SPORTS
Bowie softball coach laments lost season
Submitted by
Coach Brant Farris
The 2020 Bowie Lady Rabbit softball season will be one for the memory books, but not for the wins or losses, or even the players on the field. This season has been none like any player, coach or fan has ever seen. This season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The season was off to a promising start for the Lady Rabbits as they had already won more games this year than the previous year, finishing the 2020 campaign with a record of 8-10. We finished the season with a three game winning streak, which is something that only the state champions can say if the season played out as normally scheduled.
We were playing our best softball of the season with two pre-season games remaining before the start of district play. This fact alone makes the pandemic shutdown of the 2020 season that much tougher to swallow. These girls were focused and ready to make a splash in district play.
The pandemic shutdown also affected the junior varsity softball team in a terrible way. Most softball seasons are scheduled varsity-heavy early in the year, with that being said the JV finished the year at 1-1. The affects of this pandemic may be felt for many years as it took valuable time away from several players to learn the game and the traditions of Lady Rabbit softball.
The JV players watch and learn from the varsity games and the practices. This program is rich with a winning tradition and this fact is something that varsity players pass down from class to class, by talking about it with the younger classes during practice. The expectation to continue our winning tradition is set by the players’ work ethic in practice and their desire to win in games.
I am going to miss the bus rides and the practices with my teams this year and building those relationships that winning and losing leads to. The future is bright for Bowie Lady Rabbit softball.
To read the full story that includes information about seniors Gracie Bentley, Chelsea Ketchum, Kylie Fleming and Makaila Wilson pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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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