SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Lesson learned in Katy
The Katy High School baseball team learned a valuable lesson this week.
And I’m truly surprised the University Interscholastic League, the state’s sanctioning body administering high school sports, did something more than slap a program on the wrist.
Actually, come to think of it, plenty of people were given an education this week, and I’m not talking STAAR testing.
I’m glad I get to share the story with all of you in this column – because I want to make sure people do their homework and look at the legal ramifications before diving into the pool.
After all, I don’t want to write about a local high school team I cover having to be stripped of wins.
Here’s what happened.
Katy baseball players Hayden Baker and Grant Jackman served as assistant coaches for a Little League team based in the same Houston suburb.
That’s all fine and dandy; however, there’s one thing. Both Baker and Jackman were paid for their services.
It was an amateur athletics violation for that to happen, and the UIL state executive committee denied Katy’s last-ditch appeal on Monday during a meeting at the Austin Marriott North hotel.
That means Katy will forfeit 20 wins and miss the UIL Conference 6A playoffs. Katy is a blueblood athletic program in Texas, and that’s why I find the reprimand so shocking.
The District 19-6A executive committee originally ruled against the school in an April 22 decision, and recommended the minimum penalty – which was forfeiture of games. Read more from this column in the May 7 Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
The University Interscholastic League state executive committee denied Katy’s last-ditch appeal on May 2 during a meeting at the Austin Marriott North hotel. (Logo provided by the Katy Independent School District, used with permission)
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.
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