SPORTS
Lady Rabbits lose on the road 19-9
The Bowie Lady Rabbits traveled to Mineral Wells on Tuesday to play in their final non-district game.
Due to rain, the game was moved to a road game and the Lady Rabbits ended up losing 19-9 in five innings.
Early in the game, Bowie was able to strike first. The Lady Rabbits loaded the bases when Gracie Bentley hit a one out single that drove in two runs. She scored a batter later thanks to a passed ball to put Bowie up 3-0.
Mineral Wells answered in the bottom of the first inning. A runner reaching base thanks to an error and a single put two runners on with no outs. A wild pitch and a passed ball allowed both of them to score to cut the lead to 3-2 heading to the second inning.
The Lady Rabbits were again able to get two base runners on. A passed ball allowed both runners to advance to scoring position. Next batter Season Eudey drove in one run as she grounded to the shortstop.
After another single put runners at the corner, Carrington Davis hit a triple to left field. It was enough to drive in both runners. Next batter Kylie Fleming laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Davis and put Bowie up 7-2.
Unfortunately, the Lady Rams fired back with a five run inning to tie the game 7-7 in the bottom of the second inning thanks to three hits, one hit batter and one fielding error.
The Lady Rabbits got a hand to start the third inning. The first two batters were able to reach the base thanks to fielding errors. Jasmine Jones was then able to single to left field to drive in one run. With no outs it looked like it was going to be another big inning for Bowie.
The next batter hit the ball to the shortstop, who fumbled the play and allowed the third Lady Rabbit runner to reach base thanks to an error in that inning. Unfortunately, Mineral Wells was able to get the runner out going to second base for the first out.
Bowie was not able to take any more advantage as their next two batters popped up to the pitcher and struck out for the final two outs as the Lady Rabbits led 8-7.
The Lady Rams continued their hot offensive play. A leadoff single and walk had two runners on base with no outs. Back-to-back outs from a ground out and a sacrifice fly score both runners to give Mineral Wells its first lead.
The Lady Rams were not done in the bottom of the third inning. Three hits, a walk and a fielding error allowed for three more runs to score. Mineral Wells led 12-8 heading into the fourth inning.
Bowie started the inning off right. Davis led off with a single and next batter Fleming drove her in with a triple to right field to cut the lead to 12-9. Unfortunately, the Lady Rabbits could not get her home as the next three batters were sat down.
The Lady Rams were able to load the bases thanks to a dropped third strike, a single and a hit batter with one out.
After a pop out for the second out, a double drove in two runs. An error during this time allowed another run to score. A passed ball allowed the runner to score. Three more walks and a single allowed three more runs to score as Mineral Wells led 19-9.
Bowie needed to score at least one run to keep the game going after the fifth inning. Unfortunately, the Lady Rabbits offense was stalled for the first time all game as the three batters were all sat down in order to end the game.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
With the baseball and softball seasons over for the area 1A schools, district awards have been released.
Listed below are those earned honors on the field and in the classroom for Saint Jo and Bellevue.
Softball
Saint Jo
Honorable mention
Utility player: Taylor Patrick; Catcher: Jordyn O’Neal
Baseball
Superlatives
Offensive MVP: Devin Stewart, Saint Jo
Newcomer of the Year: Bryce Ramsey, Bellevue
Pitcher: Trent Gaston, Saint Jo
Outfielder: Jayden Curry, Saint Jo
Second team
Pitcher: Charlie Barclay, Saint Jo
Infielder: Brycen Bancroft, Bellevue; Sam Martin, Saint Jo
Outfielder: Rylan Forrester, Saint Jo
Catcher: Charlie Evans, Saint Jo
Utility: Logan Hoover, Saint Jo
DH: Amzy Barclay, Saint Jo
Honorable mention
Cody Gaston, Saint Jo; Xander Joyner, Saint Jo
To see academic awards from Saint Jo players, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Eldon Van Hooser is leaving Forestburg better than he found it.
The head boy’s basketball coach is retiring after more than 30 years, spending the last five at Forestburg.
Van Hooser did not come to this decision because of a lack of fire or feeling tired after decades in the profession. He had to for family reasons.
“My wife has MS (multiple sclerosis) and it’s a disease where you have trouble standing and walking and she needs help,” Van Hooser said. “I am able to so I am going to step away from teaching and coaching to be there for her.”
Van Hooser was hired in 2019. Along with being the boy’s basketball coach, he also was the football team’s defensive coordinator.
There were some lean years for Forestburg on the boy’s athletic side, with numbers being low and the available athletes being mostly underclassmen.
For two years, the Longhorns’ boy’s basketball team won few games and one of those seasons saw the team field five players on the high school team.
“One of those years we had COVID-19 and the other we had five kids,” Van Hooser said. “It was very rough. After that we worked with the kids and we had a good freshman group coming up. Next year they are going to be seniors.”
That group has helped to turn the program around. Last year the young Longhorns team contested for a playoff spot and just barely missed it finishing fifth in the district.
This season, that same group took a leap and finished second in district with a record of 7-5.
Despite losing its last two regular season games in dramatic fashion heading into the playoffs, the team stepped up in the bi-district game.
Playing against an athletic Newcastle team, Forestburg led for most of the game.
Unfortunately, the previous game against Bellevue saw the Longhorn team blow the lead late in the fourth quarter against a hard pressing style team and they were suffering the same fate against the Bobcats down the stretch.
Fortunately, Forestburg held on just enough to win 53-46. It was the first boy’s basketball playoff win in nine years for Forestburg.
“It was huge for our program,” Van Hooser said. “This new year we will have new goals. The new coach will have some goals of his own, but I set some for the team and think that we have come a long way.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
The Bowie sports banquets was on Monday night. Olivia Gill and Tucker Jones were named Jackrabbit and Lady Rabbit of the year. Pick up the mid-week paper for all of the sports team awards and pictures.
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