There are several Bowie High School baseball players that will have a unique experience this weekend.
On Friday evening, Bowie’s Trace Hardee, Deagon Kurz, Chandler Dean, Conner Koks, Kollin Gillaspia, Lawson Mickler, Carter Shackelford, Kevin Stallcup, Kamry Weber and Barrett Brooks all received their high school diplomas.
Today, they are all play in the Conference 3A Region 2 semifinals versus Van Alstyne as graduated players.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Carter Shackelford when asked about what it’s going to be like to play in today’s contest.
With the way the University Interscholastic League playoffs are set up, many seniors around the state will have graduated on Friday night – while today they are playing in regional finals in softball or regional semifinals in baseball.
Today, Windthorst and Archer City softball will complete their series. The Windthorst baseball team wrapped up their series with Conference 2A top-ranked Bosqueville.
Lindsay will play Mart at Fort Worth Brewer, Nocona baseball coach Brent Lewis’ alma mater, this afternoon.
Like Bowie, Lindsay’s graduation took place on Friday night in Centennial Hall, so many of the Knights will be in the same boat as the Jackrabbits. Read more from this column in the May 28 Bowie News.

Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.

Conner Koks is one of 10 Bowie seniors who graduated on Friday night, and will play today. Koks played left field on Thursday in place of Taylor Pigg. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)