Lady Horns Play for a Cure

photos courtesy of Connie Barnett

After playing an outlaw schedule last year, Coach Lisa Schumacher's Lockney Lady Horns softball team is ready for U.I.L. play. This past weekend they hosted the Field of Dreams Softball Classic and fell short of the Championship in the final game against Ralls 8-1.

"This is the first annual Classic for the girls, we decided to join with the boys this year and have a softball tournament as well." Said Schumacher. "We also collected money at the gate and were able to use that money to donate $1,000.00 to the American Cancer Society as well. "

It was a 10-8 semi-finals victory over Brownfield that would advance Lockney into the final round against a tough ranked Ralls team.

The Lady Horns played the #8 ranked Ralls Lady Jackrabbits in the final game, where Ralls took an early 6-1 lead after two innings, and would add another pair to take the game 8-1.

"This is the first year for us to play a U.I.L. schedule, we have come a long way and have some kid's doing great things. Devin Caballero has been doing a great job on the mound and we seem to be improving each game!

In the end Lockney would have three players named to the all-tournament team. They were Lindsie Moerbe, Devin Caballero, and Sunny Williams.

"We have a new edition this year in Lindsie Moerbe, she grew up playing softball down in South Texas, and has been around the game a lot." Said Schumacher "She brings a lot of experience to the field and that helps us out."

"We've had a really great response to this program so far, and are really looking forward to expanding it in the future."

Love-15

For fifteen years Floydada Head Tennis coach Robin Nixon has been serving up more than just tennis lessons, but also lessons in life skills.

"I've always tried to compare life and tennis together," said Nixon. "There are times in tennis when you are the only one on that court and you get yourself dug in a hole. If you can get out of that hole by yourself on the court, when you get down in that same hole in life you're prepared to find a way out."

With five regional returners on the court this year, another successful season is within reach. A strong girls program - including back-to-back doubles district winners junior Lexie Terrell and senior Jennifer Rainwater - is complimented by another regional qualifying doubles team of Lindsey Beedy and Kelby Day. "We have a very strong girls program this year, and I really expect to see some great things from them." said coach Nixon.

The girls aren't the only ones serving up wins this season, as a new comer freshman Hayden Lipham and junior Tim Campbell have been opening eyes around the area since the beginning of the season.

"The thing about last year is that it opened the door for some of our new players like Tim Campbell, who took a very seasoned athlete from Shallowater at the regional team tennis to a third set tie break." said Nixon. "It has been great to see that and watch these players mature and grow."

"We play every tournament that we play, as so when we get to the district tournament, we are ready to go to the next level. Our goal is to get to regionals, and I don't want to take a Suburban to regionals, I want to take the big bus!"

On Thursday, the Whirlwinds tennis team will leave for Round Rock for State Team Tennis and will return to play two more tournaments before district begins.

Seago's squad ready for new season

Spring time in West Texas often reminds people of severe weather, the planting of a new crop, and the smell of fresh plowed field after a rain. However, for Floydada Head baseball coach Jaime Seago it reminds him of John Fogerty's "Centerfield", watering the grass, and the smell of pine tar.

After a 9-13 season last year Head Coach Jaime Seago said "Last year we were 9 and 13 overall, had a slump mid- season, but that is when our attitude changed and we pushed for the play-offs. We grew as a team and starting getting away from the me attitude, that philosophy has translated great so far into this season."

The Whirlwinds now with a 1-3 record for the year, including a loss on Thursday to Abernathy, do not look to change much from last year's season and have hopes of a post season appearance. " We are not looking to change a whole lot this year, the kids understand what is expected of them and what needs to be done to get into the play-offs." said Seago "We will have team captains and I have pulled myself out as being the motivator and am allowing the kids to run their team, because essentially; it is their team."

"We are really young at every position, we only return three this year. Joseph Segura is back at short stop, Colton Covington behind the plate, and Troy Morales in left, other than that everyone else is pretty new to the Varsity atmosphere."

Floydada will host the Lockney Longhorns on Tuesday, March 10 at Wester Field in Floydada.

Floydada's record setting season comes to a close

photos courtesy of Jim Covington

In front of a packed house at the Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Floydada started the game in usual fashion with a couple of quick turnovers and an early six point lead. However, Shallowater would answer back before the end of the half.

Jordan Scaff, the 6-foot-7 senior for Shallowater had no problems finding the bucket and droppin in a team high 23 points for the Mustangs.

Scaff wasn't the only big player for the Mustangs in double digits. Point guard Andrew Morris had two crucial three pointers and a pair of juniors, Desmond Wright and Weston Odom seemed to find the backboard easily as well.

The Whirlwinds entered the game as the No. 8 team in the state, and exited the game with thier season over. Senior forward Titus Miller did his best to keep the inside game alive for the Whirlwinds, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. 6-foot-5 Senior, post player Byron Smith made it into double digits, but it was not easy.

Shallowater's Walker and Scaff played the double team on Smith all night, forcing the Whirlwinds to shoot from the outside. And shoot they did, senior Aarrhon Flores and one of his biggest nights scoring all 12 of his points from beyond the arc. Floydada outscored Shallowater 27 to 6 from beyond the circle and nearly half of those points by Flores.

“We have not shot 3s extremely well this year. We’ve shot them in spurts, but we’re not a team that can live and die with the 3-point shot,” said Floydada coach Troyce Renfro. “We kind of had to tonight. They did a good job of taking away our inside game.”

After settin mulitple school records including longest winning streak and outright District Champions by both the girls and boys, the Whilrwinds season has come to a close as they trailed by 8 late in the fourth quarter. Shallowaters' Morris and Scaff would never let up ending the Class 2A are playoff game with a final score of 61-57.

Shallowater will advance to the regional quarterfinals agains Spearman on Wed. Feb. 4th

Line Score

Floydada 14 9 16 18--57
Shallowater 15 13 13 20--61

Floydada: Flores 12, Miller 18, Smith 14, Caballero 8
Shallowater: Morris 11, Scaff 23, Wright 13, Odom 8