Sports

PARADISE  – You could almost feel a sense of deja vu all over again.

After Paradise pitcher Kendall Candioto’s grand slam homer gave the Lady Panthers an early 10-2 lead over Jacksboro in Tuesday’s District 8-3A opener, thoughts of recent collapses by the Tigerettes in games were undoubtedly in the minds of some fans. This team showed that to be a distant memory, tying the game in the middle innings and being down just one in the bottom of the sixth before a late uprising by the hostesses made the eventual 23-17 final seem more comfortable than it actually was.

MINERAL WELLS – Jacksboro’s varsity boys track team finished with 17 points in its first meet of the year Saturday.

The Tigers were led by Kade Weldon who won the discus event with a 143’ throw. Fellow senior Riley Rollans was third with a 140’4” effort. Cody Gary was sixth in the shotput with a 42’9” throw.

The quartet of Victor Banuelos, Santiago Salazar, Ke’Ondrae Sadler and Hunter Hackley were 8th in the finals of the 1,600-meter relay.

The squad competed in the Alvord Relays Thursday. No results were available as of press time.

Jacksboro High golfers hit the links at the Jacksboro Country Club Feb. 23-24 for action.

The boys, coming off a district championship in 2016, finished second among seven teams with a 375 score, 41 strokes behind winner Holliday. Eathan Sanchez was low round for the Tigers with an 85. Tucker Williamson had an 89 with Weston Bowen’s 98 and Brady Burnett’s 103 making up the score. Cody Gary finished with a 105 but only the lowest four rounds are counted for a team score.

HENRIETTA –  Jacksboro’s varsity softballers managed a six-game split during a tournament last weekend.

Thursday, the girls opened with a 13-4 loss to Class 4A Vernon before rebounding with a 6-4 win over Seymour. The winning continued Friday with an 8-5 win over Iowa Park before ending the day with a 4-2 loss to Haskell.

Things went much the same Saturday with the Tigerettes garnering another split. In the opener, Jacksboro let a 6-3 lead slip away vs. state ranked Windthorst in a 7-6 setback. 

Jacksboro’s varsity baseballers finished 1-3-1 in its tournament last weekend.

The squad opened Thursday with a 17-6, three-inning win over Cisco. Hunter Drennan picked up the win on the hill, striking out seven, walking seven and allowing just two singles before being relieved by Payton Laake. Laake struck out one and walked one in 2/3 inning of relief.

Drennan had control problems throughout the day, walking two and hitting another to load the sacks in the first. The senior battled back, however, and struck out the next two hitters to end the frame.

A number of changes have occurred in the last 24 hours which have altered the schedules this weekend for Jacksboro’s baseball and softball teams.

The Tiger baseball team, which was scheduled to play in the Windthorst Tournament, will be playing at home due to field issues in Windthorst. The boys play at 2 and 6:30 Thursday vs. Muenster and Albany, respectively.

Friday, the Tigers face Windthorst at 9:30 a.m. and Chico at 4:15 p.m. Saturday is a change with the boys facing Alvord at 4:15 p.m.

It will again be a busy weekend for Jacksboro baseball and softball players who will hit the road for tournaments beginning Thursday.

The boys play the first of two tournaments in Windthorst. The boys will play a total of five games over three days. Thursday’s games will be at 2 p.m. vs. Muenster and at 6:30 p.m. vs. Albany. 

Jacksboro and Muenster played last Friday in the Jacksboro Tournament with the Hornets posting an 8-1 win.

MILLSAP – It’s been a rough year for Bryson’s varsity boys basketballers.

A new coach and losing a group of seniors that tied for the district title the year before all can make for some growing pains. Such was the case this year where the squad took its lumps in going 2-15 in non-district play.

Once district play started the squad started buying into Coach Joe Rackley’s philosophy and played itself into the 3rd and final playoff spot in District 17-A. The Cowboys drew No.10-Lingleville as a bi-district opponent Monday night here. 

Filling a hole can be difficult.

With the death of two-year starter Trey Pruitt earlier this year, the Jacksboro varsity baseball team has a big void to fill at catcher, cleanup hitter and just as a whole in the eyes of Coach Blake Belcher. The team will be honoring their teammate by having his initials and number on the back of their hats this season which kicked off Thursday.

With no seniors lost from last year’s team which went 7-7 in district, Belcher says there are no more excuses for this team in not making the playoffs.

Jacksboro’s varsity baseball and softball teams compete in tournaments this weekend.

The baseball team will host a 10-team tournament in conjunction with Peaster beginning Thursday. Jacksboro will face Chico at 11:15 a.m. Thursday and Vernon at 3:45 p.m. Thursday.

On Friday, the Tigers will face Archer City at 11:15 a.m. and Muenster at 1:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. game Saturday vs. SWC winding up the tournament.