Sports

The Grand Saline Lady Indians saw their 2023 softball season come to a close following two straight losses to the Rains Lady Wildcats. In the opener of the best of three series May 11, Grand Saline lost to Rains, 6-2, before falling in Game 2 to the Lady Wildcats, 9-0, May 12.

City National Bank donated $10,000 to Fruitvale ISD to help sponsor one of the scoreboards at the district’s baseball/softball facility. District of_icials stated, “Thank you to our school district bank for their continued support of Fruitvale ISD.”

The Edgewood Bulldogs entered this year’s postseason on a slight note, having battled their way into contention for a district title before dropping their finale against longtime rivals Emory Rains to finish as a two-seed in the bi-district round.

The Van Lady Vandals have been a team on a mission throughout much of the 2023 season, climbing their way to the top of the District 16-4A standings courtesy of a talented crop of underclassmen that have more than held their own against older competition.

sports@vanzandtnews.com The Grand Saline Indians entered this year’s postseason riding high, having won five consecutive games entering the bi-district round. Despite would narrowly come up short against the Pottsboro Cardinals, dropping back-to-back lengthy playoff run dashed.

sports@vanzandtnews.com The Grand Saline Lady Indians charted a somewhat unique path through the Area round last week, forgoing a best-of-three series with S&S Consolidated in favor of a one Both teams entered the Area round heavy on confidence after Grand Saline upended District 11-3A champions Bells in three games while the Lady Rams pounded Life Oak Cliff by a 23-0 margin to advance.

The Van Vandals faced a tough draw to open this year’s baseball playoffs, clashing against a talented Liberty-Eylau squad with a consistent track record of reaching postseason play. The two teams began their best-ofthree series May 4 with Liberty-Eylau riding a five run third inning on their way to a 6-2 win.

Track and field athletes from across Van Zandt County made their way to sites across East Texas April 28-29, competing at their respective Regional Meets for an opportunity to adto State. Class 4A Region II Meet Athletes representing the county’s three largest school districts, Canton, Van and Wills Point, made their way to Texas A&M - Commerce April 28-29 to square off against the best 4A competitors from Region II.

The Edgewood Bulldogs entered play against the Rains April 29 riding high, having defeated the Wildcats four nights earlier to set up a game to determine this year’s District 12--early and never fully recovering in a 5-3 setback that moves the Bulldogs to a two-seed entering this year’s playoffs.

sports@vanzandtnews.com The Grand Saline Lady Indians were forced to dig deep during their first series of this year’s postseason, outdueling Bells in a thrilling best-of-three series April 29 and May 1 to punch their ticket to the Area round.