SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FISHING: Bowie poised for state bass meet
By ERIC VICCARO
[email protected]
When the Texas High School Bass Association had its first state tournament four years ago, it contained six schools and 20 two-person teams.
Now the THSBA is on the verge of splitting into six divisions.
But, before then, the organization will have its state tournament from May 20-21 at Lake Ray Roberts in Sanger.
“It’s been overwhelming and exciting,” said tournament director Matt Tolnay, who joined the THSBA three years ago. “We have had an average growth of 35 percent each season, and we are adding two new divisions next year.”
Tolnay remarked he wishes the association was going when he was in high school at Bonham, and this fishing league gives students a chance to excel in a yet another sport.
Bowie has experienced an incredible dose of success this season, which included the Gold-Burg pair of Blake Allen and Will Hamilton claiming first place at the Lake Texoma Tournament this winter.
Allen and Hamilton fish with Bowie jerseys on.
“It’s been rewarding for me to see them improve on their skills,” said Weldon Duff, who serves as Allen’s and Hamilton’s boat captain.
Competing in high school fishing has helped turn what’s seen as a weekend hobby into a passion where the boys are constantly honing their craft.
“Rusty Edwards has been instrumental in Jared’s life,” said Toni Stone, the Bowie Bass Club coordinator. “The knowledge and experience Jared has gained the past two years has been invaluable.”
Toni Stone reported her son, Jared Stone, would like to join the fishing team at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, where he will major in criminal justice. Read more in the May 17 Bowie News.
Bowie’s Hadley Morgan and Lane Hopson have been mainstays since the fishing team began more than three years ago. Both Morgan and Hopson will attempt to put their experience to good use at the Texas High School Bass Association state tournament this weekend at Lake Ray Roberts in Sanger. (Courtesy photo by Toni Stone)
The Nocona Lady Indians beat Saint Jo at home on Saturday morning.
The Lady Indians won 16-1 after four innings due to run-rule against the smaller school.
Nocona was coming off a competitive loss at Collinsville earlier in the week while the Lady Panthers were hoping to compete after a busy week of their athletes doing everything else besides just softball.
The Lady Indians easily won the first matchup between the teams in March, 19-2 and it was more of the same on Saturday.
Saint Jo struck first to start the game off well. Jordyn O’Neal hit a one out single. Krista Reeves followed with a walk after O’Neal had stolen second base and had advanced to third thanks to an error trying to throw her out. A wild pitch then allowed her to score to put the Lady Panthers up 1-0.
The lead did not last long. Nocona’s first two batters drew walks which set up Abby Hill to drive them both in with a single to right field.
Despite giving up a single and a walk later in the inning, Saint Jo’s defense did not allow another run. A line out and groundout to the shortstop while picking off a runner attempting to steal got the Lady Panthers out of the inning unscarred.
The Lady Indians led 2-1.
That was about as competitive as it got. In the second inning, Nocona’s bats got going. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases up with no outs.
Reagan Phipps drew a walk that drove in a run. Hill hit another two RBI single. Skye Kirby followed with a two RBI double.
After the first out, Allie Sutton drove in one run with a single. There was a fly out for out two, before a runner came in to score after a passed ball. Finally, an error allowed two more runs to score on the base paths.
Nocona had scored nine runs and led 11-1 to break the game open heading into the third inning.
Taylor Patrick hit a double, with O’Neal and Reeves following with singles. Unfortunately for Saint Jo, Patrick was thrown out before the hits attempting to steal a base so the Lady Panthers scored no runs from this.
The Lady Indians kept pouring on the runs. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases up with no outs. Tinley Cable then hit an RBI single. Shelby Swell was hit by a pitch that drove in another run.
After two strikeouts, Evelyn Marquez drove in two more runs on a double to put Nocona up 15-1, coming up one run short of ending the game early.
The Lady Indians scored that one run in the fourth inning. After Phipps drew a leadoff walk, Hill hit a triple that drove her in to end the game.
Nocona won 16-1.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
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