Garrett Ragsdale showed Thursday during action at the Wise County 7-on-7 league that he’s capable of moving the team efficiently down the field.

NICE GRAB – Boyd’s Chris Carmona makes the catch as Decatur’s Cory Durdon defends during 7-on-7 at Decatur Thursday. Messenger photo by Kelly Guess

The senior-to-be went 16-for-22 with four touchdowns in a 42-28 win over Decatur in the Yellowjackets’ final game of the day.

Ragsdale is no stranger to the position. He picked up a lot of valuable information while backing up Jared Cate his sophomore season and Blake McDonald last year.

Mainly leading the defense from his middle-linebacker position, Ragsdale is having to adjust to playing both ways.

“It’s a whole different story,” he said about his new role. “Playing both sides of the ball is something I haven’t done since my freshman year.

“I’m just working hard and studying the play book. It’s starting to come a little bit easier.”

He certainly looked like the starter in the win over the Eagles, as he led the Yellowjackets to touchdowns on all four of his possessions.

Seth Wallace took Boyd down the field for scores on the other two possessions.

Ragsdale knows there are still a few things he needs to work on before fall.

“Conditioning, for sure, and reading the defense,” he said. “I want to try to dissect the defense a little bit better.

“My timing and chemistry between my receivers is coming along pretty easy.”

With a versatile Ragsdale under center and the return of Fino Cardona, the Yellowjackets should feature another potent offensive attack.

READY TO GO – Decatur’s Grayson Muehlstein winds up to throw the ball during the Eagles 7-on-7 game Thursday in Decatur. Messenger photo by Kelly Guess

MUEHLSTEIN PREPS FOR SENIOR CAMPAIGN

Decatur’s Grayson Muehlstein threw the ball well Thursday, but some stalled drives and an interception cost him.

The TCU commit finished 11-for-16 with four touchdowns and an interception in the Eagles loss to Boyd.

“It went pretty good,” he said about the Eagles’ performance. “We didn’t execute as well as we could have. We’re still trying to rep our plays and get used to them.”

Muehlstein said he had good timing with his receivers throughout the evening.

“That was one of the better things we did today,” he said. “It helped us on a few touchdowns that we had. The timing is getting there with all the practice we’ve been doing.”

Muehlstein, who took all the snaps at quarterback, says there are a couple of things he’s trying to fine-tune as he prepares for his second season as the starter.

“I want to get my completion rate up and practice my mechanics,” he said. “The game is slowing down for me. It’s not as fast anymore.”

When it was time to hand out postseason honors this season, it was Baker’s pitching that put him in elite company.

HIGH HONORS – Paradise’s Dillon Meadows was named to the District 9-2A first team along with four other Wise County athletes. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

Baker went 8-1 with a 1.96 ERA, striking out 85 and walking 23. Offensively, he still carried a big bat as he batted .400 with 23 RBI and four home runs.

For his efforts, Baker earned first-team honors on the District 9-2A team as a pitcher.

He joined teammates Jordan Locklear and Lane Peace on the first team. Locklear made it as a catcher after batting .439 with 26 RBI and two home runs.

Peace was honored as an infielder. He had a batting average of .388, 21 RBI and led the team in home runs with four.

Paradise sophomore Dillon Meadows joined Baker as a first-team selection at pitcher.

He ended the season with a 2.70 ERA and recorded 103 strikeouts. Meadows picked up the lone win for the Panthers in the playoffs.

Offensively, he led his team with a .464 average and 28 RBI.

Boyd’s Michael Partin picked up first-team outfielder honors.

Shay Phillips of Brock was named MVP and Brock’s Korbin Mills took Offensive Player of the Year.

The Defensive Player of the Year was Micah Broadstreet of Ponder.

Utility Player of the Year was shared by Tyler Nelson of Brock and Ethan Easterling of Ponder.

Brock freshman Titus Gossett was the Newcomer of the Year and Colby Fowler, also of Brock, was named Pitcher of the Year.

2013 DISTRICT 9-2A BASEBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM

Dillon Meadows … Paradise … Soph.
Casen Baker … Alvord … Senior
Lane Peace … Alvord … Junior
Jordan Locklear … Alvord … Senior
Michael Partin … Boyd … Senior
Asa Menchaca … Peaster … Soph.
Daulton Thomas … Millsap … Senior
Garret Gaines … Brock … Senior
Joseph Earle … Brock … Soph.
Keaton Malcom … Ponder … Junior
Dylan Nichelson … Ponder … Senior

SECOND TEAM

Justin Heap … Alvord … Junior
Cody Jacobs … Boyd … Junior
Skylar Black … Paradise … Soph.
Colton Meadows … Paradise … Fresh.
John Bodine … Millsap … Junior
Dalyn Clanin … Millsap … Soph.
Dalton Norris … Millsap … Junior
Austin Hayden … Ponder … Senior
Austin Leverige … Ponder … Senior
Reid Sanders … Ponder … Senior
Seth Boleman … Brock … Fresh.
Matthew McCartney … Brock … Fresh.
Matt Lester … Peaster … Junior
David Buchanan … Peaster … Junior

HONORABLE MENTION

Caden Berry … Paradise … Soph.
Tanner Valentine … Paradise … Junior
John Bridgeman … Paradise … Fresh.
Jarrett Holt … Paradise … Junior
J.D. Pearson … Paradise … Soph.
Austin Hogan … Paradise … Soph.
Sal Spinelli … Boyd … Senior
Cody Drake … Boyd … Junior
Jonathan Musgrave … Alvord … Senior
Kane Rice … Alvord … Senior

Miller recently accepted the head boys basketball position at Weatherford High School.

“It’s sad to leave,” he said. “This is a great community with great parents and I just felt pushed to make the move. I’m excited about starting something new.

“It will be a transition, but it is a good opportunity and a good situation.”

At Weatherford, a Class 5A school, Miller will step into a rebuilding job as he moves up from 3A. The Kangaroos went 5-22 last season with a 1-12 district record.

Miller is familiar with the bigger-school atmosphere, though. He was an assistant at The Colony and Grapevine before accepting his first head coaching job at Bridgeport.

“It was a factor, being a 5A school,” Miller said. “But classifications are classifications. It’s just a good opportunity.

“My wife and I prayed on this and felt it was the best decision for us.”

Miller finished last season with a 15-16 record at Bridgeport.

“With every team you have different relationships,” Miller explained. “You keep in contact with them and grow relationships.

“That part of it makes the decision tough, but I’m excited about the new opportunity.”

BISD Director of Athletics Danny Henson has already started the process of filling the vacant coaching position.

“Coach Miller had done a good job over the past three seasons at Bridgeport,” Henson said. “This was his first head coaching job and he is developing into an outstanding young coach.

“I would have liked for Brian’s stay in Bridgeport to be longer, but I do wish him the best of luck in Weatherford.”

After missing twice at 13 feet, six inches, the Northwest High School junior had to get it in her final attempt or the title would go to Waco Midway’s Annie Rhodes.

GOLDEN FINISH – Northwest’s Desiree Freier shows off her gold medal after winning the Class 5A state pole vaulting championship for the second straight year. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

With the pressure on, Freier nailed the vault. She went on to get 13-9 in the next round to break the state record and claim the Class 5A pole vault championship.

Rhodes missed all three of her attempts at 13-9, giving Freier the gold. The win clinched her second consecutive state title. She took second her freshman year.

The usually-reserved Freier was already celebrating her record-breaking jump before she hit the mat.

“Anytime that I’ve gotten a PR [personal record] I’ve never jumped up and down and clapped my hands,” she said. “I usually just stand up smile and wave. Today was pretty exciting.”

The vault capped off an exciting head-to-head showdown. After the bar went to 13-3, only Freier and Rhodes were left standing.

Both easily got to 13-6. Freier missed her first two attempts at the height, while Rhodes nailed her second attempt to grab the lead.

Freier was down to her final chance.

“It was very nerve-racking. I had to bring it on that last jump,” Freier said. “I had to put everything in it. I had to know where my body was position and I had to be very careful on that jump. I just knew that I had to do it.”

The successful leap switched the momentum. After being so close to the gold, Rhodes had to settle for second.

The two have been great friends and rivals in the event. Freier says there is a lot of respect between all the competitiors.

GOLDEN FINISH – Northwest’s Desiree Freier (above) shows off her gold medal after winning the Class 5A state pole vaulting championship for the second straight year. Freier (right) makes her record breaking jump. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

“We push each other a lot,” Freier explained. “We are all like sisters. It’s a love-hate relationship. We want each other to do good, but we also want to do well ourselves.”

With the gold medal already in hand, Freier took another shot at getting closer to the national record of 14-3. She missed on three attempts at 14-0.

“I wanted to try to get the national record this year,” Freier said. “I didn’t get it, but I had some pretty good jumps at it.”

And there’s a good chance she’ll be back next year.

SILVER MEDAL – Alvord’s Savannah Williams captured second in the 800 meter run Saturday at the state meet in Austin. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

Williams stayed at the lead of the pack in the Class 2A 800 meter run Saturday before coming away with a second-place finish.

“I’m glad that it’s over more than anything,” Williams said after the race. “I’ve worked hard this season, so I’m glad I finished strong.

“I was able to do what I wanted to do. This was my goal throughout everything.”

Her time of 2:21.43 was good enough for the silver medal. She finished behind Ann Marie Dunlap of Crawford, who had a time of 2:18. Aundera Schroder of Bushland was third in 2:22.

Williams was working so hard, training for regionals and then state, that she felt she got ill due to exhaustion.

“I was worried that I might not be conditioned enough to make it here,” Williams said. “I was tired and exhausted and it was easy to get sick because I was so tired, but I got back.”

Williams felt great going into the regional meet, but after her brief illness, state was more of an uncertainty.

“I was confident at regionals that I would do what I needed to do,” Williams said. “This week was kind of a guess.

“I worked hard, but is it good enough to do what I wanted to do? I was worried about that.”

Williams finished three seconds behind Dunlap at regionals too, so her strategy at state was to keep up with her rival from Crawford.

“The pace felt fast to me, but the times were kind of slow,” Williams said. “My goal was to stay right with Crawford [Dunlap]. I did pretty good, and she has a great kick.”

Capturing silver, in only her sophomore year, gives Williams tremendous motivation for the next couple of years.

“The next two years I’ll be back here working for the gold,” she said.

But in the end they fell just short.

PLAY AT THE PLATE – Princeton’s Grant Gilbert dives for home as he tries to beat the throw to the plate, as Bridgeport catcher Dillon Waldrep comes up with the catch. Photo by Victor Tapia

The No. 10 state-ranked Bulls were unable to hold on to multiple leads, falling 10-9 and 7-6 as both games went to extra innings.

In the May 10 opener, they found themselves down 2-1 after two innings.

But the Bridgeport bats woke up, producing six runs in the third frame.

Princeton answered with two runs in the bottom half, and retook took the lead at 8-7 with a four-run burst.

The squads traded runs in the sixth and seventh innings, as the Bulls came up just short.

Bridgeport finished with nine hits and committed five errors.

Top hitters were Erik Delgadillo with three RBI and a double, Alex Samples with a home run and a pair of run-scoring hits, and Dillon Waldrep and Jake Hulsey who each had an RBI.

The pitching duo of Omar Martinez and Samples gave up 11 hits. Samples took the loss in relief, and Martinez struck out four as the starter.

The teams returned to Denton the following day for the second game of the best-of-three series.

The Bulls found themselves in a 4-0 hole after an inning-and-a-half, but they responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second.

Bridgeport looked likely to tack on another run, but Brandon Huff was tagged out before he could reach home on an attempted steal.

The Bulls narrowed the gap to 4-3 in the bottom of the third, after Martinez tripled to centerfield, bringing home Samples.

Martinez held the Princeton offense in check over the next five innings.

Bridgeport tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth.

Reese Read led off with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a Martinez double to left field.

Both squads were unable to put up any more runs, sending the game into extra innings.

Princeton regained the lead on a Carlos Contreras single just out of reach of the diving shortstop.

Bridgeport responded with a run of their own in the bottom half.

Hulsey was hit by a pitch, moved over to second on a Samples hit by pitch and crossed the plate on a Dalton Hudson single.

Martinez came on in relief at the start of the inning and managed to work out of a bases-loaded jam, including striking out the last batter.

Princeton took a 6-5 advantage in the top of the 11th, but Bridgeport responded with a run in the bottom of the frame.

Martinez drove in Read with a single, and the Bulls looked to retake the lead. But the runner at third was called out at home.

Princeton scored the game-winning run in the top of the next inning.

Delgadillo and Samples got on base to start the bottom half, but Princeton reliever Riley Lowrance worked out of the jam, and Dathan Seymour came up with the series-clinching catch in right field.

Leading Bridgeport’s 12-hit barrage were Martinez, with a double, a triple and two RBI; Hulsey, who had a pair of run-scoring hits; and Hudson, who notched an RBI.

Read, Martinez and Samples combined to give up 15 hits. Samples took the loss as Read struck out seven.

Note: Rankings are from the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 3A Top 10.

LONG DAY – Decatur’s Taylor Clayton rounds the corner in the 3200 meter Saturday. He came back later that night to compete in the 1600 meter. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

The Decatur junior ran to a fifth-place finish in the 3200 meters that morning, and after the sun went down he took sixth in the 1600-meter race.

Clayton had a time of 9:38 in the two-mile – nine seconds better than his regional time.

Lytle’s Cesar Gonzalez just edged Kaufman’s Edwin Mu oz for the gold medal, winning by four one-hundredths of a second with a time of 9:19.78.

Sanger’s Jacob Perry took third in 9:23.

In the 1600, Clayton jumped out to an early lead and held it for the first couple of laps.

Atlanta’s Chris Ibarra and a few others eventually overtook Clayton. Ibarra went on to win by four seconds with a time of 4:20.79. It was his second gold medal of the night.

Clayton’s time of 4:30.26, was two seconds behind fifth-place finisher Kevin Nunez of Alvarado.

Decatur’s Brandon Rivera fell a little off the pace early in his 800-meter run. He made up ground quickly on the second lap and grabbed fourth with a tremendous finish.

Rivera had a time of 2:00.54.

Ibarra won gold again, with a time of 1:52.21 – only a half second off the Class 3A state record.

The Bulldogs put things away with a 14-1 win in game two, after taking a 10-3 victory in game one Friday.

Chico’s starting pitcher, Hunter York, shut Bosqueville down the first two innings of game two, but the Bulldogs broke through in the third. A leadoff walk and a hit batter put two runners on with no outs.

A single and an error brought home two runs, then Bosqueville added two in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take a 6-0 advantage.

Chico picked up its lone run in the sixth, when Jaston McBee led off with a single. Hunter Clarke followed with a walk, and after a strikeout, Tyler Melton singled home McBee.

Chico loaded the bases with two outs, but Jericoe McGuire flied out to end the threat.

Whatever momentum Chico had gained quickly evaporated when Bosqueville put eight on the board in the seventh, sending 11 to the plate.

McBee finished with two hits for the Dragons, and York and Melton each had singles.

York took the loss, going all seven innings, giving up eight hits and striking out three.

Friday, Bosqueville jumped out to an early lead in game one.

Two doubles with two outs gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage. They would add two more in the second before Chico got on the board in the fourth.

McBee led off with a single, and after two were out, Melton singled him home.

Bosqueville came back to put up three runs in their half of the inning, taking a 6-1 lead.

The Dragons got two runs in the fifth when McGuire scored on an Austin Collins bunt, and Collins eventually came around on a throwing error.

Freshman Brady North came on in relief for the Dragons in the fifth. He kept the Bulldogs off the board in that inning, but they got to him in the sixth, batting around and scoring four runs.

McBee led the offense with two hits and an RBI. Melton and Collins had the other two hits.

McGuire took the loss, going four innings, giving up five hits and striking out four.

STATE DEBUT – Decatur’s Nicole Neighbors finished fourth in the 300 hurdles and seventh in the 100 hurdles in her first trip to the state meet. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

The sophomore closed with a fourth-place finish in the Class 3A 300-meter hurdles, clocking a personal best time of 45.23. She finished second at the Region II meet in Commerce with a 45.77.

Kendall Cox of Carrollton Ranchview, who edged Neighbors at regionals, took third at state in 44.53.

With a time of 42.99, Abigail Sheppard of Cuero grabbed the gold.

Earlier in the evening, Neighbors ran the 100-meter hurdles a little slower than her qualifying time, taking seventh with a 15.77.

Her rival at the regional meet, Antonisha Stewart of Carrollton Ranchview, took first in 14.05, well ahead of her regional time of 14.19.

“For being at state for the first time and all our kids being underclassmen, I thought they did well,” Decatur coach David Park said. “The thing that stands out in my mind is how hard they competed.

“They weren’t just happy to be there. They wanted to excel.”

The other Lady Eagle making her debut at the state meet was Haley Dennard, who placed seventh in the 800-meter with a time of 2:22.87.

Bayleigh Chavers of Stephenville finished first in 2:14.91.

READY FOR GRASS BASH – The 3rd Annual Grass Bash hosted by the Decatur volleyball team will be held June 1 beginning at 9 a.m. at the football practice field behind the high school.
The 4-on-4 co-ed tournament costs $20 per person to enter. Everyone must have at least one female player on the court at all times with a limit of six players per team. Teams are limited to two Decatur players per team.
Entry forms may be picked up from any high school volleyball player, coach or at the high school office.
Deadline to enter is May 23.

SOFTBALL MEETING – The Wise County Adult Softball League coaches meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday at Renshaw Park. A team representative must be present. Men’s and coed league play begins in June. For information call Clifton North at (940) 393-2752.

Strong out of the gate, Jones stretched off his black mare onto the back and around the bone-colored horns of a barreling steer. He rolled the dark steer in a cloud of red clay dirt and dust, pinning the animal in 4.5 seconds. The time was good enough for Jones to finish the round sitting in second place.

CHIN DOWN, LEGS UP – Decatur’s K.C. Jones tackles a steer during the steer wrestling competition Thursday at Butterfield Stage Days PRCA Rodeo in Bridgeport. His time of 4.5 second left him in second place going into the rounds Friday and Saturday night. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

“I feel pretty good about it,” Jones said. “The steer gave me a little trick, but I feel it’s good enough to finish in the top three.”

Jones was also part of the fastest time recorded in the round. He hazed for Kurt Goulding, of Duncan, Okla., who recorded a 4.0. Goulding rode Bumblebee, the horse Jones won on at the 2013 Houston Rodeo.

But other bulldoggers struggled to take down their steers drawn in good time. The third fastest time recorded was a 5.5, to Chance Howard, of Cedarville, Ark. The steers fought hard against the wrestlers all morning.

“These steers have been rugged,” Jones said. “They got some tricks to them.”

Jones is currently ranked 25th in the world.

Jones’ wife Gayle competed in the slack round of the barrel racing early Thursday morning, clocking a time of 17.06 seconds. That put her out of range of first place, which belonged to Benette Little of Ardmore, Okla., at 15.61. Little is a two-time National Finals qualifier in barrel racing.

“I get more nervous when (Gayle) goes than I do when I go,” Jones said.

Steer wrestling wrapped up Thursday afternoon. Decatur cowboy Trevor Brazile placed first in the average with a total of 32.3 seconds over three rounds. He earned $1,929 for his efforts. He also won money on all three rounds by placing in the top five every time. He won the second round with a 9.6, finished fifth in the first round at 12.1 and fourth in the third with a 10.6.

Although it’s early in the season, Brazile already has a commanding lead in the all-around cowboy race. His total earnings of $42,207 are more than $13,000 ahead of the next nearest competitor, JoJo Lemond of Andrews.

As the only PRCA rodeo in Wise County, Butterfield gives the sizeable contingent of local pros a place to showcase their talents close to home.

Decatur roper Clint Cooper competed in tie-down Thursday morning but finished with a no-time.

“I was late with my start,” Cooper said. “The calf got too much of a head start, and instead of getting a great start I got outrun.”

So far, tie-down belongs to Chase Williams of Stephenville at 7.7 seconds.

“It’s fun when you get to compete in a rodeo this close to home,” Jones said. “It’s a great little rodeo. It’s like an old-time rodeo. It’s a small arena, and everybody is in really close.”

The rodeo concludes 7:30 tonight at the Bridgeport Riding Club Arena.

OF HORSES AND MEN – Jim Allsup of Decatur checks out the riders on deck during Thursday’s slack round. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

BARREL AHEAD – Barrel racer Abby Hurst cuts quickly through the red dirt Thursday morning in the Bridgeport Riding Club Arena. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

BOOTS DOWN – Boot heels hang on to a bar in the fence surrounding the Bridgeport Riding Club Arena as a cowboy takes a break to watch the action during the first round of this weekend’s rodeo. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

The third-ranked Decatur Rodeo Team will send eight members to the North Texas High School Rodeo Finals, May 17-19 at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth.

Parker Slate is in the running for top all-around cowboy after qualifying in three different events. He will compete in calf roping, ribbon roping and team roping.

Jake Cobb and Chase Gasperson will also advance in calf roping. Cobb will also take part in the ribbon roping, and Gasperson will team with Slate in the team roping.

Reid Metcalf and Cody Krahl made the finals in bull riding.

Metcalf, along with Chase Wilson and Camerron Tucker, will compete in steer wrestling.

Tucker is also entered in the chute dogging competition, and freshman Carolyn Spear qualified in steer undecorating.

For the first time in 20 years, Chico qualified for the playoffs with a second place finish in district. Last week they took it a step further with a postseason series win over Lipan in three games.

This weekend they get their biggest test. Chico (19-10) was set to begin their Region II Class A area round playoff series against No. 3 Bosqueville (23-5) Friday. The series continues Saturday at 1 p.m. in Granbury, with game three to follow if needed.

“This is really a good group of kids,” Chico coach Brian McBeth said. “We just missed out on the playoffs last year. They had a goal of a district championship this season, and we just missed getting there.”

The success all the athletic programs have enjoyed throughout the year has filtered down to the baseball program. Winning seasons in football and basketball, along with great performances in track and golf, have the Dragons flying high to end the school year.

The sense of accomplishment felt after a playoff basketball win presented itself again last weekend with another taste of playoff success.

“They were all excited,” McBeth said. “They had a thirst to get it done, and they enjoyed holding that trophy.”

To keep it going, the Dragons have to take down one of the state’s powers in baseball. Coming off a state title in 2007, Bosqueville looks primed for another run after finishing perfect in league play.

“They [Bosqueville] are a good baseball team and a great program,” McBeth said. “They have two of the best pitchers in the state.

“We’ve got to play mistake-free, make the routine plays, and make them play perfect defense.”

Chico has prided itself on offense all season and will need to turn to it again to pull off the upset.

But the offense will also play a key role. The Dragons boast a .400 team batting average, led by senior Hunter Clarke who hits .478. Dalton Tullos is right behind with a .474 average, and a team-leading 36 RBI.

“We swing the bat well, but we spend a lot of time on it,” McBeth said. “Plus, I inherited a lot of kids who could already play.”

Another senior, Hunter York, leads the pitching staff with a 1.52 ERA and 99 strikeouts. He is scheduled to start game two of the series.

The Bulls (24-6) scored three runs in the third and six more in the sixth to put the game away.

Reese Read, Omar Martinez and Brandon Huff combined for eight strikeouts, allowing six hits and walking only one.

Seven Bull players had at least one hit.

Dillon Waldrep led the offense with three hits. Dalton Hudson finished with two hits and two RBI.

“This was a good game for us against a good team after being off a week,” coach Ted Leps said. “We didn’t run the bases well, though. That is something that we will work on before we play again.”

Bridgeport was set to begin their area round series against Princeton Friday. Game two is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Denton High School. If needed, game three will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of game two.

SHARP SHOOTER – Alvord’s Carley King led the state in three-pointers last season. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches recently recognized the Lady Bulldogs in a couple of categories, including free throws and point awards.

Alvord received top honors in both categories. Their team free throw percentage of 74 percent was the tops in all of Class 2A.

Carley King’s 116 three-pointers led Class 2A.

She has also been selected to play in the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star game in Austin on July 12.

Head coach Rob Schmucker picked up the Dean Weese Outstanding Coach Award from the TABC for the 2012-2013 season. This award is also handed out in each classification.

“I give all the credit to the players and my assistant coaches,” Schmucker said. “Without them the season would not have been so successful and enjoyable.”

READY FOR GRASS BASH – The 3rd Annual Grass Bash hosted by the Decatur volleyball team will be held June 1 beginning at 9 a.m. at the football practice field behind the high school. The 4-on-4 co-ed tournament costs $20 per person to enter. Everyone must have at least one female player on the court at all times with a limit of six players per team. Teams are limited to two Decatur players per team. Entry forms may be picked up from any high school volleyball player, coach or at the high school office. Deadline to enter is May 23.

SOFTBALL MEETING – The Wise County Adult Softball League coaches meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday at Renshaw Park. A team representative must be present. Men’s and coed league play begins in June. For information call Clifton North at (940) 393-2752.

Maypearl’s Brett Pickard kept the Paradise offense down from start to finish. The Maypearl Panthers picked up the series-clinching win, 11-3, at Chisolm Trail High School in Saginaw.

Pickard’s gem followed a 5-0 Paradise win in game two.

DIVING EFFORT – Paradise’s Jarrett Holt leaps for a sinking line drive against Maypearl Saturday at Chisolm Trail High School in Saginaw. The Panthers season came an end with an 11-3 loss in game three. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

“They outplayed us in the third game,” Paradise coach Scott Broussard said. “They made the plays when they had to, and we made a few mistakes.”

Maypearl jumped on game-three starter Caiden Berry. They scored four runs in the first two innings on the Paradise starter, including three in the first.

After two singles to start the game, Jordan Fisher doubled home two runs for Maypearl. They would add another run with a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

Maypearl would make it 4-0 with a Brad Rhea RBI single in the second.

Paradise closed the gap to 3-2 in the third. John Bridgeman had an RBI double, and Colton Meadows knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice. That would be as close as the Panthers could get.

“We just couldn’t get the bats going when we needed to,” Broussard said. “I’m proud of our baseball team. Some crazy plays happened, and I had to move some kids around. The kids never laid down and never quit.”

One miscue play happened in the third when catcher Skylar Black collided with a teammate on a foul pop-up. Black had to leave the game with a cut and a couple of loose teeth.

The rough day for Paradise catchers continued when J.D. Pearson took over for Black. He got upended at the plate an inning later when a Maypearl runner came sliding in to score. Pearson was able to stay in the game.

Maypearl put the game away in the fourth. They scored three more times with Lane Rhea coming up with a big two-run single.

Rhea owned Paradise pitching in the third game. He had four hits and three RBI’s.

Bridgeman took over for Berry in the fifth. Maypearl scored two more runs in that inning and two in the seventh.

Meadows tried to start a rally for Paradise in the sixth, but he was caught stealing after a lead-off double. The Panthers only mustered one run in the inning.

Meadows ended the third game with three hits, including two doubles. In game two of the series he pitched all seven innings, allowed three hits and struck out nine.

“Dillon had a good day today,” Broussard said. “He’s one of those guys that gets his back against the wall he’s going to perform. He did a great job on the mound and at the plate.”

Austin Hogan led the Panther offense in game two with three hits. Meadows had two hits, and Black had an RBI single.

Maypearl took game one Friday, 12-7.

With a lot of youngsters coming back, Broussard says the Panthers have a lot to look forward too.

“I’m real proud of the kids,” Broussard said. “We only have two seniors. We have a lot of sophomores and freshmen playing. The future looks bright.”

SAFE! – Austin Hogan slides in safely during the Panthers’ playoff against Maypearl Saturday. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

Chico capped off their opening-round playoff series with a 16-6 win over the Lipan Indians Saturday afternoon at Jacksboro High School. The Dragons lost game two 11-10 and won the opener on Friday, 12-2.

MAKING THE TAG – Chico’s Hagen Davis looks to make the out at third base Friday during the Dragons’ playoff series against Lipan. Chico went on to win the best of three series. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

With the victory Chico will now take on Bosqueville in the area round. The best of three series begins Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Grandbury. Game two is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday. If necessary game three will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second game.

The Dragons used a 10-run fifth inning to put the series away due to the mercy rule after Lipan had tied the game in the top half of the inning.

SPRINT FOR HOME – Chico’s Hunter Clarke waves home Kalan Johnson during the Dragons game one victory. Messenger photo by Mack Thweatt

All nine batters for Chico scored in the fifth, with Tyler Melton and Dalton Tullos scoring twice.

Lipan jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but Chico responded with Jaston McBee scoring on a passed ball. Melton then singled home Hunter Clarke.

The Dragons would add two more runs in the second and two more in the third.

Dustin Hardee got the win for Chico.

In game two each team traded runs throughout the contest.

Lipan held an 11-9 lead going to the seventh. Chico would score Hardee after a double, but it that would be all the Dragons would get.

Dalton Tullos got the start for the Dragons and went all seven innings.

Chico cruised to victory in game one. Melton got the scoring started with a three-run double in the first, followed by an RBI single from Tullos to give the Dragons an early 4-0 lead.

Chico scored four more in the third when McBee hit a two-run single. Clarke followed with an RBI, and McBee scored on a throwing error, giving the Dragons an 8-0 advantage.

With four more runs in the fifth Chico put the final touches on the 12-2 victory.

York went all six innings getting the win for Chico.

Buttressed by water to the left and a bunker on the right, a dense crowd gathered on a slope by the green. The anxious group watched the final foursomes of boys play the final hole Friday afternoon in the 2013 Class 3A UIL state golf tournament at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin.

A third shot landed senior Dylan Rottner a few feet from the pin, and a par putt followed. His round-two score of 76 was a 10-stroke improvement over the first day, and the lowest one-day score by a Decatur player in the tournament.

Moments later, teammates Jansen Alker, a senior, and freshman Drew Jones sank their final shots. They led the team in the first round with scores of 81 and 77, respectively. The pair shot 88 and 81 on day two. Seniors Eric Gage and Dylan Erwin turned in second-round scores of 84 and 89, respectively, after they each shot 88 on the first day.

The team’s efforts landed them fifth in the state tournament with a two-day total of 662 – six shots shy of a third-place medal.

Big Spring and Fredericksburg tied for third with 656. Andrews captured another state title with 631, a single stroke ahead of second-place Argyle.

ON THE GREEN – Drew Jones contemplates a putt on hole 18 Friday at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in Austin. Jones finished the state tournament tied for ninth in the state. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

“Finishing fifth in the state of Texas is quite an accomplishment for them,” said coach Kyle Story. “I thought they played really well. They got out here and competed.

“Able to finish fifth here is a big deal. Andrews has been a perennially tough team in 4A, and they dropped down to 3A a few years ago. Argyle was second by one stroke, and they won our region. Fredericksburg and Big Spring are both good teams that tied for third. It’s a really good field and I’m proud of where they finished up.”

“We all played to the best of our abilities, and we all played good,” Gage said. “But we could have always played better.”

“There are a lot of good teams out here,” Jones said. “We didn’t play quite as good as we could have. We weren’t used to the greens. They were a little more bumpy and had more sand than we thought. But everybody had to play it.”

Jones and Alker were bright spots on the first day of a tournament that started under harsh conditions.

Thursday the sky stayed overcast, with winds gusting 35 to 40 miles per hour. With a low of 42 it turned out to be the coldest May 2 in Austin since temperatures have been recorded.

“The weather has been real rough,” Gage said. “We’ve played in a couple tournaments where the weather has been like this but not two days in a row. Whenever you’re hitting the golf ball around in the wind, the wind really takes a toll on it. It’s hard because the wind pushes the ball around so much.”

But through nine holes on round one, Jones and Alker were at one-under and even, respectively. The team as a whole was tied with Andrews for first place at the time, with Jones and Alker more than holding their own among the state’s best golfers. But the weather wore the team down as the dreary day dragged on, costing them several strokes. They finished day one in fourth with a score of 333 – three strokes shy of fourth-place Longview Spring Hill.

Jones heated up early in round two with an eagle on hole seven. On a long, uphill, par five, his second shot, following a long drive, landed right of the green on a steep hill. A precision chip dropped into the hole, putting him at par as he approached the turn. Some tough double bogeys on the back nine ballooned his score to a plus-nine for the day, but his two-day score of 158 still landed him at ninth overall.

Rottner’s 163 placed him just outside the top 20, tied at 22nd.

“Day one I let the emotions get the best of me,” he said. “Day two I just zoned in and started playing golf and not worrying about scores, just playing shot to shot.

“It was 40 degrees and blowing 50 miles per hour. That’s hard to play in. The greens were in terrible condition, too.

“It got warmer and that helped because I hate playing in the cold.”

“Very windy,” said Story of the playing conditions. “It’s been brutal. Very tough. But the thing about it is everybody has to play in the same conditions. I was really proud of the team.

“Different guys played good on different days. If they’d all shot their lowest scores on both days, they’d have been in very good shape.”

With four seniors on the team, the trip to state was a goal they’d been working toward throughout high school.

“I’m so happy I got to spend my last year on a team like this,” Gage said. “It has been the best year of school in my life, and I’m definitely glad to end it like this.”

“It was great making it here with all the seniors – glad to see them get to go to state their last year,” Jones said. “It feels good we got this chance to try to win state. That’s quite an accomplishment. It’s kind of sad they are all leaving, but it had to happen at some point.”

On the 18th hole, under a clear sky and blustering winds, surrounded by friends, family, fans, teammates and competitors, each Decatur High golfer finished the final round of his high school career to a chorus of cheers. One at a time, each dimpled ball vanished into the final hole they would play together as a team.

“It was a good ending – making it to state.” Gage said.

Bridgeport (23-5, 7-2) is tasting baseball supremacy for the first time in at least two decades. In the last four years, the Bulls have been consistent playoff contenders, but they hadn’t staked claim to the No. 1 spot, said Ted Leps, Bulls coach.

TEAM PLAYERS – From left, Bridgeport’s Reese Read, Damian Delgado, Branon Huff, Jake Hulsey, Jared Sturdivant, Gabe Torres, Omar Martinez, and Dillon Huff each share a piece of the District 9-3A championship in their last season as Bulls baseball players. Messenger photo by Jimmy Alford

“It’s been at least 20 years, as far as we know, unless someone calls us and lets us know,” Leps said. “The last time they got close, they got beat in 1988 by Waco La Vega and they had Arthur Rhodes, who was a Texas Rangers relief pitcher last year.”

The 2013 Bulls beat Sanger to lead the district and will face either Dallas Roosevelt or the Princeton Panthers out of Collin County sometime next week. Leps said the Bulls are working hard to face off against stiff competition but acknowledged nothing about the season so far had been a cakewalk.

“You can say that our offense stumbled a bit in district, but our district has some of the top pitchers in the area, like Krum, Elder in Decatur, and there are a couple good kids in Sanger,” Leps said. “Gainesville, even though they were 0-10, always kept the score close. They just couldn’t get over that hump. All our games were close, too, so that should tell you something.”

Leps said the Bulls were down a senior, Branon Huff, all season until the last three games in district, because of an injury sustained during football. However, Leps added the players have adjusted well and are willing to do the work to win games.

“We’ve been pretty consistent all year. We have not given up many runs, and that may turn this next week, but you never know. But our consistency in our defense has been a major part of it,” Leps said. “In non-district we were beating some teams that were the same talent level, with the exception of the pitching staff, pretty handily. Our kids have done really well this year.”

Two of his key players have been Reese Read and Omar Martinez who are each looking at getting more than 50 hits if all goes well, which would be the second time for Martinez. Both are also instrumental to Leps’ defense as pitchers.

“We don’t have guys that will go out there and overpower you, but compared to the teams we play, we’re going to get up there and throw strikes,” Leps said. “We are not going to walk a whole lot of guys. When the other team starts walking people we take advantage of it.”

Martinez said the whole team has been doing a stellar job.

“Leps tells us never to give up and work hard all the way to the last out,” Martinez pointed out. “We’ve had a good year and our hitting has been really good. Reese has been doing well at everything, and when we struggle, Dillon and Damian come in and help out.

“Our offense has been working really hard, and once we get a couple of runs, I can work with that and let them do the rest.”

Most of the seniors have been playing together for at least four years, and several have been playing together since they were all 9 and 10 years old. Leps said usually over the years kids will lose interest or want to do other things, but these seniors are unique. “They like to be out here.”

“Whenever I’m pitching, Omar will watch me and correct me and I’ll correct him, if either of us is doing something wrong,” Read said. “We’ve been on the team for four years, but we’ve been playing together since we were like nine. We all go out there and have fun. We trust each other’s ability, and we aren’t scared of anyone.”

Catcher Dillon Huff said working with the same guys for so long definitely makes his job behind the plate easier.

“I’ve been catching these guys for a long time, so it’s been pretty easy catching those two,” Huff said. “I know what they throw, and I usually know where it’s going.”

Leps has been drilling in the importance of winning 20 games a season. That, combined with the players’ consistency, has proven a winning combination.

“This is my fourth year here, and every year our goal is to win 20 games. If you can win 20 games, it’s for sure you can make the playoffs,” Leps said. “We don’t talk district championships, because they are hard to come by when all the teams are pretty even.”