March 2022

The Van Lady Vandals had their hands full last week, clashing with Athens and Brownsboro in District 14-4A play. Van started its week on a winning note, overcoming a shaky night in the field to score an 11-3 win over the Athens Lady Hornets March 25.

Longtime Van High School Counselor Bill Giles gave an update on the current Tyler Junior College Promise Scholarship Program as well as announcing a similar program underway at the University of Texas at Tyler March 28 during the regular monthly meeting of the Van School Board.

The Grand Saline Lady Indians took care of business March 25, getting a standout pitching performance from ace Hannah Aaron and timely hitting up and down the lineup in a 13-0 win over Commerce. Hannah Aaron breezed through four innings on just 55 pitches, allowing just two hits while striking out five.

Martins Mill standout Austin Alexander was joined by family, friends, teammates and members of the Mustang coaching staff as he signed his letter of intent to play baseball collegiately at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City next year. Alexander was dominant both on the mound and at the plate for Martins Mill during the 2021 season, earning District 20-2A Pitcher of the Year honors from competing coaches and First Team All-State honors as an outfielder from the Texas Sports Writers Association.

The Wills Point Tiger track and field program played host to schools from across East Texas last week for the annual Bluebird Relays at Ken Autry Davis Field. Wills Point finished second overall in the varsity boys division with 127 total points, behind Kaufman with 220.5 points and ahead of Mabank with 101.5 points, Van with 92 points and Eustace with 69 points.

The Edgewood Lady Dogs put the finishing touches on the first round of District 12-3A play last week, taking on perennial power Emory Rains and Lone Oak in consecutive games. Edgewood earned a split in the two contests, falling to Lady Cats before bouncing back with a win over the Lady Buffalos.

District 14-4A teams acquitted themselves well on the hardwood this season, with runner-up Canton reaching the Area round of the playoffs and district champion Brownsboro winning this year’s Class 4A State Championship.

Services for Gary Wayne Pritchett of Canton were held 10 a.m. Monday, March 28, 2022, at Eubank Funeral Home with Bro.

The Grand Saline Indians earned a measure of revenge to open last week, evening their season series with Edgewood in a 2-1 thriller March 25. The two teams has squared off just three days prior with Edgewood leading from start to finish in a 6-2 Bulldogs win.

A funeral service for Arthur W. Wilson, 93, was held on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Eubank Funeral Home, with Bro.