SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Lovable losers no more
It has taken more than 100 years, but suffice to say the Chicago Cubs are a major league baseball powerhouse.
The Cubs have had their moments during the past several generations: The trip to the World Series in 1945, the group that reached the NLCS twice during the 1980s, and the Bartman year of 2003.
The Cubs, thanks to their fan base, have always been adorned “the lovable losers.”
That moniker also could be affixed to several other baseball clubs – including the Cubs’ World Series opponent – the Cleveland Indians.
It could also be given to the Texas Rangers. Sorry, but it’s true.
The Rangers have never won a World Series, and that includes years when the team was known as the Washington Senators.
The same could be said for the Houston Astros, who also have never claimed baseball’s biggest prize. Houston began in the early-1960s as the Colt 45’s.
For whatever reason, the state of Texas has produced top-level baseball talent – yet our state’s pro franchises have never been able to garner the World Series.
Buddy Cody O’Neal and I talked about that on Thursday evening, and we both found it to be a little coincidental, maybe even ironic, the two winning pitchers in the first two Series games are Texans.
Corey Kluber was the winner in Game One. Kluber hails from Coppell, and many St. Louis Cardinals fans remember the deal that sent him to Ohio.
Kluber was drafted by the San Diego Padres, and then dealt as part of a three-team deal involving the Indians and Cardinals.
Jake Westbrook, a pitcher, was the centerpiece of a deal that saw him traded to St. Louis and outfielder Ryan Ludwick was shipped to San Diego.
The Padres also sent Nick Greenwood to St. Louis, and the Indians paid $2.7 million of Westbrook’s remaining salary.
Kluber was seen as a throw-in back then, and he was assigned to the Indians’ Double-A affiliate the Akron (Ohio) Aeros. Well, he’s certainly no throw-in right now.
In game two, Jake Arrieta was the winning pitcher. Arrieta starred in the region for Plano East High School.
The Cincinnati Reds selected Arrieta in the 31st round of the 2004 Major League Baseball entry draft; however, he decided to attend college. Read more in the Oct. 29 Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Jake Arrieta won the second game of the World Series. Arrieta is a regional product from Plano who pitched for Weatherford College. (Courtesy photo)
Saint Jo hosted its own volleyball tournament Sept. 10-12.
In its first match, the Lady Panthers bested Sam Rayburn in a b est-of-three match 2-1 (25-11, 23-25, 25-14.) In the opener, senior Tatum Morman staked the Lady Panthers to a 4-0 lead with help from Kamron Skidmore and Olivia Johnson kills. The Lady Rebels would come back and tie the game at seven.
Savannah Hill’s kill broke serve and allowed Abby Carter to string together seven points. An ace and a Hill kill helped keep the drive alive. Hill later rolled off six points in a row, helped by two aces, to go up 23-10. Sam Rayburn broke serve but Saint Jo finished the game with a single Morman point.
Sam Rayburn came right out of the gate firing in the second game leading 4-0. A single Carter point, thrown down by a Hill block, and Hill’s four-point skein put the Lady Panthers up 8-6. Sam Rayburn tied the game at eight.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Forestburg’s volleyball team gave visiting Chico a solid test Sept. 8, but the Lady Dragons rebounded from a third-set loss to pull out the 3-1 win (25-23, 25-19, 25-27, 25-19).
The Lady Longhorns got out to a quick start with aces from freshmen Madi Wadsworth and Lacie Shotwell staking the squad to a 4-1 lead in game one. Wadsworth later broke a 4-all tie with a kill.
Addy Conway rolled off four straight points, helped by a Wadsworth kill to give Forestburg an 11-9 lead. Chico took a 16-14 lead but a Brenna Briles ace and Jocelyn Rich’s two points forced Chico into a timeout down 17-19.
The respite worked as it would be Forestburg’s last lead of game one, the Lady ‘Horns not having another serving point.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
After splitting the first two games with Vernon Northside, Bowie’s volleyball team turned things out and wound with a 3-1 match win (25-17, 15-25, 25-17, 25-17).
Molly Enlow used two aces amidst a four-point string to give the Lady Rabbits a 5-1 lead in game one. Senior KP Rutherford’s pair of points extended the lead to 8-3.
Northside cut the deficit to 10-11 before Rutherford’s kill broke serve.
Bella Culwell’s point, aided by an Ellie Mowery kill, put Bowie up 13-10. Northside tied the game at 13 before Rutherford came through with another pair for a 17-14 lead. Lillie Maddox also had a deuce for a 20-15 lead and force a Lady INdian timeout.
Northside broke serve but a Sophie Maddox block and Lillie Maddox three-point string gave the squad game point at 24-16. The squads exchanged side outs to end the game.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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