SPORTS
13 athletes off to state track

Montague County will have athletes from six schools competing at the state track meet in Austin later this week.
All together, 13 athletes from Bowie, Nocona, Saint Jo, Forestburg, Prairie Valley and Gold-Burg will compete on the biggest high school stage to see if they can bring home a medal.
From Bowie, senior Tucker Jones is competing in the 3A boys 110 meter hurdles event for the second straight year. Jones earned the one wildcard spot as he finished third at the regional meet this year.
Despite that, his qualifying time and personal record 14.73 seconds is better than several runners in the field. Jones finished ninth at state last year. With it being his final high school race, Jones is putting no pressure on himself outside of trying his best while enjoying the experience.
Jones is scheduled to run around 5:45 p.m. on May 2.
From Nocona, junior Graci Brown is back for the second straight year and is hoping she can repeat as state champion in two of the events she won last year. She won the 400 meter and 800 meter races last year.
This year, she won the 400 meter race at regionals, but finished second in the 800 meters after getting caught at the end. Still, her times compared to her competitors put her in the company to try and repeat again.
Brown also is a part of the 4×400 relay along with Ava Johnson, Ayden Patton and Meg Meekins, with Avery Crutsinger being an alternate runner, that got to state last year where they placed sixth overall. The team earned the wildcard after finishing third at regionals, but got the best time out of all third place teams.
Brown was not pleased with her tactics in the 800 meter race at regionals, but liked how she attacked the 400 meters. She knows she has it in her to repeat in both races again and is looking forward to proving it once again.
Brown and her teammates will compete on May 3, with the 800 meter race scheduled for 5:20 p.m., the 400 meter race at 7 p.m. and the 4×400 meter relay scheduled for 8:45 p.m.
Everyone else from 1A schools will compete on May 4.
Gold-Burg junior Isaac Renteria is returning to the state meet for the second straight year. With three appearances at the state cross country meet, Renteria is very familiar with what level it takes to compete on the biggest stage.
Renteria qualified in the 3200 meter race as a wildcard entry. His finished third at regionals, but his time was not only the best among other third place finishers, but better than half the field he will race at state ran.
Renteria just missed out on a medal last year as he finished fourth by three seconds. He is not the only repeat name in the race.
Renteria is scheduled to run at 9:15 a.m.
From Forestburg, the Lady Horns have two first time state qualifiers on the different sides of their career.
Reagan Ladewig is a senior representing Forestburg one last time while freshman Brenna Briles is hoping to cap off a spectacular first year in high school.
Ladewig finished second at regionals in the shot put. She is a longshot for a medal as her qualifying throw is one of the lower throws, but still Ladewig hopes she can break her personal record and hope for the best.
For Briles, she won the high jump at regionals. Her height puts her in the vicinity to possibly get a medal if she can either do it again or jump even higher.
Briles is scheduled to compete at 11:30 a.m. and Ladewig at 12:30 p.m.
From Prairie Valley, junior Linzie Priddy is going to the state track meet for the first time. Priddy has competed at the state cross country meet twice, in 2021 and 2023 so the state stage will not be new to her.
Priddy finished second in the 800 meters at regionals. She will have to improve on her qualifying time by a lot if she wants to earn a medal, but anything could happen.
Priddy is scheduled to run at 5:20 p.m.
From Saint Jo, freshman Damon Byrd made it to state in three events. His first two are solo field events as he won the long jump and finished second in the triple jump. His qualifying jumps put him right in the mix for a medal if he equals or surpasses his totals.
The long jump is scheduled for 9 a.m. and the triple jump at 1 p.m.
Byrd also is a part of the 4×200 meter relay team along with Blaine Penaluna, Devin Stewart and Lee Yeley. Wyatt Lucas and Barrett Johnson are alternate runners.
The team finished second at the regional meet. Its qualifying time puts them right in the mix with other top teams for a medal in what could be a close race.
The 4×200 relay is scheduled for 6:25 p.m.
All times and dates are scheduled to change in case of weather complications.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
SPORTS
Baseball Roundup

Nocona
The Nocona Indians ended their regular season with a sweep of Alvord to secure a number one seed heading into the playoffs.
The Indians won 13-6 and 3-1 to earn the top seed in the big school division in the playoffs.
With that much on the line despite already securing a playoff spot the previous week, Nocona had a lot to play for in its final regular season series.
The Bulldogs got on the board first with two runs, but the Indians answered with nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to retake the lead 9-2.
Both teams scored one run in the third inning before Nocona scored three runs in the fourth inning to go up 13-3. Alvord was able to extend the game and avoid getting run-ruled by scoring two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth inning.
The Indian bats were cold in the final three innings, but the defense bounced back to shut out the Bulldogs in the seventh inning to win 13-6.
RJ Walker and Jayce Lehde each drove in three runs to lead the team while Ladon Fatheree and Zyrus Moreno both drove in two runs. Nocona finished with nine hits and drew nine walks during the game.
On the mound, Walker Murphey pitched six innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on 12 hits while striking out one and walking two.
The second game was more a pitcher’s duel that had far less action scoring runs.
The Indians scored first in the second inning with one run, but Alvord tied the game with one run in the fourth inning. Nocona answered with two runs in the fifth inning and held on to win 3-1.
Lehde and Fatheree drove in one run each while Murphey scored the other run on the basepaths thanks to a wild pitch. Nocona had only two hits while the team drew seven walks.
Walker helped carry the team on the mound, pitching the whole game while giving up one run on four hits and striking out 13 batters. The defense committed no fielding errors.
Bellevue
The Bellevue Eagles ended their season on Monday this week, losing some tough games on the way out before closing with a win.
The Eagles lost to Perrin-Whitt 13-1, to Bryson 17-2 before beating Saint Jo 7-2 to end the season on a high note.
Bellevue struggled against the two other 1A teams in its district in its previous matchups as both teams are heading towards the playoffs. Both the Pirates and Cowboys proved it once again in the final matchup on April 22 and Monday before playing a team more on its level.
The Eagles and Panthers were 1-1 against each other this season. Playing after Bellevue’s loss to against Bryson right before on Saint Jo’s home field, the Eagles wanted revenge.
Bellevue got it with a 7-2 win against the Panthers to end both team’s season and this year improve the series 2-1 in the Eagles favor.
River Trail led the team with two RBIs while Hunter Blackburn had a team high two hits.
The team finished with seven hits and drew 10 walks.
On the mound, Bryce Ramsey allowed two runs on nine hits while striking out seven and walking five. The defense committed one fielding error.
Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Panthers had a tough final week to their disappointing season.
The Panthers lost to Bryson 10-4 before losing to Bellevue 7-2 to close out their season.
Saint Jo knew it was out of the playoff hunt and was playing for pride as it hoped to end the season with its head held high.
The Panthers played the Cowboys on April 22 and were put behind the eight ball when Bryson rallied off seven runs in the third inning. Saint Jo closed the game well, but could not overcome that bad inning as it lost 10-4.
Sam Martin, Charlie Evans, Mathew Sampson and Jayden Curry each drove in one run each. Saint Jo had nine hits and drew six walks during the game.
Unfortunately, Saint Jo’s defense allowed 10 hits and nine walks while committing five fielding errors.
The Panthers then waited a week before ending their season on Monday, due to rain causing the game to be rescheduled, against Bellevue. Each team had beaten the other so far this season and with both teams out of the playoffs, it was a game about local pride more than anything.
Unfortunately for Saint Jo, it did not go its way on Monday. The Eagles scored in every inning besides the first and seventh inning while the Panthers only scored in the fourth inning. Bellevue won 7-2.
Devin Stewart led the team with two RBIs on a double he hit. The team finished with eight hits and drew six walks, but it was not enough to hang with the Eagles.
The pitching staff allowed only four hits, but three fielding errors and nine walks allowed Bellevue to rack up the runs.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
SPORTS
Jackrabbits end season with series sweep

The Bowie Jackrabbits finished their season last week with a dominant series sweep against Vernon.
The Jackrabbits won both games by run-rule 13-2 and 11-1 against the Lions.
Bowie came into the week with its playoff hopes shot after splitting with Holliday. The Jackrabbits were playing for pride and knew they had what it took to win decisively against Vernon and made sure to show it.
Game one did not start off great as the Lions scored two runs in the first inning, but Bowie answered with three runs of its own in the same inning, taking the lead 3-2 and never looking back.
The Jackrabbit defense shut down Vernon the rest of the game while scoring three runs in the second and fourth innings and four runs in the third inning.
It was enough to end the game early after four and half innings, Bowie winning 13-2 in its final home game on senior night.
Edmond De Leon led the team with four RBIs while Boston Farris, Trae Seigler and Jorge De Leon each had two RBIs. The team finished with 10 hits and drew seven walks as the team consistently found ways to score every inning of the game.
Farris got the start on the mound and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out seven and walking four during five innings of work. The defense committed no fielding errors.
The second game was on the road, but the Jackrabbits made sure not to start slow like they did in game one. Edmond De Leon blasted a three-run home run in the first inning to put Bowie up 3-0.
After a scoreless second inning, the Jackrabbits scored three runs in the third and fifth innings and two runs in the fourth inning. With the Lions scoring only one run in the third inning, that was all the run support Bowie needed to end the game early again after five innings.
The Jackrabbits won 11-1.
Edmond De Leon led the team with three RBIs while hitting a home run and a triple. Seigler and Austin Cheney drove in two runs. Bowie finished with 10 hits and drew six walks.
On the mound, Seigler pitched four innings and allowed one run (zero earned) on two hits while striking out and walking one batter. The defense committed three fielding errors.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
For pictures from the last home game, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6874727&T=1
For pictures from senior night, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6874728&T=1
SPORTS
Saint Jo softball loses to Knox City 21-7 in the playoffs

The Saint Jo Lady Panthers season ended on Thursday night in the bi-district round of the playoffs against Knox City.
The Houndettes won by run-rule 21-7 after six innings, ending the Lady Panthers year since the series was condensed to just one game.
Saint Jo came into the series after winning the district title, but knew Knox City would be tough. Still, the Lady Panthers had played in and won several games with high scores which gave them hope they could hang with whatever the Houndettes to could bring.
Knox City got on the board first, scoring on a three-run triple to go up 3-0. Saint Jo answered in the same inning with Kamron Skidmore driving in two runs on a single to cut the lead to 3-2.
In the third inning the Houndettes drove in five runs on a single, double and home run to increase their lead to 8-2. The Lady Panthers got one run back in the same inning thanks to a fielding error at third base that drove in one run to make it 8-3.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Knox City added to its lead in the fifth inning. A fielding error allowed one run to score and a three RBI triple added three more to make it 12-3.
In the sixth inning, the Houndettes reeled off nine runs to as it looked like the end was near for Saint Jo. Down 21-3, the Lady Panthers needed to score nine runs to avoid getting run-ruled.
Down to the final out, Saint Jo started a two-out rally. An error at short stop resulted in two runs to score. Jordyn O’Neal then ripped off a two RBI triple as the Lady Panthers had more than doubled their score.
Unfortunately that is where it would end. The next batter grounded out for the final out.
Knox City won 21-7.
Skidmore led the team with three RBIs while O’Neal was second with two. The team finished with seven hits and drew two walks, but it was not enough to keep up with the Houndettes who had 13 hits and drew 12 walks. Saint Jo committed two fielding errors.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
For more pictures from the game, click here https://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=bnews1&AID=6874729&T=1
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