HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Iowa Park adds Bowie’s Taylor

Published

9 years ago

06/05/2017

By ERIC VICCARO
sports@bowienewsonline.com

Former Bowie High School standout pitcher Heath Taylor has accepted the role of assistant baseball coach at Iowa Park.

Taylor joins a successful Conference 4A program at Iowa Park, and he will work with Michael Swenson – who has guided the Hawks to 193 wins during the past decade.

“I feel fortunate to be getting somebody with Heath’s credentials as pitching coach,” Swenson said. “Finding someone like Heath is few and far between. We are excited. His resume speaks for itself.”

Swenson also likes the fact Taylor is a lefty because the Hawks’ pitching staff features plenty of southpaw talent.

Taylor will be energized knowing three of Iowa Park’s best pitchers will return for the 2017-18 season, Chris Dickens, Derek Hostas and Kaleb Gafford – who was a freshman this year.

“I’m so excited,” said Taylor, the stepson of Kevin Roth and Pam Roth. “I have family there, and I can coach several sports for a supportive school district. It’s a good place for me.”

Taylor also has two sisters in Macy Debord and Jordon Roth, who currently serves as Bowie’s athletic trainer.

Iowa Park won a competitive District 4A-6 this year, with Burkburnett second and Graham third. The Hawks went 20-9-3 – eliminated in the area around by Alvarado.

Taylor knows some of the players on the Iowa Park roster since he coached them during a short stint with the Burkburnett Black Sox select team years ago.

Heath Taylor, shown here playing for Oklahoma, has been named assistant baseball coach at nearby Iowa Park. (Courtesy photo from the University of Oklahoma)

Bowie softball team falls in area round

Published

4 days ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Bowie softball had a historic season, where the squad made the postseason for the first time since 2019 and knocked a top seed from the playoffs, come to an end April 29.

No-4 ranked Tuscola Jim Ned got out to a quick start and took an 11-1, five inning win in the area round of the Class 3A Division I playoffs. Bowie had its season end at 19-15.

With a large crowd at Weatherford High rooting them on, Bowie took the field looking to knock out another top seed, as they did with Early last week.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

Willett, Richey off to State

Published

4 days ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Bowie will have two track athletes at the State track and field meet May 14 with top two finishes at the Region 1-3A track meet at Abilene Christian University May 1-2.

Tyler Richey finished 2^nd in the pole vault with a 15’ leap. Richey was also 9^th in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.39. Sophomore Braden Willett was 3^rd in the 1,600-meters with a school record best of time of 4:21.93. Willett was 4^th in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:29.71.

Several other Rabbits and Lady Rabbits competed at the regional meet. The 800-meter relay foursome of Colton Dosch, Richey, Finn Riddle and Jaxon White finished 6^th with a time of 1:30.24 while the 1,600-meter relay team of Dosch, Judah Livsey, Riddle and Blaine Leonard finished 8^th with a time of 3:30.76.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

SPORTS

Fourteen track athletes head to State

Published

4 days ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Saint Jo’s boys and girls track teams took top honors at the Region III-A track meet at Hewitt Midway High School May 1-2 and will send several athletes to the state track and field meet May 16 in Austin.

The boys were led by Damon Byrd who won both the long jump with a 22’9 ¾” leap and triple jump with a 45’ 10 ½”. Byrd also won the 100-meter dash with a time of 1.03 and was a member of the victorious 800-meter relay along with Trent Gaston, Barrett Johnson and Lee Yeley with a time of 1:30.80.

Yeley won the high jump with a 6’ leap. Byrd, Yeley, Dominic Luna and Gaston combined for a 2^nd-place finish in the 1,600-meter relay with a time 3:32.81. Gaston was 2^nd in the 110-meter hurdles with a tie of 16.09. Johnson was 2^nd in the 400-meter dash in 50.75, Ayden Giambruno was 6^th in the 3200-meter run in 11:05.24 with Yeley 8^th in the 200-meters with a time of 25.61.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.