SPORTS
Bowie baseball coach laments lost season
Submitted by
Coach Glen Dunnam
This is not something I ever thought would happen. We always tell the younger players that they need to make the most of every year because it will be over before you know it. This year it was over before we really got deep in the season. This will be a year they will never forget. We had a relatively young team and we had a lot of things to cover before district started.
We, as coaches, were excited about what the season had in store. We expected to make a run at the district championship if things fell into place, then it was over just like that. I think this situation will make the younger players realize how quickly things end.
The JV team had a record of 8-5 when the season stopped. They were getting better and better with each game. They competed in the Bowie Tournament, the Wichita Falls High School tournament and the Iowa Park tournament. They played some tough teams and they showed they could play with anyone.
They were learning how we played the game and all the different situations that could arise in a game. They will be a big part of this program in the future.
Varsity had a record of 4-5 when things stopped. We ran a multitude of lineups out in the tournament games in hopes of finding the right combination. We had 13 players and each one of them had something good to contribute to the team.
Every person played multiple positions and they never complained. It was a chance to see which of the young guys were ready to handle the grind of varsity competition. They all stepped up in big situations and all came through multiple times.
As a coaching staff we were getting more excited as district games were approaching. We realized we had a lot of pitchers that could get the job done in any situation; of the 13 players we had eight that pitched multiple innings for us. It took the younger guys a little bit to get used to facing varsity pitching, and they were getting better with each game and the older guys with experience were being great leaders.
I could talk all day about what each player meant to this program, but the hardest part for the coaching staff when it all ended was the disappointment we had for the four seniors not getting to finish their senior year. They were a big part of what we had accomplished and what we were going to accomplish if the season had continued. It is going to be hard to put into words what they meant to this program.
Two seniors that will be missed more than anyone knows are Wendy Ortiz and Delaynee Gregory. They have been our managers and statisticians for four years. They were a big part of this program and we will miss all the little things they did each day in practice and games. I know they will be very hard to replace.
The things I am going to miss most about not finishing the season is the comradery this group had and how much fun we were having as the season progressed. We are still excited about next year with all the other players we have returning and expect big things from this group in the future.
To read the full story with information about senior players Zane Bell, Boo Oakley, Braden Armstrong and Weston Partridge, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
Nocona
The Nocona Indians picked up dominant wins against Chico in their series against the Dragons last week.
The Indians won both games 11-0 by run-rule after five innings to get their first district wins of the season.
Nocona was coming off losing both games against Lindsay the previous week in its first district series and bounced back in a big way.
In the first game at home last week, the Indians scored six runs in the first inning and five in the third inning which proved to be all the offense they needed.
Kutter Cabrera led the team with three RBIs while Miller Jentry was second with two RBIs. The team finished with nine hits and drew eight walks.
On the mound, Walker Murphey pitched a shut out while striking out seven and allowing three hits. Defensively, the team committed one fielding error.
The second game saw Nocona score all of its runs in the first three innings, highlighted by scoring six runs in the second inning.
Murphey hit a three-run home run to lead the team while Brody Langford and Landon Fatheree each had two RBIs.
On the mound RJ Walker had a big day, throwing a perfect four innings which means he did not allow a hit or walk anyone. He also struck out eight batters, which put him over 100 career strikeouts in high school. The defense committed no fielding errors.
Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Panthers lost their series against Bryson last week.
The first game was a close 3-0 loss, but the second game was 11-0, done after four and half innings due to run-rule.
The Panthers were coming off close losses to Perrin-Whitt from the previous week. They were hoping they could turn their fortune around playing another 1A program.
Unfortunately in the first game, the Cowboys got off to a good start, scoring three runs in the first inning, with two coming with two outs due to an error and a dropped third strike.
Saint Jo’s pitching and defense tightened up after that to not allow another run in the final six innings. Unfortunately, the Panthers had only two hits and four base runners all game as they lost the close game 3-0.
Charlie Evans and Rylan Forrest had the only two hits for Saint Jo in the game as the team struck out 18 times. Trent Gaston ended the game allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out five batters and walking two in six innings of work. The defense committed five fielding errors.
Unfortunately, things did not go as well several days later in game two. Bryson scored three runs in both the first and second innings before scoring five runs in the third inning. Saint Jo was not able to get a hit and drew two walks in the game.
The Panther defense committed six fielding errors which led to only three of the 11 runs given up were earned by the pitching staff who gave up five hits, walked six and hit four batters.
Bellevue
The Bellevue Eagles played Perrin-Whitt last week in a series.
The Pirates won the first game 11-1 by run-rule and the second game score was not updated on Game Changer.
The Eagles were coming off one-sided losses to Bryson the previous week in their first district series and was hoping to play better.
Bellevue did get out to an early lead in the first inning. River Trail hit an RBI single in the top of the first inning to go up 1-0, which proved to be the highlight of the game.
Perrin-Whitt scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second inning, two in the fourth inning and five in the fifth inning to win 11-1.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
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