BASEBALL
Congratulations Indians! 2A Area Champs
Region III Quarterfinalists
Class 2A Area Series — Indians vs. 18-2A Runnerup Maud
Game 1 — Indians 5, Maud 1 Game 2 — Indians 12, Maud 4
Class 2A Region III Quarterfinals — Indians vs. Harleton
Game 1 — Harleton 6, Indians 1 Game 2 — Harleton 9, Indians 3
— Laurie Gould Photo
Three Indians, Coach Wes King
Superlative on 20-2A Honor list
Three members of the Class 2A Area Champion Frankston Indians baseball team and their Head Coach Wes King were honored by selection for District 20-2A All-District Superlative honors announced on Monday, May 21.
Head Coach King, who led the Indians to a District 20-2A Championship and a trip to the Region III Quarterfinals, was named “Coach of the Year”.
Junior Walker McCann was selected as “Pitcher of the Year” and junior center fielder Ryan Harper shared “Offensive Player of the Year” honors with Kerens senior Danny Conklin. Harper batted in the second spot in the Indians batting order and his key hits helped the Indians in their championship year.
Freshman pitcher and infielder Carson Bizzell was named “Newcomer of the Year”. He helped the Indians starting and relieving as a pitcher and excelled as an infielder. He also added to the Indians hitting in the middle of the battling order.
Named to the First Team for the Indians were senior catcher Jared Cook; senior infielders Walker London, shortstop; and Christian Hernandez, first base; outfielders senior Austin Carr in right field; and junior Conlan Lemay in left field.
Selected as “Utility Player” was senior Matt Metzig who played in the infield and at pitcher or wherever needed. Also sharing the honor was Owen Cretsinger of Cayuga. Senior Nic Woolverton of Cayuga was honored as “Designated Hitter”.
Other Superlatives in the All-District selections included Kerens sophomore Kannon Ritchie as “Most Valuable Player” and Martins Mill senior Brayden Edwards and LaPoynor sophomore Case Partridge who shared “Defensive Player of the Year”.
Other district players on the First Team were Kerens sophomore catcher Matthew Rickert; infielders Kerens sophomore Andy Conklin, LaPoynor junior Ruston Pittman, Martins Mill senior Austin Curtis and junior Luke Lucking, Neches juniors Collin Morgan and Kartes Morgan; outfielders Martins Mill senior Alex Tyner, Cayuga senior Ayden Stovall, LaPoynor sophomore Colt Rogers and Kerens junior Lane Lynch. See Individual Superlatives in Sidebar
• • • •
Indians fall to Harleton in deciding
Region Quarterfinals game by 9-3
The Frankston Indians baseball team took an early 3-2 lead over the Harleton Wildcats but saw their hopes of advancing in the playoffs end when the Wildcats scored seven runs in late innings to earn a 9-3 Game 2 victory Saturday, May 20 in the 2A Region III Quarterfinals series, according to information made available by the Frankston scorer.
Harleton scored a run in the top of the first inning to go ahead 1-0 but the Indians came back with three runs in their half of the first to lead 3-1.
The Wildcats narrowed the Tribe lead in the second frame with a run to make it 3-2.
Neither team could score for the next three innings, but Harleton put four runs on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth to lead 6-3 going into the bottom of the sixth. The Indians had no answer to that Wildcat comeback in their half of the frame.
Harleton got three more runs, all unearned, in the top of the seventh to set up what would be their 9-3 victory as the Indians went scoreless in the bottom of the seventh.
The Indians had 5 hits in the game, none for extra bases. They had singles from Ryan Harper, Conlan Lemay, Jared Cook, Matt Metzig and Walker McCann.
Walker London pitched six innings, allowing 7 hits and 6 runs, 4 earned. He walked 2 and struck out 5. McCann relieved for an inning, allowing 2 hits and 3 runs, none earned, and he walked one.
For the Wildcats, C. Johnson had a double and D. Armstrong a triple. Armstrong lead Harleton hitters with 3 for 5 and had 4 RBI. G. Shirts was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI. The other Wildcat hits were singles except for Johnson’s double and Armstrong’s triple. C. Wallace and P. Murray each had a single.
The Harleton cause was helped by 5 Indians errors.
Frankston’s three runs in the first inning came when Austin Carr and Ryan Harper walked and Conlan Lemay singled on a bunt and the Wildcats made their only error of the game, scoring Carr and Harper. With none out, London walked and put Caleb Ramsey on first to run for the Tribe pitcher.
After two outs, Lemay was on third and scored on a passed ball and Christian Hernandez walked, but with runners on first and third, a pop out ended the inning.
The Wildcats got their 4 runs in the sixth inning when E. Vance, C. Johnson and two more scored and Johnson, Armstrong and Wallace singled.
Jared Cook got a single in the bottom of the sixth along with a couple of fly outs and a pop out yielding no runs in the sixth for the Tribe.
In the top of the seventh, Harleton put two men on base with a walk and an error. A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third. That’s when D. Armstrong tripled, scoring two runs. A Shirts single scored Armstrong for the third and final Wildcat run in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, all the Tribe could get was a single by McCann, sandwiched between a strikeout and two flyouts.
The Wildcats had won two of three of the games against the Indians and the Region III Quarterfinals series 6-1 and 9-3.
The Indians finished a successful 23-7 season with a District Championship and Bi-District and Area wins against Overton and Maud, respectively.
Playing their final baseball game for the Indians were seniors Austin Carr, Jared Cook, Walker London, Caleb Ramsey, Matt Metzig and Christian Hernandez.
• • • •
Harleton defeats Indians in Region
Quarterfinals series opener by 6-1
The Harleton Wildcats scored five runs in the first inning and one in the third to win 6-1 over the Frankston Indians in Game 1 of the Region III 2A Quarterfinals baseball playoff series at Winnsboro Thursday, May 18, according to information made available by the Frankston scorer.
The Indians now await Game 2 to try to even things up. That game will be played on Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m., also at Winnsboro. A third game, if needed, will be played following Game 2.
The Indians outhit the Wildcats 6-5 but were able to get only the one RBI, that coming from Walker London who had a solo home run in top of the seventh and went 2 for 2 at the plate. Christian Hernandez also got two hits in four at-bats, both singles. Conlan Lemay and Triston McCoy had the other two hits, each with a single.
The Tribe also had five walks but couldn’t take advantage of those and three errors by Harleton.
Indians’ pitching shut out the Wildcats in every inning but one after that fateful first frame.
G. Shirts led Harleton hitters with two singles. D. Armstrong, B. Hopkins, and P. Murray each had one single.
C. Wallace went five innings on the mound for the Wildcats, allowing four hits and four walks. He struck out six. B. Hopkins relieved for two innings, allowing two hits, including a home run. He walked one and had one strikeout.
• • • •
GOLF
Bandy Bizzell finishes inside top
third in State Golf Tournament
Frankston High School junior Bandy Bizzell went to the State Class 2A Golf Tournament for the third straight year on Monday and Tuesday, May 15-16 and came home placing 20th, inside the top third, in a competitive field of 70 Class 2A golfers from all over the state, according to Head Golf Coach Scotty Albritton.
THREE YEARS IN A ROW . . .
Signified by Coach Scotty Albritton and Bandy Bizzell for Bandy’s three straight trips to the State Golf Tournament.
— Courtesy Photo
She had shot a 96 in the first day of the tournament to finish 24th overall in the 70-player field. However, she shot an improved 90 on the second day for a two-day total of 186. She improved on her performance at the Region III Tournament when she had shot a 203 (107-96). She had qualified for State as Third Medalist.
Bandy had finished first overall in the District 19-2A Tournament on April 3 in Athens to qualify for Regional competition.
Coach Albritton described Bandy’s two days of golf at the State Tournament.
“She started off slow on her first three holes of the tournament (on the first day), but then came back on the par 3 fourth hole and sank a birdie from two feet away,” the coach said. “She had another birdie in the same round when she put her approach shot less than a foot from the hole.”
Coach Albritton said Bandy “played more consistent” on Day 2, having eight pars on the day to shoot a 90 and secure her 20th place.
• • • •
SOFTBALL
Congratulations, Maidens! 2A Area Champs
Region III Quarterfinalists
Class 2A Region III Quarterfinals — Maidens vs. 19-2A Hawkins
Game 1 — Hawkins 3, Maidens 2 Game 2 — Hawkins 8, Maidens 7
— Laurie Gould Photo
MVP Kaylee Davis leads four
Maidens as 20-2A superlatives
Four members of the Class 2A Area Champion Frankston Maidens softball team were selected as Superlatives with junior Center Fielder Kaylee Davis chosen as Most Valuable Player on the District 20-2A All-District team for 2023, according to an announcement on Monday, May 21.
Maidens Head Coach Matt Wilkins was selected as Coach of the Year for leading the Maidens to a District 20-2A Championship and a trip to the Region III Quarterfinals.
Second in the Maidens batting order, Davis often keyed Maidens hitting while playing consistently in the field on defense.
Chosen Offense Co-MVP was another junior, first baseman Coralyn Happel, and named Pitcher of the Year was freshman Kinley Howie whose consistency on the mound made her a leader in strikeouts and key to several Maidens wins.
Another freshman, Jenna Gould was named Newcomer of the Year. She batted next after Davis and the two often complemented one another with their hitting. Not only that, but the freshman Gould made some stellar plays in left field.
Jenna’s sister, second baseman Julianna, another junior, was named to the First Team for her consistent play in the infield and key hits. She was joined by sophomore shortstop Addi Loebig, sophomore catcher Kaysiah Burnett and senior third baseman Savannah Lindsey on the First Team. Loebig was not only a key player in the infield, but she led off the batting order and often teamed with Davis and Jenna Gould to get the Maidens off to a good start at the plate. Burnett and Lindsey added hitting strength to the top of the Maidens batting order and dependable help behind the plate and in the infield.
Some standout Maidens players named to the Second Team were senior right fielder Lynsie Bizzell and senior third baseman and pitcher Jacey Dillard.
Receiving Honorable Mention were freshmen Briley Jimenez and Ashley Fridinger, adding to the Maidens’ depth chart.
The senior, Bizzell, was named to the Texas High School Coaches Assn. Academic All-State Team. She was joined in receiving Academic All-District Honors by Dillard, Caylin Freeman, Fridinger, Happel, Charleigh Hyde, Howie, Julianna Gould, Jimenez, Loebig, Jenna Gould, Lindsey and the MVP Davis.
A host of underclassmen return in 2024. Bizzell, Dillard and Savannah Lindsey graduated with their class at Commencement Friday, May 19.
See Maidens Superlatives in Sidebar
• • • •
Lady Hawks comeback gains 3-2
win over Maidens in series opener
The Frankston Maidens led the Hawkins Lady Hawks 2-1 after five innings, but Hawkins came back in the top of the sixth to score two runs for a 3-2 victory over the Maidens in Game 1 of the Region III Quarterfinals best-of-three series at Tyler Legacy Thursday, May 11, according to information made available by the Frankston scorer.
The Maidens will now try to win Game 2 on Friday, May 12 at 6 p.m., also at Tyler Legacy. If they can bounce back for that win, they will face Hawkins in the series third game on Saturday, May 13 at 2 p.m. at the Tyler Legacy field.
Both Kinley Howie for the Maidens and Trinity Hawkins for the Lady Hawks had a good evening in the pitching circle.
However, the Hawkins comeback came on an error on a bunt by Ryle Williams which scored Trinity Hawkins and Jordyn Warren, who had led off the inning with a double and a single, respectively.
The Indians’ Howie pitched all seven innings, allowing 8 hits, walking one and giving up only one earned run. She struck out 5, throwing 58 strikes in 76 pitches.
The Lady Hawks pitcher, Hawkins, had a one-hitter, allowed no earned runs, walked three and had six strikeouts, throwing 63 strikes in 104 pitches.
The lone Maidens hit was a single by Coralyn Happel.
Leading hitter for the Lady Hawks was Taetum Smith who went 3 for 4 at the plate, all singles. The pitcher Hawkins helped her cause with a double and a triple in four trips to the plate. She also drove in the only Lady Hawks earned run.
The Maidens’ two runs in the bottom of the fifth came on miscues by the Lady Hawks. Things started with Howie reaching first on a walk with one away. Then after a fly out, Happel had her single and Howie moved to second. The next Maidens batter, Briley Jimenez, was safe at first on an error and Howie scored. Happel was able to advance to third with two outs and then scored on a wild pitch. A ground out ended the inning. The two runs gave the Maidens their temporary 2-1 lead.
The Lady Hawks answered in the top of the sixth when Trinity Hawkins doubled and Warren singled to put runners on second and third. Then both Hawkins and Warren were able to score on the bunt error allowing Williams to reach first. Two flyouts, a strikeout and a walk followed but the Lady Hawks had taken the lead 3-2.
Pitchers for both teams retired the sides in the next inning and a half and the Lady Hawks had their comeback win.
• • • •
Maidens take 2A Area title 9-5
over Rivercrest nine in Game 2
The Frankston Maidens softball team is 2A Area Champions after defeating Bogata Rivercrest 9-5 in the deciding Game 2 of the playoff series in Winnsboro on Thursday, May 4, according to information made available by Frankston coaches.
The Maidens had defeated Rivercrest 5-3 in Game 1 of the best-of-three series.
The Frankston girls took a first inning 2-0 lead and Rivercrest answered in the top of the second with a run. It was 2-1 until the fifth inning when Rivercrest got another run in their half of the frame to tie things at 2-2.
The Maidens caught fire in the bottom of the fifth with six runs to go ahead 8-2 but Rivercrest scored twice more in the top of the sixth to narrow the Maidens lead to 8-4. Frankston scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 9-4. Rivercrest scored a run in the top of the seventh but it was not enough to overcome that big Maidens fifth inning.
The Maidens batters got 11 hits in the game. Kaylee Davis helped the cause with a home run and Coralyn Happel and Savannah Lindsey each had doubles. Davis was 3 for 4 at the plate to lead hitters, getting two singles as well as the homer. Jenna Gould was 2 for 3, all singles. Kaysiah Burnett was 1 for 2. Lindsey and Happel were each 1 for 3 with their doubles. Kinley Howie and Julianna Gould each had a single in three trips to the plate and Addi Loebig got a single in four at-bats.
Lindsey led in RBI with 3 and Howie and Happel had 2 each. Davis and Burnett had one each.
Howie went seven innings in the pitching circle, allowing 9 hits, two earned runs and a walk. She struck out 4. The freshman hurler threw 58 strikes out of 85 pitches.
Rivercrest used two pitchers who combined to allow the 11 Maidens hits, 8 earned runs and two walks. The starter struck out one.
In the first inning, Rivercrest went three-up and three-down but the Maidens scored two runs in their half of the frame.
Loebig started things with a single and then Davis was safe on a bunt single. Jenna Gould’s sacrifice bunt sent Loebig and Davis to second and third. That’s when Lindsey doubled to center field and scored Loebig and Davis.
The fifth inning is when the Maidens got control of the game, scoring six runs. After allowing Rivercrest go their second run of the game, the Maidens went to work in their half of the fifth. At the start, Julianna Gould singled. After an out, Davis singled to put two on base. Then Jenna Gould singled to advance sister Julianna to third, filling the bases. With only one out, Lindsey walked to send Julianna Gould home. Howie followed with a single which scored Davis and Jenna Gould. Burnett then singled to score Lindsey. Happel got her double after that to drive home Howie and Burnett. That made the score 8-2 going into the sixth frame.
Rivercrest was to score two runs in the top of the sixth but Kaylee Davis had an answer in the bottom of the sixth when she lined an inside the park solo home run making the score 9-4.
Rivercrest was to score one more run in the top of the seventh but the Maidens had their 9-5 victory and the Class 2A Area Championship.
• • • •
BASEBALL
Indians overcome early Maud lead
to win 12-4, earn Area title May 12
The Frankston Indians baseball team captured the Class 2A Area championship with a convincing 12-4 victory in the deciding Game 2 of the best-of-three series against the Maud Cardinals Friday night, May 12 and will advance to the Region III Quarterfinals, according to information made available by the Frankston scorer.
The Indians will play Harleton in the Class 2A Region III Quarterfinals in a best-of-three series. Game 1 will be on Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. Game 2 will be on Saturday, May 20 at 4 p.m. Game 3, if needed, will follow Game 2. All games will be at Winnsboro, according to Coach Wes King.
The Indians fell behind in the first inning 4-0 but began chipping away at that lead, scoring one run in the second and two in the third to cut the Cardinals lead to 4-3 going into the top of the fifth. That’s when the Tribe offense surged ahead with 8 big runs and added another in the sixth to go ahead 12-4, the winning score.
Frankston had trouble getting a hit in the early innings but began to hit the ball as the game progressed. They ended up with 9 hits, including a key double by Ryan Harper and a timely triple by Carson Bizzell. Harper and Bizzell also got a single each to go 2 for 4 at the plate. Matt Metzig also was 2 for 4 with two singles and led in RBI with 3. Harper and Bizzell each had 2 RBI. Also getting singles were Jared Cook, Walker McCann and Triston McCoy.
Matt Metzig pitched for six innings, allowing Maud batters five hits, four earned runs and five walks. He had three strikeouts. Walker London pitched one inning, allowing one hit and a walk. He had a single strikeout.
Maud’s six hits were scattered with Graham Hawkins, Cason Leavitt and Rip Thomas each getting doubles. Trenton Sisson, Micah Bishop and Devin Myrtle each got singles.
Maud used four pitchers during the game. Hawkins went an inning, allowing no hits, but four walks and an earned run. Thomas pitched 3⅓ innings, allowing four hits, four earned runs and walking four. He had three strikeouts. Bishop pitched 1⅔ innings, allowing five hits, two earned runs and a walk. He had two strikeouts. Brock Windham pitched one inning and struck out two.
In that big eight-run top of the fifth, Bizzell started things with a triple and Jared Cook and Christian Hernandez walked to fill the bases. When Metzig singled Bizzell and Caleb Ramsey, running for catcher Cook, scored. Following a couple of outs, Harper got his double, scoring Hernandez and Bradlee Gould, running for pitcher Metzig. With two out Conlan Lemay walked and London was hit by a pitch. Again the bases were full when Bizzell singled to score Harper and Lemay. A Cook single was followed by a Cardinal error which allowed London and Bizzell to score the seventh and eighth run of the inning.
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