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’Jackets bunt Tigers, 5-4
By Kerry Yancey
Monitor Staff Writer
LINDALE–Senior pinch-hitter Michael Haney laid down a textbook suicide
squeeze bunt in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Kemp
Yellowjackets a 5-4 win over the Mount Vernon Tigers Friday.
Haney’s bunt scored teammate Matt Carr and propelled the ’Jackets into
the area round of the Region II Class 3A playoffs against Van Alstyne.
The ’Jackets will face the Van Alstyne Panthers, who won the District
9-3A title, in a best two-of-three series Thursday (today), Friday and
Saturday at Forney’s Jackrabbit Field.
Both tonight’s game and Friday’s game have a 7 p.m. start time; if game
three is necessary, it will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13.
Playing on billiard-table-smooth Eagle Field in Lindale, the Mount
Vernon Tigers (who were the visiting team) got off to a 3-0 lead over
the ’Jackets before Kemp mounted a comeback.
The Tigers (the District 11-3A third-place team) got to Yellowjacket
starter Mikie Scruggs for four quick hits in the opening frame, leading
to a 1-0 lead before Scruggs struck out Tiger Landon Lane to strand two
Mount Vernon runners.
Tiger starter Zach Jaggers sat the ’Jackets down in order in the first
inning, and things looked bleak for Kemp when Tiger Justin Drabble
tagged Scruggs for a two-run homer in the top of the second to give
Mount Vernon a 3-0 lead.
However, a strong defensive play to overcome an error led to a tag out
at third to end the Tiger half, and the Yellowjackets started making a
comeback in the bottom of the second.
Three straight singles – the third by Scruggs – scored Nick Sallings,
and a bloop single by Juan MacKennon scored Carr to pull the ’Jackets
within a single run, 3-2, in the bottom of the second.
Neither team threatened in the third or fourth innings, as both Scruggs
and Jaggers got some help from their respective defenses.
In the fifth inning, Scruggs gave up a leadoff double to Drabble, and a
single to left by John Huffstetler scored Drabble and put two Tigers on
base with two out.
Scruggs got out of the jam when Lane tapped the ball back to him for the
third out.
Down 4-2, the ’Jackets tied the contest when Sallings stroked a home run
over the left-field fence to score catcher Brett Kennedy, who had
singled earlier.
In the top of the seventh, the Tigers threatened when a single by
Michael Lee and a Kemp error left runners at first and second with no
outs.
At that point, Kennedy and Scruggs changed places, and Kennedy got the
next batter to pop out.
Lane then hit a deep fly to center, but Leif Skierski made the catch and
doubled up Lee at third with a pinpoint throw to Sallings.
Kemp threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases on a
single by J.R. Frizzell, a bunt by Kennedy and an error on a popup to
second by Carr, but two fly outs – the second on a great catch by Tiger
right fielder Jerrus Doss – ended the threat.
The Tigers threatened in the top of the eighth inning, loading the bases
on a single, a hit batter and a walk, but Frizzell made an outstanding
catch on a line drive past second to end the inning.
Similarly, the ’Jackets threatened in the bottom of the eighth, getting
two men aboard with two outs, before Kennedy hit a fly out to right
field, prompting him to slam his batting helmet to the turf in
frustration.
The Tigers didn’t mount a threat in the top of the ninth, as Kennedy got
a ground out at first and overcame a walk with two straight fly-outs.
Doss took over for Jaggers in the top of the ninth, and promptly struck
out Sallings.
However, the next batter, Matt Carr, snagged a single to shallow right.
Doss walked Scruggs and then hit Josh Carr with his first pitch to load
the bases with one out.
Haney came in as a pinch batter, and Matt Carr had already dashed across
the plate by the time Haney’s bunt dribbled out to Doss, ending the
three-hour contest.
MHS athletes honored
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–Seniors Sadie Guiter, Wendee Cross and Tyler Hamilton were named
the “Athletes of the Year” Saturday during the annual Mabank Athletic
Booster Club’s All-Sports Banquet.
In introducing the top award winners, Mabank High School Athletic
Director Jimmy Cantrell noted each of the students were a multi-sport
athlete and “solid in both the classroom and the community.”
Guiter also was named one of the Booster Club’s scholarship winners,
joining Ashley Sexton, Chris Johnson, Michael Jennings and Jose
Gallegos.
The Mabank Youth Basketball Association president Tyson Johnson also
presented scholarships to Hamilton, Samantha Beck, Chris Johnson and
Chris Perdue.
More than 300 students, parents and coaches crowded into the Mabank
Middle School cafeteria for the annual sports banquet.
A new scholarship award was announced by Wayne Groom, the father of
former MHS graduate Courtney Howard.
The first Courtney Howard Memorial Scholarship golf tournament, held
April 17 at the Cedar Creek Country Club, raised more than $24,000.
That money goes to 17 scholarships, nine to Mabank seniors and eight to
Eustace High School seniors, with another $3,000 going to Children’s
Medical Center in Dallas, where Courtney received much of her treatment,
Groom told the gathering.
Winners of the first MHS scholarships were Kelly Bailey, Meagan Gallion,
Chris Johnson, Mallory Miller, Scotty Yates and Chris Perdue.
Cantrell told the gathering the change in classification from 4A to 3A
was a big step for the school, adding the construction of a new high
school and installing artificial turf at Panther Stadium meant student
athletes would have first-class facilities.
“We’re still going to be in a very, very competitive district,” Cantrell
warned.
This year, six athletes obtained college athletic scholarships worth
more than $41,000 a year, he added.
“We’re hoping that next year, we’ll have twice that many,” Cantrell
said. “We had college recruiters on campus every day last week.”
Booster Club president Scott Tuley introduced the 2006-07 club officers
– vice president Gary Springer, secretary Shelia Rambo, treasurer Betty
Plunkett, public relations Kathy Reynolds, membership Adelia Bramblitt
and Middle School representative Laurie Springer.
Coaches in each sport recognized athletes and issued awards.
Baseball – MVP Charles Woodard, Newcomer of the Year Kolton Browning,
Offensive Player of the Year Cory Strouth, Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Trejo, Garrett Hill, Taylor Geyer, Mikey Shelton, Luke McKee, Alan
Ott, David Taylor, Mark Groom, Davis Kiker, Jamison Miller, Blake Rambo,
Chancz Sullivan and Jonathan Tinsley.
Boys Basketball – MVP Tyler Hamilton, Fighting Heart Award Chris
Johnson, Defensive Player of the Year Mark Groom, Haydon Blair, Daniel
Musuta, Cody Key, Heath Browning, Brian Hughes, Jason Burks, Chris
Perdue, Barry Prather and Steven James.
Girls Basketball – MVP Kelsi Reynolds, Panther Pride Award Sadie Guiter
and Wendee Cross, Offensive Player of the Year Hali Schultz, Defensive
Player of the Year Shadia Rueb, Hustle Award Miranda Groom, Samantha
Beck, Katie Cross, Blaire Hyde, Alex Bredehoft, Shae Johnson and Emily
Tucker.
Cheerleaders – Most Spirited Ashley Sexton (mascot), Best Cheerleader
Chelsea McMullen, Ashlee Anthony, Josh Fluker, Shae Johnson, Kaylie
Munoz, Kristin Tucker, Whitney Caffey, Blaire Hyde, Melissa Krieger,
Mallory Miller, Taylor Raney and Krista Jennings (mascot).
Cross Country – MVP (boys) Terence Boyle, MVP (girls) Alyssa Balderas,
Laura Ledezma, Aleigh Mitchell, Charles Klecka, Michael Balderas,
Josefina Alejandre, Andrea Ledezma, Joe Mojica and Chet Healey.
Golf – Most Improved Taylor Brown and Macey Thomas, Golfer of the Year
Marty Goss and Sarah Bivins, Dustin Whitlock, Michael Butler, Elyssa
Knowles, Casey Heard, Clayton Cary, Jared Traughber, Jason Delong, T.J.
Dally, Lauren Slaton and Candace Caillet.
Football – MVP Tyler Hamilton, Defensive Player of the Year Scotty
Yates, Offensive Player of the Year Stephen Gulledge, Outstanding
Running Back Neal Brady, Outstanding Receiver Jason Burks, Outstanding
Offensive Lineman Alan Ott, Outstanding Defensive Lineman Michael
Jennings, Outstanding Linebacker Matt Skinner, Outstanding Defensive
Back Scotty Yates, Panther Pride Award Kelly Bailey and Guillermo
Mendieta, Fighting Heart Award Beau Champaigne, Scott Lewis, Justin
Fontenot, Shane Burk, J.R. Martinez, Zack Costlow, Matt Parker, Jeremy
Lewis, Brent Nickelson, Mark Groom, Gerald Barr, Brandon Carrico,
Bradley Trull, Chris Schrier, Justin McGuire, Cory Peele, Mickey
Shelton, Matt Skinner, David Parry, Chris Recio, Steven Sims, Matt
Foster, Joey Mendez, J.R. Hudson, Alberto Tovar, Emanuel Guzman, Aaron
Anderson, Raymond Newton, Bo Atherton, Ryan Pannell and Cody Key.
Boys Powerlifting – MVPs Nathan Buchanan, Guillermo Mendieta and Garrett
Hill, Newcomer of the Year Brandon Carrico, Panther Heart Award Brandon
Rincker, Scotty Yates, Michael Schaefer, Norman Brady, J.R. Hudson,
Justin McGuire, Jeff Rambo, Samuel Spencer and Stephen Sims.
Girls Powerlifting – MVP Tabitha Depoyster, Most Improved Lifter Kaylie
Munoz, Enelly Alvarez, Laura May, Brittnee Degaro, Kaytlyn Fugitt,
Krista Jennings, Rusti Hendley, Bethany Moss and Kelsie Busby.
Boys Soccer – MVP Jose Gallegos, Offensive Player Jeremy Lewis,
Defensive Player Guillermo Mendieta, Newcomer of the Year Terence Boyle,
Nathan Gryder, Tetsu Ugata, Shane Burk, Orlando Garcias, Hector Aguilar,
Augustine Garflas, Cory Peele, Hunter Morse, Montana Morse, Matt Wiens,
Zack Costlow, Matt Skinner, Michael Balderas and Kiro Sziedat.
Girls Soccer – Offensive MVP Hali Schultz, Defensive MVP Erin Mason,
Most Improved Player Jade Vela, Panther Heart Award Alyssa Balderas,
Newcomer of the Year Jessica Cowin, Nikki McWhorter, Brittany Francks,
April Cron, Miranda Groom, Laura Ledezma, Robin Vandiver, Pam Black,
Jessica Ridgle, Courtney Reamy, Kathleen Barker and Brittany Dyer.
Softball – Player of the Year Ami Johnson, Offensive MVP Katie Cross,
Defensive MVP Erin Mason, Alex Bredehoft, Jordan Mounts, Melody Lander,
Chloe Davis, Samantha Goss, Wendee Cross, Karlyn Bellows, Amanda Trapp,
Jessica Bellows and Shelly Davis.
Tennis – Boys MVP Blake Witkop, Girls MVP Ashley Sexton, Panther Pride
Award (boys) James Sanders, Panther Pride Award (girls) Brittani Blair,
Michael Balderas, Antonia Erdmann, Tyler Hamilton, Matt Hughes, Melissa
Krieger, Kristin Tucker, Tetsu Ugata, Stephen Gulledge, Brian Hughes,
Shannon Irvin and Kelly Hitzfeld.
Boys Track – MVP Scotty Yates, Field Event Athlete Stephen Gulledge,
Iron Cat Award Mikie Shelton, Jason Burks, Tyler Hamilton and Charles
Fletcher, Sam Spencer, Brian Carrico, Shane Burk, Cory Peele, Justin
Fontenot, Charles Klecka, Cody Key, J.R. Hudson, Steven Sims, Norman
Brady, Dewayne Hamilton, David Parry and Terence Boyle.
Girls Track – MVP April Miller, Field Events Hali Schultz, Sprinters Pam
Black and Shannon Irvin, Distance Runner Alyssa Balderas, Iron Cat Award
Crystal Mormon, Megan Gallion, Brittney Blair, Courtney Mormon, Laura
Ledezma, Miranda Groom, Tiffany Kale, April Cron, Jade Vela, Shelby
Payne, Chelsea Morton, Andrea Ledezma, Samantha Goss, Paige Howard,
Kelsi Busby and managers Sadie Guiter and Amanda Johnson.
Trainers – Trainer of Year Brittani Blair, Newcomer of Year Brittany
Francks, J.J. Shilling, Amanda Trapp, Crystal Mormon, Tiffani Kale,
Morgan Savage, Antonia Erdmann, Matt Skinner, Daina Raymond and Bethany
Moss.
Volleyball – MVP Sadie Guiter and Wendee Cross, Offensive Player Shadia
Rueb, Defensive Player Pheng Leav, Panther Heart Award Kelsi Reynolds,
Most Improved Player Lindsie Amyx, Kaytlyn Fugitt, Kelly Hitzfeld, Lacy
Dyer, Savannah Matherly and Bridgette Tanner.
Upcoming Games
Semi-Pro Football
May 13
Xtreme @ Hunt County
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