For the second time in three years, the Liberty Lady Panthers are the toast of the town after winning their second Class 4A State Softball Championship. Liberty was celebrated with a parade and fire trucks by the courthouse as the players waved to the crowd. Afterward, several guest speakers took their turn congratulating the Lady Panthers on their accomplishments. Liberty Mayor Carl Pickett proclaimed June 14, 2021, as Liberty Lady Panther Softball Day. Lady Panthers Head Coach Karen Slack also spoke to the crowd, as did all three seniors Kaci West, Jaylen Prichard, and Mikaelah Burkland. Afterward, the group that greeted the team was given a chance to mingle with the players and coaches while enjoying some refreshments under the Liberty City Hall Gazebo. The State Championship Plaque and awards were all available for viewing. Liberty won the Class 4A State Title Game on Saturday, June 5, over Corpus Christi Calallen 10-3 at McCombs Field in Austin.
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Fresh off a 2021 Class 4A State Title, the Liberty Lady Panthers were all over the 21-4A All-District Teams. Leading the way was district MVP Kaci West. Jaylen Prichard was named the Offensive Player of the Year while freshman catcher was chosen as the Newcomer of the Year. Liberty Head Coach Karen Slack was named the Coach of the Year. Landing on the first team for the Lady Panthers were Mikaelah Burkland, Maci Beam, and Kylie Bishop. Second team selections are Reese Evans and Bailee Slack while Honorable Mention picks for Liberty were Kamdyn Chandler, Alex Wiley, and Reagan Williamson. Leah Hensarling of Splendora was named the Defensive MVP while Christin Haygood of Huffman was named Pitcher of the Year.
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Under first-year Head Coach Scott Elliott this past season, the Dayton Lady Broncos made the playoffs in District 20-5A. Dayton was rewarded with three players making the first team. Leading the way were Kloee Wells, Kyra Keener, and Gracie Whitehead. The Lady Broncos had two players land on the second team in Bailey Butcher and Fabianna Candelari. The list for Dayton on the Honorable Mention Team is Emma Pierce, Natalie Garcia, and Ashlynne Cormier.
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Quite the collection of former Dayton Broncos athletic talent was on hand Saturday at the Dayton ISD Performing Arts Center, where the newest class of inductees to the Dayton Sports Hall of Fame were enshrined. Those chosen were recognized for achievements on the playing field and the character they have shown off the field throughout their lifetime.
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Hardin senior first baseman Hunter Caldwell took home the 23-3A Offensive Player of the Year. Winning the District MVP was Ty Elder of New Waverly. The Defensive Player of the Year was Ryan Wisnoski of Anderson-Shiro and the Newcomer of the Year was Easton Dean of Coldspring. The Hornets then placed two on the firstteam list in catcher Mason Hudnall and pitcher Hayden Sopchak. Landing on the second team for Hardin was Cody Turner, Caden Elmore, and Austin Potetz. Zeak Dryden of the Hornets finished on the Honorable Mention Team. Head Coach Brian Beck leads Hardin.
Read moreThere will be some Liberty senior’s still getting a chance to represent their school one list time as athletes of the Panthers. The SETEX Coaches All-Star Games will start on Wednesday, June 16, at Barbers Hill High School with the softball and baseball games. The next day will feature volleyball, girls and boys basketball games at East Chambers, and the conclusion on Friday, June 18, with football at Beaumont’s Memorial Stadium. The softball game kick’s things off on Wednesday at 5 with the Lady Panthers Kaci West and Jaylen Prichard playing for the Westside. On Thursday in the volleyball game, it will be Kennedy Evans and Abbie Knepper taking part. Moving to the gridiron action on Friday, Devin Fregia and Terry Peterson are playing on the West team.
Read moreWith the SETEX Coaches All-Star games looming next week, the Tarkington Longhorns and Lady Horns will have plenty of action going in during the three-day events. On Wednesday, June 16, the Softball and Baseball games will start around 5 p.m. at Barbers Hill High School. The following day (Thursday) will have the Volleyball game followed by the Girls and Boys Basketball Games at East Chambers High School in Winnie. That Friday night, the Football game will kick off at 7 p.m. at Beaumont’s Memorial Stadium. Tarkington will have Trae Deck and Garrett Lott taking place at the base ball game. On Thursday in Winnie, Sydney Whitmire will represent the Lady Horns in the volleyball, while the girl’s basketball game will see Brianna Boddie take part. The boy’s basketball game will see Blake Ellington get into the action, while on Friday night, it will be football for the Longhorns and Deck, Jaydon Harris, and Phileo Petty.
Read moreThe Barbers Hill Lady Eagled led by University of Texas signee Sophia Simpson captured the Class 5A State Title on Saturday evening at Mc- Combs Field in Austin with a 4-1 victory over the Aledo Lady Cats. Simpson struck out 14 and finished the season 22-0 on the hill for the Lady Eagles, who won their last 37 games of the season. Barbers Hill wasted little time jumping in front as they put up a couple of runs in the first inning. Estela Garza had an RBI single to make it 1-0, and then the second run scored on an Aledo error. The Lady Cats cut the deficit in half with a run in the fifth to make it a 2-1 game. The Lady Eagles responded with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Faith Guidry had an RBI single, and then Kaitlyn Dutton followed with an RBI double to make it 4-1. That would be more than enough for Simpson as she cruised the rest of the way to lead her team to the school’s first state championship in softball. Simpson was also named the Title Game’s MVP.
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