First of all, Ryan is going to have a decisive edge on the mound in Game 2 with Curtis Petersen going against who will likely be Kyle Estill. Estill is a good ball player, but Petersen is a different animal. That alone, I believe, will keep Ryan’s season going until Saturday.
After that, it’s anyone’s guess. These two teams are very evenly matched, despite what Thursday’s score indicates. Fossil Ridge got five hits with the top five batters in its lineup each getting one. Ryan got six hits with the top six batters in its lineup each getting one.
]]> The Panthers’ power was the difference in Game 1, but nothing through the season indicates they can duplicate that kind of outing again. If they go yard three times against Curtis Petersen I’ll do my post-game interview with Bret Warnack in my undies.Basically, I think Ryan will have an edge on the mound in Game 3 with either Scotty Young or Michael Braswell or both. Fossil Ridge swept its first two series, so we haven’t seen the Panthers’ No. 3 or No. 4 yet in the playoffs. Young and Braswell have produced in the clutch in the playoffs already.
But the deciding factor could be which team can get something out of the bottom of its lineup. Neither team produced after the six-hole in Game 1.
]]>After my second trip out there today, I have some news to report: The offense has come alive.
It starts with the Wildcats' new man under center, J.W. Walsh. The head coach's son isn't the runner Jake Witt was, but Guyer's passing attack will be more lethal this season with Walsh behind center.
]]> It will definitely take Walsh some time to adjust to the speed of the varsity game since he was leading the Freshman team last year. I suspect that will come sometime very early on in the second game of the season against Stephenville. One thing I noticed about Walsh is that is very calm and cool in his presence although he did get in a bit of a verbal exchange with his papa after making the wrong read on a throw. As a coach's son, it always seems things just come easier having grown up around the game, so it should be interesting to see his maturation this upcoming season.Also on the offense, Guyer has two spots where experience is plentiful -- the offensive line and at running back. Of course, Kyle Clark is sidelined for the spring with some cartilage damage in his knee, but the Wildcats have their other behemoth at right tackle in Jesse Coffey. At running back, they return two starters from last year in Deandre Wilson and Jaimaine Wilhite. I didn't see Wilson take any snaps today, but Wilhite looked great, and most notably stronger. Last year, in short situations, Wilson was Guyer's man, but Wilhite looked really strong running the ball today.
On the defensive side, Cody Marley was all over the place. The senior-to-be has had a few Division I offers and showed why on the field today. He had one play on a Guyer receiver, who had a nicely placed ball and saw Marley coming out of the corner of his eye and dropped the ball just before Marley lit him up.
With four teams making the playoffs next year (which is a tad bit ridiculous, by the way), I'm not positive Guyer will break through with its first postseason appearance next year, but I can pretty much guarantee they'll be a team to be reckoned with next year, whereas in their previous two seasons they really haven't been. The size is there, the experience is there and after 20 games with just one win, the hunger is bound to be there.
]]>Offensive Player of the Year- Micah Foutch FR. (Denton Ryan)
Defensive Player of the Year- Whitney Haynes SR.. (Denton Ryan)
Pitcher of the Year- Brysten Luster SR. (Denton Ryan)
Catcher of the Year- Caitlin Wester SR. (W.F. Rider)
Newcomer of the Year- Amy Menge SR. (Denton High)
I was glad to see Kylee Crosek get MVP honors as a sophomore. Her numbers were ridiculous this season and what was really amazing about her year was that she never hit a slump -- like not even for a single game. I think she went 0-for once and even in that game she managed to reach base and score. That doesn't even account for her pitching numbers, which ranked near the top in the DFW area in Class 4A. I'd say Dooley's selection was a bit of a surprise, but the freshman put up some dazzling numbers from the leadoff spot.
While Ryan's Brysten Luster struggled toward the end of the year and into the playoffs, she did win a ton of big games in district this year, which definitely made her deserving of pitcher of the year.
Jade Lopez SR. (Denison) Lisa Johnson SR. (Sherman)
Chelsey Smith SR. (Denison) Megan Milks SR. (Sherman)
Sara Quintanar FR. (Denton) Heather Pace SR. (Sherman)
Sonia Foutch JR. (Denton Ryan) Britni Williams SR. (Sherman)
Robyn Gorton SR. (Denton Ryan) Melanie Smith FR. (Wichita Falls)
Zoila Olguin SO. (Denton Ryan) Kaitie Blount SO. (W.F. Rider)
Nichole Tague SR. (Denton Ryan) Logan Howard SR. (W.F. Rider)
Amber Gonzales FR. (Guyer)
2nd Team All-District
Christina Beall SR. (Denison) Chassidie Dunlap SR. (Sherman)
Jessica Eller JR. (Denison) Adrienne Rathy SR. (Sherman)
Jessica LaMonica SR. (Denton Ryan) Abby Frost SR. (Wichita Falls)
Tara Tague SO. (Denton Ryan) Chelsea Mote JR. (Wichita Falls)
Jenice Aloyo FR. (Denton Guyer) Morgan Lewis FR. (W.F. Rider)
Caitlin Christopher FR. (Denton Guyer) Lindsey Sheppard SO. (W.F. Rider)
Blaire White SR. (W.F. Rider)
Honorable Mention
Danna Neasbitt SO. (Denison)
Jerica Wilson SR. (Denison)
Shelby Bergeron SO. (Denton)
Rebecca Chadwell JR. (Denton)
Layne Greenlee FR. (Guyer)
Amanda Wells SO. (Guyer)
Krystal Johnson JR. (Denton Ryan)
Karissa Sherry SR. (Sherman)
Kimberly Sherry SR. (Sherman)
Samantha Blake SO. (Wichita Falls)
Kendra Schinkus SO. (Wichita Falls)
Katrina Valdez SO. (Wichita Falls)
Nazia Frank JR. (W.F. Rider)
Shelby Goss SO. (W.F. Rider)
Mel Swiger SO. (W.F. Rider)
Macy Rainbolt SO. (W.F. Rider)
As was first reported on this blog, Clark just had a little cartilage damage and he might not even need surgery. If he does, I reckon it'll just be a little scoping to clean things up, which shouldn't force him to miss any time.
He is, for sure, out for the spring, but I get the feeling that's just for precautionary reasons. If it were September and this happened, I think he'd be playing.
]]>The Navarro commit is Fossil Ridge's top pitcher, and has wins in best-of-three series wins over Wichita Falls Rider and Arlington Heights. He has two home runs and a triple in the post season. He pitched Game 1 against Rider and Game 2 against Heights, so we'll have to wait and see if Fossil wants to pit him against Curtis Petersen or not.
The thing that sticks out to me about the Panthers is that they have pitching depth that can rival the Raiders. I think Ryan still gets a slight edge, but Fossil has good options in No. 2 Kyle Estill, who also has two wins in the Panthers' two sweeps. He outlasted TCU signee Walker Kelly in Game 1 against Heights in extra innings.
Fossil Ridge had a team earned-run average of 1.92, so you know Ryan's going to be tested at the plate. If the Raiders can get some base runners, I think they'll win.
]]>Go here to watch every single race in high-quality video and there's also numerous interviews with participants, including Argyle's Blake Woolums and Kristie Krueger.
It's a really good site totally devoted to track.
]]>There were a number of opportunities for the Yellow Jackets to steal Game 3 from Ryan. Don't get me wrong, I think the Raiders are the better team, but Cleburne stepped up and it was ultimately Ryan's pitching depth that won it the series.
Which brings me to my next point. Bret Warnack certainly doesn't need my help, but if it were me, I'd start Young if the Raiders go to a Game 3 against Keller Fossil Ridge. With all due respect to Michael Braswell, Young was simply electric. His heat is too much for lower-order batters.
]]>Ryan Salter, Will Nelson and Zach Voight have a chance to send the Raiders to the regional quarterfinals.
]]>Richardson is about to accomplish a feat that even Detroit Lions receiver Roy Williams wasn't able to pull off for Odessa Permian after she won the 200-meters a few minutes ago. She's now won the 200 and the high jump, finished second in the 100 and the long jump and got third in the discus.
With her amazing performance, she has Rochelle sitting atop the team standings in 1A girls with just the 4x400 relay to go. All of the teams in striking distance of Richardson don't have mile relay teams. Pretty amazing feat, right there.
]]>Ryan is tied with Cleburne, 2-2, heading into the seventh inning of Game 3. We're basically in an overtime situation where the next play, or the next mistake, can win the game. Cleburne has had issues with errors all year. We'll see if Ryan can catch a break and move on to face Keller Fossil Ridge.
Scotty Young is taking the mound for the top of the inning. The top of Cleburne's batting order is heading to the plate.
]]>Today, Scotty Young took a piece of Braddock's mind by giving him a fast ball to the head. Braddock got the last laugh though as Bif Jones, running for Braddock, scored on a single by first baseman Shane Ingram to tie the game at 2-2.
]]>Young came in and looked dominant while getting two quick outs to end the top of the fourth. Skoog made a dazzling throw to home plate after a pop fly to get Colby Boliver at home plate to end the top of the fourth.
Young is on the mound now in the fifth. Ryan leads 2-1.
]]>Young doesn't see a lot of game time in district play, but there is a lot of buzz surrounding the sophomore. He has, as Joey Florence put it, a cannon for an arm. He will likely be Ryan's starting quarterback next year.
Let's see how he does.
]]>Ryan has taken a 2-1 lead off another base-running bonanza, and with some help from the Yellow Jackets. Tom Robertson, running for Juan Gloria, scored after Will Nelson reached on an error by Cleburne's third baseman.
We are now in the fourth inning. Braswell is still on the mound.
]]>