Sports

The Wills Point Tiger baseball program continued to inch its way towards the start of district play last week, traveling to Lindale to take on a solid Eagles squad. Lindale would ultimately prevail in the contest, getting three strong pitching performances in a 3-0 win over the Tigers.

Eaglette, Lady Vandal and Lady Tiger lifters had their opportunity to compete against some of the top athletes from across the area at the Region 3 Division II Meet in Mabank March 4. Wills Point posted the best team finish among local schools, finishing fourth overall with 16 points behind Paris with 37 points, Lindale with 33 points and Gilmer with 30 points.

Perennial playoff qualifier Grand Saline got their first taste of District 12-3A play March 15 with a game in Prairiland. The Patriots would prevail in the contest, pounding out 13 hits on their way to a 12-2 win over the Indians.

Former Van Lady Vandal standout Skylar Savage has gotten off to a fast start during her time as a member of the University of North Texas Mean Green softball team, posting a 3-1 record during 12 appearances. Savage has pitched 34 innings total, striking out 34 while posting a miniscule 1.85 ERA. Photo by Michael Sudhalter

Two of Van Zandt County’s most consistent baseball programs squared off on the diamond this week as the Edgewood Bulldogs played host to Van March 15. The game would be evenly matched throughout as Edgewood prevailed with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to edge past Van 6-5.

Athletes representing Athens, Canton, Edgewood, Eustace, Grand Saline, Mineola and Sunnyvale made their way to Van last week to compete in the annual Al Rholes Relays March 10. Individual varsity boys results included: -100: Austin Hayes, EW, second, 11.11; Jackson Rainey, Van, third, 11.22 -200: John Crow, Van, second, 23.87; Luca Kozhev, Van, fifth, 24.53 -400: Brayden Bradshaw, Van, fifth, 56.67; Diego Martinez, GS, sixth, 56.76 -800: Diego Martinez, GS, sixth, 2:17.66 -1600: Miguel Arce, Canton, third, 4:44.26 -3200: Miguel Arce, Canton, second, 10:18.34 -110 Hurdles: Reed Johnson, Van, third, 16.66; Payton Butterfield, GS, fourth, 16.73; Jacob Elliott, Canton, fifth, 16.96; Rocco Foley, Canton, sixth, 17.15 -300 Hurdles: Reed Johnson, Van, second, 42.24; Rocco Foley, Canton, third, 43.42; Austin Snyder, Canton, fifth, 44.25 -4x100: EW, second, 45.12; GS, fourth, 45.57; Canton, fifth, 46.04 -4x200: Van, first, 1:33.76; EW, second, 1:35.22; GS, fifth, 1:36.47 -4x400: EW, fifth, 3:46.2; Canton, sixth, 3:49.31 -Long Jump: Payton Butterfield, GS, first, 20-4.75; Austin Hayes, EW, third, 19-4.25; Ja’Braylon Pickens, Canton, fourth, 19-3.5 -Shot Put: KD Erskine, Van, third, 40-1; Dylan Calvert, GS, sixth, 38-1 -Discus: Preston Yarber, Canton, first, 161-9; JT Rucker, GS, fifth, 124-5 -Triple Jump: Payton Butterfield, GS, first, 42-0; Hudson Griffin, GS, second, 41-2.5; Ja’Braylon Pickens, Canton, third, 40-5; Caleb Higgenbotham, GS, sixth, 38-5 -High Jump: Nathan Goodson, Canton, second, 6; Jeremiah Cea, GS, fourth, 5-8 -Pole Vault: Grant McCarver, Canton, first Individual varsity girls results included: -100: Ava Hopson, Van, second, 13.11; Chloe Westberry, Canton, fifth, 13.3; Kiley Mays, Canton, sixth, 13.59 -200: Payton Brey, Canton, first, 27.24; Zoe Lake, EW, third, 28.53; Kiley Mays, Canton, fifth, 29.29 -400: Rockie Collier, Canton, first, 1:02.89 -800: Kaley Nicholson, EW, fifth, 2:42.3; Amity Hall, Van, sixth, 2:44.88 -1600: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 5:41.2; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 5:54.38; Lana Stapleton, Canton, fifth, 6:07.31; Abby Clyburn, Van, sixth, 6:07.86 -3200: Graycee Wilson, Canton, first, 12:14.94; Kaley Nicholson, EW, second, 12:40.22; Lana Stapleton, Canton, fifth, 13:27.25 -100 Hurdles: Marti Lewis, GS, fourth, 18.28; Lyndsi Love, GS, fifth, 21.86 -300 Hurdles: Chloe Barton, Van, second, 49; Kimber Holley, Canton, fifth, 55; Lyndsi Love, GS, sixth, 56 -4x100: Van, first, 51.17; Canton, third, 52.02; EW, sixth, 53.46 -4x200: Van, second, 1:51.76; Canton, fourth, 1:54.07; EW, sixth, 1:57.5 -4x400: Canton, third, 4:29.73; Van, fifth, Amity Hall, 4:34.84 -Long Jump: Kori Nicklas, Canton, first, 15-11.25; Landry Jones, Van, second, 15-7.75; Rosy Schira, Van, third, 15-4; Ava Hopson, Van, fourth, 15-4; Favor Cantrell, Canton, fifth, 15-2.5; Payton Brey, Canton, sixth, 14-11.75 -Shot Put: Landrie Valenzuela, Canton, second, 33-2; Anna Nicholson, EW, fifth, 28-1 -Discus: Virginia Bradway, Canton, first, 96-10; Chelsea Chitty, Canton, second, 93-6; Raeleigh Strickland, Canton, third, 89-0; Clara Pool, EW, sixth, 78-7 -Triple Jump: Emma Welty, Canton, first, 32-4; Kori Nicklas, Canton, third, 30-03; Kara Pride, Canton, fifth, 29-4 -High Jump: Rockie Collier, Canton, first, 5-0; Adyson Horan, Van, third, 4-8 -Pole Vault: Hannah Cade, Canton, second, 10-6; Kaymon Dale, Van, third, 10-6; Kimber Holley, Canton, sixth, 8-0 Canton was scheduled to host the Eagle Relays March 24 before competing in Eustace March 31 and Mineola April 7..

The Grand Saline Lady Indians hit the field twice last week, continuing District 12-3A play with games against Lone Oak and Prairiland. Grand Saline looked sharp in their first game of the week, striking early on their way to an 8-1 home win over Lone Oak.

The Van Lady Vandals wrapped up non-district play on the road this week, traveling to take on a talented Lindale squad March 16. Defensive play would prove to be the difference in the contest as five fielding miscues allowed the Lady Eagles to rally back for a 4-3 win over Van.

The Canton Eaglettes continued to inch closer to the start of District 14-4A play last week, hitting the field March 11 for a contest against Bullard. A tough day in the field and at the plate would pr ove to be too tough for the Eaglettes to overcome in what would become an eventual 6-1 setback.

Canton’s Rockie Collier recently signed on to play volleyball collegiately at Trinity Valley Community College beginning in the fall. A standout during her four-year high school career both on the court and in the classroom, Collier wrapped her senior season by being named the Offensive Player of the Year in District 14-4A by competing coaches and to the Texas Sports Writers Association Honorable Mention 4A All-State Team. Photo by Lianna Reid