SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL: Iowa Park adds Bowie’s Taylor
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)
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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