SPORTS
Bowie baseball ends season against Brock
The Bowie Jackrabbits could not get past the evil empire Brock in their bi-district series on Friday and Saturday.
The Eagles won the series 2-0, winning close games with the scores 5-1 and 3-2, with the second game ending on a hit batter with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Bowie came into the series as underdogs despite being used to playoff success. Finishing fourth in the district meant a matchup with another school that is a district champion, but not just any due to district set-ups.
Brock, the school that finishes among the top of the Lone Star Cup standings every year, as it seems there is not one athletic team that is not at the very least destined to have a long playoff run.
The baseball team is no exception, ranking fifth in the state in 3A this year. While the list of teams whose seasons have been cut short is too many to list, the most painful example was the Jackrabbits magical baseball run ending in the regional final two years ago to this same Eagles’ program.
Both teams have wildly different rosters and even have different coaches from then, but every program in the area knows the history of facing a Brock team in the playoffs and the history.
Since 2018, the only Bowie teams to have beaten a Brock team have been the boy’s basketball team in 2018 and the girl’s basketball team in 2021.
The Jackrabbits hosted game one on Friday and started senior Troy Kesey on the mound.
Bowie started the game well. After shutting down the Eagle’s batters, Kesey hit a two out triple. Later in the inning after Hayden Rodriguez drew a walk, courtesy runner Andrew Sandhoff scored after a passed ball to put the Jackrabbits up 1-0.
Brock answered in the second inning.
With the bases loaded and one out after a single and two hit batters, a groundball resulted in an error that allowed not just one run, but for two to come in while no out was made. The Eagles led 2-1.
After another walk loaded the bases it looked like it might get worse, but a double-play was turned to get out of the jam.
The team’s exchanged a scoreless third inning before Brock got a two-out rally going in the fourth inning. After a leadoff double, Kesey retired the next two batters. Two singles followed that drove in two runs to put the Eagles up 4-1.
Brock would get one more run in the sixth inning. With two walks and a sacrifice bunt laid down, the next batter hit a fly ball deep enough to right field that it scored one run to put the Eagles up 5-1.
After a hit batter followed, Sandhoff came in to pitch in relief. He walked the next batter to load the bases, but induced a fly ball to left field for out three.
Bowie tried to get something going when Kesey hit a one out single in the sixth inning. Unfortunately, his pinch runner was caught stealing and the next batter lined out to second base.
The Jackrabbits did not get anything going in the final inning and Brock wrapped up a 5-1 win in the first game.
The second game was played in the early afternoon on Saturday at Brock, with a possible game three being scheduled to follow if needed.
Bowie started its ace pitcher Edmond De Leon in the most important game of the season.
The Jackrabbits threatened to score in the first inning, loading the bases up with one out. Unfortunately, the next two batters could not get them home.
Bowie was able to in the second inning. Cooper Hammer drew a leadoff walk. After a sacrifice bunt, single by Tucker Jones put runners at the corners with two outs. Rayder Mann then came through with a single that drove in Hammer to put the Jackrabbits up 1-0.
Brock threatened to retaliate in the same inning, loading the bases up with no outs thanks to two singles and an error at second base.
The defense held with a fielder’s choice out at home, a pickoff throw at third base and groundout at second base.
The Eagles came back in the third inning. After a one out walk, a later stolen base put the runner in position to score when a later batter hit a two out double to tie the game at 1-1.
The teams exchanged a scoreless fourth inning, with the only highlight being Brock advancing a runner to third base, but failing to score.
With two outs in the top of the fifth inning, Kesey drew a walk and Rodriguez followed with a single. Kesey advanced to third base to put runners at the corners.
Executing a steal at second base caused an error by the catcher that allowed Kesey to score and put Bowie up 2-1.
The Eagles were not going to led the Jackrabbits get away with that. In the same inning, Brock batters led off by drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch.
The defense responded by catching a harmless fly out to left field and by getting the fielder’s choice out at third base for out two.
Unfortunately, the next batter singled up the middle to drive in one run to tied the game at 2-2.
The Eagles looked to take the lead in the sixth inning as they led off with a single. Thankfully, Bowie covered the bunt and pulled off a double-play.
It was good because the next batter hit a single that he was able to stretch into a triple thanks to an error in right field. De Leon then came through with a strikeout for out three.
The Jackrabbits had a great opportunity in the seventh inning to retake the lead. Boston Farris led off and got on base thanks to an error by the shortstop.
Jones followed by drawing a walk.
After a change a pitcher from Brock, a sacrifice bunt was laid down that advanced both lead runners in scoring position for Bowie. Kesey was then intentionally walked to load the bases up with one out.
Unfortunately, the next two Jackrabbit batters struck out to end the chance.
The Eagles led off with a single. After the lead batter stole second base, the next batter was retired on an infield fly ball. The third batter drew a walk and De Leon had to be replaced due to pitch count.
The next batter was intentionally walked to load the bases up with one out, hoping the next few batters would be much less threatening.
Before it could get too far, with the count at one ball and one strike, the next batter was hit by a pitch. The runner on third base scored to end the game.
Brock won the game 3-2 and the series 2-0.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
Jackrabbits
A day after football season ended and the Bowie boy’s basketball team played its first game of the season and is working towards a new goal this season.
The Jackrabbits lost that first game against Sanger on Nov. 9, 70-36 before bouncing back a few days later after some practice to beat Bridgeport on Nov. 12, 56-51.
Bowie comes into this season after falling just short of making the playoffs last season.
The team graduated two of its three double-digit scorers along with an experienced post player from its starting rotation last season.
Rayder Mann is the team’s most proven scorer from last season, but other players will be counted on to step up according to Coach Ryan Dykes, who enters his second season at Bowie.
“Rayder Mann and Bradly Horton will need to be the floor generals for us to be successful,” Dykes said. “Boston Farris will be counted on to be a productive player and Gaige Goodman will need to be a factor in the paint on both the offensive and defensive end.”
In the first game against Sanger, Mann led the team with 13 points while Goodman was second with eight points.
The offense was much better overall against Bridgeport. Horton had 15 points, Mann had 14 points and Farris had nine points as Bowie scored in double-digits in every quarter of the game.
Lady Rabbits
In the second week of the season the Bowie Lady Rabbits had up and down performances.
The Lady Rabbits lost at Bridgeport on Nov. 9, 68-30 but bounced back to win at home on Nov. 12 against Boyd 55-42.
Against Bridgeport, Bowie gave up too many three-pointers on defense as the Sissies made 12 in the game.
It was too much for the Lady Rabbits to keep up with.
Parker Riddle led the team with 14 points while Payton Holt was second with five points.
The offense was more successful overall and balanced against Boyd, pulling away in the second half. Hanna Bell led the team with 13 points while Holt was second with eight points and Lanie Moore had seven points.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
The Nocona Lady Indians won a tough match in the regional semi-finals against Forsan on Tuesday night in Breckenridge.
The Lady Indians won 3-1, but had to come back big time in the fourth set to close out the match and prevent it going to five.
Nocona came in as slight favorites against a 28 win Lady Buffaloes team that had an up and down pre-district schedule before sweeping through 10 district matches and dropping only two sets.
The first two playoff matches for Forsan were won with little trouble against McCamey and Highland Park, not losing a single set.
The Lady Indians were coming off a 3-0 win against Seymour and 3-1 win against Hawley in its first two playoff rounds. Their tougher district and pre-district schedule while having a similar record made them the favorites in the match.
In the first set, the Lady Buffaloes proved those thoughts on paper meant nothing as it went down to the wire. It could have gone either way and dipped into extra-points, but it was Forsan that came out on top 26-24 to take the early lead 1-0.
Nocona rebounded and easily took set two 25-14 to tie the match at 1-1. Set three was competitive, but the Lady Indians had the lead and some wiggle room as they held on to win 25-20 to take the lead 2-1.
The fourth set the Lady Buffaloes were not going away as they got the lead early and were able to keep it throughout most of the set.
It looked like the match was heading towards a fifth set, where anything could happen at that point. Forsan led 23-17 and just needed to win two more points.
Somehow, some way Nocona grinded back. A couple of won points caused a time out from the Lady Buffaloes to try and quell the small momentum. It did not and every point won exponentially grew that momentum until it was a surge.
The Lady Indians eventually tied the score up at 23-23 before winning the final two points Forsan had been unable to win in the last eight serves. Nocona won 25-23 in a much more emotional celebration for a 3-1 victory because of how the last set was won.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
The Saint Jo Lady Panthers secured their third straight trip to the regional tournament on Tuesday with an easy win against Woodson.
The Lady Panthers won in straight sets 3-0 against the Cowgirls as they moved on to the next phase in their plan.
Saint Jo came into the match as favorites, with expectations to get back to the regional tournament before the season even started.
Woodson had some good front court players and had picked up steam during district play to win its district. That didn’t mean the Cowgirls didn’t struggle through its first two playoff matches, taking Richland Springs and Crowell to five sets in their victory.
Also, the teams played earlier in the season during a tournament and the Lady Panthers won 2-0. The fact it was more than two months ago indicated little besides both teams knowing what the other brought to the table.
Saint Jo had only stumbled in its previous match against Perrin-Whitt in the first set, with a lot of uncharacteristic errors.
It was important for Coach Kelly Skidmore to get her team’s mindset right to not give up anything easy since Woodson has proven itself to be feisty in its two five-set playoff wins.
The team took her words to heart and led 5-0 to cool off a hot Woodson crowd that was hoping to root its team to an upset win in a playoff run that was full of excitement so far.
Even with the Cowgirls eventually fighting back, Saint Jo was able to attack Woodson’s serve-receive and win more times at the net with its own impressive front court play.
Knowing also where to hit the ball, avoiding too many dump attacks where Woodson was ready and looking to hit it near the sidelines, also played a factor in the Lady Panthers making it look easy.
Saint Jo won 25-17 to take a 1-0 lead.
The second set proved to be the most competitive of the match. The first 10 points were even, but then the Cowgirls had a 4-1 run to open up a 12-8 lead.
The Lady Panthers battled back and quickly tied the score at 15-15 and then 20-20.
Down the stretch, Woodson had trouble landing its serves while Saint Jo made the Cowgirls work for every point. The execution led to the Lady Panthers winning the close set 25-23 as they took a 2-0 lead.
Even with the lead, it was emphasized to Saint Jo players to not give up an inch since Woodson had shown it could take a mile. While the Cowgirls had not come back from 2-0 in the previous two matches, the fact both went five sets and they would need to do it again if they wanted a chance to win meant the Lady Panthers could not take a breath.
With that in mind, Saint Jo started set three and quickly got out to a 5-0 lead thanks to a string of good serves. That seemed to put Woodson’s energy down, even as the Cowgirls clawed back to within one point relatively quickly 8-7.
Then the Lady Panthers went on a 7-3 run to open their lead to 15-10 and there was no fight left for Woodson. Saint Jo’s lead continued to grow as the end of the match proved near.
The Lady Panthers won the set easily 25-14 and the match 3-0.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News. For more pictures from the match, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6870517&T=1
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