Alpine Daily Planet

More snapshots from Lady Bucks win over Mineola

Lady Bucks defeat Mineola to move to Thursday's championship game

The three corners of the infield: Sydney McCallister, left; Lauren Hardin, center; Helen Morrow, right (All photos Alpine Daily Planet's Cindy Perry)

 

Ryan Hardin at shortstop

Sorry, ump, but she was out at third

McCallister at third; Mineola coach exhorts her baserunner

Christina Graham, the best centerfielder in the state

Graham scored once and batted in one run

Hardin is safe at third after driving in run

Dominique Portillo pulls in fly ball for an out

Portillo holds up ball after final out of the game

Let the celebration begin with grins as wide as all of West Texas

Head coach Troy Canaba sends a kiss to his family in the stands

Annika Canaba, bat girl for the week

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

AUSTIN -- On a hot, muggy Wednesday afternoon at UT's McCombs Stadium, the Alpine Lady Bucks defeated a team with only one loss in a single-elimination playoff game for the second time in seven days.

Wednesday, it took eight innings, but the gritty, nevery-say-die Lady Bucks defeated favored Mineola, 4-3, in the Class 2A semifinals. (A week ago, on a Thursday, they advanced to the state tournament with a one-game, 3-0, win over Colorado City.)

Now, the Lady Bucks will play Crawford, which defeated No. 1-rated and defending state champion Danbury, 4-3, for the state championship on Thursday at the same site; game time is 6 p.m.

If you can be there, find a way to get your butt to Austin (if it's not already here). These girls -- the Lady Bucks -- are fun to watch. And, my God, they do play the game of softball well.

As I was watching Wednesday's game unfold, my mind kept going back to Tuesday evening and the Lady Bucks sitting as a group at the top of a hill overlooking McCombs Stadium. They were listening to head coach Troy Canaba tell them how they were going to win. And, I swear, everything he said was spot on. 

Let's take his quotes, delivered Tuesday night, one by one:

Quote 1: “Play your game. Do what got you here.”

The Lady Bucks did that and then some. By the way, do you realize that Alpine is 7-0 in the Class 2A playoffs this year? They have scored 44 runs and given up six. That's an average margin of 6.3 runs per game on offense while holding opponents to an average of 0.86 runs per game. And if it hadn't been for three cheap runs scored by Mineola in the sixth (2 runs) and seventh (1 run) innings, the discrepancy would have been even wider.

It was pure Lady Buck baseball Wednesday. Lauren Hardin threw hard for eight innings and picked up the win. Because Mineola is such a good hitting team -- their starting lineup averages .401 (that's a 4, an 0 and a 1; I mean, that's incredible), Hardin didn't get as many strikeouts as she often does. "But I just relied on my defense," Hardin said. "I don't need to throw strikeouts as long as I have that defense."

Quote 2: “The way we play the game does not change because of where we are or who we’re playing.”

Maybe I'm seeing what I want to see, but I swear, the Lady Bucks showed absolutely no nervousness about who or where they were playing. You'd have thought we were back at Manny Payne Field playing Kermit.

The Lady Bucks didn't get a lot of hits but they got enough. And they made solid contact all day long. As usual, Beck Ruiz and Christina Graham came up with huge plays at the plate. Ruiz drove in the first Lady Buck run in the second inning on a double; Graham singled in the eighth inning and wound up scoring the winning run.

Quote 3: “Be aggressive. If we make mistakes, they’ll be my mistakes, but I want you to be aggressive. I want you to put pressure on that team.”

The Lady Bucks broke out of the gate early and aggressively, scoring a run in the top of the second inning. With two out, Dominique Portillo forced a walk out of Mineola's pitcher, Rikkilyn Hass. Then, on a strike to Graham, Portillo -- not known for her blazing speed -- stole second. Remember that word: Aggresssive, right? Graham worked the pitcher hard, forcing her to throw seven pitches, two of which Graham fouled off. Then she lined a double deep into centerfield and Dominique came around to score from second. 

A perfect throw might have nailed Portillo, but the centerfielder was slow to the ball and slow getting it to the plate. Aggressive and pressure on their fielders, right? Check. Lady Bucks lead, 1-0.

Quote 4: “Don’t relax, don’t let up. We’ve come too far to relax.”

I think, the Lady Bucks did relax just a bit, in the sixth and seventh innings. Going into the bottom of the sixth inning, Alpine had a 3-0 lead. Mineola manufactured two runs on a single, a triple that shouldn't have been and a bunt. And in the bottom of the seventh, the lead-off hitter got on and eventually scored after a rare bit of sloppy play by the Lady Bucks' defense. That score tied things at 3 apiece and sent the game into extra innings.

Now then, that sets up the most important thing Coach Canaba told his team on Tuesday evening:

Quote 5: “An error will not hurt us unless you let it hurt us.” (In other words, mistakes get made but you can overcome them, you must overcome them.)

With the score tied 3-3, and after some rocky play in the sixth and seventh innings, the Lady Bucks proved the worth of that statement. From beginning to end, the eighth inning belonged to the Lady Bucks. 

First, with one out, Graham banged a single. Lauren Hardin came up and sent the ball flying deep into center field. The Mineola centerfielder hestitated for a split second when Hardin hit the ball. That hesitation was fatal. The ball rolled to the wall, Graham scored all the way from first and Hardin jogged into third when the third baseman bobbled a poor throw. There's that pressure again. 

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the lead-off batter worked Hardin for a walk, but four pitches later, the game was over. On a 1-0 count, Mineola's Morgan Cantron, who has a .420 batting average, flied out to left fielder Portillo. Then Marisa Ledkins, a .406 hitter, flied out to shortstop Ryan Hardin, Then, on a 1-2 count, Jade Green, with her glittering .478 batting average, lofted an easy fly out to Portillo.

I asked Portillo what was going through her mind on that last play: "Just routine," she said. "I knew I had it. It was just a routine fly ball."

Just another day at the office for the Lady Bucks, who played their game, their way. Yep, they made a mistake or two, but they never let it shake them. I never saw them panic, I never saw them shaken.

I asked Hardin (Lauren) about the heat. Sure, she felt the heat, she said. But it did not affect her pitching she said with a great deal of emphasis. In fact, I'm not sure I've seen Hardin pitch a better game this year. Granted, she didn't have a lot of strikeouts, but she used only 98 pitches in eight innings. And remember, this was easily the hardest-hitting team the Lady Bucks have played this year, but they really did very little damage.

Celebrating victory

Gloria Canaba at right; Kachoo Valenzuela in the middle

The scoreboard says it all

Still serious about the job ahead

Soaking up the atmosphere

Steve White, superintendent, and Verl O'Bryant, principal, congratulate team

Chistina Graham, 7, with her teammates

Sid and Dominique: Everyone gets a hug

Coach gets a hug

Lauren gets a bit of ice for her arm

A moment for prayer and thanks and reflection

Hook 'em, Lady Bucks, hail to alma mater

Three buses, 450 miles and 10 hours later, Lady Bucks arrive in Austin for state championship tournament

 

 

Alpine Daily Planet photos by chief photographer Cindy Perry

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

AUSTIN – The Alpine Lady Bucks took the long road to Austin Tuesday for the state championship tournament.

The Lady Bucks meet Mineola at 3 p.m. Wednesday in one semifinal of the Class 2A playoffs.

As the cliché so aptly puts it, getting here was half the battle.

It took three buses to get the squad to McCombs Stadium by 7:30 p.m., which is when we met up with them. The first bus they were on broke down near Ozona. The Ozona school district was kind enough to loan them a bus. In the meantime, AISD dispatched another bus, which rendezvoused with the Lady Bucks in Junction.

So, a trip that began at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday ended at the University of Texas’ McCombs Stadium about 7:30 p.m.

The team, coaches and trainers were surprisingly upbeat when they pulled into the stadium parking lot.

Head coach Troy Canaba then spent several minutes with the players emphasizing the things he wants his team to remember, including (and I’m quoting Canaba):

“Play your game. Do what got you here.”

“The way we play the game does not change because of where we are or who we’re playing.”

“Be aggressive. If we make mistakes, they’ll be my mistakes, but I want you to be aggressive. I want you to put pressure on that team.”

“Don’t relax, don’t let up. We’ve come too far to relax.”

“Play together as a team against two more teams.”

“An error will not hurt us unless you let it hurt us. A home run will not hurt us unless you let it hurt us. A strike out will not hurt us unless you let it hurt us.” (In other words, mistakes get made but you can overcome them, you must overcome them.)

Limiting mistakes and overcoming the ones you do make seem to be the key to success, according to Canaba’s sermon. I couldn’t agree more. Both teams will make mistakes; how they react to those mistakes will determine the outcome of the game.

I think the thing that really struck me about Canaba’s talk to his team – which took place on a berm overlooking McCombs Stadium’s centerfield – was this: “Remember these things,” Canaba said. “Love for the team, love for the game, love for Alpine.”

Winner of the Alpine-Mineola game will play the winner of the Crawford-Danbury semifinal, which starts at 6 p.m.

Fox Sports Southwest and Fox Sports Houston will televise the 4A and 5A title games. Time Warner Cable’s Texas Channel will broadcast Class 1A, 2A and 3A championship games and all semifinal contests. Games on the Texas Channel also will be webcast on FoxSportsSouthwest.com and FoxSportsHouston.com.

Webcasts should be available at:

www.FoxSportsSouthwest.com www

and

FoxSportsHouston.com

The Alpine Lady Bucks travel squad includes:

• 1 Kim Muniz, Senior RF/OF .446           
• 10 Becky Ruiz, Senior 2B .338           
• 12 Anaya Losoya, Freshman 3B/IF .000           
• 13 Helen Morrow, Sophomore 1B .494 4-2
• 14 Dominique Portillo, Senior LF .420           
• 2 Ryan Hardin, Freshman SS/P .423           
• 21 Sydney McCallister, Sophomore 3B/C .613           
• 22 Lauren Hardin, Senior P/OF .633 27-4
• 3 Rachel Ward, Freshman IF/UT .385           
• 4 Megan Gilmore, Freshman OF .214           
• 5 Mary Catherine Saenz, Senior C .531           
• 6 Erin Gallego, Sophomore OF .421           
• 7 Christina Graham, Senior CF/OF .610           
• 8 Emily Caccavo, Sophomore IF .000           

Coaches, Managers, Trainers, Statisticians

• Troy Canaba, Head Coach
• Jared Hester, Assistant Coach
• Lori Hubbell, Athletic Trainer
• Annika Canaba, Manager
• Rogelio Lopez, Manager
• Sadie Shackelford, Manager

Mineola travel squad includes:

• 1 Morgan Catron, Sophomore C/P .419 3-0
• 10 Baylee Hawkins, Freshman IF .000           
• 11 Jade Green, Freshman 3B .478           
• 12 Brittney Johnson, Junior SS .434           
• 13 Courtney Hudgins, Senior LF .432           
• 14 Kassy Skinner, Freshman OF .000           
• 2 Rikkilyn Hass, Sophomore P .309 20-1
• 3 Ali Galaz, Junior CF .481           
• 4 Marisa Ledkins, Junior 2B .406           
• 6 Taylor Craver, Junior 1B .339           
• 7 Manda Wilmoth, Freshman OF .269           
• 8 Maddi Wood, Junior RF .315           
• 9 Cheyen Ryan, Junior  IF .000

Last practice in Alpine for Lady Bucks before heading to Austin for the Final Four

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By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

On the road again. And this time to Austin.

Yep, the Alpine Lady Bucks will finally get on that big ole bus tomorrow, and this time the destination will be the Class 2A state tournament, the Final Four, at the hallowed ground of McCombs Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.

The trip, the accomplishment, means a lot to every member of this team – and includes the players, coaches, trainers and even the new bat girl (the coach’s daughter). But maybe, just maybe, it means even more to a special bunch of seniors – Lauren Hardin, Christina Graham, Kim Muniz, Dominique Portillo, Becky Ruiz and Mary Catherine Saenz.

This senior group has, to paraphrase one of my heroes, scaled the mountain time and time again. This year – 2012 – marked the third straight year these young women have played for the Region I championship. This time, however, they were not turned back; this time, they planted Alpine’s flag firmly on top of the mountain.

Now, they have the privilege, the honor, that only three other teams in Class 2A (out of about 200 softball playing schools) have -- to “play for state.”

I think all those seniors have been together since little league or t-ball. That means they’ve been refining their skills and sealing a lifetime bond over the past 10 years.

It’s hard for most of us to imagine the hard work these young women have put in, the long hours of practice, the sometimes-brutal travel schedule that is a fact of life for Alpine athletes.

The team went through its final workout at Manny Payne Field on Monday afternoon. They seemed calm and loose – not too loose, but loose enough to laugh a bit and offer up a grin or two.

The team is ready, the team is primed, the team has accomplished so much.

Now comes the next challenge in the form of a Mineola team, which they face at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the first game of the Class 2A semifinals. Crawford plays Danbury in the other semifinal; that game will be at 6 p.m.

Best I can tell, Mineola looks to be almost a mirror image of the Lady Bucks. They rely on a hotshot pitcher (just like the Lady Bucks rely on Lauren Hardin) who throws a wicked fastball but has the ability to move the ball around and fool you with off-speed pitches.

They also rely on a tough defense and a batting lineup that is solid, from top to bottom. Sound familiar?

The Lady Bucks leave Alpine about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Head coach Troy Canaba plans to take the team out to Round Rock Stoney Point High School about 6:30 p.m. for a short workout, probably an hour and half. After that, the team plans to travel down I35 to McCombs Stadium and get a look at the place where they’ll play for the state championship. The trip to McCombs is, quite simply, a chance to show the team that McCombs is just like any other softball field – same dimensions, same pitching circle, same distance from first to second to third to home.

So, can the Lady Bucks win it all? Well, let me give you an unequivocal “maybe.” Every team in this tournament is capable of winning it all. It comes down to (a) who makes the fewest mistakes and (b) who overcomes mistakes.

I think the Lady Bucks can win, I expect them to win. That said, whatever happens, I feel honored to have had the privilege of covering their games this year. As for the seniors, it’s been a blast to watch them mature and grow over the past four years.

For the youngsters on the team – three sophomores (Sydney McCallister, Helen Morrow and Erin Gallego) and a freshman (Ryan Hardin) play key roles – I look forward to watching you play this week and in the years ahead.

If you’re a player, a parent, a sibling, a coach or just a fan, have fun, enjoy sports at its best and purest this week in Austin.

Notes: Fox Sports Southwest is scheduled to broadcast the softball tournament. And it’s going to broadcast all five classes: Class 5A, Class 4A, Class 3A, Class 2A and 1A. …

… From looking at the brackets, Alpine is the final West Texas team standing. Quite an accomplishment. …

… If you’re going to the game: McCombs Stadium is located just east of Interstate 35, next to the Texas Longhorns Disch-Falk Baseball Field. Personally, I’d do everything possible to stay off of I35, which just might be the most congested highway in the state these days. Rather, I’d come into town on U.S. 290 and take the Lamar Street exit and go north on Lamar. Take Lamar all the way up to Martin Luther King Blvd. (the old 19th Street). Go right (or east) on Martin Luther King through the University and across (over) I35. Once across I35, you’ll want to turn left at the second street, which is Comal. Go about a block and you’re at McCombs. Enjoy the game, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy all that beautiful burnt orange. …

… I keep saying the Lady Bucks have six seniors. Actually, Mary Catherine Saenz, who I consider an all-state candidate catcher, is, strictly speaking, a junior. However, she is graduating a year early. …

… After the state tournament, we’ll start handing out post-season individual honors. I would bet the farm that every starter on the Lady Bucks team (and that includes Erin Gallego) will make first- or second-team all district. … I think at least four – Lauren Hardin, Catherine Graham, Saenz and Sydney McCallister – have legitimate shots at making all-state. …

… I absolutely love going to Austin, home of the finest university on the face of the Earth. You want to know how pumped I am about making this trip to see the Lady Bucks play for a state championship? Well, I talked my heart doctor into postponing a minor procedure for a week. I said I had more important things to do. The doc’s a good guy and he said “OK.” I might even have talked him into checking the Daily Planet for updates.

Lady Bucks will make history with first game vs. Mineola at state tournament

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

The Alpine High School Lady Bucks are preparing for a first in Alpine softball history. The are among four teams headed to the state tournament, to be played at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs Field.

“We took ice baths on Friday, to help with the soreness and playing 40 games this year,” head coach Troy Canaba said Saturday. “We will be practicing on Monday at 4 p.m. and then we are either going to leave at 9 or 10 Tuesday morning, then practice at Stoney Point Tuesday night.”

Alpine, which defeated Colorado City, 3-0, last Thursday night for the Region I championship, will face Region III winner Mineola, which defeated Linden-Kildare in the Region III championship.

Game time for the Alpine-Mineola game is 3 p.m. Wednesday. Crawford plays Danbury in the other semifinal; that game will be at 6 p.m.

Danbury defeated Santa Gertrudis, 2 games to 1, in a best-of three series. Crawford defeated Tom Bean, 17-1, in a one-game playoff.

The Class 2A final will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at McCombs.

“I am very happy and it still has not really sunk in yet,” Canaba said. “[It] still feels like a dream, I am so proud of this group ... can't put it into words.

“To be the first in school history in softball and to do it with this group is amazing! I am blessed with great people around me, and my family is my rock and they get me through a lot during the season,” he said.

“The support that we have gotten from the community of Alpine has been nothing shy of amazing,” Canaba added. “I love it, and the girls have earned it for sure. We couldn't do it without the players’ families and all of our wonderful fans.”

If you’re going to the game: McCombs Stadium is located just east of Interstate 35, next to the Texas Longhorns Disch-Falk Baseball Field. Personally, I’d do everything possible to stay off of I35, which just might be the most congested highway in the state these days. Rather, I’d come into town on U.S. 290 and take the Lamar Street exit and go north on Lamar. Take Lamar all the way up to Martin Luther King Blvd. (the old 19th Street). Go right (or east) on Martin Luther King through the University and across (over) I35. Once across I35, you’ll want to turn left at the second street, which is Comal. Go about a block and you’re at McCombs. Enjoy the game, enjoy the atmosphere, enjoy all that beautiful burnt orange.

Final thoughts on the Bucks championship season

All photos by the Planet's Cindy Perry

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

I’m sitting here in front of a computer, the day after the Alpine Bucks baseball team lost two games to Sonora – 12-2 and 12-7 – trying to figure out what to write that would make any sense.

I have a few comments to make, which may or may not put things into perspective for Alpine fans and players (mostly the players).

But before that, let’s quickly deal with Saturday’s basics. I’m not going to spend much time rehashing the two games. The bottom line: The Bucks lost their Class 2A regional semifinal series to Sonora. They won the first game in fine, well-played fashion on Thursday night, 7-1.

Saturday? Well, Saturday just sucked. Everything that could go wrong, did.

Fact is, individuals have bad days or a bad games; unfortunately, the Bucks picked Saturday afternoon for everyone to have a bad day. The defense, which had been superb all year, fell apart; the clutch hits never materialized; and Sonora’s speed seemed to bother the Bucks, surprise them, even. For instance, in Game 3, 14 Sonora runners stole a base. OK, it was what it was: an awful day at the ballpark for Alpine players and fans. Enough said.

Now, let’s deal with the things on which I really want to focus:

First, this team of overachievers – one which head coach Orlando Leyva readily admits was not the most talented he has ever coached – accomplished much this year.

They were, after all, among the 16 final teams standing in the playoffs. They advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs. There were 200 other Class 2A teams that didn’t make it this far, 200 teams that would gladly have changed places with the Bucks on Saturday.

Second, Alpine fans will be talking about this team and these players for years to come. They have established a legacy, they have entered the Pantheon of great Alpine teams. The last time an Alpine baseball team advanced this far was 1994.

Third, led by their great leader, Ely Gallego, the 2012 Bucks were a team in every sense of the word. Gallego, by the way, struck me throughout this year (first in football, then in baseball) as the finest natural leader I’ve been around (that includes my time as sports editor in Fort Worth). Time after time this year, I’ve seen him pull and push and literally will his teams to do what appeared to be the impossible.

Yes, I know, the string ran out on Saturday, but it doesn’t take away from what this team did.

Fourth, the 2012 Bucks were, quite simply, a fun bunch to watch. They were an extraordinary mixture of veterans – seniors Gallego, Taylor O’Bryant, Grady Ellis, Zane Ivey and J.D. Flud – and youngsters – sophomore Evan Moore, Jonathan “Frosty” Frost and Ian Ybarra, plus freshmen Daniel Rojo and Ben Villa. Every one of those guys delivered in a clutch situation at one time or another.

Consider:

Gallego, who we’ve already talked about, was a flame-throwing pitcher, a slick fielder and a scary hitter. He hit a home run against Abernathy that turned that series around.

O’Bryant was a rock in centerfield, covering more ground than any two players. On a personal note, I've covered Taylor for four years in darned near every sport in which Alpine participates. Taylor has excelled in every sport, in every year. I think he's made all-district in at least three, maybe four, different sports. Next year is going to be kind of strange on the athletic fields without an O'Bryant. (Remember, Taylor had two brothers who preceded him and both excelled.)

Ellis, who will enter the Navy in October, battled every kind of adversity behind the plate while also re-discovering his hitting stroke against Abernathy.

Ivey beat out more infield hits than anyone I’ve ever seen. The young man is sneaky fast and fooled more than one team with his speed.

Flud? Well, along with Gallego and Evan Moore, he’s my MVP. He’s a slick fielder and maybe the clutch hitter on the team. I don’t have the figures right in front of me but I would bet the farm that Flud had more hits than any other Buck with men on base.

As for Moore, it’s hard to believe this young man is just a sophomore (well, given that graduation is just a week away, you could say he’s a junior now). He shows maturity beyond his years and he pitched his heart out Saturday. Unfortunately, the defense fell apart behind him, and when Coach Leyva finally took him off the pitcher’s mound (and put him over at third base) he had pitched almost 130 pitches. Along with Flud and Gallego, Moore is also the kind of hitter you want at bat when there are men on base.

Frost – Frosty as his teammates call him – is the new kid on the block, moving to Alpine this year. Who can forget the winning run he scored in the 10th inning to beat Childress in the area playoffs?

Ybarra was a designated hitter, who was constantly finding ways to get on base, always calm, always cool, always ready. Ybarra, Frost and Ivey, who were at the bottom of the Bucks batting lineup, actually provided the spark that defeated Childress in the area round of the playoffs. While their higher-profile teammates were struggling, these guys were getting on base and making things happen.

Rojo, mark my words, will be an all-state shortstop before his career is over. He had a couple of rough patches this week but he performed well. And remember, he’s playing on a knee injured in football that is still not 100 percent. On top of that, Daniel can flat hit the ball and he just might have the best “eye” at the plate on the team.

And then we come to my favorite new player, Ben Villa. Ben, I’m sure, has bruises all over his body today from the plethora of balls that were thrown in his direction at first base yesterday. He was constantly picking up balls on first and second and third bounces, or blocking them with his body. He’s a slick fielder and, we found out yesterday when he returned to the batter’s box after more than a month because of an injury, that he can crush the ball. I see a lot of the young Ely Gallego in Ben Villa.

One last thing and then I’ll shut up. I love sports, particularly high school and some college sports. I don’t much care for pro sports nor big-time college sports – they’ve both become businesses populated by men and women who are far too impressed with themselves. But high school sports? Nothing better.

There’s something we all have to remember about sports, though. Mostly, I’m talking about the commitment to excellence, the commitment to winning that sports demands. To be as good as they were this year, to achieve what they did this year, the Bucks players had to lay everything out there – emotionally and physically. They had to make the commitment to risk failure and the pain that goes with failure. You don’t achieve excellence, you don’t achieve a legacy, unless you take that risk.

So, remember, when you’re thinking about the 2012 Alpine Bucks baseball team, remember the emotional and physical risks they took. Remember and empathize with the pain they experienced. Don’t feel sorry for them, just remember what they went through to accomplish what they did.

Personally, I think the pain is worth what they received in return. They can take this championship season – and it was a championship season – through their lives and build on it. I envy and respect their pain and accomplishments. Enough said.

Sully relay team finishes No. 14 at national championships

CLAREMONT - The 2012 season for the Sul Ross men's 4x100 relay team came to a close as the Lobos' team was eliminated after the preliminary round Thursday evening at the national championship meet.

The team composed of Jural Hickman, Akeem Collins, Xaiver Jefferson and Anthony Martin finished with a time of 41.73, which put them in the No. 14 spot out of the 16 teams that competed. Unfortunately, only the top nine teams were able to advance to the final round, which will be on Saturday at 2:40 pm EST.

The men's team improved their previous time of 41.74, which was at the University of the Incarnate Word Last Chance Meet in San Antonio on May 10.

Lady Bucks and Bucks: A photo tale of two buses

On Thursday, the two buses carrying the Bucks baseball team and Lady Bucks softball team were escorted out of town together (Photos by Roxann Chavez)

Buck players wave to fans as they leave town

Lady Bucks on the road again, headed to Odessa and their date with destiny

That's head coach Troy Canaba in the front of the bus as the Lady Bucks return to Alpine late Thursday night

The Lady Bucks-Colorado City game from another viewpoint

Alpine Daily Note editor's note: Here's another view of Thursday's Lady Bucks win over Colorado City. The story was done by my old friend Evan Ren, who covers high school sports for Abilene Reporter News. Evan, who is one of the best sports writers I've been around, worked with me when we ere both trying to survive life at the Killeen Daily Herald. I think you'll enjoy Evan's perspective.

By Evan Ren, Abilene Reporter News

ODESSA — For the better part of a week, Alpine softball coach Troy Canaba was a target of criticism for choosing a one-game regional final series with Colorado City, rather than taking a best-of-three format when many people considered his team the favorite.

It took his girls only one hour and 20 minutes to vindicate him Thursday, eliminating C-City 3-0 at the Ratliff Softball Complex.

Behind a three-hit pitching performance and two RBIs from Lauren Hardin, the Lady Bucks (31-6) clinched their first trip to the state softball tournament and erased two straight years of regional final disappointments in the process.

Canaba's decision for a one-game regional final was a product of those disappointments, after seeing his team win Game 1 of those series only to lose both in the final two games.

"I don't know if it was the right decision," Canaba said. "But we had gotten here the last two years and at the end of last season, I promised myself if I ever got into this position again, I'd try to fight for one game only.

"If I went two-out-of-three and lost again, I'd be second-guessing myself."

For Colorado City, the loss ended one of the best seasons in the program's history at 24-13, and also ended the three-year tenure of coach Erin White, who has accepted the same position at Muleshoe.

"We didn't capitalize when we had runners on base tonight," White said. "We didn't do the things we needed to do when we had a chance to do it."

Those chances were few.

Aside from tossing a three-hitter, Hardin finished with 11 strikeouts against one walk, throwing almost nothing but riseballs.

Hardin helped her own cause in the third by scoring Erin Gallego with a sacrifice fly. Two innings later, she singled home Sydney McCallister for a 3-0 lead that was never seriously threatened.

Obscured by Hardin's dominance was an effective outing from Colorado City starting pitcher Cassie Sutton, who allowed only two earned runs on six hits while going the distance.

"Cassie came out today and tried to play her best game for our seniors," White said. "She met her goal.

"But our big hitters didn't produce today and didn't have a very good game at the plate."

Hardin had a great deal to do with that, limiting the Lady Wolves to singles from Shylowe Honeycutt, Sutton and Whitney Ortiz.

C-City did manage to push four runners into scoring position, two in the fifth inning when Ortiz singled and Shyana Baugh walked with one out.

However, following a groundout that advanced both girls one base, Hardin stranded them by striking out Hope Sanchez to end C-City's best scoring chance of the day.

"Lauren did a great job of hitting her spots," Canaba said. "We had a lot of scouting reports on Colorado City, but the main thing is that we did what we usually do.

"Colorado City is a tough team to pitch to and thank God we came out on top. ... I don't know if we could have beaten them in a series. It's easy to see how they came back last week against Hawley.

"They're a great team and it just worked out for us tonight."

Bucks slam Sonora, 7-1, go one up in regional semifinals

Alpine Daily Planet

MIDLAND – The Alpine Bucks went one-up on the Sonora Broncos here Thursday with a 7-1 win over the Broncos in the first game of a best-of-three series for the Region I semifinal championship.

The two teams play again Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m., at Midland’s Christensen Stadium. If a third game is necessary, it will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

The Bucks jumped on Sonora for four runs in the first inning and never trailed. And winning pitcher Ely Gallego was never seriously threatened, giving up only one run. It was, I believe, the 11th win of the year for Gallego.

Winner of this series will play the winner of the Bushland-Blanco series, which is being played in Snyder. The first game of that series is Friday at Moffett Field in Snyder. The second game will be at noon Saturday; Game 3, if necessary, will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

Winner of the Alpine-Bushland/Blanco series will head to Austin for the Final Four tournament.

If Alpine wins the series against Sonora, it will be the farthest an Alpine baseball team has advanced since 1994 – 18 years, a generation. In addition, the Bucks have now won 15 straight games.

Evan Moore, the other "ace" on the Buck pitching staff, is expected to get the start in Saturday's game.

With Thursday’s win, Alpine’s record improves to 22-4. Sonora is now 24-7 on the year.

Alpine Bucks 2012 Season in Review

• Presidio 7, Alpine 3
• Alpine 10, Van Horn 0
• Alpine 4, Crane 0
• Pecos 1, Alpine 0
• Alpine 7, Odessa JV 3
• Alpine 8, Greenwood 0
• Monahans 4, Alpine 2
• Alpine 5, El Paso Jefferson 1
• Alpine 9, Fort Stockton 3
• Sonora 7, Alpine 6
• Alpine 16, Marfa 5
• Alpine 15, Kermit 0
• Alpine 5, Tornillo 2
• Alpine 7, Crane 2
• Alpine 14, Kermit 2
• Alpine 10, Tornillo 0
• Alpine 13, Crane 0
• Alpine 10, Kermit 0
• Alpine 14, Tornillo 0
• Alpine 11, Crane 0

Class 2A Region 1 Area Playoff

• Alpine 5, Childress 4
• Alpine 2, Childress 1

Class 2A Region 1 Regional Quarterfinal

• Alpine 12, Abernathy 2
• Alpine 9, Abernathy 7

Class 2A Region 1 Regional Semifinal

• Game 1, Thursday, Alpine 7, Sonora 1
• Game 2, Saturday, 1 p.m., Alpine vs. Sonora
• Game 3, if necessary, 30 minutes after conclusion of Game 2 

 

 

Those fabulous Lady Bucks are going to the Final Four

Alpine Daily Planet

ODESSA – The Alpine Lady Bucks are headed for the state tournament for the first time in their history.

The Lady Bucks defeated Colorado City, 3-0, here Thursday night at the Ratliff Stadium Softball Complex.

The win gives the Lady Bucks a 26-6 record for the year. Plus, the Colorado City win was the sixth straight game – against no defeats – for the Lady Bucks in the Class 2A playoffs this year.

They advance to the state tournament, which will be held Wednesday, May 30, through Saturday, June 2, at the McCombs Field on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. McCombs Field is the home field of fabled Texas Longhorns softball program.

Thursday's win over Colorado City was a stomach-twisiting nail biter. It was 0-0 after two and a half innings when Erin Gallego, starting in place of the injured Kim Muniz, doubled down the left field line. She scored on a long sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the third, Dominique Portillo scored on an error after reaching first on a single.

Sidney McCallister scored an insurance run in the third inning on another error. McCallister got on base on a single.

The Class 2A semifinal games will be played Wednesday, May 30, beginning at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The final will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 31.

Other regional championships to be decided this weekend include:

• Region 2- Crawford vs. Tom Bean
• Region 3- Mineola vs. Linden-Kildare
• Region 4- Danbury vs. Santa Gertrudis Academy

Danbury, by the way, is the defending state champion.

Lady Bucks, 2012 Game by Game

• Alpine 15, Monahans 1
• Alpine 15, Amarillo Caprock 3
• Alpine 3, Canyon Randall 1
• Alpine 4, Amarillo 2
• Alpine 14, Dumas 6
• El Paso Chapin 6, Alpine 4
• Lubbock Cooper 7, Alpine 4
• Alpine 6, Midland Lee 5
• Alpine 10, El Paso El Dorado 4
• Alpine 3, Greenwood 1
• Alpine 10, Midland Lee 6
• Amarillo 5, Alpine 4
• Alpine 21, Palo Duro 0
• Alpine 13, Abilene 7
• Alpine 9, Monahans 0
• Alpine 11, Fort Stockton 1
• Alpine 17, Levelland 2
• Midland 12, Alpine 10
• Permian 9, Alpine 8
• Alpine 9, Big Spring 2
• Alpine 1, Kermit 0
• Alpine 20, Tornillo 0
• Midland 11, Alpine 1
• Alpine 12, Kermit 1
• Alpine 15, Tornillo 0
• Alpine 15, Crane 0

Region I, Class 2A area playoff

• Alpine 21, Muleshoe 0

Region 1, Class 2A regional quarterfinal

• Alpine 3, Forsan 1
• Alpine 4, Forsan 0

Region 1, Class 2A regional semifinal

• Alpine 5, Blanco 1
• Alpine 5, Blanc0 1

Region 1, Class 2A regional final

• Alpine 3, Colorado City 0

 

Q&A with AHS baseball coach Leyva: Playing in the regional semifinals

 

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

The Alpine Bucks baseball team continues it quest for a berth in the state baseball tournament with a weekend series against Sonora.

The Class 2A Region 1 semifinal series starts Thursday at 7 p.m. at Midland’s Christensen Stadium. That’s the same stadium where the Bucks defeated Abernathy in two straight games in last weekend’s regional quarterfinals.

Game 2 of the best-of-three series will start at 1 p.m. Saturday, also at Christensen Stadium. If a Game 3 is necessary, it will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

Ticket prices for the game are: $5 for adults, $3 for students.

On Thursday, the Alpine team will leave Alpine at 1 p.m., making one rest stop in Monahans at 2:30 p.m. They expect to arrive in Midland at 4 p.m. and begin batting practice at 4:30 p.m.

Earlier this week we asked Alpine head coach Orlando Leyva to participate in a wide-ranging Q&A. Here are the questions and his answers:

DAILY PLANET: What do you know about Sonora? Talk about their pitching, their hitting and their style of play.

COACH LEYVA: They are a lot like us, they have 2 pretty good pitchers and they hit the ball well.

DAILY PLANET: Obviously, one of your strengths is the one-two punch of your two ace pitchers, who are almost interchangeable and there’s very little difference in the two. But what happens if the series goes to a third game? Who would pitch in a third game?

COACH LEYVA: We have sophomore Jonathan Frost and also Daniel Rojo.

DAILY PLANET: This is the second straight year for the Bucks to advance past the first round in the playoffs. And this year’s team has gone farther than any team since, I believe, 1994. What makes this team special? What separates them from past teams?

COACH LEYVA: It’s their will to win. These kids never give up, they think they can win very game. 

DAILY PLANET: This has to be a tough time for high school athletes to stay focused. For seniors, graduation is just a week off; for the rest of the team, summer is almost here. How does the team stay focused?

COACH LEYVA: This team has set a goal to get to the state tournament and that keeps them motivated and focused.

DAILY PLANET: You’ve watched – and coached – Ely Gallego on the football field and on the baseball field. To the casual fan like me, he seems like an extraordinary senior leader, almost another coach on the field. Is that true? Speak to Ely’s contributions to Alpine High School in 2011-12 school year.

COACH LEYVA: It is like having another coach on the field, he has a lot of confidence and that carries over onto the other players. 

DAILY PLANET: Evan Moore is technically a sophomore but given that we’re at the end of the year, he’s really for all practical purposes entering his junior phase. And he seems to be taking on a more vocal leadership role. Is that true?

COACH LEYVA: I think Evan’s experience as the leader on the football field the past 2 seasons has carried over into the baseball program he has become one of the top leaders of this team. 

DAILY PLANET: Well, you’ve played two rounds of the playoff against two very solid teams. What parts of the Bucks’ game have most impressed you during the playoff run?

COACH LEYVA: I know that we can hit the ball well, but I think our defense has come through for us and kept us in this thing. 

DAILY PLANET: As you go into the game against Sonora, which is, like Alpine, a surprise regional finalist, what concerns you the most?

COACH LEYVA: They are well coached and like us they will fight you to the end.

DAILY PLANET: What, as a coach and mentor, do you hope your student athletes take away from their baseball experiences? Address all facets of the game, if you can, which to me include: hard work, winning vs. losing and the sheer fun of playing the game.

 COACH LEYVA: What is most important is these guys have a lot of fun when they’re on the baseball diamond, both in practice and in games. They work very hard without even being aware of it. They also know baseball is a game that sets them up for failure, i.e., striking out and making errors at critical points in a game. When they can learn to accept this and work through it, they become better ballplayers and better individuals.

DAILY PLANET: You have a solid senior class – talented and strong leaders. Has the success they’ve experienced and produced translated into a growing interest in youth baseball. Do you see more and more youth in Alpine and the Big Bend region playing the game?

COACH LEYVA: Alpine has always had a strong youth baseball program, which in turn helps us very much. I hope our success creates a lot more interest in our young ball players, and that it will make them want to uphold the tradition of Alpine Baseball that this team, and many before us have established.

 

Q&A with softball coach Troy Canaba: This team has left a very special legacy

Beck Ruiz, a four-year starter

Christina Graham, another four-year starter

Kim Muniz, another four-year starter out with a broken ankle

M.C. Saenz, a three-year starter behind the plate

The fabulous sophomores: from left, Sydney McCallister, Erin Gallego (who will start this week) and Helen Morrow (all photos by the Daily Planet's Cindy Perry)

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

Well, now it comes down to one game. The Alpine Lady Bucks softball team have put together a phenomenal record over the past four years, possibly unmatched by any other softball in the state.

Consider these factors:

• The Lady Bucks have won more than 100 games in the four-year span
• The Lady Bucks have advanced to the state playoffs in each of the last four years.
• The Lady Bucks have advanced to the Region I championship game in each of the last three years.
• In each of the past four years, the Lady Bucks have had eight to 10 players named to all district, all region and all state teams.
• Maybe more important, in each of the past four years, the Lady Bucks have had even more players named to all district all-academic teams.

That’s a legacy that people will be talking about for years to come. These girls have accomplished much on the Alpine playing fields. I suspect, each of them will accomplish even more as they play the game of life.

So, as I said, it’s down to one game. On Thursday, the Lady Bucks will play a one-game series against the Colorado City Lady Wolves. The game starts at 7 p.m. at Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium Softball Complex. Winner of the one-game series advances to the state Final Four.

Earlier in the week, I did a question-and-answer session with head coach Troy Canaba. Here are his answers:

DAILY PLANET: You have one injury. Kim Muniz, is that right? Can you talk about her contributions to the team this year and the condition of her injury? What classification is Kim?

COACH CANABA: Yes sir, Kim broke her ankle this past weekend against Blanco.  If you play as hard as she does and go 100 miles per hour all the time, if there is a wreck it is going to be bad. That is a good thing that is what makes her a threat on defense or on the bases. Kim is a senior and very important part of this team. I have talked with her and told her, her role just changes on the team. She needs to be a motivator and another set of eyes for me on the bench. Injuries happen and we try to do everything we can to prevent it, but this one is tough.

DAILY PLANET: Who will take Kim’s place in the line-up this year. Talk a bit about her.

COACH CANABA: Erin Gallego will be playing in right field and batting in the line up.  Erin had to come it at the middle of the season when Kim tweaked her knee over spring break.  Erin is a very athletic girl and strong at the plate. I expect her to come in help fill that spot and do her job for the team. She is prepared and she is confident, we prepare them all to be ready at any given moment and this is her time.

DAILY PLANET: What do you know about Colorado City? Talk about their pitching, their hitting and their style of play.

COACH CANABA: Colorado City is a very good team and they are well coached.  They do all the little things right, they are not power hitters or a great defense; they just play the game right and have a very solid team. Their pitcher moves the ball really well and their line up is tough with some speed and power hitters. We will have to be ready to play solid defense and know what to do in every situation.

DAILY PLANET: This is the third straight year in the regional finals and the fourth straight year in the playoffs. That’s quite an accomplishment for this year’s seniors to look back on. Who are the seniors and what have been their contributions?

COACH CANABA: There are 6 seniors on this team; Lauren Hardin is a four-year starting pitcher on this team has over a hundred wins, Christina Graham is a four-year starter in the outfield, Kim Muniz is a four-year starter at right field, Dominque Portillo a three-year starter in the outfield and DH, Becky Ruiz is a four-year starter at second base and M.C. Saenz is a three-year starter behind the plate.  Every one of these girls played a BIG part in making Alpine softball what it is today. The teams from the past gave these young ladies the torch and man have they run with it and set the place of fire.  It has been an honor to coach this team and be part of something so amazing, it is one of those situations that everything they have done will always be forever in the history of Alpine High School.

DAILY PLANET: This has to be a tough time for high school athletes to stay focused. For seniors, graduation is just a week off; for the rest of the team, summer is almost here. How does the team stay focused?

COACH CANABA: It is a tough time to stay focused. We have a lot going on at this time of the year.  We tell the girls when they walk through the gates at practice; it is about softball, our getaway from the world. No problems, no worries, just escape life for about hour and half, just focus on softball. I think they have done well in doing this and staying focused on the task at hand.  I don’t think these girls are ready for summer vacation just yet.

DAILY PLANET: A personal question: Your eight-year-old son is playing his first Little League games and you’ve missed those games. Obviously, that comes with the territory, but speak to the mixed feelings that are the “Dad” part of you. If this is an unfair question, feel free to ignore it.

COACH CANABA: I spend a lot of time with these players and although I love it and I love my job, there is a down side to it as well.  Family is very important to me and I would not be able to do the things I do as a coach if I didn’t have the support of my wife Gloria and my kids, Annika, Jayden and Jace.  Jayden has played a number of games that I have missed and he got his first start on the mound a couple of weeks ago that I missed.  It is hard as a dad to explain why I am not there.  I know they understand the situation, but it still hurts.  I went to bed one night and on my pillow was a note from him that said, “Dad, I love you and good luck on softball, I really wish you could be at one of my games, but you are more important to them (softball team) then me. Love you, Jayden.’   It helps me understand that I love the game of softball, but when it comes down to it that’s exactly what it is, just a game.  I will actually get to see him play today!

DAILY PLANET: Well, you’ve played three rounds of the playoffs. What parts of the Lady Buck game have most impressed you during the playoff run?

COACH CANABA: I love that we are having fun and playing 100 percent all the time.  We got out-hit the games against Blanco, but we scored more runs. I think we are doing our jobs on the field and at the plate, nothing more or nothing less. Chemistry on this team is amazing and they enjoy working hard for one another.

DAILY PLANET: As you go into the game against Colorado City, which is, like Alpine, a surprise regional finalist, what concerns you the most?

COACH CANABA: I really don’t have any concerns. I am confident with our team and I tell them: ‘Do your job and we will be fine.’  Whatever happens happens it is in God’s hands, and we will praise God if we win and we will praise God if we lose.  We are blessed to be in this situation and I am very proud of this team no matter what the outcome of the game shall be.

DAILY PLANET: This is one of those ethereal, what-is-life question, which I hope makes sense. What, as a coach and mentor, do you hope your student athletes take away from their softball experiences? Address all facets of the game, if you can, which to me include: hard work, winning vs. losing and the sheer fun of playing the game.

COACH CANABA: I want them to be honest, play the game the right way, and understand that softball is a GAME, and we need to take care and focus on our education.  Sports, cars, houses, all can be taken away; one thing they cannot take away is your education. I think sports teaches us about winning and losing, how to deal with both.  There is a right and wrong way to win and lose. Love, love for the game, love for your teammate. If you truly love something you do, you will work hard to be successful and it will never be a burden on you to work or have fun doing it.

DAILY PLANET: Has the success of the AHS Lady Bucks varsity bred a growing interest in youth softball. Do you see more and more little girls in Alpine and the Big Bend region playing the game?

COACH CANABA: I would hope so and I would like to think we have an impact on the younger girls. That was one of the reasons we started doing our mentoring program at the elementary this year. I want the girls to be more visible to the community and teach our players that we need to give back for all the great things we have. Around the area, I think we have seen more of an interest. I also think the possibility of allowing it back into the Olympics and all the coverage of the College World Series has helped as well. This group has been amazing and I hope we do spark more interest in softball and sports in general. 

Snapshots from Tuesday Alpine Buck baseball practice; Game 1 in Midland is 6 p.m. Thursday; Game 2 is 1 p.m. Saturday

Alpine's 7-on-7 squad begins practice; first meet is Saturday in Crane

Alpine Daily Planet

Head coach Felipe Fierro welcomed 18 players Tuesday afternoon to the first workout of Alpine’s 7-on-7 football team.

Fierro, who doubles as Sgt. Fierro with the Alpine Police Department, is the longtime coach of Alpine’s 7-on-7 program. This year, he expects to have 27 players, which would be far more than he’s ever had to participate.

The 7-on-7 program is a summer workout program – completely independent of the school and the school district. Programs such Alpine’s have mushroomed throughout the state in the past 10 to 15 years. The 7-on-7 brand of football – no tackling, no blocking, no pads – is designed mainly for skill-position players to get used to tossing the ball back and forth; it's a way to get your timing down, a way to learn to throw and catch under pressure.

Passing has taken over most offenses in Texas high school football, and timing between quarterbacks and receivers is critical to its success. In fact, Ryan Tannehill, recently drafted in the first round of the National Football League, credits playing 7-on-7 in Big Spring with putting him on the radar of college and pro scouts. Tannehill played receiver for two years at Texas A&M before switching to quarterback, where he had great success. He was drafted in the NFL’s first round by Miami.

The Alpine 7-on-7 program, under Fierro’s tutelage, has developed into one of the best in West Texas, if not the state. Under Fierro, Alpine teams have qualified at least three times for the state tournament. Last year, at the state tournament in College Station, playing mostly against much bigger schools, the Bucks won three games and lost three.

The Bucks 7-on-7 squad, sporting very cool new jerseys, will see their first action this Saturday in Crane. The top two teams from the Crane tournament qualify for the state tournament. At Crane, the Bucks will be in Pool B with Midland Christian, Snyder, Midland Greenwood and Ballinger. Pool A teams include Stanton, Iraan, Crane, Van Horn and Christoval.

The top two teams from each pool advance to the semifinals. Alpine pool games will be at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday. If you have time on the way to the Bucks baseball playoff game in Midland, you might want to stop and catch a game or two.

Alpine will host a qualifying 7-on-7 state qualifying meet on June 9 at Jackson Field. Teams competing in the Alpine event will be divided into two pools:

• Pool A will contain Alpine, Pecos, Van Horn and Iraan
• Pool B will contain Crane, Sonora, Midland Christian and Fort Stockton.

Alpine Bucks' stats

Here are the final boxscores from the Alpine-Abernathy baseball playoff game from last weekend plus the individual season statistics for the Bucks.

Alpine 12, Abernathy 2, bating
Alpine	AB	R	H	BI	Abernathy	AB	R	H	BI
J.D. Flud	5	1	4	3	A. Lewis	2	2	1	0
Daniel Rojo	5	1	1	1	Smith	3	0	1	0
Ely Gallego	2	3	2	1	Chapa	2	0	0	1
Evan Moore	4	2	2	4	Wise	3	0	0	0
Grady Ellis	4	0	0	0	Elsworth	2	0	1	0
Taylor O’Bryant	4	0	0	0	Alvarado	1	0	0	0
Ian Ybarra	3	2	2	0	C. Lewis	3	0	0	0
Jonathan Frost	4	1	1	0	Flores	2	0	0	0
Zane Ivey	3	2	1	0	Pierson	3	0	0	0
					Horne	2	0	0	0
					Lust	1	0	0	0
TOTALS	34	12	13	9	TOTALS	24	2	3	1

LOB – Alpine 5, Abernathy 6; 2B – Ely Gallego (2); 3B – Evan Moore, J.D. Flud; HR – Evan Moore; HBP – Zane Ivey; SB – Zane Ivey, J.D. Flud 

Alpine 12, Abernathy 2 linescore
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E	L
Alpine	2	0	0	0	4	5	1	12	13	2	5
Abernathy	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	3	4	6

Alpine 12, Abernathy 1, pitching
Alpine	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
Evan Moore	7	3	2	1	5	12	0
Abernathy	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
Bryce Chapa	7	13	12	10	3	7	1

Alpine 9, Abernathy 7, battling
Abernathy	AB	R	H	BI	Alpine	AB	R	H	BI
A. Lewis	4	2	1	1	J.D. Flud	4	1	2	0
Smith	4	0	0	1	Daniel Rojo	1	4	1	0
Chapa	4	1	1	0	Ely Gallego	3	3	3	4
Wise	4	1	2	2	Evan Moore	4	0	1	2
C. Lewis	2	0	0	1	Grady Ellis	4	0	2	2
Pierson	3	2	2	0	Taylor O’Bryant	4	0	1	1
Flores	3	0	0	0	Ian Ybarra	3	0	0	0
Speer	3	1	0	2	Jonathan Frost	2	0	0	0
Horne	3	0	1	0	Zane Ivey	2	1	0	0
TOTALS	30	7	7	7	TOTALS	27	9	10	9

LOB – Abernathy 3, Alpine 6; 2B – Lewis, Pierson, Wise; 3B – Wise, Evan Moore; HR --- Ely Gallego; HBP – Jonathan Frost; SB – C. Lewis, A. Lewis, Pierson (2), Speer

Alpine 9, Abernathy 7 linescore
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E	L
Abernathy	0	1	2	2	0	1	1	7	7	0	3
Alpine	2	3	0	3	0	1	-	9	10	2	6

Alpine 9, Abernathy 7 pitching
Abernathy	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
Vic Flores	6	10	9	9	5	3	1
Alpine	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
Ely Gallego	7	7	7	6	1	4	0

 

Alpine Bucks individual statistics for the season
Player	G	PA	AB	R	H	B	1B	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	HBP	SB	CS	Avg
Gallego	25	94	68	31	39	0	20	11	4	4	32	22	5	4	1	0	.574
Ybarra	20	40	30	14	14	1	9	3	0	1	2	10	4	0	4	0	.467
Flud	25	101	85	29	35	0	30	1	2	2	17	15	7	1	10	2	.412
Moore	25	93	85	28	35	0	16	8	6	5	32	1	12	7	8	0	.412
Ellis	26	91	85	10	28	1	22	5	0	0	24	4	15	2	0	0	.390
O’Bryant	24	90	76	25	24	0	16	6	1	1	20	10	7	4	2	1	.316
Ivey	22	63	64	16	17	0	16	1	0	0	9	7	5	1	0	0	.333
Villa	22	48	40	7	12	1	10	0	1	0	9	7	5	1	.0	0	.333
Rojo	24	90	74	16	20	0	1	2	1	0	11	12	7	4	1	1	.296
Frost	18	50	34	14	7	2	5	0	0	0	4	5	6	3	0	0	.286
Ontiveros	17	51	44	9	8	0	7	1	0	0	6	7	13	9	3	9	.182
Dodds	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000

Alpine season pitching totals
Player	IP	BF	Balls	Strikes	Pit	R	ERA	K	H	BB	OBP	BAA
Ybarra	2.00	7	12	16	28	0	0.00	2	2	1	.429	.333
Frost	1.00	8	8	21	29	3	0.00	1	3	0	.500	.429
Moore	63.33	254	344	634	978	12	0.66	118	29	29	.264	.134
Ontigeros	9.00	40	49	99	148	4	1.56	14	7	1	.275	.194
Gallego	73	307	354	709	1063	35	2.30	98	49	18	.254	.176
Rojo	14	65	85	139	224	10	2.50	13	18	5	.369	.305

Sul Ross relay team qualifies for national championships

The Sul Ross Men's 4x100 relay team found out Sunday that they qualified as one of the 16 teams that will be competing at the NCAA Division III National Championships in Claremont, Calif., later this week.

The events run from Thursday, May 24, through Saturday, May 26. 

The nen's 4x100 preliminary round will be on Thursday at 4:15 pm PST and then the finals will be on Saturday at 2:40 pm PST.

The team composed of Jural Hickman, Akeem Collins, Xaiver Jefferson, and Anthony Martin qualified with a time of 41.74 at the University of the Incarnate Word Last Chance Meet back on May 10 in San Antonio.

Bucks dodge rain as they prepare for Sonora

 

Alpine Daily Planet

Two teams that the so-called experts did not expect to get this far will square off when Alpine and Sonora get together Thursday and Saturday at Midland’s Christensen Stadium in the Class 2A regional semifinals. By reaching the semifinals, the two teams among only eight still in contention for the state championship.

In the latest MaxPreps statewide rankings -- compiled last week -- Alpine was rated No. 11 and Sonora No. 16. The two teams, who a couple of years ago were in the same district, played early in the year at Sonora with the Broncos rallying late to win 7-6.

Keep in mind that MaxPreps had Bangs (which lost to Sonora) rated No. 4 and Wall rated No. 11.

In fact, here’s the MaxPreps Top 20:

1. Brock
2. Elkhart
3. Refugio
4. Jarrell
5. Bangs
6. Forsan
7. Sunnyval
8. Hughes Springs
9. Bushland
10. Wall
11. Alpine
12. Bishop
13. Crockett
14. Gunter
15. Teague
16. Sonora
17. Weimar
18. Anson
19. Mineola
20. Luling

The Bucks spent Monday afternoon dodging rain clouds and trying to get some practice in. Head coach Orlando Leyva told me it was the third straight Monday that the Bucks have had trouble getting in a workout on Monday.

Sonora pitcher Davis Jimenez leads Sonora into the series. Jimenez pitched a complete game four-hitter and went 2 for 3 at the plate, in the final game of the Broncos regional quarterfinal series against Cisco. The final score had Sonora on top, 2-1.

"Davis showed a lot of heart today," Sonora head coach David Gallegos told the Abilene Reporter News. "He gave us that senior leadership."

After making four errors in the first game of the series, the Broncos' defense was spotless in the final on Saturday.

"We were a little bit more focused today," Gallegos said. "We played very well defensively."

Sonora won Game 1 of the series Friday 6-5 on a run-scoring groundout by Blake Esparza in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jimenez got the win in that game with two-thirds of an inning of relief.

Sonora had no hits until Jimenez singled up the middle in the fourth inning and no runs until first-baseman Cadesman Pope hit a towering home run with two outs in the fifth inning.

Sonora reached the regional quarterfinals by upsetting then-No. 3 ranked Bangs by an astounding 20-1 score. Pope had three hits in one inning in last week's big win over Bangs and carried the momentum over with two hits in Game 1 on Friday night and the big game-tying home run in the series clincher.

After picking up both wins in the series, Jimenez improved to 8-2 for the season.

Actually, the Broncos are much like the Bucks in that they have two starters of just about equal ability. In addition to Jimenez, they have John Lopez, a junior, who has a 7-1 record on the year.

A San Angelo sportswriter who has followed Sonora athletics in all sports this year says the Broncos rely on a senior class, which is one of the best in years. “It’s just a good bunch of athletes that can do a lot of things,” he said.

The winner of the Alpine-Sonora series advances to the Region 1 finals against the winner of the Bushland-Blanco series. Bushland (26-4-1) defeated Floydada in the quarterfinals; Blanco upset Wall in three games in the other regional quarterfinal.

Apparently, Wall, which had entered the game highly favored, lost its top pitcher in the first inning of the first game against Blanco. Blanco won Game 1, 16-2; Wall won Game 2, 8-4; and Blanco won Game 3, 17-16.

Bushland had a much easier time of it, sweeping Floydada in two games, 8-5 and 7-1.

Alpine Bucks 2012 Season in Review

• Presidio 7, Alpine 3
• Alpine 10, Van Horn 0
• Alpine 4, Crane 0
• Pecos 1, Alpine 0
• Alpine 7, Odessa JV 3
• Alpine 8, Greenwood 0
• Monahans 4, Alpine 2
• Alpine 5, El Paso Jefferson 1
• Alpine 9, Fort Stockton 3
• Sonora 7, Alpine 6
• Alpine 16, Marfa 5
• Alpine 15, Kermit 0
• Alpine 5, Tornillo 2
• Alpine 7, Crane 2
• Alpine 14, Kermit 2
• Alpine 10, Tornillo 0
• Alpine 13, Crane 0
• Alpine 10, Kermit 0
• Alpine 14, Tornillo 0
• Alpine 11, Crane 0

Class 2A Region 1 Area Playoff

• Alpine 5, Childress 4
• Alpine 2, Childress 1

Class 2A Region 1 Regional Quarterfinal

• Alpine 12, Abernathy 2
• Alpine 9, Abernathy 7

Class 2A Region 1 Regional Semifinal

• Game 1, Thursday, 6 p.m., Alpine vs. Sonora
• Game 2, Saturday, 1 p.m., Alpine vs. Sonora
• Game 3, if necessary, 30 minutes after conclusion of Game 2 

 

Lady Bucks square off with Colorado City in one-game playoff, plus snapshots from Monday's practice

 

 

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Alpine Daily Planet

The Alpine Lady Bucks will play Colorado City in the regional finals of the Class 2A softball playofs.

The Lady Bucks and Colorado City will met at 7 p.m. Thursday in a one-game playoff at Odessa's Ratliff Sadium.

This is the third straight year the Lady Bucks have advanced to the regional finals. Winner of this game advances to the state tournment. The Lady Bucks take a 25-6 record into the regional final.

Advancing to the state regionals means the Lady Bucks are once again one of eight teams remaining in the playoffs.

The Lady Bucks defeated favored Blanco, two gams to none, to advance to the regional finals. Colorado City upset No. 3-ranked Hawley in three games, coming back to win two straight after losing Game 1.

Colorado City, the District 3-2A champion, lost the first game of its series with District 5-2A champion Hawley, 8-5. However, the Lady Wolves came back and swept the two games on Saturday, 9-6 and 6-4.

Tickets for Thursday's Alpine-Hawley game are $4 for adults and $2 for adults.

Lady Bucks, 2012 Game by Game

• Alpine 15, Monahans 1
• Alpine 15, Amarilllo Caprock 3
• Alpine 3, Canyon Randall 1
• Alpine 4, Amarillo 2
• Alpine 14, Dumas 6
• El Paso Chapin 6, Alpine 4
• Lubbock Cooper 7, Alpine 4
• Alpine 6, Midland Lee 5
• Alpine 10, El Paso El Dorado 4
• Alpine 3, Greenwood 1
• Alpine 10, Midland Lee 6
• Amarillo 5, Alpine 4
• Alpine 21, Palo Duro 0
• Alpine 13, Abilene 7
• Alpine 9, Monahans 0
• Alpine 11, Fort Stockton 1
• Alpine 17, Levelland 2
• Midland 12, Alpine 10
• Permian 9, Alpine 8
• Alpine 9, Big Spring 2
• Alpine 1, Kermit 0
• Alpine 20, Tornillo 0
• Midland 11, Alpine 1
• Alpine 12, Kermit 1
• Alpine 15, Tornillo 0
• Alpine 15, Crane 0

Region I, Class 2A area playoff

• Alpine 21, Muleshoe 0

Region 1, Class 2A regional quarterfinal

• Alpine 3, Forsan 1
• Alpine 4, Forsan 0

Region 1, Class 2A regional semifinal

• Alpine 5, Blanco 1
• Alpine 5, Blanc0

Region 1, Class 2A regional final

• Alpine vs. Colorado City, 7 p.m. Thursday, Odessa's Ratliff Stadium Softball Complex

 

More snapshots from the Bucks win on Saturday against Abernathy

Buck catcher Grady Ellis prepares to do battle (Alpine Daily Planet photos by Cindy Perry)

The two aces (and third basemen): Evan Moore, left, and Ely Gallego, right

He looked like he was out to me; that's Ben Villa making the tag

Ely and Coach Dominguez at first

J.D. Flud picked up six hits off Aspermont pitching

The senior and the freshman: Ben Villa and Ely Gallego

The dugout was a very intense place to be

Fuego reduced to ashes in 19-5 Cowboy rout

By Rev. Barry Abraham Zavah, Daily Planet’s ace baseball reporter

A stronger wind blew through Kokernot Field Friday than in yesterday’s Game 1 of the Alpine Cowboys-Santa Fe Fuego  four-game series, fanning the flame of Cowboy resolve to continue to improve in every facet of the game.

The end result demonstrated a number of things for the young team and its loyal fans: These Boys are in it to win it and did so in convincing fashion by beating Santa Fe, 19-5, in a four-plus hour game Saturday night in Alpine.

As a Cowboy fan, do you want solid relief pitching? Do you want to see the opposition bullpen crumble?  Do you want to see the Cowboys hit double digits on the scoreboard?  The game had that by the before the sixth inning was over. 

There wasn’t much to say in the way of positives for Santa Fe. For the Cowboys, however, manager Ryan Stevens called it “a good team effort. We used five pitchers who all came out and attacked the zone and did their job. Our hitters came up with timely hits and you can’t ask better than that.”

He continued to reiterate one of his off-season aims, to acquire the best pitchers possible, noting “Our four relievers, it was their first professional career appearance. They’re rookies; straight out of college.”   

In previous conversations, another of Ryan’s goals was to build a team with heart.  So I asked him about the score and perhaps it would “give a sense of complacency that they’re better than they think they are with only two previous games under their belt before beginning this homestand and having limited practice.” 

He responded, saying: “We actually had more practice with the rain delays (in Roswell last weekend) than other teams.  You’ll see them out there at 10 in the morning in the cage. It is their work ethic, which makes them stand out from other teams.”

Cowboy starter, RHP Brett Kennedy struck out the side, 1, 2, 3 in the first. In the bottom of the frame, the Cowboys were aided by 3 errors, two alone by 2B Gregg Perrett and 1 hit. The second of a four-game series had several distinct parts; reminiscent of a repeat of Game 1, but it was not to be.  1-0 Cowboys lead.

In the top of the second, two quick grounders, third to first and second and secondto first, a single and nother strike out gave fans reason to think Kennedy was Game 1’s Chris Welborn’s reincarnated.  In the bottom of the second the Cowboys scored without a hit via an error by 1B Matt Streich and a Evans walk. 2-0 Cowboys lead.   

A more difficult third had Kennedy looking at 5 batters, but not allowing a Fuego runner past third base.  The Cowboys went down in order.  2-0 Cowboys lead.

The fourth gave indications of trouble to come; Evans allowed 2 runs on 4 hits; but the Cowboys answered with 3 of their own.  5-2 Cowboys lead.  

In the fifth, an error by 3B Ronnie Romo Jr allowed the lead-off hitter to reach base and a wild pitch moved the runner to second.  The next two batters were out, but a homer by first baseman Evan Kohli provided three runs.  The Cowboys were set down in order.  Game tied 5-5.

Santa Fe’s lead-off batter reached on a walk in the sixth and SS Scott Mulhern singled, but no runs were scored on RHP reliever Perdro Maldonado, entering the game with 1 out.  It was time for the next segment of the game.  12-5 Cowboys lead.

 

In the seventh, Santa Fe left three runners on base in the inning, but couldn’t score on RHP Derrick Dingeman, who recorded a strike out in his one inning of relief.  The Fuego starter was lifted after facing just one batter and recording no outs.  RHP Trevor Borsak faced two Cowboys without getting an out.  The next reliever (name and number was not on the score sheet) recorded an out, but the Cowboys batted around for the second time in the game, scoring 7 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks, including a massive CF Tyler Hicks home run.  19-5 Cowboys.

The last 2 innings had an unusual ending.  Fuego’s Justin Trejo was recruited from right field (though listed in the score sheet as a LHP) after all the damage was done.  He struck out four Cowboys in almost two innings of relief and kept the score from hitting 20 or more.

Final score: Alpine Cowboys 19 – Santa Fe Fuego 5.

Santa Fe fell to 3 and 5 while the Cowboys evened their record at 2 and 2.

Extra Innings … Game 1: Corrections: (1) RHP Alfredo Caballero, the 2011 Pecos League Pitcher of the Year, has returned to the Cowboys, not Reed Alfieri as previously reported, who is now with league rival, the Roswell Invaders; (2) It is Cowboy 1B Justin McDavid, not McDaniels.  He was hit by the pitcher in his first two Friday night at bats; (3) It is Cowboy’s RHP Chris Welborn, not Welborne … The large number of youngsters participating in the pre-game ceremonies to honor area baseball and softball teams made it quite understandable where the high school gets quality players learning their game in organized fashion with dedicated adult supervision, at an early stage of development ... The first scare of the season came in the sixth inning when RHP Chris Welborn took what appeared to be a nasty shot to his throwing hand from a wicked rocket blasted back to the mound, speeding non-stop into center field. It turned him around as he collapsed face first. Fans thought that was that he would probably be out for an unknown number of starts.  Instead, Hand of Steel shook it off and returned to pitch to several more batters and record another of his five strike-outs … KVLF’s early morning voice, Ray Hendryx, mentioned that Fuego catcher and Australian born Kiren Bradford was a former Continental League Big Bend Cowboy, an excellent minor league catcher and welcomed him back to Kokernot (appreciating he did not beat his former team) … Game 2: … The attendance figures were not announced, but the crowd was down from Opening Day … Police, Sheriff and State Police sirens announced each convoy as they approached Alpine High School (across the street from the right field wall) and the crowd began to applaud … Before the seventh inning, the announcer introduced the teams to even more applause and appreciation for moving ahead in their respective baseball and softball playoffs … the first three Cowboy games were tight contests with exquisite fielding and pitching; whereas this game was an unmitigated blow-out; nonetheless featuring more good Cowboy defense and all the hitting imaginable … Alpine had 21 hits, batted around in two consecutive innings (sixth and seventh) and took advantage of numerous Fuego errors and walks …  

Kudos: I am eternally grateful to fellow fans and friends in the stands, Debbie Allison and Wayne Cline and Randy and Sherry Jackson for Game 1 and the Allison and Cline team with the addition of Bob Young in Game 2 for helping to keep me abreast of the finer details of the sport of baseball while I was pinch hitting for Mike Perry of the Alpine Daily Planet … Thank you, Mike, for letting me call you “Chief” and more than doubling your intended word count for these articles …

Game 3 and 4 of Pecos League action continues in Alpine with the visiting Santa Fe Fuego at Kokernot Field for a doubleheader. The first game begins at 4:05 pm with the nightcap beginning about 30 minutes after the last out is recorded. 

Get your tickets and we’ll see you at Sunday’s double-header.

Post-game snapshots after the Bucks sweep Abernathy

All photos by Daily Planet Photo Chief Cindy Perry

Bucks win a wild one, 9-7, to sweep favored Abernathy

A team of destiny, the 2012 Alpine Bucks (All photos by Daily Planet's Cindy Perry)

Proud warriors representing Alpine High School

How often do you see Coach Leyva with a grin that wide?

Gallego, left, heads off the field after making final out toss to Ben Villa, right

Ely's last pitch of the game

Shortstop Daniel Rojo gets his man at second

Evan Moore was safe at third

Zane Ivey heads to first base

Safe at first

Daniel Rojo scores one of his three runs

Ely is safe at third

Gallego and Rojo after they score in the first inning

Grady Ellis and Coach Leyva

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

MIDLAND -- Those scrappy Alpine Bucks, who never seem to lose their composure, fought off a very good Abernathy team here Saturday and won the regional quarterfinal series, 2 games to none.

The Bucks jumped ahead early and never trailed in a wild game in which both teams threw hard punch after hard punch. Alpine eventually got the better of the slugfest, 9-7, which gave them two straight wins over Abernathy (which had come into the series favored) in a best-of-three series at Midland Christensen Field.

The Bucks advance to next week's regional semifinals against Sonora. The best-of-three series with the Broncos will also be played at Christensen Stadium. Game 1, however, will be on Thursday, probably starting at 6 or 7 p.m. Game 2 (and 3 if necesssary) will be Saturday. Head coach Orlando Leyva said he hoped the Saturday games would start early, maybe as early as 10 a.m. It may be Sunday or Monday before we have the exact times.

The Sonora series will be played on Thursday and Saturday because Sonora High School has its graduation next Friday. (FYI: Alpine High graduation is not until the following Friday, June 1).

The Bucks will take a 22-5 record into their series with Sonora. Aspermont finishes the year at 18-5-1. Two of their five losses came at the hands of the battlin' Bucks.

But let's get back to the game on Saturday. And before we plunge too heavily into a blow-by-blow description, I think it's time we define the 2012 Bucks.

First, with its mix of senior leadership and hungry youngsters, it is a talented team. But talent really doesn't define the team; in fact, I've seen more-talented Buck teams. But I've certainly never seen one that works as hard as this one.

Second, it is a team where the stars shine. Case in point, I'd hazard a guess that there are three senior Bucks that have legitimate expectations of being named to one all-state team or another -- the two slugging, hard-throwing pitcher/third basemen -- Ely Gallego and Evan Moore -- and do-whatever-it-takes second baseman J.D. Flud.

Those three guys could play for anyone. But, that said, they don't really define the team. Granted, one or all three almost always has a clutch, game-saving defensive play or hit, but time after time this year -- and particularly in the playoffs -- other guys have stepped forward with the important walk, the sneaky infield hit, the amazing defensive stop, the clutch power shot.

Third, and maybe most important, this team is a team in every sense of the word. These guys will not let each other get down, they almost will each other to do well. And that sense of one for all and all for one, cliched as it may sound, is at the very soul of this team.

They enjoy the game, they enjoy their teammates and, yes, they are learning how to survive under the most-intense pressure. For instance, consider these points from Saturday's games:

Senior catcher Grady Ellis, who had struggled at the plate in previous playoff games, broke loose in a huge way Saturday. In the second inning, he delivered a long screaming single into right field, driving in freshman Daniel Rojo.

"After the [Childress series] I just told myself to relax, let it come to me," Ellis said after the game. "And I took some extra swings this week ... and relaxed at the plate. I told myself I could get the job done." Ellis hit the ball hard -- I mean really hard -- in every at-bat. In the bottom of the sixth, he added to damage he wreaked earlier, again singling to left and driving in Rojo. That single gave the Bucks an important insurance run and a 9-6 lead going into the top of the seventh.

By the way, for those fans who thought Ellis had a tough day behind the plate, remember a couple of things:

After the first few innings, when Abernathy hit starting pitcher Gallego's fast ball with regularity, the Bucks started calling for balls low in the strike zone. And late in the game, they called for a lot more curve balls -- which Abernathy never quite figured out. Those balls -- low and outside or inside, and curve balls to boot -- are tough to handle.

"By the fifth inning," Gallego said, "I started going to my curve ball," and that seemed to stop them.

"They were just sitting on Ely's fast ball," head coach Leyva said. "just sitting back and waiting for it. Plus, that's a very good hitting team. ... I think we were kind of lulled into a false sense of security after Friday's game (a 12-2 Buck win)."

I mentioned earlier that Rojo, the freshman shortstop, scored twice on singles by Ellis. In fact, Rojo is a perfect example of "other guys" making the key plays when called upon. Rojo wound up with a single and walked three times. He scored every time he walked, which proves the baseball adage, "walks kill."

After the game, Rojo acted like a seasoned veteran (and, I guess, with a season under his belt and two playoff series' victories, he is pretty darned seasoned). "I was patient at the plate, I made him (the Abernathy pitcher) work for it," Rojo said matter of factly. Every one of Rojo's walks either kept an inning alive or started a rally. Like I said, it takes everyone on the team.

Further proof that walks kill came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Abernathy had tied the game at 5-5 in the top of the inning and guys from the High Plains looked like they had all the momentum on their side. But in the bottom of the fourth, lead-off Buck Zane Ivey worked six pitches into a walk. Ivey went to second on a passed ball and then after a foul out, Rojo walked, putting runners at first and second. Up walked Gallego, who had been intentionally walked several times during the series. This time, the Aspermont pitcher was told to pitch to Gallego. Huge mistake. Two pitches later, a booming ball sailed over the left field fence for a three-run homer and an 8-5 lead.

I can't forget to mention the exceptional play -- all day long -- by third baseman Evan Moore, who has the arm strength to take a ball deep in the hole behind third and fire it to first, a valuable trait against a speed team like Abernathy. 

One play by Moore (with an assist from Gallego) stands out. It was one of those scratch-and-claw, do-what-it-takes plays that defines this team. Bryce Chapa (Friday's pitcher) walked and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Chapa tried to stretch it to third but Gallego gabbed the ball, which was rolling around in the dirt and fired it to third base. Moore, blocking the base, knocked the ball down and then grabbed it, while at the same time Chapa was doing a somersault over Moore. Moore reached up and tagged Chapa before he could land on third base. It looked a bit like football but it worked. Third out, inning over. Just another routine play. Shoot, that one play damned near popped my pacemaker. 

Abernathy made one last run at the Bucks in the seventh inning. The Antelopes trailed 9-6, but the lead-off hitter, Austin Lewis, who was a thorn in the Bucks' side throughout the series, boomed a triple to deep, deep left centerfield. Lewis scored when the next batter hit a long fly out. However, Gallego, who really had his curve working magic by that time, got the next batter to ground out to first base. The final Aspermont batter, Ty Wise, hit a high bouncing ball into the right side of the infield. Gallego grabbed the ball and tossed to Ben Villa for the final out.

And the celebration began. In fact, a few minutes later, Buck players gave Leyva a Gatorade bath, which probably made Leyva the coolest man in that very hot stadium.

By the way, I'm told that the Bucks trip to the regional semifinals is the farthest a Buck baseball team has gone since 1994, a year in which the Bucks also made it to the state tournament.

Lady Bucks defeat Blanco in two straight, move to regional finals

Sydney McCallister cruises into third base in the first inning after taking two bases on a passed ball. She scored on the next play (all photos by Roy Ivey)

Mary-Catherine Saenz lays down a squeeze bunt to score Sydney McCallister in the third inning.

Sydney McCallister dives feet first into third to beat the tag.

Christina Graham trots triumphantly to the dugout after beating the tag at home to score.

Becky Ruiz tags out a Blanco runner at second.

By Roy Ivey, Daily Planet San Angelo Bureau

SAN ANGELO – A squeeze bunt with two on in the third inning broke a 1-1 tie and propelled the Alpine Lady Bucks into the lead over the Blanco Lady Panthers Saturday afternoon, and Alpine didn’t look back as they cruised to a 5-1 win in their regional semifinal series.

The Lady Bucks wrapped up the best-of-three series with Blanco in two straight games after winning by the same 5-1 score Friday night. Both games took place at Angelo State University’s softball complex on the ASU campus.

Mary-Catherine Saenz laid down a classic squeeze bunt as Sydney McCallister raced in from third. Then Christina Graham scored and Saenz came home later in the inning to give the Lady Bucks a 4-1 lead and all the runs they needed to wrap up the series.

The Lady Bucks weren’t finished scoring, though, as Saenz drove Graham in with a hit in the fifth.

Blanco scored first in the first inning on an error, but Helen Morrow ended the threat of more scoring when she gunned down a Blanco runner by firing the ball to Saenz at home plate for the tag.

Hits were hard to come by Saturday afternoon as the Lady Bucks could manage only four, but that was enough thanks to aggressive, heads-up play.

“They outhit us,” said coach Troy Canaba, “but we manufactured runs and put pressure on them.  It came down to who could score the runs, and we did a good job of that.”

Both teams were plagued by errors, but they hurt Blanco more than the Lady Bucks.

Canaba said Blanco was pressing because they had to get to the third game to win the series, and Alpine was pressing because they didn’t want the series to go to a deciding game.

“We pressed,” he said, “but we were lucky.”

The deciding squeeze bunt came about after the Lady Bucks had difficulty hitting Blanco. After the successful play, Alpine eased up and began playing more consistently.

“When we scored that second run,” Canaba said, “we relaxed and then we scored another and relaxed some more. We pulled everything out of the woodwork, and it worked for us.”

Next up for Alpine is the regional finals with either Hawley or Colorado City.

The win boosts the No. 13-ranked Lady Bucks to 29-6, and No. 12 Blanco ends their season at 27-3. Two of Blanco’s three losses were to the Lady Bucks. The win also means the Lady Bucks are one of only eight teams left standing in the Class 2A playoffs – for the third straight year, an accomplishment that I don’t believe any other team in the state can claim.

More snapshots from Friday's win over Abernathy

Troops welcome home Evan Moore after home run (Photos by Daily Planet Chief Photographer Cindy Perry)

Trying to tag the runner at home plate

It's a race to the base

Is that the umpire congratulating Alpine fielders?

Zane Ivey after scoring on Friday

Ian Ybarra after scoring

Hugging first base

Alpine fans cheering the Bucks

Evan Moore turns into a pretzel during pre-game warm-ups

Ely Gallego scores the first run

Leyva coaching at third base

Coach Jerry Dominguez

All phases of the game clicking as Bucks demolish Abernathy, 12-2

Ian Ybarra heads for second base (Daily Planet photos by Cindy Perry)

Ely Gallego stretches for home plate

J.D. Flud racing the umpire on the way to second base

Evan Moore racing for the plate on his first home run

Daniel Rojo makes the flip to first base

Taylor O'Bryant at bat

Zane Ivey doubles over after being hit by throw to first

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

MIDLAND – The Buck bats were blasting out a killer tune, Evan Moore’s pitching was just short of perfect and the defense – except for a couple of lapses on routine plays – was good, sometimes great, here Friday evening.

The result was a 12-2 victory for the Alpine High School baseball team over Abernathy in the first game of a regional quarterfinal series at Midland’s Christensen Stadium.

The two teams hook up again Saturday afternoon, beginning at 3 p.m., with senior Ely Gallego – the second of Alpine’s two aces – on the mound. A Buck win would give them the series and advance them to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1999.

Their other ace – Evan Moore – had what was a spectacular game Friday, limiting Abernathy to three hits and two cheap runs (both of which were manufactured out of Buck mistakes). Plus, Moore had a career day at the plate with two home runs.

Adding fuel to fire for the Bucks’ hitting attack was a red-hot J.D. Flud, who had two singles, a triple and a sacrifice fly that scored a run. Not a bad day at the office for the senior second baseman who is on a lot of potential all-state lists.

Gallego, who’s also an all-state candidate, both as a pitcher and a hitter, had another terrific day at the plate despite the fact that Abernathy twice walked him intentionally. Gallego picked up two doubles, one of which came after right after Abernathy’s coach first told his pitcher to intentionally walk him, and then changed his mind and had him pitch to Gallego.

By the way, the Abernathy pitcher, Bryce Chapa, went the distance and suffered his first loss of the year.

Other heroes for the Bucks? Well, they were sprinkled all through the lineup. Consider:

• Ian Ybarra, the designated hitter, followed up last week’s multi-hit effort against Childress, with two hits against Abernathy.
• Zane Ivey, Jonathan Frost and Daniel Rojo all came up with clutch hits.
• Ben Villa, who just returned to the lineup last week after an injury, played a flawless, often spectacular first base. Villa, who is only a freshman, seems well on his way to establishing himself as a long-time force for the Bucks’ baseball program.
• The Bucks pounded out 12 hits and rarely left a runner stranded, the mark of a team that functions well in the clutch.

Let’s get back to Moore for a minute or two. Only a sophomore, he hit home runs on his first two trips to the plate. The first four-bagger was an inside-the-park home run caused by a bobbled relay from the Abernathy outfield. That home run also scored Gallego, who had been intentionally walked, giving the Bucks a temporary 2-0 lead after one inning.

Later, in the fifth inning, with Alpine leading by only a run, 3-2, Moore hit his other home run, this one a two-run shot that cleared the left centerfield fence by about a mile, maybe more. I think that puppy is rolling around in Lamesa by now.

After the game, Moore said that he felt much more comfortable this week than he did last week when he threw 6 and 1/3 innings of shutout ball in a game eventually decided in 10 innings. “It was warmer today,” Moore said. “I was able to heat up and things just really felt good.”

He added that he felt a little out of breath in the first inning, which was the only inning in which Abernathy really seemed capable of mounting a threat.

Moore, who threw a whopping 125 pitches last week in cold, drizzly weather, threw only 95 pitches en route to his complete game. In addition, he struck out 11 batters.

Flud might have had the clutch hit of the game when he hit his triple in the fifth inning, a shot that bounced off the left field wall and scored Zane Ivey, who had opened the inning with a single.

By the way, the next man up – freshman Daniel Rojo – hit a deep fly ball to right field that allowed Flud to score, giving the Bucks a 4-2 lead. Flud said the pitch he hit was a fast ball and he knew when he saw the pitch that he was going to launch it. Then came Gallego’s double and Moore’s home run, and the Bucks were sailing free and clear with a 6-2 lead.

Until Flud’s blast, the two teams were locked in a 2-2 game and neither side looked like it was going to break.

But break is exactly what Abernathy did after Flud and then Moore hit their shots in the fifth inning. The Bucks wound up scoring four runs in the fifth inning and five in the sixth.

And by the second inning, Moore was in complete control of the Abernathy batters. Actually, both Abernathy runs were flukes, the result of mental mistakes on routine plays, said Alpine head coach Orlando Leyva. Leyva was grinning when he said that after the game, “The kids know that I’m going to be hard on them, even when we play well, like we did today,” also stressing that the team must continually guard against the little mistakes that can cost you ball games.

Abernathy scored its first run – in the first inning – while Moore was still trying to settle himself. In fact, Abernathy scored without a hit. The lead-off batter, Austin Lewis, walked and wound up stealing both second and third. He scored on a fielder’s choice before Moore finally struck out the side to end the inning.

Abernathy’s other run was manufactured in much the same way. Again, it was Lewis leading off, reaching first on with a long single to center. He stole second and then third. He scored when a routine fly ball was dropped in the outfield.

That tied the score and left Abernathy with a runner on and no outs. However, Chapa, the pitcher hit into a double play and Moore struck out the final batter, ending Abernathy’s last real threat. By the way, on the double play, Villa made a great scoop of the ball at first in a bang-bang out. Great pitching and great defense are hard to beat.

The Bucks went into the top of the sixth with a 6-2 lead. This time, it was the bottom of the lineup working its magic, something they’ve done consistently in the playoffs. First, designated hitter Ian Ybarra beat out an infield hit on an 0-2 count – clutch hitting combined with speed can be dangerous to your opponents.

Jonathan Frost, the sophomore who scored the winning run in last week’s extra-inning game against Childress, was safe at first and then advanced to second on a bad throw to first that caromed into the dugout.

Zane Ivey came up and swung at a third strike but the catcher dropped the ball and then made a hurried – and bad – throw to first. Ivey, who has sneaky-killer speed, was safe and Ybarra scored, advancing the Bucks’ lead to 7-2.

Then Flud came to the plate with runners at second and third. On a 2-2 count, the catcher let a ball get past him and Frost scored, upping the Bucks’ lead to 8-2. Two pitches later, Flud lofted a long out to deep center field and Ivey scored, upping the margin to 9-2.

But the Bucks were not finished. Rojo hit a long single to right center and then advanced to second on a balk. Gallego doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error while Rojo was scoring. Bucks up 10-2.

Gallego scored, making it 11-2, when Moore hit a ball to the shortstop, whose only throw was to first base. Actually, Gallego worked some magic on the score, sliding around and under the tag by the catcher. Like I said, everything was working for the Bucks – pitching, hitting, defense and even base-running. It’s really a pretty simple game if you play it with the brash finesse exhibited by the Bucks.

The Bucks scored their final run in the top of the seventh when Flud – there’s that big bat of his again – tapped out an infield single that scored Ybarra, who was on third after walking and then advancing on a passed ball.

It's No. 13 (Alpine) vs. No. 12 (Blanco) in San Angelo this weekend

Alpine Daily Planet

Now there are only 16 teams left in the Class 2A state playoffs. And the Alpine Lady Bucks, for the third straight year, are one of those 16

However, the Lady Bucks find themselves in the odd position of being the underdog in a regional semifinal softball series this weekend in San Angelo.

The Lady Bucks have a sparkling 27-6 record but will be facing a speedy Blanco team that has lost only once this year and sports a 27-1 record.

Reflecting the strength of the two teams, Blanco is currently ranked No. 12 in the state. Alpine is ranked No. 13.

Game 1 of the best-of-three series will be at 7 p.m. at the Angelo State University Softball Complex. Game 2 will start at 1 p.m. Saturday; if a third game is necessary, it is scheduled to start at 3 p.m.

If you’re going to the game, the ASU Softball Complex is on east side of Johnson Street just south of ASU’s main campus. That is, it’s off of Johnson between Dena Drive to the north and Knickerbocker to the south.

Many great steakhouses are within easy diving distance.

Winner of the Alpine-Blanco series will play the winner of the Colorado City-Hawley series. Hawley is currently the No. 3-ranked team in Class 2A. Colorado City is ranked No. 15.

Here’s the complete current poll:

1. Danbury
2. Santa Gertrudis Academy
3. Hawley
4. Linden-Kildare
5. Grandview
6. Nacogdoches Central Heights
7. Mineola
8. Tom Bean
9. Troup
10. Crawford
11. Gunter
12. Blanco
13. Alpine
14. Industrial
15. Colorado City
16. San Diego

Snapshots from Thursday's Buck practice; first game today in Midland at 6 p.m. vs. Abernathy

Ben Villa at first

Grady Ellis takes a throw from third

J.D. Flud heading toward first base

Daniel Rojo makes the turn at second

Head coach Orlando Leyva telling his team to focus on the task at hand

Alpine Daily Planet

Well, the practices are done – both the wet and dry versions. All words have been said, all the preparations made.

Now, it’s time to play some baseball.

The Alpine Bucks head to Midland Friday to play Abernathy in a Class 2A regional quarterfinal game.

Game 1 of the three-game series starts at 6 p.m. Friday at Christensen Stadium.

By the way, if you’re going to the game, the best way to get to Christensen Stadium, which is the home field of Midland College, take Loop 250 off of Interstate 20 and go north. Stay on Loop 250 for about 9 miles (it will head north and then east). After the Big Spring Street exit comes the Lamesa Road exit. Take the Lamesa Road exit. Christensen Stadium will be immediately south of the freeway.

Game 2 of the series will start at 3 p.m. Saturday. If it’s necessary, Game 3 will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

Abernathy enters the game with an 18-3-1 record; the Bucks own a 20-5 mark.

The winner of this three-game series will advance to the regional semifinals to play the winner of the three-game series between Cisco (16-1) and Sonora.

The Bucks enter the series with two fire-balling pitchers of equal strength – senior Ely Gallego and sophomore Evan Moore, who will start Game 1. Gallego will start Game 2.

Gallego and Moore have each won 9 games for the Bucks this year.

Probably starter for Abernathy will be Bryce Chapa, who pitched a four-hitter against Slaton in last week’s area round. Chapa is 8-0 on the year.

Alpine can reach the regional semifinals for the first time since 1999 if it beats Abernathy.

Gallego, who is 9-2 this season with two no-hitters, a 1.91 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 66 innings pitched, won both games in Alpine’s area-round sweep of Childress last week. He pitched a complete game to win the opener 5-4 and then hurled 3.2 innings of scoreless relief the next day as the Fightin’ Bucks won 2-1 in 10 innings.

Gallego is headed to Cisco Junior College on a baseball scholarship.

Moore, who started Game 2 with six scoreless innings and finished with nine strikeouts, is 9-0 this year with a 0.62 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 56.3 innings. Like Gallego, Moore is a multi-sport all-star. Included on his resume are two years as the starting quarterback for the Bucks’ football team.

Fittingly, Moore led the football team’s offense while Gallego led the Bucks defense.

 

Lady Bucks will play Blanco in San Angelo on Friday and Saturday

The Alpine High School Lady Bucks will play Blanco on Friday and Saturday in San Angelo in the Class 2A regional semifinals.

All games will be at the Angelo State University Softball Comples.

Game 1 starts at 7 p.m. Friday. Game 2 will begin Saturday at 1 p.m. If needed, Game 3 will start at 3 p.m.

Prices for games are:

• Adults: $5
• Students: $3
• All Passes accepted

Alpine and Abernathy will start series at 6 p.m. Friday at Midland's Christiansen Stadium

As expected, the Alpine-Abernathy Class 2A regional quarterfinal baseball series will be played Friday and Saturday at Midland’s Christiansen Stadium.

The best-of-three series will start with Game 1 on Friday; first pitch is 6 p.m. Game 2 will start at 3 p.m. Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

Ticket prices at the gate will be:

• $5 for adults
• $3 for students
• No passes

The Bucks team is scheduled to leave Alpine at 1 p.m. Friday, arriving in Midland about 4 p.m.

Midland Christiansen Stadium was the home of the Midland Cubs and Midland Angels in the Texas League until 2002. It is located just off Loop 250 at Hogan Park. If you’re going to the game, you’re best bet is to take the Loop 250 exit off of Interstate 20 and go north and then east on the loop, passing Big Spring Street and then taking the North Lamesa Road exit. The Stadium is just south of the freeway.

The Bucks – the District 4-2A champions – advanced to the regional quarterfinals by defeating Childress, 2 games to none in a best-of-three series. Both games were one-run nail-biters – the Bucks winning the first game 5-4 and the second game 2-1 in 10 innings. The Bucks have a 20-5 season record.

Abernathy – the District 2-2A champions – advanced by defeating Slaton in two games, 4-1 and 12-11. Abernathy will enter the series with Alpine with an 18-3- record. Here are the boxscores from the series against Childress:

Alpine 5, Childress 4, Game 1
Alpine	AB	R	H	BI	Childress	AB	R	H	BI
J.D. Flud	4	0	2	2	Lizama	3	1	0	0
Taylor O’Bryant	4	0	0	0	Martin	4	0	1	0
Ely Gallego	3	2	3	1	Bocanegra	2	1	0	1
Evan Moore	3	1	1	0	Miller	4	1	1	0
Grady Ellis	3	0	0	1	Nic Fonseca	2	0	0	0
Daniel Rojo	3	0	0	0	Cope	0	1	0	0
Jonathan Frost	2	1	0	0	Fuentes	3	0	1	2
Ian Ybarra	3	0	0	0	Joe Arciver	3	0	1	1
Zane Ivey	3	1	1	0	Egerion	3	0	0	0
					Caldwell	3	0	0	0
TOTALS	28	5	7	4	TOTALS	27	4	4	4
By Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	--	Total
Pitching linescores
Alpine	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ER
Gallego	7	4	4	4	1	6	0
Childress	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ER
Arciver	7	7	5	4	0	5	1

LOB – Alpine 3, Childress 7; 2B Evan Moore, Ely Gallego; HR Gallego

Alpine 2, Childress 1, Game 2
Childress	AB	R	H	BI	Alpine	AB	R	H	BI
Lizama	4	0	0	0	Flud	4	0	0	0
Martin	5	0	2	0	O’Bryant	5	0	1	1
Bocanegra	3	0	1	0	Gallego	5	0	0	0
Miller	5	0	0	0	Moore	5	0	1	0
Fonseca	3	0	0	0	Ellis	5	0	0	0
Fuentes	4	0	0	0	Rojo	4	0	2	0
Arcivar	3	1	0	0	Frost	1	2	0	0
Egerion	3	0	1	0	Ybarra	5	0	3	0
Caldwell	4	0	0	0	Ivey	3	0	0	0
TOTALS	34	1	4	0	TOTALS	37	2	7	1
Pitching linescores
Childress	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
Caldwell	5 2/3	6	1	1	2	7	0
Lizama	4	1	1	0	4	1	0
Alpine	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
Moore	6 1/3	3	1	0	3	9	0
Gallego	3 2/3	1	0	0	1	4	0

LOB: Childress 9, Alpine 13; 2B Daniel Rojo; SB Evan Moore; HBP Jonathan Frost

Sul Ross ends volleyball workouts on optimistic note

Special to the Daily Planet

As the spring semester comes to a close at Sul Ross and volleyball practices end until next August, Coach Rick Garcia feels optimistic about the 2012 season.

Garcia will be entering his 13th season at Sul Ross at the start of next fall. Joining him will be five returning seniors.

The veterans -- including Josette Delgado, Brooke Bangston and Kathy Peralez  -- will provide leadership to the rest of team, Garcia says. The Lady Lobos 2011 squad sported nine underclassman (5 freshman, 4 sophomore).

"Last season we had a young team and struggled at times," Garcia said, "But these girls improved over the season and have focused on building chemistry and harnessing their skills the last couple of weeks."

In recuiting news, Garcia has been active in pursuing high school and transfer prospects. He has been in contact over the last couple of months with numerous potential student-athletes who have shown interest in Sul Ross. He said he fully expects to have a great incoming class of players in the fall of 2012.

The Lady Lobos will begin their 2012 season in September. 

Marfa's Lujan finishes third in 800-meter race at state meet

From staff and wire reports

Jarett Lujan of Marfa finished third in the Class A 800-meter run at the state UIL meet on Saturday.

As expected, William Roberts of Sanderson won the event, setting a Class 1A record with a time of 1:54.75. The old record was 1:55.24. By the way, Roberts also won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:27.98.

Lujan’s third-place time in the 800 was a very respectable 1:547.23.

Two Marfa relay teams finished in the Top 10:

The 800-meter relay team of Eli Castillo-Sandoval, Andrew Ontiveroz, Zachary Madrid and Lujan finished eighth with a time of 1:31.77.

The 1,600-meter relay team of Daniel Martinez, Castillo-Sandoval, Lujan and Madrid finished ninth with a time of 3:30.35.

 

Bucks take series lead over Childress

Second-baseman J.D. Flud sends the ball to first baseman Ben Villa

Buck pitcher Ely Gallego gets ready to throw out Childress runner at first

Flud takes a lead at first

Gallego slides into home plate

Safe at first

Celebrating and winning go hand in hand

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

LOVINGTON, N.M. -- Senior leadership -- mostly in the form of Ely Gallego, J.D. Flud, Grady Ellis and Zane Ivey -- propelled the Alpine Bucks to a 5-4 win over Childress here Friday night in a Class 2A area baseball playoff.

Playing in near frigid conditions (50 degrees in the middle of May with a 20 mph win is frigid to me), the Bucks battled back throughout the game, scoring the winning two runs on a two-out single by J.D. Flud. Just prior to Flud's heroics, Ivey had kept the inning alive by beating out an infield liner to the third baseman for a single. 

In the bottom of that same inning, Flud again came through, turning the final out on a play that looked initially like it was heading toward disaster. The Bucks entered the bottom of the seventh with a 5-3 lead. Gallego hit a batter, who eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly. Later, with two out, another Childress runner reached first base on a throwing error.

With two out, the next Childress batter hit a sharp ball that bounced off the glove of shortstop Daniel Rojo, who was trying to make a miracle stop. But never fear, here came Flud again. He scooped up the ball and flipped it to Ben Villa at first. Runner out. Easy play. Yeah, right.

Actually, the Bucks should have won this game with ease. Gallego pitched excellent ball for most of the game, plus he had three hits, including a first-inning home run. Unfortunately, he also hit four batters. And every one of those batters scored.

The Bucks jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a towering home run by Gallego. However, Childress came right back in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. The Bobcats had two batters hit and given free passes to first base; later, with the bases loaded, Gallego gave up one of his few hits, which scored two.

The Bucks took the lead back in the top of the fourth on a long fly ball by Ellis. Gallego had opened the inning with a single. Evan Moore (who will be the starting pitcher in Game 2) then doubled, putting runners at second and third. Ellis was up next and after working the count to 2-2, he lofted a long fly ball to left field. The runner at third tagged up and slid into home just ahead of the throw. Moore, meanwhile, headed for third. The Childress catcher got a bit greedy and tried to nail Moore, but the ball sailed over the third baseman's head and into left field. Moore scored standing up and the Bucks led 3-2.

The Bucks and Bobcats get together Saturday at 11 a.m. for Game 2 of the series. If a third game is required, it will start 30 minutes after the completion of Game 2.

Lady Bucks win the first battle in Game 1 against a tough Forsan squad

Christina Graham safe at third (but called out)

Glitter for a winner

Sydney McCallister takes aim

McCallister scores; Christina Graham ready to step to the plate

Kim Muniz scores

Celebrating in the dugout

Becky Ruiz throws ball back in to Ryan Hardin (2)

Christina Graham rounding second base

Helen Morrow (13) and Ryan Hardin (2) celebrate

Morrow (13) and Dominique Portillo (and that's Lauren Hardin in the background)

A victory in Game 1 looks like this

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

SEMINOLE -- Two superb softball teams put it all on the line here Friday afternoon in the first game of a Class 2A regional quarterfinal game. 

In the end, the Alpine Lady Bucks prevailed over Forsan behind timely hitting, the strike-out-pitching of Lauren Hardin and all-state catcher candidate Mary Catherine Saenz.

The Lady Bucks' final margin was 3-1. And, yes, the game was that close and that good. With the win, the Lady Bucks jump out to a 1-0 lead in a best-of-three-game series.  Game 2 will start at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

This was one of those games where there were more story lines than runs scored.

First, as usual, all-state pitcher Hardin pitched well. Consider these pitching stats from the senior phenom:

• Of the 100 pitches she threw, 85 were strikes.
• She struck out 12 Forsan batters, including 9 of the first 11 batters she faced.
• She allowed no walks, scattered five hits and was really in trouble only once, when she gave up a triple to Forsan's lead-off hitter in the fifth inning. That runner scored Forsan's only run later in the inning.

Second, Saenz made what I thought was the defensive play of the day when she picked off a Forsan baserunner. Forsan pitcher Ashley Busby  (we'll get to her pitching in a minute) had singled and then was sacrificed to second. Not to worry. Saenz saw Busby taking a bit more of a lead that she should (remember: do not disrespect M.C.'s arm); Saenz fired a shot to second base and Knight was out by two steps. End of threat. 

Third, the Forsan pitcher is easily one of the better pitchers the Lady Bucks have faced this year, mostly, to my mind, because of an outstanding defense. Busby struck out only two Lady Bucks but she consistently got Alpine batters to hit the ball right at Forsan fielders. And Forsan's fielding was first rate, unlike Alpine's first-round opponent, Muleshoe, which made mistake after mistake in the field.

Forsan did not make mistakes and the Lady Bucks earned every run they could muster. That said, there were at least two occasions when Alpine left multiple runners in scoring position. Plus, there was one double play turned by Forsan that was, as our photos will show, a missed call by the umpire.

The Lady Bucks struck first, scoring two runs in the top of the third. Sidney McCallister doubled off the center field fence on a towering shot into the wind (any other day and it would have been a home run). Then, Kim Muniz laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line. Muniz beat out the throw to first and McCallister moved to third.

Hardin was up next. After Muniz stole second, putting runners at second and third, Hardin slammed a long single down the right field line. Muniz and McCallister both scored.

In the top of the fourth, the Lady Bucks added a third run. Freshman shortstop Ryan Hardin hit a bloop fly just past first base that none of the Forsan fielders could get to. Ryan moved to second on a passed ball. Dominique Portillo got on base on an infield hit, which brought Becky Ruiz to the plate. Ruiz singled, scoring Ryan from second.

Later in that same inning, the Lady Bucks actually loaded the bases with only one out, but what looked like it might be a huge inning fizzled on a strike out and a force out at home.

In the top of the fifth inning, Alpine again seemed on the verge of a big inning, and the Forsan pitcher seemed a bit rattled. First, Christina Graham stroked a single past the second baseman. Saenz was up next and she bunted and was called out at first. I say she was safe, but they weren't paying me to umpire the game. Plus, I don't have any proof that she was safe. However, Graham went to third on the bunt and was called out. I do have a photo that shows Graham standing on third, well before the tag.

Forsan scored its only run in the bottom of the fifth, as mentioned above. After that inning, Lauren Hardin got her groove back and breezed through the sixth and seventh innings. 

Bucks move games to Lovington; Lady Bucks move games to Seminole

Alpine Daily Planet

Because rain has flooded most fields in West Texas, the Alpine Lady Bucks softball team and the Alpine Bucks baseball team have both moved their playoff games this weekend.

At first, it looked like both teams would wind up playing in Seminole. That hope fell through late in the day.

Yes, the Lady Bucks will now play in Seminole because Seminole's softball field is playable.

However, the Bucks, who were originally scheduled to play in in Seminole, are now playing in Lovington, N.M. (about 50 miles rom Seminole, north of Hobbs)  because the Seminole baseball field is not playable.

Both the Lady Bucks and Bucks are playing best-of-three series. The Lady Bucks will be playing Forsan; the Bucks will be facing Childress.

Here how the schedule breaks down:

Friday

• 4:30 p.m. – Alpine Lady Bucks vs. Forsan, regional quarterfinals, softball Game 1, at Seminole.
• 7 p.m. – Alpine Bucks vs. Childress, area round, baseball playoffs, Game 1, at Lovington, N.M.

Saturday

• 11 a.m. – Alpine Bucks vs. Childress, Game 2, at Lovington, N.M. If necessary, Game 3 will follow 30 minutes after conclusion of Game 2. 
• 4:30 p.m. – Alpine Lady Bucks vs. Forsan, Game 2, at Seminole. If necessary, Game 3 will follow 30 minutes after conclusion of Game 2. 

Bucks vs. Childress

The Bucks, who are the undefeated champions of District 4-2A for the second straight year, will carry a 16-4 record into the game. Childress has an 18-7 record. The Bobcats advance on the strength of two wins over Littlefield, 15-6 and 8-2.

Winner of the Alpine-Childress series will play the winner of the Abernathy-Slaton series. Slaton defeated Kermit, 19-6 and 11-6, in bidistrict. Slaton has a 12-4 record; Abernathy has a 16-3-1 record.

Admission for the Alpine-Childress games will be $5 for adults and $3 for students. All disrict and THSCA passes will be accepted. $5 adults. Alpine will be the visitor in Game 1 and the home team in Game 2.

Class 2A, Region 1 baseball playoffs

• Alpine (W4), Bye
• Childress (R1) vs. Littlefield (T2, 10-11): Game 1: Childress 15, Littlefield 6; Game 2: Childress 8, Littlefield 2; Childress wins series 2-0
• Abernathy (W2, 16-3-1), Bye
• Slaton (R3, 9-4) vs. Kermit (T4, 5-14): Game 1: Slaton 19, Kermit 6; Game 2: Slaton 11, Kermit 6; Slaton wins series 2-0
• Comfort (W8), Bye
• Cisco (R5) vs. Hico (T6): Game 1: Cisco 3, Hico 1; Game 2: Cisco 11, Hico 4; Cisco wins series 2-0
• Bangs (W6), Bye
• Sonora (R7) vs. Harper (T8): Game 1: Sonora 9, Harper 2; Game 2: Sonora 10, Harper 0
• Forsan (W3, 16-3), Bye
• Floydada (R2, 17-6) vs. Tulia (T1, 16-13): Game 1: Floydada 8, Tulia 4; Game 2: Tulia 6, Floydada 5; Game 3: Floydada 12, Tulia 7; Floydada wins series 2-1
• Bushland (W1 21-4-1), Bye
• Crane (R4, 13-9) vs. Colorado (T3): Game 1: Colorado 7, Crane 1; Game 2: Colorado 7, Crane 6; Colorado wins series 2-0
• Wall (W7), Bye
• San Saba (R6) vs. Eastland, (T5, 15-11): One-game playoff: San Saba 10, Eastland 5, 8 innings
• Anson (W5), Bye
• Blanco (R8) vs. Ozona (T7): Game 1: Blanco 11, Ozona 5; Game 2: (n); Game 3: (n)

Lady Bucks vs. Forsan

The Lady Bucks defeated Muleshoe last Saturday in Odessa, 21-0, in the area round.

Forsan advanced by defeating Littlefield in a best-of-three series. Prices for fans will be $3 for adults and $2 for students.

Class 2A, Region 1 softball playoffs

• Alpine (W4) vs. Muleshoe (T2, 13-10): One game-playoff: Alpine 21, Muleshoe 0
• Littlefield (W2, 18-7) vs. Forsan (R3, 16-3): Game 1: Forsan 9, Littlefield 0; Game 2: Forsan 7, Littlefield 1; Forsan wins series 2-0
• Blanco (W8) vs. Clyde (R5): Game 1: (n); Game 2: (n); game 3: (n)
• Early (W6) vs. Comfort (T8): One-game playoff: Early 10, Comfort 3
• Colorado (W3) vs. Idalou (R2, 13-9): One-game playoff: Colorado 5, Idalou 0
• Bushland (W1) vs. Coahoma (T3): Game 1: Coahoma 15, Bushland 6; Game 2: Coahoma 9, Bushland 2; Coahoma wins series, 2-0
• Wall (W7) vs. Bangs (R6, 22-8): Game 1: Wall 5, Bangs 0; Game 2: Wall 8, Bans 1; Wall wins series 2-0
• Hawley (W5) vs. Junction (R8, 16-7): Game 1: Hawley 8, Junction 1; Game 2: Hawley 16, Junction 1; Hawley wins series 2-0

Bucks will play in Seminole Friday and Saturday

Alpine Daily Planet

The Alpine Bucks baseball team will begin their quest for playoff glory with a best-of-three-game series against Childress.

The games will be in Seminole.

Game 1 starts at 7 a.m. Friday. Game 2 will start at 11 a.m. Saturday; if necessary, Game 3 will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

The Bucks, who are the the undefeated champions of District 4-2A for the second straight year, will carry a 16-4 record into the game. Childress has an 18-7 record. The Bobcats advance on the strength of two wins over Littlefield, 15-6 and 8-2.

Winner of the Alpine-Childress series will play the winner of the Abernathy-Slaton series. Slaton defeated Kermit, 19-6 and 11-6, in bidistrict. Slaton has a 12-4 record; Abernathy has a 16-3-1 record.

Admission for the Alpine-Childress games will be $5 for adults and $3 for students. All disrict and THSCA passes will be accepted. $5 adults. Alpine will be the visitor in Game 1 and the home team in Game 2.

 

Class 2A, Region 1 baseball playoffs

• Alpine (W4), Bye
• Childress (R1) vs. Littlefield (T2, 10-11): Game 1: Childress 15, Littlefield 6; Game 2: Childress 8, Littlefield 2; Childress wins series 2-0
• Abernathy (W2, 16-3-1), Bye
• Slaton (R3, 9-4) vs. Kermit (T4, 5-14): Game 1: Slaton 19, Kermit 6; Game 2: Slaton 11, Kermit 6; Slaton wins series 2-0
• Comfort (W8), Bye
• Cisco (R5) vs. Hico (T6): Game 1: Cisco 3, Hico 1; Game 2: Cisco 11, Hico 4; Cisco wins series 2-0
• Bangs (W6), Bye
• Sonora (R7) vs. Harper (T8): Game 1: Sonora 9, Harper 2; Game 2: Sonora 10, Harper 0
• Forsan (W3, 16-3), Bye
• Floydada (R2, 17-6) vs. Tulia (T1, 16-13): Game 1: Floydada 8, Tulia 4; Game 2: Tulia 6, Floydada 5; Game 3: Floydada 12, Tulia 7; Floydada wins series 2-1
• Bushland (W1 21-4-1), Bye
• Crane (R4, 13-9) vs. Colorado (T3): Game 1: Colorado 7, Crane 1; Game 2: Colorado 7, Crane 6; Colorado wins series 2-0
• Wall (W7), Bye
• San Saba (R6) vs. Eastland, (T5, 15-11): One-game playoff: San Saba 10, Eastland 5, 8 innings
• Anson (W5), Bye
• Blanco (R8) vs. Ozona (T7): Game 1: Blanco 11, Ozona 5; Game 2: (n); Game 3: (n)

Lady Bucks will meet Forsan on Friday and Saturday in Crane

Special to the Daily Planet

The Alpine Lady Bucks softball team will play Forsan Friday and Saturday in Crane in the regional quarterfinals.

Game 1 will start at 6 p.m. on Friday. Game 2 begins at 1 p.m. Saturday. If it's necessary, Game 3 will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

Prices for fans will be $3 for adults and $2 for students.

The Lady Bucks defeated Muleshoe last Saturday in Odessa, 21-0, in the area round. Forsan advanced by defeating Littlefield in a best-of-three series.

Class 2A, Region 1 softball playoffs

• Alpine (W4) vs. Muleshoe (T2, 13-10): One game-playoff: Alpine 21, Muleshoe 0
• Littlefield (W2, 18-7) vs. Forsan (R3, 16-3): Game 1: Forsan 9, Littlefield 0; Game 2: Forsan 7, Littlefield 1; Forsan wins series 2-0.
• Blanco (W8) vs. Clyde (R5): Game 1: (n); Game 2: (n); game 3: (n)
• Early (W6) vs. Comfort (T8): One-game playoff: Early 10, Comfort 3
• Colorado (W3) vs. Idalou (R2, 13-9): One-game playoff: Colorado 5, Idalou 0
• Bushland (W1) vs. Coahoma (T3): Game 1: Coahoma 15, Bushland 6; Game 2: Coahoma 9, Bushland 2; Coahoma wins series, 2-0
• Wall (W7) vs. Bangs (R6, 22-8): Game 1: Wall 5, Bangs 0; Game 2: Wall 8, Bans 1; Wall wins series 2-0
• Hawley (W5) vs. Junction (R8, 16-7): Game 1: Hawley 8, Junction 1; Game 2: Hawley 16, Junction 1; Hawley wins series 2-0; Hawley wins series, 2-0

Sully men finish sixth in track

Special to the Daily Planet

The Sul Ross men's and women's track & field teams closed out the 2012 season at the ASC Track & Field Championships held at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

The men's team finished sixth overall with a total of 43 points.

The men's 4x100 meter relay "A" Team composed of Jural Hickman, Akibule Collins, Anthony Martin, and Alex Trevino finished second with a time of 41.98.

Dominiqu Carson placed third in the men's triple jump with distance of 14.21 meters.

In the men's 200 meter dash, Akibule Collins finished fourth with a time of 21.99 while Jural Hickman finished sixth with a time of 22.08.

Alex Trevino finished sixth in the men's 400 meter dash with a time of 51.52.

Snapshots from Bucks game against Pecos Friday night

(Photos by Felipe Fierro and Roxann Chavez)

Lady Bucks crush outclassed Muleshoe team in area round; Forsan is the probable next opponent

Kim Muniz, 1, safe at first

Coach Canaba plotting the next move with Sydney McCallister

Lauren Hardin, 22, and Kim Muniz, 1, head for the bench; Helen Morrow, 13, heads for the plate

Laying down a bunt

Christina Graham scores on a perfectly placed bunt

One headed to first, one headed home

The entire team heads to home plate to celebrate home run, something they did four times Friday.

Yep, winning is fun

Poetry in motion: Hardin pitching, Morrow at first, McCallister at third

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

ODESSA -- The Alpine Lady Bucks made it all so very easy here Friday evening, defeating Muleshoe, 21-0, in five innings in a Class 2A area playoff.

The Lady Bucks will play the winner of the Forsan-Littlefield series in next week's regional quarterfinals. Forsan defeated Littlefield, 9-0, Thursday night in the first game of their series, and then their team and coaches traveled to Odessa Friday and watched Alpine dismantle Muleshoe. The Forsan-Littlefield series concludes Saturday. 

If the Lady Bucks play Forsan, as expected, in the regional quarterfinals, it will be a best-of-three series in Crane. The first game will be Friday; Game 2 will be Saturday along with a Game 3 if necessary.

The Lady Bucks literally exploded on Muleshoe in the first inning, jumping out to a 14-0 lead. 

Lauren Hardin, who picked up the win, hurled 12 strikeouts (that's out of the 15 outs Muleshoe was allotted in the mercy-rule-shortened game). Hardin also helped her own cause with a grand slam home run.

In fact, the Lady Bucks hit four home runs and their batters consistently sent Muleshoe hitters to the fences. The Lady Bucks only had to bat in the first four innings, but they used those four innings well, slamming out 25 hits, a bunch of doubles and the aforementioned home runs.

With the win, the Lady Bucks improve their record to 22-6 on the year.

The first inning, which really told the entire story of Friday's game, featured the impeccable pitching of Lauren Hardin and the emerging battering rams that have become the Lady Buck bats.

In the top of the first, Hardin cut down Muleshoe on only 9 pitches. She struck out two Muleshoe batters and forced another to pop out to the second baseman.

Then came the most amazing half inning of hitting I think I’ve seen on a softball field. The Lady Bucks scored 14 runs in the bottom of the first inning. Included in that onslaught were 15 hits. Plus, the Lady Bucks batted through their complete line-up twice. Yes, twice.

Here’s a bullet-by-bullet, blow-by-blow account of the Lady Bucks version of demolition derby in the bottom of the first:

• Sidney McCallister led off with a hit
• Kim Muniz laid down a perfect bunt that, along with a throwing miscue by Muleshoe, resulted in McCallister on third and Muniz on second.
• Hardin beat out an infield hit, loading the bases.
• Christina Graham let loose with a long fly ball that scored one run.
• Mary Catherine Saenz singled down the left field line, scoring two, giving the Lady Bucks a 3-0 lead with no outs and runners on first and second.
• With Ryan Hardin at bat, the two base runners stole second and third. Ryan Hardin laid down another perfect bunt, which was mishandled and turned into a double, and also scored one run. Lady Bucks up 4-0 and still no outs.
• Helen Morrow singled, scoring 1, upping the lead to 5-0 … and still no outs.
• Morrow promptly stole second and Dominique Portillo singled, scoring another runner and upping the lead to 6-0. And – all together now – still no one out.
• Becky Ruiz lined out but a runner tagged up and scored. So, there we were, the Lady Bucks leading 7-0 and one out.
• That brought McCallister up for the second time in the inning and she singled, loading the bases.
• Kim Muniz singled, driving in one run, making it 8-0, and the bases still loaded.
• Lauren Hardin was up next and with one mighty swing of the bat, she put the game away with a grand slam home run. So, where’s that put us? Yep, 12-0 and one out.
• In fact, the lady Bucks were not through with the first inning. Christina Graham doubled to left. Then, with one out, Dominique Portillo launched a fly ball that bounced off the center field fence, scoring two more runners.  That gave the Lady Bucks a 14-0 lead after one inning. Unbelievable.

I have to tell you that the Muleshoe pitcher was not a bad pitcher. She’s young and, as Alpine coach Troy Canaba said, she didn’t do a good job of adjusting her pitches after the Lady Bucks found their groove, but she was really a decent pitcher. The fact is, though, the Lady Buck bats were singing … and dancing and whistling a tune or two.

Hardin was never really threatened by the Muleshoe hitters. She did give up two hits, although one of them was a too-close-to-call, bang-bang play at first. In a rather amazing statistic, Hardin threw 68 pitches, 47 of which were strikes. She struck out 12 of the 18 batters she faced. And she actually seemed to get stronger in the later innings. For instance, she struck out the side in the fifth and final inning on only 12 pitches.

In addition to Hardin’s grand slam, the Lady Bucks had three other home runs. One was a lead-off, inside-the-park home run by Mary Catherine Saenz in the bottom of the third. She stroked a ball deep that got away from the Mulehoe fielders, who had to chase it down in the left field corner – while Mary Catherine was chugging around the bases at full speed. The play at the plate wasn’t even close.

In the bottom of the fourth, leadoff hitter McCallister slammed the ball over the left field fence and I’m pretty sure it didn’t come down until it reached Stanton. It was a boomer.

Later in that same inning, Christina Graham hit a two-run shot on a 3-1 count, upping the score to 19-0.

Notes: Before the game, I heard a great song over the loudspeaker system: It was called “You Can’t Be a Wimp and Play Girls Softball.” Great song …

… I found out while talking with Canaba that he’s going to be assisting with the football team next year, coach the running backs. He’ll do well. He’ll still be the softball coach and take care of the offseason program, etc., etc. …

Speaking of Canaba, he had one of those bittersweet days: While he and the Lady Bucks were taking care of business, Troy’s son was starting his first game as a Little League pitcher …

… You can really tell how the weight program is assisting the Lady Bucks. Shoot, just by looking them when they were standing next to the Muleshoe girls, it looked like women vs. girls. That’s athletic director Stacey Martin’s emphasis on the right kind of weight training for all athletes. It’s making a huge difference, I think, in every sport. We’re talking about a weight program that’s all about building up strength and endurance.

Kim Muniz safe at third

Another run crosses the plate

Hardin tosses ball to Morrow for the put-out

Celebrating another home run

The celebration continues

Mary Catherine Saenz is quitely making a case for all-state honors

More hardware for the trophy case

Dominique Portillo displays the championship trophy

The 2012 area champions

More than players enjoyed the Ratliff Stadium field

Getting reading for the playoffs: Q&A with Bucks head baseball coach Leyva

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

The Alpine High Fightin' Bucks team is heading to the playoffs next weekend. They’ll play either Childress or Littlefield in the area round. Those two teams are meeting today (Friday) and Saturday in the bidistrict round.

The Bucks, who just finished their second consecutive undefeated District 4-2A season, received a bye in the first round. They will carry a glittering 16-4 record into the playoffs.

To get better insights into this year’s Buck team and their regular season, the Daily Planet produced this Q&A session with head coach Orlando Leyva.

DAILY PLANET: The Alpine Bucks have had a phenomenal record in last couple of years. And this year’s team strikes me as the best I’ve seen at AHS in the five years I’ve been watching Buck baseball. What makes this team special?

COACH LEYVA: It’s just the cohesiveness of the group; they all seem to fit well together.

DAILY PLANET: Despite a 16-4 record and two straight undefeated district championships, the Bucks seem like a team flying under the radar. They haven’t, to my knowledge, been ranked in the Top 20 or Top 25 this year. Why is that?

COACH LEYVA: I think it’s just hard to get recognized out here in Far West Texas. That’s not a bad thing, though. I’ve told them all season long they can be a very good baseball team if they come together and play to their capabilities. They are just now realizing how good they can be.

DAILY PLANET: Talk about the mix of players you have this year. That is, it seems you have almost the perfect blend of core veterans and young guys.

COACH LEYVA: It’s almost the perfect fit, we have very good experienced players along with very talented younger players.

DAILY PLANET: Ely [Gallego] doesn’t have the glittering home record he had last year but his on-base percentage is phenomenal. And his pitching seems to be peaking. Can you talk about the season he’s had and what he means to the team?

COACH LEYVA:  Ely struggled a little during the first part of the season. He was frustrated mainly at the plate because he wasn’t getting very good pitches. He’s always maintained his OBP but he has learned to be a little more disciplined and patient at the plate. It looks like he’s just now getting back to his old self.

DAILY PLANET: It seems like opposing pitchers are pitching around Ely a lot more than they did last year. Which, to my simple mind, plays right into your hands because you have guys like Evan and Taylor following Ely in the batting order. Talk about the top of the lineup, which is a killer bunch of hitters.

COACH LEYVA: That’s one of our strong points. We have kids in the 1-5 holes that make very good contact and put the ball in play.

DAILY PLANET: One more Ely question: He may be the best all-around athlete I’ve seen in the five years I’ve been covering Alpine athletics. Or, he gets the most out of the talent he possesses. Is that an accurate description? Does he have the talent to get even better at the next level, particularly in baseball?

COACH LEYVA: Ely has a very good work ethic; he loves the game of baseball. He is going to continue to get better at the next level and hopefully beyond that.

DAILY PLANET: Talk a little about Evan as a pitcher. He’s just a sophomore but his numbers are simply out of this world. How good can he be as a pitcher? What makes him so effective as a pitcher – is it speed, selection of pitches, etc.

COACH LEYVA: The way he is pitching now, it’s going to be scary to face him as a senior. We knew he could pitch even though we didn’t use him a great deal on the mound last year. He has a tremendous fastball, but what makes him so good is that he hits his spots very well and his off speed pitches are very effective.

DAILY PLANET: Talk about your outfield, which I think is one of your strengths. They don’t get a lot of “pub” but they impress me the way they handle themselves.

COACH LEYVA: Coach Dominguez has done a great job with our outfielders, they have great speed and arms, and his work with their approach and positioning and fielding have made them so much better.  

DAILY PLANET: How healthy is the team? Is Ben going to be able to play in the playoffs? Is everyone else in pretty good shape heading into the playoffs?

COACH LEYVA: I don’t think Ben will be back before the first playoff series. Otherwise we are pretty healthy going into next week. Hopefully we can get Jeremy and Zane back.

DAILY PLANET: How difficult is it to keep motivating a team that’s had the success enjoyed by the Bucks?

COACH LEYVA: We have been talking about playoff goals ever since the first practice. These guys know they can advance; it’s kind of a self-motivation thing with them.

DAILY PLANET: This might be a question you don’t want to answer and I understand completely if you don’t. The Bucks breezed through District 4-2A … again. Are the Bucks as good as the scores indicate or is it also partly because the district is not one of the stronger districts in West Texas? Is winning the way they did (6 of the 9 district wins were by the mercy rule) a good thing or does it give a false sense of security? Not sure if that made sense but I think you know what I mean.

COACH LEYVA: I think it’s good because our kids expect to win every time they step on the field.

DAILY PLANET: What do you know about the teams you might be playing in the area round?

COACH LEYVA: It will either be Childress of Littlefiel,d and we faced both of them last year so we have pretty good scouting reports on both.

DAILY PLANET: Friday's game against Pecos could tell you a lot about where this team has progressed over the year. The Bucks lost to them, 1-0, early in the season but if I remember correctly, the Bucks out-hit Pecos and left something like a zillion runners stranded. Since then, the Bucks have improved tremendously in moving runners around. I don't have any stats to back it up, but I'd bet they have one of the better scoring percentages later in the year. Can you speak to that?

COACH LEYVA:  We have been doing a better job of moving base runners around and scoring. If we can do it against a team like Pecos we’ll be all right. We will approach Friday’s game strictly to polish up on fundamentals and work on different situations. All of our pitchers will get some work on the mound and we will start a couple of young guys in the outfield.

---

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Reaching into the “Looney” bin to recall a forgotten football talent who ended his days in Terlingua

By Rene Nadeau, sportsnola.com

A career and his life full of turmoil kept Joe Don Looney from reaching his vast football potential.

He was one of the most physically gifted players to ever wear the black and gold, yet he only carried the ball three times as a New Orleans Saints running back.

Former linebacker Jackie Burkett, who played with him as a member of the Baltimore Colts and later briefly with the Saints in 1969, classified him as "someone that could have been a franchise back, someone that was (Pro Football Hall of Famer) Jim Taylor, but with 20 percent more speed and power."

He wore jersey number 26 for the '69 Saints and only played four total seasons in the National Football League after the New York Giants made him the 12th overall pick in the 1964 NFL Draft. His name: Joe Don Looney.

He lived 45 colorful, controversial years before his life ended tragically in a motor vehicle accident 16 days shy of his 46th birthday.

During his prep days, Looney attended Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida before switching to Paschal High School in Fortworth, Texas. His dad, Don, was an end on the 1937-39 TCU Horned Frogs squads, teaming with legendary quarterback Davey O' Brien. Both would later sign with the Philadelphia Eagles following college.

Q&A with AHS softball coach Troy Canaba: the 2012 regular season in review

By Mike Perry, Alpine Daily Planet

The Alpine Lady Bucks start their state playoff quest Friday evening against Muleshoe in Odessa at the Ratliff Softball Complex.

The area-round playoff is a one-game, winner-take-all affair; game time is 6 p.m.

We asked Alpine head coach Troy Canaba to participate in a Q&A that looks at the season to date and offer insights into the future.

Here are the questions and his answers:

DAILY PLANET: The Alpine Lady Bucks have had a phenomenal record in recent years. Can you bring us all up-to-date on the season and district records the Lady Bucks have put together over the past four years?

CANABA: Our overall record for the last four years is 124-29, 28-0 in district. This group of seniors and players from the past has set the bar high. This team has been challenged and at times it has been a tough challenge but they have worked hard through it all.  The past couple of years our schedule has not favored our teams and the schedule has challenged the girls mentally and physically, which is a good thing.

DAILY PLANET: Despite this season’s 22-6 record put together against mostly 5A and 4A teams and the fact that the Lady Bucks are coming off of two straight appearances in the Region I finals, it seems like the team is flying a bit under the radar. They haven’t, to my knowledge, been ranked in the Top 10 this year. Why is that?

CANABA: In the past we were able to be ranked in the Top 10 and be on the radar of other teams. I know we are a Top 10 team and in the past being ranked was important, important that the team gets the recognition they deserved for playing so well. As a coach, I have found out rankings are just numbers and do not mean anything. I have seen teams that have been No. 1 all year get beat by a team that is unranked. It comes down to who is playing well at the time; with a little luck and a lot of hard work, it will be us. We have to stay focused on the team we are playing and not look too far ahead. One game at a time, that has been our approach all year.

Monterey and EP Americas playoff at Kokernot on Friday and Saturday

Alpine Daily Planet

Lubbock Monterey and El Paso Americas will play a best-of-three bidistrict baseball playoff at Alpine's Kokernot Field this weekend.

Game 1 will start at 4 p.m. Friday. Game 2 will begin at noon Saturday. If a third game is necessary, it will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

Monterey, the District 2-5A runnerup, has a 14-16 record. El Paso Americas, with a 21-6-1 record, finished third in District 1-5A.

Andrews vs. Presidio

In another game involving West Texas teams, Andrews and Presidio will play a bidistrict series in Crane on Friday and Saturday,.

Game 1 will be at 6 p.m. Friday; Game 2 will start at noon Saturday. Game 3, if necessary, will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

Andrews, the runnerup in District 4-3A, has a 17-11-1 record. Presidio, which finished third in District 3-3A, has a 15-5 record.

Region 1, Class 2A playoffs bidistrict

• Alpine (W4, 18-4), bye.
• Childress (R1, 16-7) vs. Littlefield (T2, 10-9) -- Game 1: 5 p.m. Friday, Sandie Field, Amarillo. Game 2: noon Saturday, Sandie Field, Amarillo. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Abernathy (W2, 16-3-1), bye.
• Slaton (R3) vs. Kermit (T4, 5-13) -- Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sundown HS. Game 2: time TBA, Saturday, Sundown HS. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Comfort (W8), bye.
• Cisco (R5) vs. Hico (T6) -- Game 1: 7 p.m. Thursday, Millsap HS. Game 2: 5 p.m. Friday, Millsap HS. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Bangs (W6), bye.
• Sonora (R7) vs. Harper (T8) -- Game 1: 7 p.m. Friday, Harper HS. Game 2: 1 p.m. Saturday, Sonora HS. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Forsan (W3, 16-3), bye.
• Floydada (R2, 15-6) vs. Tulia (T1, 15-12) -- Game 1: 5 p.m. Friday, Wilder Field, Plainview. Game 2: 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Wilder Field, Plainview. Game 3: 2 p.m. Saturday, Plainview HS.
• Bushland (W1, 22-4-1), bye.
• Crane (R4, 13-7) vs. Colorado City (T3, 11-10) -- Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Moffett Field, Snyder. Game 2: 1 p.m. Saturday, Moffett Field, Snyder. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Wall (W7), bye.
• San Saba (R6) vs. Eastland (T5, 15-10) -- Game 1: 5 p.m. Friday, Eastland HS. Game 2: 30 minutes after Game 1. Game 3: 1 p.m. Saturday, San Saba HS.
• Anson (W5), bye.
• Blanco (R8) vs. Ozona (T7) -- Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Harper HS. Game 2: 11 a.m. Saturday, Harper HS. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.

Class 1A bidistrict

• New Deal (W4, 17-6), bye.
• Van Horn (R1, 8-8) vs. Reagan County (T2) -- Game 1: 7 p.m. Friday, Monahans HS. Game 2: 1 p.m. Saturday Monahans HS. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Miles (W2), bye.
• O’Donnell (R3) vs. Sundown (T4, 15-3) -- Game 1: 7 p.m. Thursday, Slaton HS. Game 2: noon Saturday, Slaton HS. x-Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Stamford (W8), bye.
• Lockney (R5) vs. Stinnett West Texas (T6, 10-12) -- Game 1: 6 p.m. Thursday, Wilder Park, Canyon. Game 2: 5 p.m. Friday, Wilder Park, Canyon. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Booker (W6, 15-3), bye.
• Quanah (R7, 13-8) vs. Hamlin (T8, 18-9) -- Game 1: Hamlin 5, Quanah 2; Hamlin leads series 1-0. Game 2: 11 a.m. Saturday, Childress HS. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Tahoka (W3, 17-3), bye.
• Winters (R2, 15-5) vs. McCamey (T1, 8-6) -- Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Lamesa HS. Game 2: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Lamesa HS. x-Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Fort Hancock (W1, 14-4), bye.
• Smyer (R4) vs. Ralls (T3), TBA.
• Electra (W7, 13-1), bye.
• Claude (R6, 16-6) vs. Turkey Valley (T5, 10-5) -- Game 1: 6 p.m. Thursday, Wilder Field, Plainview. Game 2: 4:30 p.m. Friday, Childress HS. Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2.
• Hale Center (W5, 12-5), bye.
• Seymour (R8, 10-6) vs. Clarendon (T7, 9-8) -- One-game playoff: 5 p.m. Thursday, Childress HS.

Carothers, highly touted transfers shine in Sully's spring football workouts

Two top receivers during spring drills: All America candidate Lee Carothers, left, and Cedric Mobley (Photos by Randy Jackson) 

It almost looks like "Dancin' Lobos" during stretching exercises during April workouts

Two highly touted transfer students from California look to contribute heavily to the Lobos 2012 campaign: left, Otis Edwards 260-pound fullback, and A.J. Springer, a quarterback from Chaffey College

Alpine Daily Planet

The 2012 football season got under way last month when Sul Ross held its annual spring workouts.

The Lobos, a Division III program, had 85 players participating in the spring drills. Because of NCAA Division III rules prohibiting full scrimmaging and contact in pads, workouts were conducted without pads.

Highlighting the drills was the play of All America candidate Lee Carothers, a senior-to-be wide receiver who should own just about all Sul Ross receiving records by the time he graduates. 

In addition, Lobo coaches got their first look at several highly rated transfer students, including Dillion Wolf, a linebacker transfer from Southeast Oklahoma State, plus Otis Edwards, a 260-pound fullback from San Bernadino College (Calif.), and quarterback A.J. Springer from Chaffey College (Calif.). Springer is touted as top-tier double threat -- both as a passer and runner.

Carothers was one of the bright spots in last year's disappointing 3-7 campaign. The wide receiver shows flashes of brillance that could easily take him to the next level. Don't be surprised if you see Carothers playing professional ball at some level in the next couple of years. He has the skills, speed and work ethic to take his talents a long way. 

Another encouraging factor about this year's spring drills was the number of players participating. With 85 players going through spring drills, that means Sul Ross should have a significantly larger number of veterans participating next season.

If you're looking ahead, Sul Ross easily has its most-attractive schedule in years. For a change, they spend most of the first month of the season (September) at home with home games against Western New Mexico, Trinity University and Mary Hardin-Baylor. The Lobos have five home games. 

Sul Ross opens the 2012 football season with what looks to be a fun match-up against Western New Mexico, a Division II school. Sully and Western have hooked in a couple of wild games the last couple of years at Western's home field in Silver City, N.M. This will be the first time the New Mexico team has visited Alpine in recent years.

Here's the complete Sul Ross schedule:

• Sept. 1 -- Western New Mexico at Sul Ross, 1 p.m.
• Sept. 8 -- Sul Ross at Eastern New Mexico, Portales, N.M., TBA
• Sept. 15 -- Trinity at Sul Ross, 1 p.m.
• Sept 29 -- Mary Hardin-Baylor at Sul Ross, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 6 -- Sul Ross at Mississippi College, Clinton, Miss., TBA
• Oct. 13 -- Sul Ross at Texas Lutheran, Seguin, 6 p.m.
• Oct. 20 -- Louisiana College at Sul Ross, 1 p.m.
• Oct. 27 -- Sul Ross at Hardin-Simmons, Abilene, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 3 -- Howard Payne at Sul Ross, 1 p.m.
• Nov. 10 -- Sul Ros at East Texas Baptist, Marshall, TBA

Bucks ride Gallego's no-hitter to undefeated district season

Alpine dugout is pretty full these days; Coach Orlando Leyva has brought up the JV to the Varsity for the playoffs (Daily Planet photo)

Ely Gallego tossed a no-hitter

Ely also hit a triple that scored a run

J.D. Flud takes a lead off first

Alpine Daily Planet

The Alpine Bucks rode the no-hit pitching of Ely Gallego to an 11-0, mercy-rule-shortened District 4-2A victory over Crane at Kokernot Field on Monday.

Gallego, who also hit a triple that just missed being a home run, allowed only one base runner, and he got on base because of an error. Gallego pitched five innings, struck out 5 and walked no one.

The win puts the exclamation point on an extraordinary 9-0 record in district. It was the second straight year that the Bucks have advanced to the state playoffs after going undefeated in district.

The Bucks, who have a 16-4 season record, have won 10 straight games. Their last defeat was a one-run loss to Sonora, a team they might wind up facing in the playoffs.

Six of Alpine’s nine district wins have been shutouts; seven of them have been shortened by the mercy rule.

Next up for the Bucks is a practice game on Friday, beginning at 7 p.m., against the Pecos Eagles at Kokernot Field. By virtue of winning district, the Bucks received a bye through the bidistrict round of the state playoffs. They will play either Littlefield or Childress in the area round on May 11-12. 

Alpine 11, Crane 0 (Alpine batting)
Player	AB	R	H	BI
J.D.  Flud	3	3	3	2
Taylor O’Bryant	2	2	1	2
Ely Gallego	1	1	1	2
Evan Moore	2	1	1	3
Grady Ellis	2	1	1	2
Daniel Rojo	3	0	0	0
Jonathan Frost	2	1	1	0
Ian Ybarra	3	2	2	0
Josue Ordonez	3	0	1	0
Alpine Totals	21	11	11	11
Crane Totals	16	0	0	0

J.D. Flud to Evan Moore for an easy out at first (Photo by Al Lozano)

Josue "Chary" Ordonez slides into second (Photo by Al Lozano)

What the hitter sees when Gallego is pitching (Photo by Al Lozano)

After catching a pop fly, Daniel Rojo holds on to the ball as Ian Ybarra comes over to help him up (Photo by Al Lozano)

AHS baseball JV wins district championship

The Alpine High School Junior Varsity baseball team finished the year as the District 4-2A champions. The Young Bucks posted a 10-4 season record and a 6-0 district mark. Pictured are: front row, Oscar Salgado, Van Phan, Mitchell Newcomer and Sebastian Genera; center row, Mesinda Jimenez, Josue Ordonez, Dart Dodds, Phillip Castillo, Ben Villa, Ian Ybarra and Jacque DeLaGarza; back row, Cody Ivey, Jonathan Frost, Jacob Chavez, Cody Huelsburg, Lucas Ramirez, Brandon Cano and Charles Kennedy.

Alpine High JV baseball season stats
Player	AB	Runs	Hits	RBI	TB	SO	BB	SB	Avg
Chary Ordonez	25	14	9	6	75	5	11	6	.360
Ian Ybarra	18	8	7	5	34	0	3	5	.388
John Frost	23	10	12	10	63	5	6	4	.521
Lucas Ramirez	27	10	7	6	54	2	4	0	.259
Jacob Chavez	24	6	8	8	32	5	3	0	.333
Dart Dodds	25	5	9	7	34	5	2	2	.360
Sabastian Genera	20	6	6	3	30	5	4	4	.300
Charles Kennedy	21	7	7	5	27	6	5	0	.331
Mitchell Newcomer	10	5	4	1	18	2	1	1	.400
Oscar Salgado	8	1	1	0	5	2	1	0	.167
Brandon Cano	4	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	.250
Cody Ivey	17	3	2	1	17	11	4	2	.118

Marfa softball team will play Albany-Loraine winner on Friday (and maybe Saturday), probably in Midland

Alpine Daily Planet

The Marfa Lady Horns softball team will start their run in the Texas state playoffs this coming weekend against the winner of the Albany-Loraine bidistrict playoff.

Marfa, by virtue of winning the district championship, received a bye in the first round.

Albany and Loraine are expected to finish their playoff on Monday evening. The Lady Horns playoff game against the winner will probably be at the MUGS Field in Midland on Friday (and possibly Saturday, depending on whether its a one-game or best two-out-of-three series. 

Loraine is located between Colorado City and Roscoe. Albany is about 30 miles northeast of Abilene.

Marfa sending two relay teams and Lujan to state meet; tough day for Alpine teams

 

Video by Fred Martinez

Jarett Lujan of Marfa, left, congratulates 800-meter winner William Roberts of Sanderson (All photos by Daily Planet Marfa correspondent Fred Martinez)

Marfa's 800-meter relay, front, Zach Madrid and Eli Castillo Sandoval; in back, Andrew Ontiveroz and Jarett Lujan

Marfa's mile relay team, front, Eli Castillo Sandoval and Zach Madrid; in back, Daniel Martinez and Jarett Lujan

Eli Castillo Sandoval handing off to Andrew Ontiveros for Marfa in the 800-meter relay

William Roberts of Sanderson and Jarett Lujan of Marfa head for the stretch in the 800-meter run

Daniel Martinez on his leg of the mile relay

That's Jarett Lujan in the middle of a strung-out mile relay

Alpine Daily Planet

Far West Texas teams dominated the boys Class A regional track meet held Friday and Saturday in Levelland.

Marfa High School finished second and qualified two relay teams and one individual for the state meet.

Sanderson, on the strength of its premier distance runner, finished a very competitive third.

William Roberts of Sanderson set new records in the 800-meter dash/run (I’m never sure whether to call the 800 a dash or a run) and the mile run. Obviously, he qualified in both events for the state meet.

Marfa's Jarett Lujan qualified for state in the 800-meter by finishing second.

Both Marfa’s 800-meter relay and mile relay teams qualified for state.

The 800-meter relay team finished second at Levelland. The mile-relay team finished third, which normally would not be a state-qualifier. However, the Marfa team’s time – a very good 3:27:95 – was the fifth-fastest time in the state. So, Marfa’s mile-relay will be going to Austin as the wild card team. The state meet takes one team that may not have won its region but has a better time than other regions in Texas.

To give you an idea of how competitive the relay races were, Marfa finished sixth in the 400-meter relay with a time of 44.78. That was less than a second off the winning relay time put up by Sundown, 43.93.

By the way, Marfa finished an minuscule 0.08 seconds behind Panhandle in the battle for the 800-meter relay. That’s about the length of time to it takes to just say the word “eight.”

• Boys Team Scores: 1. Panhandle, 92; 2. Marfa, 38; 3. Sanderson, 37; 4. Seagraves, 34; 5. Sundown, 27; 6. Sudan, 26; 7. (tie) Canadian and New Deal, 24; 9. (tie) Stratford, Farwell and Hale Center, 20; 12. Bovina, 17; 13. (tie) Iraan, Ralls and Memphis, 16; 16. Clarendon, 14; 17. (tie) Stinnett West Texas and Fort Davis, 12; 19. (tie) Petersburg, Claude and Smyer, 10; 22. Boys Ranch, 9; 23. (tie) Olton, Plains, Wellington, Southland and Paducah, 8; 28. (tie) White Deer, Balmorhea, Quanah, Kress, Guthrie, McCamey, Eldorado and Silverton, 6; 36. Spur, 5; 37. (tie) Rankin and Buena Vista, 4; 39. (tie) Turkey Valley, Channing, Tahoka, Hartley, Grandfalls-Royalty and Reagan County, 2; 45. (tie) Follett, Wheeler and Whitharral, 1.
• High jump: 1. Darius Poindexter, Hale Center, 6-6; 2. Dayton Greenhaw, Sudan, 6-6
• Long jump: 1. Wesley Williams, Clarendon, 22-1.5; 2. Colin Coleman, Stinnett West Texas, 21-7; 4. Christopher Stephens, Fort Davis, 21-5
• Shot put: 1. Thomas Roden, Petersburg, 47-10.25; 2. Garrett Tiner, Hale Center, 47-6.75
• 400 relay: 1. Sundown, 43.93; 2. Panhandle, 44.02; 6. Marfa, 44.78.
• 800: 1. William Roberts, Sanderson, 1:55.43; 2. Jarett Lujan, Marfa, 1:58.42
• 110 hurdles: 1. Cole Banner, Iraan, 15.37; 2. Kolten Morris, Farwell, 15.38
• 100: 1. Damian Vidales, Seagraves, 11.40; 2. Terrell Sims, Memphis, 11.41
• 800 relay: 1. Panhandle, 1:31.78; 2. Marfa (Warren Acosta, Andrew Ontiveroz, Zach Madrid, Jarett Lujan), 1:31.86
• 400: 1. Damian Vidales, Seagraves, 48.68; 2. Kaleb Reese, Ralls, 50.38
• 300 hurdles: 1. Alex Graham, 39.49; 2. Kolten Morris, Farwell, 39.97
• 200: 1. Damian Vidales, Seagraves, 22.78; 2. Kaleb Reese, Ralls, 23.47
• 1,600: 1. William Roberts, Sanderson, 4:24.08; 2. Elliott Webb, Canadian, 4:37.21; 6. Shawn Stegall, Sanderson, 4:52.70
• 1,600 relay: 1. Panhandle 3:24.65; 2. Bovina, 3:25.25; 3. Marfa, 3:27.95

Class A girls

On the girls’ side of the ledger, Far West Texas teams didn’t fare quite as well. Sanderson finished tied for 17th place with 12 points, and Fort Davis finished 26th, tied with 3 other teams, with six points. The Marfa girls tied for 34th with two points, and the Marathon girls finished with 1 point.

• Girls team standings: 1. New Deal, 96; 2. Panhandle, 64; 3. Wellington, 42; 4. (tie) Canadian and Sunray, 34; 6. (tie) Van Horn, Shamrock and Clarendon, 26; 9. Gruver, 19; 10. (tie) Memphis, Smyer and Whitharral, 18; 13. Tahoka, 17; 14. Iraan, 16; 15. (tie) Sundown and Silverton, 14; 17. (tie) Stinnett West Texas, Paducah and Sanderson, 12; 20. Ralls, 10; 21. (tie) Groom, Plains, Booker, Guthrie and Lockney, 8; 26. (tie) Fort Davis, Morton, Quanah and Aspermont, 6; 30. Happy, 5; 31. (tie) Seagraves, Eldorado and Farwell, 4; 34. (tie) Marfa, Crosbyton and Meadow, 2; 37. (tie) Ropes, Turkey Valley, Sudan, Marathon and Boys Ranch, 1.
• Far West Texans at a glance
• Discus: 3. Jazmin Chavez, Fort Davis, 108-4
• 400 relay: 6. Marfa, 52.93.
• 1,600: 3. Abrianna Carrasco, Sanderson, 5:37.71

Tough day for Alpine in Class 2A

Alpine High track teams had a tough time at the regional meet Saturday at Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium. Let’s hope the new AHS track now being installed at Buck Stadium will help improve their performance next year.

Here are the girls and boys divisions at a glance, with team totals and Alpine results:

• Girls team scores: 1. Crane, 76; 2. Breckenridge, 60; 3. Bushland, 44; 4. Blanco, 40.5; 5. Spearman, 34; 6. Ingram, 30; 7. Tulia, 28; 8. Tuscola Jim Ned, 27; 9. (tie) Post, 24; and Hico, 24; 11. (tie) Harper. 20; and Comanche, 20; 13. San Angelo Grape Creek, 19; 14. Littlefield, 18; 15. Cisco, 17; 16. (tie) Junction, 16; and Coleman, 16; 18. Wall, 12; 19. Sonora, 11.5; 20. (tie) Wall, 10; Comfort, 10; 22. Amarillo River Road, 9; 23. (tie) Early, 8; and Eastland, 8; 25. (tie) Abernathy, 6; and Denver City, 6; 27. Friona, 5; 28. (tie) Merkel, 4; Brady, 4; and Bangs, 4; 31. (tie) Idalou, 2; and Stanton, 2; 33. (tie) Clyde, 1.5; Slaton, 1.5; 35. Alpine, 1; 36. Lubbock Roosevelt, 1.
• 200: 7. Deziah Ervin, Alpine, 27.14
• Boys team scores: 1. Sonora, 92; 2. Eastland, 72; 3. Crane, 71; 4. Idalou, 56; 5. Wall, 42; 6. Bushland, 36.5; 7. Amarillo Highland Park, 30; 8. Muleshoe, 24; 9. Littlefield, 19.5; 10. (tie) Slaton, 16; Hico, 16; 12. (tie) Post, 14; Denver City, 14; Harper, 14; and Abernathy, 14; 16. Breckenridge, 11; 17. Ballinger, 10; 18. (tie) Amarillo River Road, 8; and Forsan, 8; 21. Clyde, 6.5; 22. (tie) Cisco, 6; and Hamilton, 6; 24. (tie) Colorado City, 4; Bangs, 4; and San Angelo Grape Creek, 4; 27. Merkel, 2; Floydada, 2; Lubbock Roosevelt, 2; Dimmitt, 2; Dublin, 2; 32. (tie) Ingram, 1; Early, 1; and Tuscola Jim Ned, 1; 35. Junction, .5.
• 100: 7. Oscar Trevino, Alpine, 11.80

Snapshots from youth softball tournament in Alpine on Saturday

American Legion coach Jackie Molsbee (Alpine Daily Planet photos)

Lady Angels opponent on first base

Lady Angels pitcher

American Legion pitcher Macy Molsbee

American Legion player slams home

American Legion player slides home

DarrellLosoya umpires American Legion game

Marfa fashionista in Pecos game

Marfa fashionista No. 2 in Pecos game

Pecos girls in dugout in game vs. Marfa

Marfa pitcher winds up in Pecos game

Marfa runner scores in Pecos game

Sable Oliphant girls warm up