Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Sports Roundup
SPORTS ROUNDUP
The Tolar Rattlers and Lady Rattlers won the District 11-2A golf championship, played March 30 at Canyon West in Weatherford and Wednesday, April 5 at Squaw Valley in Glen Rose.
The Rattlers A and B teams both qualified for the Region 2 Tournament April 19-20 in Ferris, finishing 1-2 in district. The Lady Rattlers will compete April 21-22 on the same Old Brickyard Course. From there, the top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams will advance to the Class 2A State Tournament at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin, May 15-16 for the girls and May 22-23 for the boys.
The Rattlers A team shot a 679 for two days (336-343) to win by 95 shots over Tolar B with a 774 (381-393). The Lady Rattlers’ total of 878 (450-428) outdistanced runner-up De Leon by 94 shots.
Jackson LeCluyse was the low individual, shooting a 162 (78-84) to lead the Rattlers A, followed by runner-up Wyatt Jones with a 165 (87-78) and third-place Talan Culberson at 171 (81-90).
Hanna Gaylor of Lipan was low individual among the girls with a 179 (86-93) and will also advance to regionals. Callen Nix of the Lady Rattlers was second with a 185 (91-94). Grace Heavyside played as a medalist for Lipan, shooting 217 (109-108) and also qualified for regionals.
The top two teams and top two players not on those teams qualified for regionals.
Also for the Rattlers A team, Colton Gibson posted a 181 (90-91) and Wyatt Wienecke shot 201 (110-91).
The Rattlers B scores included Cutter Cain, 189 (90-99); Dutch Cahill, 192 (91-101); Ty McClure, 197 (91-106); Reis Brown, 199 (112-87); and Garrett Tedder, 217 (109-108).
The Lady Rattlers’ other scores were Savannah Tuel, 225 (112-113); Elizabeth Tuel, 229 (122-107); Maddie Moczygemba, 240 (125-115); and Abby Gannon, 240 (126-114).
The Lipan Indians were fifth among the boys with a 783 (381-402). They were led by Darius Steed, 179 (88-91); Garrett Smith, 189 (94-95); Tate Branson, 193 (97-96); and Beau Bromley, 222 (102-120).
Tolar also had three boys play as medalists only, Dakota Webb, 217 (107-110); Zane Brown, 236 (120-116); and Matthew McCarten, 255 (128-127).
TOLAR BASEBALL
The week after scoring 29 runs in a win over Santo, the Rattlers (10-6-2, 4-0 in District 13-2A) did one better in blanking rival Lipan 30-0 at home on April 4. Talan Brown pitched a perfect game in the five-inning victory that was cut short by the mercy rule, striking out 12.
The Rattlers ended the week with a 22-0 home win over the Indians.
Brown helped his cause at the plate in his perfect game, going 4-for-5 with a double and four runs batted in. He also stole three bases. Teammate Brock Owens was 4-for-5 with five RBI, was hit by a pitch and stole a base.
Also for Tolar in the first game: Mitchell Alford, 2-for-2, double, RBI; Jackson LeCluyse, 2-for-4, double, walk, hit by pitch, four RBI; Talan Culberson, 2-for-3, two walks, four RBI, stolen base; Keaton Morrison, 1-1, triple, three walks; Cade Moody, 1-for-2, double, two RBI; Reis Brown, 1-for-5, three RBI; Drake Owens, 1-for-3, hit by pitch, walk, two RBI; Jesse Owen, walk, RBI; Merritt Imel, three walks, two RBI, stolen base.
Second game vs. Lipan: Hitting - Imel, 3-4, double, home run, six RBI; Moody, 3-for-5, five RBI, three stolen bases; B. Owens, 2-for-4, double, walk, two RBI; T. Brown, 2-for-5, double, RBI, stolen base; Culberson, 2-for-3, home run, two walks, four RBI; Owen, 1-for-4, hit by pitch; LeCluyse, 1-for-3, double, two hit by pitch, RBI; D. Owens, 1-for-3, hit by pitch, two RBI.
The Rattlers travel to Ranger Friday, April 14 for a 6:30 p.m. contest, followed by a trip to Fort Worth Trinity Valley School Saturday at noon.
GAYLOR, BRANSON COACHES OF THE YEAR
Lipan Lady Indians coach Amber Branson and Indians head coach Brent Gaylor have been named Coaches of the Year. The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches honored both with the top coaching honor in Class 2A. In addition, the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) named Branson Coach of the Year for Classes 1A-4A.
Branson led the Lady Indians to a 35-3 record and the Class 2A state championship in early March. A week later, Gaylor’s Indians capped a 38-1 season with a state title, making Lipan the first school since Nazareth 16 years ago to win both the boys and girls championships in the same season. It was also the first time for Lipan teams to accomplish that feat.
Branson also collected the 400th victory of her career this season. It came during Lipan’s own tournament and in the old gym in which she played as a member of the Lady Indians when she led them to the 1995 state tournament.
She has been the head coach at Lipan since 2008, leading the Lady Indians to eight state tournaments and three state titles, including 2016 and 2021 before this season.
Gaylor has likewise coached the Indians to state championships in 2017 and 2018 before this season, along with state tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. The Indians are 77-2 over the past two seasons, taking a 39-0 record into the 2022 state final before getting upset by Clarendon.
GRANBURY BASEBALL
The Pirates (10-13, 3-5 in District 5-5A) split a pair of league contests, winning 10-4 at Brewer on April 4 and losing 2-1 at home to the Bears on Thursday, April 6.
At Brewer: Hitting - Kyler Crites, 3-for-4, double; Hudson Hamilton, 3-for-4; Gavin Current, 2-for-4, walk, two RBI; Blake Bramlett, 2-for-5; Cooper Thomas, 2-for-5, home run, triple, two RBI; Braxton Heffernan, 1-for-4, RBI, stolen base; Tyler Guidry, walk, RBI. Pitching - Guidry, 7 innings, seven hits, four earned runs, four strikeouts, one walk.
Hosting Brewer: Hitting - Thomas, 2-for-3, double, RBI; Bramlett, 1-for-3; Crites, 1-for-3; Guidry, 1-for-3; Hamilton, 1-for-2.
The Pirates return to action Tuesday, April 18 when they host Saginaw. They travel to Saginaw on April 21. Both games are at 7 p.m.
TOLAR SOFTBALL
The Lady Rattlers (13-1-1 overall) improved to 5-0 in District 11-2A with an 8-0 win a pair of home wins, 8-0 over Lipan on April 4 and 16-6 over Santo on Thursday, April 6.
Vs. Lipan: Hitting - Senne Imel, 2-for-4, home run, two RBI; Reese Tryon, 2-for-3, double, triple, three RBI, stolen base; Courtlynd Hogan, 2-for-4, stolen base; Allyson Dobbs, 1-for-4, stolen base; Ava LeCluyse, 1-for-3, walk, RBI; Kanyn Deaver, two walks, RBI, two stolen bases; Lane Gardner, walk, hit by pitch. Pitching - Tryon, seven innings, four hits, 13 strikeouts, two walks.
Lipan (6-5, 3-2 in district) vs. Tolar: Hitting - Ashlyn Clark, 1-for-4, double; Ella Sharp, 1-for-3; Finley Shockley, 1-for-2, walk; Cate Cooper, 1-for-3. Pitching - Sharp, 5.2 innings, eight hits, eight runs (five earned), 10 strikeouts, four walks, hit by pitch; Neali Overton, 0.1 innings, one walk.
Vs. Santo: Hitting - Dobbs, 3-for-4, home run, RBI, stolen base; Hogan, 3-for-4, double, three RBI; Imel, 2-for-5, home run, three RBI; Tryon, 2-for-4, double, RBI; Kaira Krause, 2-for-4, two RBI; Landri Kimmel, 1-for-4; LeCluyse, 1-for-3, walk, RBI; Deaver, 1-for-3, walk, RBI, stolen base; Rylee Hamby, 1-for-4, RBI. Pitching - Tryon got the victory in 3.2 innings of relief.
The Lady Rattlers travel to Gordon Friday, April 14 for a 4:30 p.m. game.
GRANBURY SOFTBALL
The Lady Pirates (9-12-2, 3-5 in District 5-5A) had this past week off. They were playing at Wichita Falls Rider at press time and travel to Justin Northwest Saturday, April 15 for an 11 a.m. first pitch.
DISTRICT TRACK MEETS
Granbury will compete in the District 5-5A Meet in Aledo Wednesday and Thursday, April 12-13. Tolar and Lipan will compete in the District 11-2A Meet in Tolar the same days.
The top four finishers in each event will advance to area competition. For Granbury that is April 21 at Justin Northwest, while Tolar and Lipan qualifiers will advance to Rio Vista April 19.
ALL-DISTRICT 11-2A ACADEMIC BASKETBALL
Lipan girls: Chelsea Lott, Trinity Benitez, Lynsey Little, Ellie Peacock, Jolie Russell, Madison Harrison, Taylor Branson, Ashlyn Clark, Madison Cornelius, Olivia Benitez, Hanna Gaylor.
Tolar girls: Senne Imel, Maddie Rue, Shylar Nunley, Mackenzie McQuain, Ava LeCluyse, Emma Jackson, Callon Nix, Trinity Rosseau, Karley Richardson, Tillye Burgess (manager).
Lipan boys: Tyson Tarpley, Beau Bromley, Korey Massie, Tripp Phillips, Garrett Smith, Cole Reynolds, Tate Branson, Reese Cook, Darius Steed.
Tolar boys: Merritt, Cade Moody, Isaac Blessing, Luke Ellis, Reis Brown, Colton Gibson, Derek Brafford, Clayton Stembridge.
