SPORTS
Comeback bid falls short against Jacksboro 6-3
Another late comeback attempt from the Bowie baseball team on Friday against Jacksboro was thwarted with some late runs by the Tigers.
The Jackrabbits tied the score headed into the last inning only to see Jacksboro score three runs in the seventh to win 6-3.
Bowie started the game off strong. A leadoff single in the bottom of the first by Juan Mares was then worked into scoring position. With two outs, Payton Price hit a ball to first base that got through the fielder on an error. This allowed the run to score and Price to end up on second. Unfortunately, the next batter struck out to end the inning with the Jackrabbits leading 1-0.
After both teams exchanged a scoreless second inning, Jacksboro was able to grab the lead in the top of the third. An infield error allowed one runner on base.
The next batter hit a single to that put two runners on base. After a wild pitch both runners were in scoring position, which the next batter took advantage of by hitting a line drive single into the outfield that scored both runners. The Tigers then led 2-1.
Bowie could not answer back offensively the next two innings. The Jackrabbits were able to load the bases up in the bottom of the fourth with one out, but just could not get any runs aboard as they struck out and hit an infield pop fly.
Jacksboro was able to add one more run in the top of the fifth. A one out double put a runner in scoring position. Next batter was able to drive in the run with a line drive single to right field to put the Tigers up 3-1.
Things were not looking good for Bowie as another three up three down inning with no base runners did not inspire much momentum for a team that needed to score several runs to get back into the game and with only a couple innings left to do it.
In the bottom of the sixth, price was hit with one out to give the Jackrabbits a base runner. Next batter struck out and Bowie now had two outs. Weston Partridge was able to draw a walk on four straight pitches to get the game tying run on base.
Chance Tomlinson then came up to bat. He had struck out and ground out earlier in the game. He had also been in the same situation the game before and delivered. Tomlinson came through again with a line drive into the gap that scored both runners and put him on second. The score was tied 3-3 heading into the seventh inning.
Jacksboro was able to get two runners on with one out. An errant throw from the infield to first base allowed one run to score. The next batter hit a double that allowed another run to score. A ground out to the shortstop allowed the third run to score before Bowie got out of the inning the next batter, trailing 6-3. Unfortunately, three straight ground outs from the Jackrabbits was how the game ended.
To read more, pick up a copy of the mid-week 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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