Sports

PALACIOS – The Sealy High School softball team was defeated May 18 by Calallen High School in a best two out of three series as they went down by scores of 10-0 in both games at Palacios High School in Palacios.

Long time Schulenburg coach Gilbert Price has retired after 16 years at Schulenburg and 29 years total as a coach.

SINTON - Lady Cardinals softball has been showing their postseason poise and put it on display May 17 at Sinton ISD Field in Sinton as they beat Ly- ford High School by a final score of 4-2.

state meet in several events for three years, and was the only athlete that her coach Ray Dabney coached that scored 50 points in a single track meet. She also holds the Sealy High School record in the 100-meter dash. On hand for the signing were, front row, from left, Deborah Coleman, and Mable Hill grandmothers, the honoree all smiles, mother Cristal Coleman, and Ray Coleman; and, back row, Sealy High School track coach Ray Dabney. Photo courtesy of Herbert Kollatschny

At least a few teams from the tri-county area remain in the playoffs and are on the cusp of a state tournament birth. Columbus baseball played London High School May 22 at UTSA (Univer- sity of Texas at San Antonio) and Saturday, May 25 at 4 p.m. at the same location. Columbus softball played Hallettsville High School May 22 at Hallettsville, then will play the same opponent, this time at Columbus Saturday, May 25 at 4 p.m. Fayetteville baseball will play the following week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (May 28-30) with a site and op ponent still to be determined.

ville High School baseball team advanced again in the playoffs as they defeated Medina High School by a final score of 8-3 May 15 at Lago Vista ISD Fields in Lago Vista.

WIMBERLEY – Fayetteville baseball took on Medina High School May 10 and won handedly by a final score of 18-0 at Wimberley ISD Fields in an area playoff bout. The Lions had the bats going for the entire game and didn't allow anything on defense and at the mound. "On the pitching, our game plan coming in was to have Jack go and then Chance. Get him an inning and Keagan an inning. They all pitched really well. It looks good going forward from here. We played excellent defense. I don't know if we had an error. We made some good plays. Hitting wise, we talked about being right off the bat. The top of the first inning, let's show we're the better team and we did. Kudos to our guys, they did a really good job at the plate being disciplined and taking what they give us." Sophomore pitcher Jack Schley started the game and pitched three strong innings while connecting with his bat also. "I think it's great everything's falling in line during this time of year," Schley said. "Our bats are hot right now, our pitching's great, we're all finding the zone well. With that type of playing, hitting well and pitching well, we'll be a tough team to beat." Fayetteville took a 5-0 advantage in the top of the second inning and added to their lead with a base hit to left field from Schley to drive in a run and make it 6-0. Schley then advanced to third on a pass ball before being driven in by Chance Konvicka on a sacrifice fly to centerfield, putting it at 7-0. Medina struggled to get the ball across the plate in the Lions' following at bat and Fayetteville took advantage by scoring a few runs on a bunch of pass balls to take a 9-0 lead in the very next inning.

COLUMBUS – The Rolling Hills Challenge bike event, a testament to inclusivity, kicked off on May 11 at Beasons Park in Columbus.

Bulldogs baseball is on the cusp of a state title run this year with division one talent and a program that has been in this position before. Flatonia found themselves in the playoffs last year as well with players such as Texas A&M baseball commit Titan Targac. The lefty can throw it hard with movement, locate his pitches, and also gets the job done at the plate with his bat. Targac can throw high heat but his off speed pitches are his bread and butter as he puts ton of movement on his curve ball to keep hitters off balance. He can also blow it by with his fast ball, likely reaching somewhere in the mid to upper 80's and maybe even the 90 mile per hour range.

MARION - The Schulenburg High School baseball team went down in an area playoff matchup to Kenedy High School May 11 at Bulldogs Field in Marion by a final score of 11-7. The game was postponed until the next day due to storms and Schulenburg was able to gain some momentum, but Kenedy scraped up a few more runs down the stretch to come out on top. "It was one of those things when lightning blows in, it went in our favor," said Schulenburg head baseball coach Isaiah Barrera. "Just because we didn't have the momentum on Thursday. Lightning struck, we just had to go to the next day and ended up coming back and overcoming it a little bit. It carried into Saturday." Kenedy took a 6-0 lead going into the top of the third inning and threatened to score more in their next at bat with a bases loaded jam after Schulenburg's Bryce Stoever came into pitch that was maintained by the Shorthorns with an out by fielder's choice and fly out to right field to keep the score at 6-0. Kenedy didn't add to the tally again until the top of the fifth inning when they hit a double down the left field line that scored a run after a base hit. Schulenburg was able to get on base in the next inning with a hit down the left filed line, but the game was called due to lightning and heavy storms. The game resumed Saturday and Schulenburg put forth a nice rally, but Kenedy's run support in the final innings won them the game at 11-7.

The Columbus High School softball team is making another deep run in the postseason as they defeated Jourdanton High School in a three game series to make it to the regional semifinal game, where they will face off against Lyford High School. This has been the norm for the Lady Cardinals for at least the past few years as they possess athletes and coaches who know how to win when it matters most. In Alfred Rosa's second year as head coach, he's kept the program in great hands with yet another reasonable shot at the state tournament.

A good amount of area teams took their bags to the UIL 2024 Golf State Championship meet and all four classes were represented, which included both girls and boys golfers.

ALTAIR - Rice Consolidate Independent School District announced its 2023-2024 sports awards at their annual sports banquet in the following sports:

Barrientos signs with John Melvin University to continue baseball

Schulenburg High School athletics brought the weights out to the football field April 30 at David Husmann Memorial Stadium as they had three metal stations set up for squatting and one orange padded seat for the bench press. The ones participating were a number of athletes, mostly football players, who cheered each other on as they lifted weights. There were also coaches on hand to help spot the athletes during their reps and provide extra support as well. One of the coaches on site was head football coach and athletic director Luke Hobbs.

Flatonia High School senior Kobe Burton not only made it to the state track meet at University of Texas, but excelled by earning a gold medal in the 2A boys shot put event last weekend.

Lions baseball is making yet another playoff push under head coach Clint Jaeger and company as they recently defeated High Island High School by scores of 16-3 and 17-4. Kellen Lopez, Easton Jaeger, Kole Schmitt, and Chance Konvicka had two RBI’s each in the first game and Jaeger scored four runs as well. Other key contributors were Jack Schley and Keagan Supak, who both scored three runs a piece.

Banner Press photos by Brian Pierson

WEIMAR – Lady Cardinals softball breezed by Luling High School April 26 at Lady Wildcats Field in Weimar by a final score of 15-0. Columbus poured on the hitting from the very beginning and held their pitching intact while cleaning things up on defense as well.

ROUND TOP – The Round Top-Carmine High School baseball team won a tight one April 23 at Cubs Field vs Snook High School by a final score of 2-1.

Faith Academy Boys Track Team is definitely the definition of 'QUALITY not QUANTITY'.