Fox Box: Countywide sports updates

Cherokee County girls’ basketball teams have concluded their 2018-2019 season and several members have recently received All-District awards.

The individuals honored are listed by team.

J’ville Maidens

District 16-5A

Defensive MVP – LeLe Anderson

Newcomer of the Year – Lex Calderon

1st Team All District – Grace Ambercrombie, Tania Tucker

2nd Team All District – Tyshera Gipson

Honorable Mention – Courtney Myers

Rusk Lady Eagles

District 19-4A

Defensive Player of the Year – Jamyan Anderson

1st Team All District – Ra’Naiya Kennedy and Raven Bennett

2nd Team All District – Ki’yuna Foreman

Honorable Mention – Valerie Ivy, Emma Abernathy, A’Nayzia Jefferson and Jamyan Anderson

Alto Lady Jackets

District 21-2A

1st Team All District – Makayla Black

2nd Team All District – Chesnee Upshaw

Honorable Mention – Maquela Jackson, Areli Perez-Ramos and Mya Tyra

New Summerfield

Lady Hornets

District 21-2A

Honorable Mention – Bethany Dearing, Jenni Mendoza and Sara Rangel

Troup Lady Tigers

District 16-3A

Academic All District – Hadley Derrick, Maryssa Gilliam, Maddy Griffin, Kori Minnix and Ty Moon

Offensive Player of the Year – Kori Minnix

1st Team All District – Ty Moon

2nd Team All District – Hadley Derrick and Maddy Griffin

Honorable Mention – Maryssa Gilliam, Ajayla Hampton, Laila Kincade and Jessie Minnix

Bullard Lady Panthers

District 16-4A

MVP – Sydney Foster

Co-Offensive Player of the Year – Erin Berry

1st Team All District – Haley Day and Bailey Smith

2nd Team All District – Hailey Minton

Honorable Mention – Jordyn Martin, Lamaria Thompson and Kelli Richmond

JacksonvilleHigh School Tennis

Corsicana Varsity Tournament

Boys Singles

Saul Martinez – Consolation winner:

First round – lost to Waco Vanguard – 6-4, 6-0, (7-10).

Second round – defeated Waco High – 6-1, 6-0.

Third round – defeated China Spring – 6-0, 6-0.

Consolation final – defeated Killeen – 6-0, 6-1.

Bryan Gluck: first round – lost to Hallsville – 2-6, 7-6, (7-10).

Second round – defeated Bullard – 6-0, 6-3

Third round – lost to Killeen – 2-6, 1-6.

Girls Singles

Lizbet Saldana – fourth place:

First round – defeated Waco Vanguard – 6-1, 6-1.

Second round – defeated Waco High – 6-3, 6-1.

Semis – lost to Rockwall Heath – 2-6, 6-7.

Third place – lost to China Spring – 2-6, 1-6.

Boys Doubles

Thomas Brewer and Alex Hassell – consolation winners:

First round – lost to Waco Vanguard – 6-1, 6-7, (8-10).

Second round – defeated Waco Robinson – 6-1, 6-1.

Third round – defeated Waco High – 6-0, 6-1.

Consolation final – defeated Denton Ryan – 6-0, 6-0.

Juan Guerrero and Casey Coughlin – fourth place:

First round – bye.

Second round – defeated Corsicana – 6-1, 6-0.

Semis – lost to Rockwall Heath –5-7, 6-7.

Third place – lost to Corsicana – 0-6, 0-6.

Girls Doubles

Katlin Gonzalez and Alejandra Hernandez – fifth place:

First round – defeated Denton Ryan – 6-2, 6-0.

Second round – lost to Corsicana – 6-2, 4-6, (1-10).

Third round – bye.

Fifth place – defeated Corsicana – 6-3, 6-2.

Haley George and Bianka Cornejo – consolation winners:

First round – lost to China Springs – 4-6, 6-2, (9-11).

Second round – bye.

Third round – defeated Denton Ryan – 6-1, 6-2.

Consolation final – defeated Killeen – 1-6, 6-1, (10-4).

Mixed doubles

Angelica Alvarez and Carlos Camacho:

First round – lost to Hallsville – 6-3, 2-6, (13-15).

Second round – defeated Arlington – 4-6, 6-4, (10-7).

Third round – lost to Denton Ryan – 6-3, 2-6, (4-10).

Autumn Terrell and Eduardo Rodriquez – third place:

First round – bye.

Second round – defeated Rockwall Heath – 6-1, 6-7, (10-8).

Semis – lost to China Spring – 3-6, 0-6.

Third place – defeated China Spring - 6-1 6-2.

Baseball/Softball

Jacksonville Indians

The Jacksonville baseball team took part in the Grand Saline tournament, resulting in a 1-3 tournament record for the Indians.

In the first outing of the meet, the Indians defeated Farmersville, 9-8. Taking the 1-0 lead after two innings, the Indians found themselves tied with Farmerville, 2-2 at the end of the third. Farmersville plated six runs in the fourth, while the Indians scored none. A last-inning seven run streak put Jacksonville ahead for the 9-8 win.

Losses resulted from games against White Oak (6-2), Winnsboro (7-3) and Hughes Springs (7-2).

The Indians will play in the Athens tournament Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9.

Maidens win by one

A single run in the final inning gave the Maidens the win over Mt. Pleasant Tuesday, Feb. 26.

With single runs for Jacksonville in the first inning and Mt. Pleasant in the second, the score was tied, 1-1, after two innings. Mt. Pleasant plated two runs in each of the next two innings to pull ahead, 5-1, by the end of the fifth inning. Both teams scored two runs in the fifth frame. Mt. Pleasant crossed the plate only once in the sixth inning, while the Maidens managed to plate five runs. With the score tied at eight, Jacksonville prevented Mt. Pleasant from scoring, but crossed home one last time, securing the win, 9-8.

Saylor Williams pitched all seven innings, striking out seven batters.

The Maidens were to begin league play, hosting Nacogdoches Tuesday, March 5. They will host Lufkin Friday, March 8.

Rusk Eagles win four

in a row

The Rusk Eagles participated in the Nacogdoches tournament this past weekend, winning four games in a row.

The team defeated Tatum, 5-2. Andrew Gates pitching all five innings, striking out six batters.

The Eagles beat Henderson, 6-4. Taking a five run lead in the first inning and adding a run in the second, Rusk led the game 6-0. The Eagles allowed Henderson three runs in the third, with neither side plating a run in the fourth. Henderson managed a single run in the final frame, but couldn’t overcome the Rusk lead.

Mason Cirkel pitched four innings and Zach Blackmon pitched one inning, striking out one batter.

A single run was all it took for the Eagles to win over Nacogdoches. The one run came in the third inning. J.D. Thompson pitched the shut-out, striking out nine batters.

Woodville mirrored Rusk’s score until the final inning. Each team scored once in the fourth inning, but Rusk scored once more in the seventh, taking the 2-1 win.

Aaron Brooks pitched four innings, striking out two batters, and Landon Gates pitched two innings with a single strike out.

The Eagles are slated to participate in the Canton tournament Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9.

Lady Eagles lose by three

The Rusk Lady Eagles hosted Center Tuesday, Feb. 26, losing by three runs, 17-14.

Center scored a single run in the first inning and then Rusk stole the lead by plating three runs in the same inning. Center scored a run and prevented Rusk from doing the same in the second inning.

In the third frame, Center crossed the plate four times, taking a 6-3 lead. The Lady Eagles plated five runs in the inning, regaining the lead, 8-6. Neither team scored in the fourth inning and only Rusk crossed the plate in the fifth, four times.

This put the Lady Eagles ahead, 12-6. At the top of the sixth, Center scored six runs to tie the score, but Rusk plated two runs to retake the lead, 14-12.

The win came down to the final frame when Center plated five runs and Rusk was unable to cross home.

The Lady Eagles were to host Spring Hill Tuesday, March 5, and will host Huntington Friday, March 8.

Alto Yellowjackets earn 2-2 record in tournament

The Alto Yellowjackets hosted a tournament Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 2, earning a 2-2 record.

The first round game against Brownsboro resulted in a 12-0 win for the Yellowjackets.

The shutout was pitched by Cody Watson, who struck out six batters during the match.

The first loss was a result of the contest with Grace Community, 8-2. Foster Hall pitched five innings, earning four strikeouts.

Another defeat came at the hands of Timpson in a closer 6-2 score. Todd Duplichain pitched 4.1 innings, striking out eight batters. Will Dixon pitched 0.2 innings, with one strikeout.

The last game of the tournament resulted in the second win for the Yellowjackets.

The contest against Shelbyville came down to the final inning, after the Dragons tied the score at five all at the top of the fifth. Alto plated a single run in the bottom of the inning, but it was enough to take the win, 6-5.

The Yellowjackets will play in the Huntington/Central Tournament Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9.

Alto Lady Jackets win big

The Alto Lady Jackets hosted Mt. Enterprise Tuesday, Feb. 26, defeating the Wildcats 17-1.

The Lady Jackets kept the Wildcats from scoring during the first inning, while plating six runs of their own. Preventing Mt. Enterprise from scoring in the second inning, while crossing home three times, Alto led the game, 9-0. The Lady Jackets allowed the Wildcats a single run in the third inning, but scored eight more themselves, taking the 17-1 victory.

The Lady Jackets were slated to host Douglass Tuesday, March 5, and will host Joaquin Tuesday, March 12.

Troup Tigers drop three

The Troup Tigers participated in the Frankston tournament Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 2, losing three games.

The first defeat came at the hands of tournament host Frankston, 5-1. The second loss was a shutout by Cushing, 5-0.

The third game, played against Chapel Hill, resulted in a single run difference, 3-2. Chapel Hill scored a single run in both the second and third innings for a 2-0 lead. Neither team crossed the plate in the fourth and fifth innings. Troup plated two runs at the top of the sixth to tie the game, but Chapel Hill scored once more, taking the 3-2 win.

Troup was to begin league play at Arp Tuesday, March 5, and have a bye Friday, March 8.

Lady Tigers first at Frankston

The Lady Tigers won the top spot at the Frankston tournament this past weekend.

Their first victory came over Cayuga, 17-2, in a two-and-a-half inning game. Lindsay Davis pitched one inning, striking out three and Taylor Vance pitched the second inning.

Haylee Priest pitched the three-inning shutout against Fruitvale, striking out five batters. The team won 11-0.

Playing the host team Frankston, the Lady Tigers garnered a 7-2 win. Davis pitched the four-inning game, striking out six.

On Saturday, a 5-2 victory over Tyler Lee put Troup in the championship game against Athens.

Davis pitched the seven-inning championship game, facing 31 batters, allowing nine walks and striking out 12.

The Lady Tigers won the championship by a score of 6-2, earning a 5-0 tournament record.

As a team, they totaled 55 hits and 46 runs, allowing just eight runs for their opponents. Troup pitchers struck out 24 batters.

“Our success this weekend was an absolute team effort,” Head Coach Sam Weeks stated. “Our girls worked extremely hard together to earn their wins. Freshman pitcher Lindsay Davis was named to the All-Tournament Team. I am so very proud of how our girls played throughout the entire tournament. This is a great way for us to go into district play this coming week.”

The Lady Tigers were slated to begin league play at Arp, Tuesday, March 5, and have a bye Friday, March 8.

Bullard Panthers go 2-1 at tournament

The Bullard Panthers traveled to Lindale to participate in a tournament last week, resulting in a 2-1 tournament record.

The first win was against Hallsville, 4-2. The Panthers scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Hallsville responded by plating two runs at the top of the second, tying the score at two all. Bullard also plated two runs in the second, taking a 4-2 lead and ensuring the win as neither team was able to cross home again.

The Panthers also won against Tyler-All Saints Episcopal, 5-2. While preventing All Saints from scoring in the first three innings, Bullard plated a run in both the first and third innings. Both teams crossed home once. The Panthers scored two more runs in the fifth inning, putting them ahead 5-1. Although All Saints put across another run in the top of the sixth, it wasn’t enough to overcome Bullard who captured the 5-2 win.

The loss came in a close contest with Corsicana, with the Panthers finding themselves on the short end of a 2-0 final.

The Bullard Panthers now sport a 5-2-1 record for the season.

Bullard was to host Henderson Tuesday, March 5, and will participate in the Canton tournament Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9.

Lady Panthers win three in a row

The Lady Panthers traveled to Hallsville to take part in a tournament Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 28-March 2, earning a 4-2 tournament record.

After losing to Hallsville, 5-4, and Harmony, 11-7; the Lady Panthers won four straight games.

The 5-1 win over Beckville was the first in the tournament. Ariel Matula pitched the five-inning game, striking out three.

Bullard defeated Ore City, 5-2, in a three-inning game. Matula pitched all three innings, striking out three.

The final win was against Carthage, 4-2. The Lady Panthers took a 2-0 lead following the first inning. Bullard plated a third run in the second inning and neither team scored in the third. The Lady Panthers plated another run in the fourth inning. Although Carthage scored two runs in the fourth, it wasn’t enough to overtake Bullard.

The record for the Lady Panthers is 10-6-1. They were to host Lindale Tuesday, March 5, and will travel to Canton Friday, March 8.