams did not finish first. Coach Abron said he enjoyed watching Sadavia Porter and N’ysa Dugan compete in the 100-meter dash. They finished second and third.
Next for the track teams is a Lindale meet coming up Thursday after spring break week.
Bill Bradford Road Open for Business
With as much pomp and circumstance as a street sweeper can provide, Bill Bradford Road re-opened at 2pm Tuesday afternoon.
Bill Bradford Road, named for KSST broadcaster William Bradford, has been under construction for months. A section stretching from Gilmer to the Outlet Mall opened a few weeks ago.
City Crews escorted a street sweeper into the final length for one last dusting off, before collecting the various barriers and signs.
Consider traveling down Bill Bradford Road and patronizing the business that have struggled during the closures.
Cumby Baseball Dropped Non-District Game To Alba-Golden
The Cumby’ baseball team dropped a non-district game to Alba-Golden 12-4 last Friday at home.
Cumby scored a run in the bottom of the second inning to cut the Alba-Golden lead to 3-1. Alba-Golden scored the next nine runs to take a 12-1 lead. The Trojans rallied with 3 runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 12-4 game.
Cole Sprague had a good day with the bat for the Trojans with 3 hits in 4 at bats with a run scored and an RBI. Ethan Coble hit a double. Cumby had 8 hits.
Ethan Coble got the pitching loss allowing only 3 earned runs and three hits.
Game Day Tuesday: Soccer, Baseball, Softball
Soccer Game Day
The Wildcats and Lady Cats’ soccer teams play Hallsville in important district matches on this Tuesday game day.
The Wildcats are playing for their playoff future. They need a win for a chance to get in. Hallsville, the Wildcats and Greenville are all battling for the fourth and final playoff spot. Facing a similar situation last year, the Wildcats won to get into the playoffs. They hope to pull that off again. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity to follow at around 7 p.m.
Meanwhile the Lady Cats’ soccer team will be playing Hallsville at home on Senior Night at the SSHS Track Complex. The Lady Cats are already in the playoffs but they can still finish second or third depending how games turn out on this Tuesday game day. There will be a JV contest at 5:30 p.m. with varsity to follow at around 7:15 p.m. We will bring you Lady Cats’ soccer against Hallsville live on KSST Radio at around 7:15 p.m. We will also videotape the game for replay at a later date on Channel 18 TV on Suddenlink Cable.
Game Day Baseball and Softball
The Wildcats’ baseball team and the Lady Cats’ softball team have important district games on this Tuesday game day.
The Wildcats’ baseball team is actually opening district play at Pine Tree. The Wildcats have prepared for district play with three tournaments so far this season. They come with a 6-5-1 record. The Wildcats’ JV Royal Team will play at Pine Tree at 4 p.m. with the varsity of follow at around 7 p.m. The Wildcats JV Gold Team will be hosting Pine Tree at Eagle Stadium at 6 p.m.
The Lady Cats’ softball team will be continuing district play Tuesday night at Pine Tree. The Lady Cats have started out 2-0 in district play so far with a road win at Greenville and a big home win against Hallsville. The Lady Cats are 15-4 for the season. There will be a JV contest at 4:30 p.m. with the varsity game to follow at around 6 p.m. at Pine Tree.
