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Crockett Blasts Lanier; Secures Playoff Birth
By Sam Bohmfalk
The official game start time was 7 p.m., but for the second straight week the Crockett football team showed up late. Once again, it didn’t matter.
Finding themselves down 7-0 after one quarter, the Cougars stormed back to outscore Lanier 50-3 over the final three quarters to secure the fourth and final playoff spot in District 26-4A.
The best offense for the usually pass-happy Cougars turned out to be a combination of the running game and the defense. Joseph Basemore’s 9-yard rush to even the score was quickly followed by a Cesar Diaz 1 yard plunge to put the Cougars up a touchdown.
The Crockett defense harassed Lanier quarterback L’Ken Britton all day, allowing him just 115 yards on 33 passing attempts. With the Vikings trying to play catch-up, Crockett’s Vicente Cantu-Harlkless picked off a Britton pass and returned it 65 yards to the end zone to push the Lanier lead to 23-7.
The Vikings, who were looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005, simply could not hold onto the ball, throwing two interceptions and putting the ball on the ground four separate times, twice leading directly to scores.
The win by Crockett ensures the team a third consecutive playoff birth, regardless of next week’s result against Travis. The result was like déjà vu for many, as it was a win over Lanier last year that secured Crockett’s place in the playoffs.
The Cougars know, however, that if they want a better result than they got in last year’s bi-district play—a 58-7 loss to Lake Travis—that they better start showing up on-time.
Around the District
McCallum 49, Reagan 0
Much like an overplayed song on the radio, McCallum’s star running back Michael Sorrells won’t go away. Different game, same story. Sorrells touched the ball just nine times but finished the game with 175 total yards and three touchdowns en route to a 42-point halftime lead and eventual seven touchdown victory.
Travis 56, Eastside 7
The Rebels moved one-step closer to securing a three-way split of the district championship as they scored at will on the undermanned Panthers. Quarterback Jacob Sterling was a perfect 4-4 for two touchdowns and running back C.J. Herrera scored three of his own as the Rebels romped, 56-7.
Rangers Vs Giants: Game 3 Live Blog
I have the great fortune of attending game 3 of the World Series in person, so I’ll be providing a live blog of the game.
Pregame:
4:33 – Giants are taking batting practice at the moment. Pablo Sandoval, the Giant’s DH for this game, is absolutely destroying the ball. He’s hitting everything into the second deck in right field.
5:28 – The video board sh
ows a George W. Bush sitting by Nolan Ryan. He gets a hearty applause and cheers from the crowd and one “You suck” from a Giants fan sitting near me.
5:40 – Kelly Clarkson comes out to sing the national anthem. Rangers season ticket holders come onto the field bearing a flag that is in the shape of the United States. The final lyrics are drowned out by 4 F-14s that perform the flyover. The crowd goes wild.
5:44 – Rangers legends Pudge Rodriguez and Nolan Ryan come out for the first pitch of the game. Nolan climbs to the top of the mound and promptly fires a 80 mph fastball down the middle of the plate.
Gametime
Top 1st – The crowd is raucous from the beginning of the game. Everyone is standing as Colby Lewis starts the game off with Andre Torres grounding out. Towels are waving throughout the crowd, causing a huge cloud of dust to flow to the top of the stadium. It’s a bit hard to breathe right now.
Bottom 1st – The beer vendor for the upper section I’m sitting in has already run out of beer, only 15 minutes into the game. He races back towar
d the concession stands to refill his bucket.
Bottom 2nd – Mitch Moreland blasts a 3-run homerun to right field. Has a great 9-pitch at-bat where he fights off multiple breaking balls. Cody Ross takes two steps toward the wall before realizing that this ball has been crushed out of the ballpark. Towels start waving wildly again.
Top 3rd – Colby Lewis follows with a quick 1-2-3 shutdown inning. The crowd starts chanting “Colby, Colby, Colby” as he walks toward the dugout. One fan about three sections to the left has a vuvuzela and is blowing it with every chant of “Colby.”
Bottom 4th – Two Rangers fans that have been standing the entire game draws the ire of a couple of Giants fans sitting a couple of rows behind them. Giants fans starts throwing peanuts before security is called in and promptly escorts them out of the ballpark. This section of seats starts chanting “Nah, nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey, goodbye” as they are escorted out.
Top 5th – Rangers crowd is just absolutely amazing today. The entire upperdeck is shouting “TEXAS” at the top of their lungs while the middle and lower decks follow with “RANGERS”. The seats are literally shaking right now and no one is sitting down. Claws and antlers are being flashed everywhere and giant Texas flags are being waved throughout the stadium. Lewis gets another 1-2-3 inning.
Bottom 5th – Josh Hamilton blasts a homer to right field as the crowd chants “MVP”. The chants can be heard even over the fireworks and continue through the next batter. Vlad is walked and Jonathan Sanchez is taken out of the game. The video board shows an animation of the pitcher getting kicked out of the ballpark by a giant boot.
Top 7th – Cody Ross finally gets the Giants on the board with a solo homerun. Ross has been absolutely amazing this postseason and is a candidate for the postseason MVP. He’s batting .318 with 5 homers and 10 RBI in 13 games.
Mid 7th – A 12-year-old girl is given thirty seconds to run from the left field wall to third base, then back again. She completes it with 6 seconds left and is given third base to take home as a souvenir. That will be an interesting item to put on the fireplace mantle.
Top 8th – Andres Torres hits another solo homer for the Giants. The fan who catches the ball fires it back onto the field and the crowd reacts by giving him raucous cheers. The crowd starts to get really anxious and nervous when Lewis hits Aubrey Huff with a pitch. They fear turning this game over to the bullpen. Darren O’Day relieves Lewis and the O’Day chants start going.
Mid 8th – Official announcement comes in that tonight’s crowd is 52,419. That’s the largest crowd ever to attend a baseball game at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. It may have been 52,419 officially, but it sounded and felt like 100,000 people.
Top 9th – Feliz comes in to close the game. He strikes out Pat Burrell. Burrell is having a horrible World Series, going 0-9 with 8 strikeouts, including 4 strikeouts this game. Crowd is on its feet for every pitch and explodes when strikes out to end the game. Multiple fireworks go off an enormous number of flashbulbs go off as cameras are going crazy. Fans are chanting “Let’s go Rangers” in the parking lots and along the streets as they walk to their cars.
Week 9 District 26-4A Preview
Crockett vs. Lanier
Crockett and Lanier, which both stand at 2-2 in district, play Thursday in a game that will determine who will take the fourth playoff spot. Crockett sputtered against a porous Reagan defense last week, managing just 7 first-half points against a team that is giving up 46 points per game in district play. Meanwhile, Lanier enters the game looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Cougars. In that game, Lanier managed just five first downs and 105 yards en route to a 34-0 defeat.
Prediction: Crockett 35, Lanier 27
McCallum vs. Reagan
McCallum threw the 26-4A playoff picture into disarray after dismantling LBJ 55-41. Michael Sorrells scored six touchdowns en route to the huge victory. Reagan lost all hope of making the playoffs after falling to Crockett 28-6. If the Raiders are wanting to keep this game even moderately competitive, they must find a way to slow down Sorrells. The McCallum defense has shown some holes, but it will be hard for Raiders quarterback Jaquarias Daniels to stay in the pocket and find his receivers.
Prediction: McCallum 63, Reagan 6
Travis vs. Eastside
Travis comes off its bye week rested and ready to romp, as they face off against district doormat Eastside. Travis’ rushing offense, currently averaging over 9 yards per carry, should have no problem with porous rushing defense of Eastside. The Rams, after dropping last week’s game against Lanier, will finish their first season of varsity football at 1-9.
Prediction: Travis 69, Eastside 0
Playoff Preview
McCallum, Reagan and Travis are locks to make the playoffs, with the last spot to be decided in Thursday’s Crockett-Lanier game. Each UIL classification has two playoff divisions, one for larger classifications and one for smaller classifications. I asked LBJ coach Demosesneeds Odems to explain how the playoff seeding will work: “LBJ and McCallum will play in 4A-Division 1 with McCallum getting the number one seed because of their head to head over [LBJ, while] Travis and Lanier/Crockett will play in Division 2, with Travis getting the one seed.”
District 4A Standings and Schedule Week 9
October 28
| 7:00 PM | Crockett (2-6, 2-2) @ Lanier (3-5, 2-2) | |
| 7:30 PM | Elgin (2-6, 0-4) @ Bastrop (6-2 3-1) | Bastrop Memorial Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Vandegrift (3-5, 0-4) @ Rouse (0-8, 0-4) | A.C. Bible Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | NB Canyon (4-5, 3-2) @ Hays (5-3, 3-1) | Bob Shelton Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Eastside (1-8, 0-5) @ Travis (6-2, 3-1) | Burger Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Smithson Valley @ Lockhart (0-8, 0-4) | Lion Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Hendrickson (4-5, 2-3) @ Manor (4-4, 1-3) | Mustang Stadium (12700 Gregg Manor Rd.) |
| 7:30 PM | Lake Travis (7-1, 4-0) @ Marble Falls (4-4, 2-2) | Mustang Stadium (1511 Pony Circle Marble Falls) |
| 7:30 PM | McCallum (4-4, 3-1) @ Reagan (1-7, 1-3) | Nelson Field |
| 7:30 PM | Killeen (7-1, 2-1) @ San Angelo Lake View | Away |
| 7:30 PM | Connally(7-1, 3-1) @ Bryan Rudder | Away |
| 7:30 PM | Lehman (3-5, 0-4) @ Schertz Clemens | Clemens Stadium |
| 7:30 PM | Dripping Springs (4-5, 2-3) @ Cedar Park (8-0, 4-0) | John Gupton Stadium |
The wait for a Rangers World Series berth is over
Though this blog will mostly be an unbiased look at local and Texas-based sports, it feels appropriate to write about an achievement that can’t be overlooked. In just three days, the Texas Rangers will play in their first ever World Series against the San Francisco Giants.
After 22 years of being a living, breathing, die-hard Rangers fan, it’s still a little weird saying that. What’s not hard is knowing that I should feel proud of this accomplishment.
I remember the late 90’s Rangers, where power was the game, and the likes of Johnny Oates, Rusty Greer, Juan Gonzalez and (Pudge) Rodriguez were the faces of the franchise. Of course, I remember the jubilation of winning their first ever game, and the disappointment in the nine straight loses to the Yankees in the ALDS in 1996, 1998, and 1999. It blew, but that was just the beginning.
Years of below mediocrity. Years of disappointing high-profile players who were only in it for themselves (cough, A-Fraud, cough, Teixeira, cough). But something clicked this last four years, and it all started with one man: manager Ron Washington.
He brought the team mentality that was needed to bring this group together. No more focusing on the long ball. It was about being aggressive, playing small ball, preaching defense, etc. All that was needed was the core.
Michael Young: the ultimate team player. Switching from second base to shortstop to third base to help the team build out young player like Elvis Andrus.
Trading for the like of Andrus, ace rookie closer Neftali Feliz, power man Nelson Cruz, veteran catcher Bengie Molina, and the ace to tie it all together, Cliff Lee. He might leave next year, but he should already be considered one of the best pitchers this franchise has had the pleasure to have. Add in the likes of Ian Kinsler, Mitch Moreland, C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, and Vladimir Guerrero, and you’ve got a pretty good team.
And of course, Ham-bone himself, Josh Hamilton. His redemption story has been played. His skills have been admired. But his presence on this team can really be felt when the team celebrated their ALDS and ALCS victories with ginger ale instead of champagne so he could resist the temptation of alcohol and join his teammates in celebration. That move alone shows not only this franchise is a true team, but Hamilton is a necessary part of it. The ALCS MVP, probably the regular season MVP, and for this team to win their first title, hopefully the World Series MVP.
I leave you with the definition of a true Ranger fan. I’m walking through JCPenny’s Saturday, and an employee asks another about the image on the back of his shirt. It was a deer with hands substitued for antlers.
“What does it mean?” the employee asks his co-worker.
“I don’t know,” he responds.
“It represents a speed play, like a steal or hustling and diving to make a catch,” I said.
A couple steps later, I throw up the claw. My own power-based play. Go Rangers!
McCallum Win Creates Three-way Tie Atop 26-4A
By Sam Bohmfalk
McCallum 55, LBJ 41
Don’t be surprised if Michael Sorrells soon garners a few more offers from D-I schools. Already with scholarship promises in hand from Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and Tulsa, Sorrells dismantled the LBJ defense scoring six touchdowns in leading the McCallum Knights to a 55-41 victory over the LBJ Jaguars. The win creates a virtual three-way tie between one-loss teams LBJ, McCallum and Travis.
Held to just 58 first-half yards, Sorrells put the Knights on his shoulders in the third quarter as he bullied his way into the end zone three times, scoring on runs of 3, 7, and 44 yards turning a 21-13 Knights deficit into a 41-28 lead heading into the fourth. The change of quarter did nothing to stop Sorrells, who quickly added his fifth touchdown of the game to push the McCallum lead to 20.
LBJ wasn’t about to lie down, however, and Trey Porter’s second touchdown run pulled the Jaguars within 13. After a defensive stop, the Jaguars struck again as quarterback Darius Collins found Emiliano Espinoza from 45-yards out to pull LBJ within 7.
Collins, who finished 22-36 for 293 yards and three touchdowns, was hoping for a chance to tie the game, but McCallum’s Sorrells proved to be too much. The 6-3, 200-pounder scored his sixth touchdown from 7-yards out to ice the game and send the district title picture into disarray.
Elsewhere around 26-4A
Crockett 28, Reagan 6
Crockett’s 240 rushing yards controlled the clock, but it was quarterback Paul Wagner’s arm that won the game for the Cougars. Wagner threw for touchdowns of 23 and 28 yards in the second half as the Cougars scored 21 unanswered to knock the Raiders out of the playoff chase, 28-6.
Lanier 41, Eastside 14
The Lanier Vikings remained in a tie for fourth-place in District, as they drubbed the Eastside Rams 41-14. The Rams’ last game is next week against Travis, although the team is guaranteed to remain in the district cellar by virtue of their record.
Junior Adams repeats as conference player of the week
Though she received her first Big 12 Player of the Week honors just last week, junior middle blocker Rachel Adams has doubled that number.
Adams was named Big 12 Player of the Week for consecutives week after the Longhorns volleyball team swept Colorado and Kansas State last week.
“It was nice, that was my first time being Big 12 Player of the Week, but I can’t become complacent,” Rachel said last week after receiving her first honor. “I just have to keep working hard and keep giving my teammates what they need from me.”
Adams recorded 13 kills in Texas’ 3-0 win against Colorado, committing only one error on 15 swings. She also had two blocks, three digs and an assist.
She completed a team-high 12 kills on 17 swings, along with a career-high 10 blocks and nine block assists in the win against Kansas State.
“Rachael is playing at a very high level right now. She’s very dominant,” head coach Jerritt Elliott said. “Her ability to find herself and make herself available is critical.”
This is the third honor Rachel has received so far this year, as she was named to the all-tournament team at the Nike Big Four Volleyball Classic in September.
“I’ve grown into my position,” Rachel said. “I kind of take a step back sometimes and it is kind of weird to know that I’m one of those players. I just have to take it and run with it and be what my teammates need.”
District 4A Standings and Schedule Week 8
October 21
LBJ (4-4, 4-0) @ McCallum (3-4, 2-1) 7:00 PM House Park
Stephenville @ Killeen (7-0, 2-0) 7:00 PM Leo Buckley Stadium
October 22
Alamo Heights @ Lehman (3-4, 0-3) 7:30 PM Bob Shelton Stadium
Reagan (1-6, 1-2) @ Crockett (1-6, 1-2) 7:30 PM Burger Stadium
Bastrop (5-2, 2-1) @ Connally (7-0, 3-0) 7:30 PM Cougar Stadium (Lamar)
Lockhart (0-7, 0-3) @ NB Canyon (3-5, 2-2) 7:30 PM Cougar Stadium (New Braunfels)
Bryan Rudder @ Hendrickson (3-5, 1-3) 7:30 PM Hawk Stadium
Rouse (0-7, 0-3) @ Lake Travis (6-1, 3-0) 7:30 PM Lake Travis Sports Complex
Lanier (2-5, 1-2) @ Eastside (1-7, 0-4) 7:30 PM Nelson Field
Marble Falls (3-4,1-2) @ Dripping Springs (4-4, 2-2) 7:30 PM Tiger Stadium
Hutto (7-1, 3-1) @ Elgin (2-5, 0-3) 7:30 PM Wildcat Stadium
Vandergrift (3-4, 0-3) @ Vista Ridge (6-2, 2-2) 7:30 PM John Gupton Stadium
District 26-4A Week 8 Preview
By Sam Bohmfalk
Crockett (1-6, 1-2) vs. Reagan (1-6, 1-2)
The Reagan Raiders enter this game riding high off a 51-20 victory over Eastside. The win against the Rams snapped the Raiders’ 19-game losing streak. The Raiders were led by all-everything Jaquarias Daniels, who threw touchdown passes of 15 and 23 yards, rushed 55 yards for a score, returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, and returned a fumble on a two-point conversion 100 yards for two points. The Crockett Cougars enter having fallen last week 43-16 to district leaders LBJ. Quarterback Paul Wagner led the Cougars offense with an efficient line of 17-28 for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. Crockett’s defense struggled to stop LBJ, allowing over 500 yards while forcing the Jaguars to punt just once. Both teams need this win if they want a shot at grabbing the last playoff spot in 26-4A.
Prediction: Crockett 38, Reagan 12
LBJ (4-4, 4-0) vs. McCallum (3-4, 2-1)
The McCallum Knights are the last real challenge for an LBJ Jaguars team that is looking to run the table in district play. The Jaguars had no trouble last week in their 43-16 victory over Crockett. McCallum’s defense will have to find a way to stop LBJ quarterback Darius Collins, who has lit up district opponents, completing 74% of his passes in four games, for 574 yards and 7 touchdowns. A win by McCallum would put the Knights in position to repeat as district champions. The Knights are led by the district’s leading rusher, Michael Sorrells, who has amassed 1086 yards and 13 touchdowns on just 130 carries.
Prediction: LBJ 42, McCallum 27
Lanier (2-5, 1-2) vs. Eastside (1-7, 0-4)
The Lanier Vikings and Eastside Rams each enter this game as teams that would put a dictionary definition of the word defense to shame. Lanier fell to the Travis Rebels last week, 51-14, due in large part to the fact that the Rebels amassed 438 rushing yards. On the other side, the Eastside Rams fell victim to Reagan last week, giving up 51 points—the least they’ve allowed in a district game to date. The Rams pass defense, which has been suspect all year, will have to find a way to stop Vikings quarter back K’Len Britton if they want to win. Britton, who has thrown for 1,091 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year, was held in check against Travis completing just 10 of 21 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction: Lanier 56, Eastside 13
Rangers-Rays Game 4 Recap and Game 5 Preview
After taking the first two games in Tampa, the Texas Rangers will be heading back there.
The Rays once again beat the Rangers 5-2 in Arlington, as Wade Davis had a good enough start, going five innings giving up one solo home run, as the bullpen took the reins and only gave up one more run in 4 innings. Rafael Soriano recorded the save for the Rays.
The Rangers’ Tommy Hunter took the loss, only able to go 4 innings while giving up 3 runs, 2 of them earned. Derek Holland came in for a long relief appearance in the fifth inning, and gave up a two-run homer to Evan Longoria.
Longoria racked up three hits, two runs, and two RBIs for the Rays, who have scored 11 runs in their two games in Arlington compared to the one run they scored in both games at Tropicana Field. The Rangers, by comparison, scored a total of five runs in both games in Arlington against the 11 they scored in Tampa.
Texas is still looking to win a playoff series for the first time in its franchise history, and will be sending Game 1 starter Cliff Lee to the mound to try to get that accomplished. Lee, in six combined playoff starts with the Phillies and Rangers, hasn’t lost a playoff game. Tampa will also be using its Game 1 starter, David Price, in Tuesday’s game. So far, the away team has won all the games in the series.
The winner of Tuesday night’s game will host the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series on Friday. The Yankees advanced after sweeping the AL Central champion Twins Saturday night.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. CST Tuesday night from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Keeping Sports Weird 