SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Walker legacy remains
Last weekend in Nocona, the Ray Walker Coed Memorial Softball Tournament took place at the American Legion Sports Complex.
This marked the sixth annual Walker tournament, and it was a celebration of Ray’s life.
“The tournament started with friends in 2010, and we helped out,” Walker said.
Sherry Brown, Ray’s daughter, has continually been impressed with the outpouring of support for the event – and the Walker family.
“The community support means a lot,” Brown said. “We’ve come together to support dad, and that means the world to us.”
Walker grew up in Montague, and he valued hard work at such an early age.
Brown said Ray Walker shined shoes at the Montague County Courthouse, and that served as the start of his business savvy.
Walker also valued education, and he graduated from Nocona High School in 1965 where he concentrated on vocational and agricultural classes.
In 2001, Nocona surprised Ray with induction into the prestigious NHS Hall of Honor for his worldwide business success and military heroism – we’ll get into all that later in this writing.
Proceeds from the tournament benefit scholarships for Nocona and Prairie Valley High School seniors.
Brown estimated the tournament has raised about $50,000 in scholarships.
“It’s humbling,” she said. “We have a lot of sponsors who help out and give us donations.”
The money raised comes through tournament fees, T-shirt sales and a full concession stand.
Kenneth D. Jones won the home run hitting contest. Batters gave $10 for 10 swings.
Crown Royal took top honors and the Dino-Mites were second. Overall, Brown reported there were 11 teams in action. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Nocona’s Ray Walker, who died in 2010 while vacationing with his wife, Mary, in Oregon. Walker’s legacy is still felt in the community today. (Courtesy photo)
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death