Spring Sports

2014

12

Baseball Softball Golf Tennis Track Swimming Powerlifting

Cleburne High School spring sports previews, schedules and photos of the Yellow Jackets and Lady Jackets.
A supplement of the Cleburne Times-Review

Cleburne Spring Sports 2014 is a publication of the Cleburne Times-Review

Feb. 9, 2014
Publisher Managing Editor Sports Editor Design/Layout/Writing Photographer Advertising Advertising executives Kay Helms Dale Gosser A.J. Crisp A.J. Crisp David Beans Kay Helms, Mgr. Eric Faught Tammie Kay Lisa Russell Barbara Smith Ashley Garey

817-645-2441 Fax: 817-645-4020 108 S. Anglin St. Cleburne, Texas P.O. Box 1569 Cleburne, TX 76033 News Editor editor@trcle.com Sports Editor sports@trcle.com Classifieds classad@trcle.com Online www.cleburnetimesreview.com

Graphics/Cover

Table of Contents

Golf.............................................................................................................................................................Pages 3 & 7 Baseball......................................................................................................................................................Pages 4 & 7 Softball................................................................................................................................................................Page 5 Tennis..................................................................................................................................................................Page 8 Powerlifting.......................................................................................................................................................Page 9 Track . ...............................................................................................................................................................Page 10 Swimming........................................................................................................................................................Page 11 Schedules..........................................................................................................................................................Page 12

Cleburnes Reagan Mead made it to the regional track meet in the 3,200-meter run as a freshman in 2013.

Photo by David Beans

Cleburne senior Daniel Richardson will play a vital role for the Yellow Jackets at third base, shortstop and pitcher.

Photo by David Beans

Yellow Jacket golf enters 2014 as a district favorite

Cleburne freshman Garett Reband will be instrumental in the Jackets success this season, Coach Pat McHargue said.

Photo by David Beans

Expectations high for Lady Jacket golf as well

By A.J. Crisp sports@trcle.com Following one of the Cleburne golf programs more successful seasons in recent history last year, expectations for the Yellow Jackets are even higher this season for the boys and girls teams. The Yellow Jacket boys golf team finished second in district in 2013, but Cleburne is expected to be a favorite for the district title this year, but Coach Pat McHargue said two early tournaments will be good measuring sticks to see how the Jackets stack up against premier competition. A lot of our expectations will be determined when we go to Abilene [on Feb. 28-March 1], McHargue said. Were going to be facing a lot of teams that well play in the regional tournament there. Well see how we stack up against a bunch of those top teams. It will be a good test for us. In the fall schedule, we didnt face a lot of stiff competition. In the state rankings, we were 9th at one time, and were down at 20 right now. We put together a strong tournament schedule for the spring, and well see how we stack up. Those first two tournaments, right off the bat, will go a long ways towards defining where we are. Along with the Abilene tournament on Feb. 28 and March 1, the Jackets will compete in a tournament in Aledo the following weekend at the Split Rail Golf Course. The Yellow Jacket boys golf team is deep and talented from
See GOLF, Page 7

Page 3

Jacket baseball aiming for Round Rock

No. 4 Cleburne using regional finals loss to Rider as motivation for 2014
Jackets return five starters from last years team that won 36 games: Tyler Fowler, Stevan Martinez, Daniel Richardson, Logan Runyon and Dylan Schneider.
By A.J. Crisp sports@trcle.com For two years in a row, Cleburne has played into late May and early June as they reached the state finals and the regional finals in back-to-back seasons. And making a return trip to Round Rock is the expectation and goal for Coach Ross Taylor and his No. 4-ranked Yellow Jackets. The Jackets return five starters from last years team that won 36 games before falling to Wichita Falls Rider in a bestof-three series in the Class 4A regional finals. Four of those five returning starters are juniors this year who received superlative awards in all-district and all-county voting last year as sophomores. Tyler Fowler (MVP), Stevan Martinez (defensive MVP), Logan Runyon (newcomer of the year) and Dylan Schneider (pitcher of the year) return, along with senior Daniel Richardson, who was an all-district and all-county performer as well. Schneider went 16-0 on the mound with an ERA just over 1 last year while Fowler was 11-3 and led the Jackets in several offensive categories. The biggest thing for [Schneider and Fowler] is they keep improving as a ball player, Taylor said. Its really tough with the amount of success they both had last year and the fact that Tylers already committed to Texas Tech basically. Sometimes you worry about if their motivation level is where its been in the past. We keep emphasizing to them that theyre either getting better or getting worse. That decision is up to them whether theyre going to continue to put in the work and time. How many people have a 16-0 pitcher? It just doesnt happen very often. And Tyler was 11-3 as a sophomore and thats huge. Both of them have had a tremendous amount of accolades and their statistics are way up there. It sets the expectations up so high that for some kids, it would melt them, but for others its just something to keep spurring them on. I really hope and think that these two are that kind of guy, that its just another step in their development of where they want to be. The Jackets also have several new faces to rely on this year. Jacob Martin from Burleson Centennial, Garrett Buckner from Fort Worth Southwest Christian, Tyler Anderson from Rio Vista all join Cleburne, along with freshman Spencer Suitt, who is expected to make an immediate impact. Despite so much talent returning and an influx of new talent being added to the mix, Taylor said the Jackets goal of reaching Round Rock is set in stone on a yearly basis regardless of who is
See BASEBALL, Page 7

Junior Tyler Fowler was the District 8-4A and All-Johnson County MVP in 2013.
Photo by David Beans

Page 4

Lady Jackets eye playoff berth for 2014

Former Lady Jacket hoping her experiences can help turn around Cleburne softball
By A.J. Crisp sports@trcle.com The Cleburne Lady Jacket softball program has seen its share of struggles in recent years, but under a new head coach, Kala Winn, the expectation for the 2014 season is improvement and a playoff berth. Winn, the daughter of Cleburnes head baseball coach, Ross Taylor, knows what its like as a member of a successful Lady Jacket softball team as she was a key figure in Cleburnes last successful era in the early 2000s. Winn said Taylor has played an important role, not only in her life, but also from a coaching standpoint. And she said she hopes the Lady Jackets can get to the level that Taylor has brought the Cleburne baseball program in recent years. There are many factors that are definitely playing a key role in the momentum towards re-establishing the quality of softball here at Cleburne, Winn said. I am invested in this program, and I experienced what it was like to play here as a four-year starter when the program was very successful. I have had great experiences, and I just want my girls to gain those experiences as well, because they have worked hard, and without a doubt, deserve it. Winn said she has learned just about everything she knows from her father, but two things stand out from a coaching standpoint. I think what I have learned from my dad the most is just to keep it honest, she said. Sometimes honesty is the hardest thing for people to hear. It seems honesty isnt very popular these days, but being honest to my girls and keeping them honest and accountable has definitely been a big game change this year. I have also learned from my dad to take risks no one ever stole second with their foot still on first base. I definitely have adopted game strategy from him, and the discipline it takes to be successful. I have told my girls if we arent the best athletes, then we have to be cerebral and aggressive. And they understand I have zero tolerance for non-present minds and non-hustle. I need players that are mentally tough, that when I get on to them they accept the challenge, and they know its not personal, but indeed the opposite it is because I care. Despite the struggles in recent seasons, Winn said the Lady Jackets are only focused on this season, and nothing in the past. Im a new coach and this is a new year, she said. I have focused no attention to the past, and we have gone to work every day with this season in mind. Our ultimate goal is playoffs. And every day we have done what is necessary to work towards that goal. The seniors chose the motto Grind Now. Shine Later. They understand that if they want that ultimate goal, that grinding it out every day is exactly what has to happen. This is their last chance to shine. The Lady Jackets return several key players from last season, including junior Mackenzie Kirkpatrick, senior Alli Suitt, senior Savannah Milne, sophomore Jadyn Luna and junior Jacqueline Torres, among others. I am expecting Mackenzie and Alli to bring their A-game this season, Winn said. Mackenzie signed a college scholarship this fall, and I expect her to stay hungry, and remember that good enough never is. Im looking for her to have no to few errors defensively, and to be a dominate force in the box. She is a multi-faceted player. I am looking for her to knock in RBIs, and lay down the small ball when the situation requires her to. Alli will be the starter out of basketball and it is her position to lose. She will share mound time with Mackenzie and Jadyn. We do not have a dominate force on the mound, and so these girls will have to pick each other up whenever the other doesnt have it that day, and the team will have to be solid defensively in order for us to win. Being solid defensively was the Lady Jackets biggest issue in 2013 as errors, especially at costly times, led directly to several losses. Since August, we have been pushing toward high reps, team defense and knowledge-based drills, Winn said. I wanted to put the ball in their hands so much this offseason that eventually fielding, throwing and hitting the cut-off the correct way is second nature. That has been the goal; defense, defense, defense. We are going to get beat, but I cant and wont handle beating ourselves off of errors. The Lady Jackets open their season Tuesday at Fort Worth South Hills. Cleburnes District 8-4A opener is Feb. 28 at Everman.
Alli Suitt was a second-team alldistrict pitcher as a junior in 2013.
Photo by David Beans

Mackenzie Kirkpatrick was an all-district and all-county performer as a sophomore in 2013.

Photo by David Beans

2014 Lady Jackets

Jadyn Luna--Soph. Mackenzie Kirkpatrick--Jr. Cassidy Wright--Jr. Shelbi Ritchey--Jr. Alysia Landess--Jr. Jacqueline Torres--Jr. Savannah Milne--Sr. Alli Suitt--Sr. Natalie Campbell--Sr. Lauren Sansom--Sr. Rachel Brooks--Sr.

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Baseball
cont. from pg. 4
in the locker room. Our expectations are to go to Round Rock and they always are, he said. Thats not something thats dependant upon whats coming back, thats just what our expectations are. Last year, we fell short. We get beat in the regional final when all we have to do is win one of those two games on Friday and were there. Obviously we know that those were probably the worst two games we played since maybe the first weekend of baseball last year. For whatever reason, it happened, whether we were young, whether it was the crowd, whether it was the wind conditions I dont know. But we didnt play very well in those two games and I think thats a motivating factor. I think were going to have a huge target on our back all year long. Were already rated top 4 in the state in both polls. I think people expect us to be good. Taylor said the biggest difference in 2014 compared to last year is experience and maturity. I just think that everybodys a year older, Taylor said. All the guys that carried us have all been there now. You look at Martinez and Fowler, and theyve both been in the state tournament. The rest of those guys reached the regional final last year. I just think that level of maturity and understanding of what youve got to do should be better. Im not promising its going to be better, but it should be. The Jackets open their season Feb. 20 at the Waco Tournament. District 8-4A play begins March 11 at Waco High.

Dylan Schneider went 16-0 on the mound as a sophomore for the Jackets last season.

Photo by David Beans

cont. from pg. 3

top to bottom. Garett Reband, Jordan Piety and Trent Armstrong make up the top 3, followed by Kylen Roberts, Ryan Phipps, Dakota Justice and Will Whitworth. Garett is an instrumental part, but how the team goes is not just dependent on Garett Reband, McHargue said. I need the other guys on the team to step up and compliment his scores so that the team can advance and meet the teams goals. Thats what were focusing on is we need to come together as a team. The individual accomplishments are great but ultimately were going to be judged on how the team does. Jordan and Trent are neck and neck for the No. 2 and have been all year long. I even see Jordan and Trent pushing Garett for that No. 1 position. While the Jackets are extremely talented in their top 3 slots, McHargue said the depth from 1-7 is Cleburnes strength right now. Theyre definitely going to be instrumental, but I still need a good team score, he said. Thats where Im pushing those other guys Kylen Roberts, Ryan Phipps, Dakota Justice and Will Whitworth. Theyre going to be pushing for that No. 4 and 5 position. So those guys competing for those positions is going to make that position even stronger. Were in a good situation. Ive got a lot of competition in the different areas. McHargue said he is also excited about the girls opportunities this season. He said he expects, if not the whole team making regionals, for at least a couple of girls to qualify. The Lady Jackets are led by Elizabeth Wren, CK Downing and Madison George the returning top 3 for the girls team. Ive got to find a 4 and a 5, McHargue said. Ive got six girls playing for the first time this year. I have Rachel Morton coming up and shes got huge potential and will begin the spring in the 4th position and see how far she can climb. Bryanna Tamayo and Hannah Lingo will battle for the No. 5 spot. I think were taking a step up from recent years. We still havent found that spark thats going to get three or four of them underneath 100 but if they can peak at the right moment and can get four of them under the 90s, we can get to Abilene.

Golf

Page 7

Spring tennis hopes for repeat of fall season success

By A.J. Crisp sports@trcle.com The Cleburne tennis team is coming off an unbeaten district championship in the fall season, but the spring season is a different animal. The difference between fall and spring tennis is huge, Cleburne Coach Stacey Foster said. The fall season is a total team score taken from the girls and boys. Each player plays singles and doubles. In the spring, you are on your own. You qualify for regionals on your own if you place first or second in whatever you play. How your teammates do does not affect your chances. Foster said it is still early in the season the Jackets first meet scheduled for Feb. 7 was postponed and Cleburne is still finding the right combination of who to play in what event. As far as expectations are concerned, it is hard to say, Foster said. We are just now deciding what each player will play this spring. They have a choice of singles, doubles, or mixed doubles. The teams in will be no doubles or mixed doubles teams that played together last spring. Expectations are high for two-time regional qualifier Joey Walters, who has qualified in doubles and mixed doubles. He will have a very good chance to repeat that feat again this year, Foster said. But I expect everyone to contend for a spot to regionals. It might not be realistic for a few of them to get first, but second is a possibility. Foster said the teams are not yet set, but Ryan Pardo is expected to be the top boys singles player and Sierra Newton the top girls singles player. The top boys doubles team is Leon Nguyen and Tyler Doyal and the top girls doubles team is Dana Siler and Kylie Conner. Walters will join with Jeanette Marquez for the top mixed doubles team. Walters was the district MVP in the fall season and Newton was the district newcomer of the year. Logan Chapin, Conner, Doyal, Marquez, Allie Melson, Nguyen, Pardo and Daisa Whitton were all first-team selections for the Jackets in the fall.

Joey Walters has qualified for regionals in spring tennis the past two years.

Photo by David Beans

our district are doing the same, so I dont know who will have the best chance to advance to regionals. The only thing we are concentrating on right now is finding good combinations in doubles and mixed. There

Page 8

Several Jackets aiming for regional, state powerlifting meets

By A.J. Crisp sports@trcle.com Cleburne powerlifting had a respectable season last year, led by Bree Gossett and Kristen Mosoba, both of whom qualified for state in 2013. And expectations are high yet again for Gossett and Mosoba, among others. I expect Bree and Kristen to return to state, Cleburne Coach Sam Skidmore said. Both of them should have a good shot winning state championships. On the boys side, expectations are high for Tevin Boone and Hosbald Ruiz, among others. Boone was an alternate for regionals last year, Skidmore said. I dont see why he wont make it to regionals, as well Ruiz. The Yellow Jackets have already competed in two powerlifting meets, at Hillsboro and Whitney. Gossett came in first place and received top lifter at each meet while Mosoba and Boone also had top-3 finishes at each meet. Cleburne rarely qualifies for top-3 finishes as a team because they dont send as many lifters as most other schools do, and participation is something the Cleburne coaching staff is working on. On the boys side, we want to get our participation up, which we have, Skidmore said. We have around 30 or so lifters. We had a JV meet a couple of weeks ago in Burleson. So we took a lot of those kids who havent competed in a meet yet. We only take 11 to a varsity meet. Participation and working on technique and getting stronger is what our goals are. Skidmore said the boys participation is higher than last year and the girls is equal to last year. I dont see any reason why we cant get six or seven girls in regionals, Skidmore said. Id like to at least get four or five to regionals. We lost three of our better boys lifters from last year. Skidmore said Boone and Ruiz have a strong chance at advancing to regionals. They have the best shot, he said. I think those two will probably be my only boys who have a real chance. Were very young on the boys side, which is also a good thing because you have younger kids getting stronger. Cleburnes next scheduled powerlifting meet is set for Feb. 15 at Venus.
Bree Gossett made it to the Class 4A state powerlifting meet and her goal this year is to come in first at state.
Photo by David Beans

Cleburne Coach Sam Skidmore said he expects junior Tevin Boone to qualify for the Class 4A regional meet this year.

Photo by David Beans

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Page 9

Jacket track hoping to top last years achievements

By A.J. Crisp sports@trcle.com In 2013, the Cleburne track team sent five individuals to the Class 4A regional track meet, and the goal this year is to build on that feat. Last year, Austin Tarver and Reagan Mead each qualified for regionals in the 3,200-meter run and Brianna Reband qualified in the high jump. Kibo Grant and Kaitlyn Curry, seniors last year, also qualified for regionals. One area the Cleburne track coaches said theyre looking for improvement in is participation, and so far, so good. Our goals this year are more participation in track and to advance more kids into regionals and on to state, Cleburne Coach Jason Payne said. Our numbers have increased since last year with more freshmen, but again we want to have as many kids as we can in track. I would like to again get more relays to advance past the area meet into regionals. One thing I would like to see is bigger numbers in participation, Cleburne Coach Sara

Bell said. So far our numbers have tripled in the offseason from what they were last year and I am hoping to have even more girls come out as we get going. On the boys side, Payne said several Jackets have solid opportunities to advance deep into postseason competition. Tevin Boone in the shot put and discus, Cannon Martyniuk in the high jump, Reggie Robinson II in the long jump and high

Senior Brianna Reband qualified for regionals in the high jump last season and Coach Sara Bell said she expects Reband to make regionals again.

Photo by David Beans

jump, and Kendall Nettik in the pole vault are expected to compete for a regional berth in field events. Robinson in the 100-meter and 200-meter and Tarver and Mead in the 3,200-meter run have high expectations in the running events. On the girls side, Bell said there are several Lady Jackets who can qualify for area and regionals. I expect several of our ath-

Page 10

letes to do well this season, Bell said. In high jump, Brianna Reband will be very competitive again this year. In shot put and discus we have Whitney Morgan, Kristen Mosoba, Olivia Mosaba, Kalee Tarpley and freshmen Delilah Mitchell. In hurdles and sprint events, I expect Sierra Drake, Laura Greenidge, Charnese Niles, Charity Gonzales, and Kwantavia Williams to do very well. Also, Sierra Drake is going to be very successful in hurdle events this year. In distance, I expect Taya Berry, Alondra Flores, Chasity Reyes, Cynthia Maurer and Lilly Prescott to do well. Bell said there are several freshman who could make an immediate impact, including Akarian Morgan in sprints and hurdles, Sakaila White and Eboni Simpson in sprints and the long and triple jumps, and Kelsi Chavez and Aleisha Bailey in sprints and high jumps. I expect several of the girls will have a successful run this season and I am excited to be a part of this Lady Jacket track program, Bell said. Cleburnes first scheduled track meet is Feb. 20 at the Byron Nelson Bobcat relays. The first full meet is March 1 at Mansfield Lake Ridge.

Cleburne swim has another solid

Sarah Saunders and Spencer Saunders, below, paced the Yellow Jacket swim team all season, including qualifying for regionals in several events.

Photos by David Beans

Jackets competed in 15 events at regional meet

By A.J. Crisp sports@trcle.com The Cleburne High School swim team competed in the Class 4A Region II swim meet Friday and Saturday in Mansfield, and the Yellow Jackets were represented in 15 different events. The Yellow Jacket swim team has had a season filled with obstacles, such as the heater at their practice pool going out, resulting in lost practice time, but through it all, Cleburne has continued its tradition of sending numerous swimmers to the regional meet. To start off, we have a smaller team than in years past, so the fact that we advanced 15 swimmers out of 25, thats amazing, Cleburne Coach Joni Hundley said. We couldnt be happier with the end result. Overall the swimmers have stepped it up in the last month, and have proved they can hang with the best. We have full com-

mitment from all our swimmers, which is a huge accomplishment. Every season, we tend to lose a few due to the demanding workout schedule on top of their academics, and this year weve had 100 percent attendance. Swimmers who qualified for the regional meet were Sarah Saunders, Morgan Marshall,

Jayci Hirt, Victoria Childress, Tory Johnston, Meili Hall, Carrolline Kickhoefer, Morgan Marshall, Spencer Saunders, Zach Dain, Daniel Hernandez, Austin Martin, Zach Tassin and Lauren Moore. Hundley said the Jackets would be ready for the elite competition in a tough region. Our district and region is

extremely fast, Hundley said. They will be prepared and be psyched to do their best. There are not unrealistic goals to advance to finals because we have many on the team that could be swimming on Saturday [in qualifying heats] for Cleburne. Weve swum against many of the teams at large meets and know the expectations are lofty goals, but weve overcome many obstacles this year and have proven were ready. Our goals are to beat their personal best times. Yes, it would be nice to advance to state, but knowing theyve risen to the top and reached their best performance is the end result. Its kind of like the Olympics, were at the trials and weve made it that far ... Now its time to swim fast! Results of the regional swim meet were not available by press time for the Cleburne Spring Sports section. Check Tuesdays edition of the TimesReview for full results.

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Cleburne Spring Sports 2014 schedules

Date

Baseball schedule
Opponent Waco Tournament Saginaw Tournament Western Hills Tournament @ Waco High* Joshua* Burleson* at Centennial* Crowley* at Everman* University* Waco High* at Joshua* at Burleson* Centennial* at Crowley* Everman* at University*

Time TBA TBA TBA 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Feb. 20-22 Feb. 27-Mar. 1 Mar. 6-8 Mar. 11 Mar. 14 Mar. 18 Mar. 21 Mar. 25 Mar. 28 Apr. 1 Apr. 4 Apr. 8 Apr. 11 Apr. 15 Apr. 18 Apr. 24 Apr. 25

* Denotes District 8-4A game

Date Feb. 11 Feb. 14 Feb. 18 Feb. 20-22 Feb. 27-Mar. 1 Feb. 28 Mar. 4 Mar. 7 Mar. 10 Mar. 11 Mar. 18 Mar. 21 Mar. 25 Mar. 28 Apr. 1 Apr. 4 Apr. 8 Apr. 11 Apr. 15

Softball schedule

Opponent Time @ FW South Hills 4:30 p.m. @ Fairfield TBA Keller Fossil Ridge 5:30 p.m. Brewer Tournament TBA North Crowley Tournament TBA @ Everman* 5:30 p.m. University* 5:30 p.m. @ Waco High* 5:30 p.m. Joshua* 2 p.m. Burleson* 2 p.m. @ Centennial* 5:30 p.m. Crowley* 5:30 p.m. Everman* 5:30 p.m. @ University* 5:30 p.m. Waco High* 5:30 p.m. @ Joshua* 5:30 p.m. @ Burleson* 5:30 p.m. Centennial* 5:30 p.m. @ Crowley* 5:30 p.m. * Denotes District 8-4A game

Date Feb. 13 Feb. 21 Feb. 28 Mar. 4 Mar. 21 Mar. 28 Apr. 4 Apr. 7-8 Apr. 14-15 Apr. 28-29

Tennis schedule

Opponent Seguin @ South Hills (TCU) @ Burleson @ Brewer @ Aledo @ Cedar Hill Brock District meet @ Burleson Regionals State

Time 4 p.m. 8 a.m. 8 a.m. 4 p.m. 8 a.m. 4 p.m. 4:30p.m. 8:30 a.m. TBA TBA

Date

Feb. 20 Mar. 1 Mar. 6

Opponent

Track schedule

Nelson Bobcat Relays Mansfield Lake Ridge Granbury Relays

3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 12 p.m.

4 p.m.

Time

Mar. 21-22 Joshua Mar. 28 TBA Apr. 9-10

Marshall Young Invl Area meet

District 8-4A meet @ Burleson

4 p.m.

TBA TBA TBA TBA

Apr. 25-26 Regional meet May 9-10 State meet