Sports

The Northeast Texas Community College Eagles rodeo team gained serious momentum two weeks ago as the men won first place at the Hill College Rodeo. NTCC’s Zack Bocco and Dustin Jackson took home first and second place, respectively, in the Men’s All-around. The NTCC women’s team placed eighth place overall at the rodeo.
Their performance at Hill College left the NTCC men in second place overall in the Southern Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). The women are in fourth place overall in the region. With only one rodeo left in the season, this leaves NTCC in great position to send athletes to the College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) in Casper, Wyo. this June.

Read the rest of the story in our online edition, at right.

The Hughes Springs Lady Mustangs softball team improved their record to 20-12 overall and 9-3 in District en route to an 11-0 win over the Daingerfield Lady Tigers 20-0 in a 16AA district matchup.
Led by Destiny Gonzales’ 3-3, 3 RBI performance and Becca Crossland’s 2-3, 3 RBI, the Lady Mustangs stayed in the playoff race for District 16AA.  Catie Wertz went 3-3, Ashlin Roach 1-2, Chyenne Murphy 1-2, Kaitlyn Morris 1-2, and Melissa Skaggs 1-1 rounded out the 12 hit attack.
Kaitlyn Morris picked up her 17th win of the season with a complete game two-hitter.  Morris also had eight strikeouts in the win.
The Lady Mustangs were in action on April 16, at Redwater and close the regular season out Friday, at home against New Boston. Friday’s game is Senior Night.

Daingerfield only trailed Hughes Springs 1 to 0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, in last Friday’s game, but three errors opened the door for the Mustangs to score 3 runs in the fifth inning and 2 more in the sixth to beat the Tigers 6 to 1.
Hughes Springs had to hold off a late Daingerfield rally in the top of the seventh when Colton Gibbs got on base on an error to lead off the inning. Malik Higgins singled and Keaton Key hit a blooper into shallow centerfield that seemed to have been dropped by the centerfielder. The umpire called it a catch and Higgins was doubled up on the play. Gibbs was tagged out to end the game, coming home on a check swing by Shawn Hooks.
Ty Wilson had the lone RBI for Daingerfield, and Josh Terry scored the only run for the Tigers. Terry got the loss for Daingerfield. He struck out four batters and walked one on the night.

By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@steelcountrybee.com
The envy of many golfers, young and old alike, Casey Cochran shot his third hole-in-one when he was playing at District competition April 8 at the Oak Grove Country Club.
A senior at Hughes Springs High School, Cochran shot his first hole-in-one at Beaverbrook Country Club when he was 12 years old.
The second hole-in-one was also at Beaverbrook Country Club in 2010.
“It was at the same hole as the one in 2007,” Cochran said. “I don’t know how I do it; it just happens.”
No stranger to wins, Cochran qualified for State competition in 2011.
“I am definitely going to play golf in college,” he said.
This was Cochran’s fourth year in a row to win at District. He shot a two over 74 to win District by nine strokes.
Also going to Regionals is Kendal Sands who took second place with a score of 97.

Hughes Springs’ athletes participated in the 19-2A District tennis tournament April 4 and April 6 held in Hughes Springs. The boys captured the District Championship for Hughes Springs with 14.75 points. Boys District runners-up were Redwater and Queen City, with 3 points. Redwater won the Girls District championship with 12.5 points.
In girls’ singles, Jenny Barrios of Pewitt defeated Nayla Girard of Hughes Springs 6-3, 6-7(3-7), 6-3 to win the girls’ singles title. Kaitlin Lusk of Redwater defeated Christa Hargett of Hughes Springs 1-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the third place match.  Barrios and Girard will advance to the Regional tournament.
In boys’ singles, Hayden Smith of Hughes Springs defeated Dylan Copeland of Queen City 6-1, 6-1 to win the boys’ singles title. Ezequiel Campos of Hughes Springs defeated Zac Ferris of Daingerfield 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in the third place match.  Smith and Copeland will advance to the Regional tournament.

The Hughes Springs Lady Colts attended the Hughes Springs District Track Meet on April 4. The seventh grade team finished fourth out of 10 and the eighth grade team finished sixth out of 10.
“This track season was a great one for the girls, and the athletic department is very proud of them,” said Coach Chris Edwards.

The ninth annual Tour de Cypress, sponsored by the Mount Vernon Rotary Club, is set for April 20.
Riders can choose from five routes from 10 to 62 miles long, featuring country roads and routes around Lake Cypress Springs.
Rides stagger start at 9 a.m. and runs of 5K and 10K distances begin at 1 p.m. A free hamburger lunch, ride T-shirt and beer are provided registered riders.
A Mountain Bike pedal berm ride will be April 21 at Trey Deuce Domino Saloon.
Live entertainment and a DJ provide background music for the riders before, during and after the event.
The 2013 ride is dedicated to Gary Ovard, who died in the 2012 ride of natural causes.
The ride benefits youth programs sponsored by the Mount Vernon Rotary Club.
For more information, go to www.tourdecypress.com or send an email to info@tourdecypress.com.

The Hughes Springs Mustangs remain undefeated in baseball action, with two shutouts last week.
Trent Shelton earned the win for the Mustangs on Friday when they defeated Paul Pewitt 3-0. Shelton combined with Zach Bassham on a one-hitter. Bassham pitched the seventh inning.
In the game against Paul Pewitt, Chad McKinney doubled and drove in a run. Shelton was 2 for 3. He scored a run and had a stolen base. Josh Anton contributed to the win with a single and an RBI.
The Mustangs shut out Queen City 4-0 on April 2. Dylan Moore got the win. He struck out eight, walked one and scattered five hits in seven innings.
Bassham was 2 for 4 with two stolen bases. Jacob Taylor and Eric Berryhill contributed RBIs in the game.
The Mustangs traveled to Hooks Tuesday evening.

The Daingerfield Tigers, after a 1-4 start in District 16AA baseball play, have reeled off four wins in a row to put them in a three-way tie for third place with New Boston and Redwater at 5-4.
Daingerfield was in a must-win situation against Redwater in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, and the Tigers came up with a big 5-4 win Friday night over the Dragons.
Josh Terry and Ruben Mims were the leading hitters for Daingerfield, going 3-for-4 with each of them having a double. Terry scored 2 runs and had 1 RBI, and Mims had 1 RBI on the night. Ty Wilson and Cameron Precise contributed one hit each for the Tigers.
Terry registered the win for Daingerfield going six and a third innings, while striking out three Redwater batters, walking none and giving up 2 earned runs. Stone Kelley got the save for the Tigers, retiring the final two Redwater batters.

Josh Terry scattered five hits and struck out eight Hornet batters on March 30, including striking out the side in the third inning to earn the complete game victory for Daingerfield.
Ty Wilson had two hits with 2 RBI’s and 1 run scored for the Tigers. Ruben Mims and Stone Kelley each had triples. Keaton Key had two hits on the day. Colton Gibbs and Cameron Precise each contributed a hit for the Tigers.
Daingerfield pounded out 14 hits en route to an 11-7 victory over Paul Pewitt on March 26.
Kelley was the winning pitcher for the Tigers and helped his cause with a 3-run home run in the sixth inning.
The leading hitters for Daingerfield were Mims 3-for-4 with a double, 2 runs scored and 1 RBI; Terry, who was 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored and 1 RBI; and Kelley, 2-for-4 with a home run, 2 runs scored and 4 RBI’s. Gibbs was 2-for-3 on the night.