Section C Friday, March 4, 2016

■ Nominations are now being accepted for the All-South Girls and Boys Basketball teams. Nominations will be accepted from coaches Sports only and can be sent to [email protected].

Carroll’s Matt Salinas robs a Veterans Memo- Yeager gets new look at Tigers rial batter of a hit during the 12th annual Mira’s Sport & More South ■ Carroll gives More Classic Yeager said. “Anytime The game may not have Texas Classic on Thurs- is in full swing. someone says Carroll Ti- counted for more than a day at Cabaniss Field. former coach For years that meant Lee gers,I have to stop and win or loss in pool play GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Yeager donning the blue think where I am at and this time around, but the tough time and white of the Carroll what I’m doing. It is a matchup should burgeon Tigers. tough deal to come over into a rivalry in coming By Quinton Martinez Thursday offered a new here with these young seasons when the neigh- [email protected] sight, the longtime Tigers’ pups and play a well-sea- boring schools share Dis- 361-886-3745 coach wearing Veterans soned team. I thought our trict 30-5A and the Eagles Memorial red, coaching guys competed well after aren’t so wet behind the Sunflower seeds the Eagles in their fi rst ap- the fi rst inning. We just ears. strewed across the steps pearance in the 12th an- don’t have the depth or the “I am sure it will devel- of Cabaniss Baseball Field nual tournament, against experience they have right op into a rivalry,” Yeager in early March are a sign his old team. now and hopefully we will that the Mira’s Sports and “It was a little strange,” pretty soon.” See CARROLL, 6C

Thursday night’s game between the Islanders men and Houston Baptist ended HIGH PERFORMANCE after press time. For a report, go to Caller.com. ■ Beeville, West HOUSTON A&MCC Oso playing at BAPTIST their best level 55 51 By George Vondracek [email protected] WOMENS BASKETBALL 361-886-3731 Both Beeville’s Mike Luce Putting and West Oso’s Karl Turk say that their respective boys bas- ketball teams are performing at levels they have not previ- load on ously reached this season. The timing couldn’t be bet- ter for either the Trojans or the Bears, who shared the next District 31-4A championship. Because if they are to meet for a fourth time this season, their best play certainly will be game needed on Friday at the Region IV-4A tournament at the Stein- ke Physical Education Center ■ A&M-CC at Texas A&M-Kingsville. In their first appearance in still alive for a regional tournament since 1992, the Trojans (23-8) take SLC tourney on 14th-ranked Wharton (30- 6) in the opening semifinal Staff reports game. The Bears (25-9) draw No. 6 and defending regional HOUSTON — The Texas champ La Marque (31-8) in A&M-Corpus Christi the nightcap. The winners women’s basketball team meet Saturday afternoon with saw its chances at a spot a trip to the state tournament in the Southland Confer- at stake. ence Tournament take A rematch of the 31-4A com- a hit on batants for the regional title Thursday certainly is a compelling sto- night. ryline, although neither Luce The Is- nor Turk are banking on that as landers a certainty. The Bears won two (10-18, 6-11 of the three meetings, winning SLC) are at the Tuloso-Midway Pride not out of of Texas Tournament and in the run- the second district meeting at ning for the Jones Beeville. In that first district SLC tour- meeting, however, the Tro- nament jans snapped Oso’s 117-game yet, but district win streak. Thursday’s “Oso’s got a real good club, 55-51 loss but I’ve heard some real good to Hous- things about La Marque, also,” ton Baptist said Luce, in his 30th season puts more guiding the Trojans. “That pressure should be a real good game, on them Davis also. We’ll just see what hap- for Satur- pens there. If we happen to day’s game against con- win and Oso happens to win, ference-leading Abilene that’s good. We split this year Christian. The Islanders (in district). We’re the one will play the Wildcats at 2 that broke their district win- GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES p.m. Saturday in Abilene. ning streak so that was kind West Oso junior Ty’shun Franklin A&M-CC never led at of neat.” is one of three players averaging BOYS REGIONAL BASKETBALL the end of any of the four “How crazy would that be if in double fi gures for the Bears. quarters during Thurs- we both could win? How cra- Franklin is the team’s third-leading TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES day’s game but kept the zy would that be?” Turk said. scorer at 11.2 points per game. CLASS 4A CLASS 3A game close throughout. “I’m sure that for the rest of at Steinke Physical Education at Goldie Hill Gym, Seguin The Islanders cut the the state we’re both underdogs 37-33, limiting the Greyhounds Center, Texas A&M-Kingsville SEMIFINALS lead to three at 54-51 going in.” to 10 second-half points. SEMIFINALS Goliad (31-4) vs. No. 24 Santa with 25 seconds remain- Which brings us to the “We’re just playing at the Wharton (30-6) vs. Beeville Rosa (25-8), 6 p.m. ing on a Kassie Jones pressing matter for both teams. highest level we’ve played all (23-8), 6 p.m. Aransas Pass (28-9) vs. Universal jumper, but the Huskies’ Winners of 15 consecutive year. (Tuesday) night in the La Marque (31-8) vs. West Oso City Randolph (26-5), 8 p.m. Lisa Zderadicka hit a free games since the Beeville loss, fourth quarter we were able to (25-9), 8, p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP throw with: 03 remaining the Bears are playing their best hold that team to two points CHAMPIONSHIP Semifi nal winners, 1 p.m. to ice the game. ball of the season, Turk said. whereas in the two previous Semifi nal winners, 1 p.m. Jones led the Island- The Bears earned their trip to ers with 15 points and Kingsville by beating Boerne See TOURNAMENT, 5C See ISLANDERS, 3C IWA looking to get back to state ■ Angels hope — win the TAPPS 4A state semifinals — which was the TAPPS 4A promised championship. their fi rst appearance at land in his initial season. new coach can “This whole South the TAPPS state tourna- “My job mainly here is Texas area has a great ment since 2003 — to cap to keep it going and hope- get them there tradition of baseball and their impressive 18-win fully add a little something softball, and I’m just hap- season. to help us get us over the Stuart Duncan py to be a part of it,” said IWA lost one key player hump and get us to where Special to the Caller-Times Salinas, who graduated from last year’s team, as we want to be this year,” from Moody in 1994 and all-state junior third base- said Salinas, who has IWA fi rst-year softball played two seasons at UT man Alyssa Perez trans- coached select summer coach Trey Salinas is look- before being drafted as a ferred to play for Class 6A softball the past 10 seasons. ing to bring some “Moody catcher in the 21st round King this season. “Now that we pretty much RACHEL DENNY CLOW/CALLER-TIMES Magic” to the Angels’ soft- of the 1996 Major League All-state senior pitch- have our whole group back Incarnate Word Academy pitcher Taylor Guzman pitches during ball program this season. Baseball amateur draft er Taylor Guzman, all- from basketball,I feel we against Moody on Thursday at Moody High School. Salinas, a former Moody by Tampa Bay. “I’ll do my district junior shortstop can compete with anyone High School and Universi- best here to help these girls Hayley Guerra and junior in the area.” with a hip injury, while se- Salinas said the Angels ty of Texas baseball stand- reach their ultimate goal.” first baseman Maddie Salinas’ full squad is not nior infi elder Kate Pekar (3-5) were also without out, is determined to help The Angels nearly won Thompson return to help quite all back yet because still hasn’t recovered from fi ve starters because of IWA do something even state last year before fall- Salinas try to guide the of injuries, however. an ACL injury that caused more special this season ing in the TAPPS 4A state team to the equivalent of Guerra is currently out her to miss last season. See SALINAS, 6C CALLER-TIMES «Friday, March 4, 2016 « 6C sports

Speedway set for season opener MIrA’s softball schedule, results

■ Shootout some of the best drivers SOUTH TEXAS will host the Kenny Wal- and crews in all of Texas.” SHOOTOUT lace Racing Experience, first of several This weekend the track where fans will have a will host the South Texas South Texas Speedway chance to take some laps events on slate Shootout, a three-day Friday-Saturday in different types of dirt- event that began with Admission: $12 for track racing cars. By Len Hayward practice on Thursday and adults; $5 for children Hobbs said what he has 5-12; children 5-younger [email protected] will continue with racing learned from Wallace and free; veterans $5 361-886-3702 on Friday and Saturday. Schrader is that running a Classes competing: It is the first of a number Southern Sport Mods, racetrack is a business, and Ken Hobbs’ first season of events on the sched- Topless Tornadoes, Pure to keep that in mind with promoting and owning ule, which will continue Stocks decisions. He said they South Texas Speedway through October. have worked to improve featured more wet weather This weekend’s event the roadways around the than good weather. will feature the Southern Schrader. facility, along with an out- But while last year was Sport Mods, Topless Tor- Hobbs said he has door stage, an indoor bar tough, the obstacles faced nadoes and Pure Stocks, leaned on them for help area with air conditioning in 2015 did little to deter with the winner of Sat- as he works on his racing and a number of other fa- Hobbs from continuing to urday night’s Sport Mod program. cility upgrades. work on the quarter-mile feature event possibly re- “It takes a lot of time, “Although it’s racing dirt track and put together ceiving a $10,000 winner’s and the biggest thing is and you have a passion, a consistent local race pro- share. it’s not only myself, but it you have to make it a busi- gram in Corpus Christi. Hobbs, a native of Cor- takes a really good crew ness first,” Hobbs said. “If “We have a good set pus Christi who managed and set of employees,” you can’t keep the doors of drivers, and we’ve had a scrap yard, has been Hobbs said. “They are re- open, racing doesn’t hap- bigger car counts than racing for 10 years, and ally working hard to do- pen. The thing that always any track around, even through his time racing he nate their time. We have a comes first is the track and through all the rain,” has built friendships with lot of sponsors and a lot of everything else after that.” RaCheL Denny CLow/CaLLeR-TiMeS Hobbs said. “They’ve all former NASCAR drivers people donate their time.” Moody’s alexis Sanchez tags out incarnate word academy’s stuck with it, and we have Kenny Wallace and Ken On March 20 the track Twitter: @Caller_Len Savannah Bevalet at second base during their game Thursday at Moody high School.

MIRA’S CCISD BAYFRONT BASH Game 20: G13 winner vs. G9 winner, MIrA’s scores and schedule THURSDAY 3:30 p.m., Cabaniss POOL GAMES LOSER’S BRACKET CABANISS COMPLEx (POOL A) SEMIFINAL 12TH ANNUAL MIRA’S SPORTS & Odem 11, Miller 1; Port Lavaca Ca- Game 14: G10 winner vs. G11 winner, MORE SOUTH TExAS CLASSIC hourn 10, Miller 0; Cedar Park 10, Odem 9 a.m., Carroll HS Pool A— Carroll, Veterans Memorial, 0; Calhoun 7, Cedar Park 1; Calhoun 2, CONSOLATION FINAL Bishop, Roma Odem 0; Cedar Park 14, Miller 1 Game 18: G14 winner vs. G12 winner, Pool B— Moody, Laredo Cigarroa, Hi- CARROLL HS (POOL B) noon, Carroll HS dalgo, Houston Chavez, Beeville Carroll 2, Bishop 0; Beeville 7, Bishop 0; GUARANTEE GAMES Pool C— Calallen, Spring Branch, Del Beeville 4, SA Lake View 9; Bishop 12, SA Game 15: G7 loser vs. G8 loser, 10:30 Rio, Ray Lake View 6; Beeville 1, Carroll 1*; Carroll a.m., Cabaniss Pool D— King, San Marcos, Gregory- 3, SA Lake View 2 Game 16: G10 loser vs. G11 loser, 10:30 Portland, Hebbronville, Orange Grove KING HS (POOL C) a.m., Carroll HS Pool E— Alice, Sinton, Banquete, John Mathis 4, King 3; Laredo Alexander 2, Game 17: G15 winner vs. G12 loser, Paul II Mathis 1; King 8, Vista Ridge 1; Vista Ridge noon, Cabaniss Pool F— Mission Veterans, Kingsville, 7, Mathis 1; Alexander 2, King 0; Alexander Miller, Robstown, IWA 3, Vista Ridge 0 TOURNAMENT BRACKET THURSDAY MOODY HS (POOL D) FIRST ROUND CABANISS FIELD Moody 3, IWA 0; Edinburg North 4, Game 1: Odem vs. United South, 9 Ray 8, Del Rio 3; Carroll 1, Spring Moody 2; Edinburg North 4, Vandegrift 2; a.m., King HS Branch 0; King 2, San Marcos 1; Carroll IWA 6, Vandegrift 2; Moody 2, Vandegrift 0 Game 2: Bishop vs. Vandegrift, 10:30 11, Veterans Memorial 3; Houston Chavez RAY HS (POOL E) a.m., King HS vs. Moody, late Ray 11, Alice 3; Santa Gertrudis Acad- Game 3: Vista Ridge vs. Alice, 9 a.m., CARROLL H.S. emy 12, Houston Chavez 0; SG Academy Ray HS 4, Alice 0; Ray 10, Houston Chavez 2; Kingsville 7, Miller 1; Banquete 11, John Game 4: IWA vs. SA Lake View, 10:30 Houston Chavez 11, Alice 4; SG Academy Paul II 5; Roma vs. Ray, late a.m., Ray HS 0*, Ray 0 KING H.S. Game 5: Houston Chavez vs. Mathis, Orange Grove 16, Hebbronville 4; Hi- VETERANS MEMORIAL HS (POOL F) VMHS 4, Laredo United South 3; Hous- noon, King HS dalgo 9, Laredo Cigarroa 5; Orange Grove Game 6: Veterans Memorial vs. Miller, vs. King, late ton St. Agnes 11, United South 1; Leander noon, Ray HS MOODY H.S. 4*, St. Agnes 4; Leander 5, VMHS 4; Lean- WINNER’S BRACKET Beeville 9, Hidalgo 8; Houston Chavez der 5, United South 3; St. Agnes 9, VMHS 2 7, Laredo Cigarroa 1; Moody 9, Beeville 0; * won game by tiebreaker QUARTERFINALS Gregory-Portland 12, Hebbronville 2 Game 7: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 2 STEVE , CALALLEN H.S. CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET p.m., King HS Gregory-Portland 2, San Marcos 1; FRIDAY Game 8: G3 winner vs. G4 winner, 3:30 p.m., King HS Robstown 3, Mission Veterans 0; Calallen CoURTney SaCCo/CaLLeR-TiMeS FIRST ROUND 10, Del Rio 3; Robstown 5, Miller 3; Spring Game 1: Port Lavaca Calhoun vs. St. Game 9: G5 winner vs. G6 winner, 5 Branch vs. Calallen, late Robstown’s Florencio Serrano pitches during the third inning of their game against Mission Agnes, 9 a.m., Cabaniss Field p.m., King HS VETERANS MEMORIAL H.S. Veterans on Thursday at Calallen’s Chapman Field. The Cotton Pickers won 5-3. Game 2: Carroll vs. Moody, 10:30 a.m., LOSER’S BRACKET Veterans Memorial 6, Bishop 3; IWA Cabaniss Field QUARTERFINALS 11, Kingsville 10; Mission Vets 12, IWA 1; Game 3: Alexander vs. Ray, 9 a.m., Game 10: G1 loser vs. G2 loser, 2 p.m., Sinton vs. Banquete, late bronville vs. King, 2 p.m.; King vs. Gregory- WARRIOR FIELD, TULOSO-MIDWAY H.S. Game 7: Moody H.S. Ray HS Portland, 7 p.m. Carroll HS WARRIOR FIELD, TULOSO-MIDWAY H.S. San Marcos vs. Hebbronville, 9 a.m.; Game 8: King H.S. Game 11: G3 loser vs. G4 loser, 3:30 MOODY H.S. Game 4: Edinburg North vs. Beeville, Alice 6, John Paul II 1; Sinton 9, Alice 2; Alice vs. Banquete, 11:30 a.m.; Sinton vs. Game 9: Carroll H.S. p.m., Ray HS Sinton vs. John Paul II, 9 a.m.; Kings- 10:30 a.m., Carroll HS Bishop 5, Roma 2 Alice, 2 p.m.; Beeville vs. Houston Chavez, Game 10: Veterans Memorial H.S. Game 5: SG Academy vs. King, noon, Game 12: G5 loser vs. G6 loser, 5 p.m., FRIDAY ville vs. Mission Veterans, 11:30 a.m.; San 4:30 p.m. Game 11: Chapman Field, Calallen H.S. Marcos vs. Orange Grove, 4:30 p.m. Cabaniss Ray HS CABANISS FIELD SATURDAY Game 12: Cabaniss Field Game 6: Leander vs. Cedar Park, noon, SATURDAY Miller vs. IWA, 9 a.m.; Spring Branch STEVE CHAPMAN FIELD, CALALLEN H.S. GUARANTEE GAMES CONSOLATION GAME Houston Chavez vs. Hidalgo, 9 a.m.; Carroll HS TOURNAMENT BRACKET vs. Ray, 11:30 a.m.; Hidalgo vs. Moody, 9 A.M. No. 5 seed vs. No. 6 seed, 2 p.m., Ca- WINNER’S BRACKET WINNER’S BRACKET 2 p.m.; Miller vs. Mission Veterans, 4:30 Orange Grove vs. Gregory-Portland, 11:30 a.m.; Calallen vs. Bishop, 2 p.m.; John Paul Game 1: Moody H.S. baniss Field QUARTERFINALS SEMIFINAL p.m.; Laredo Cigarroa vs. Moody, 7 p.m. Game 2: King H.S. FIELD Game 7: G1 winner vs. G2 winner, 2 CARROLL H.S. II vs. Banquete, 4:30 p.m.; Ray vs. Calal- Game 13: G7 winner vs. G8 winner, 9 p.m., Cabaniss Bishop vs. Carroll, 9 a.m.; Robstown vs. len, 7 p.m. Game 3: Carroll H.S. SEMIFINALS a.m., King HS IWA, 2 p.m.; Carroll vs. Roma, 4:30 p.m.; VETERANS MEMORIAL H.S. Game 4: Veterans Memorial H.S. No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed, 1 p.m. Game 8: G3 winner vs. G4 winner, 3:30 THIRD-PLACE GAME Robstown vs. Kingsville, 7 p.m. Roma vs. Veterans Memorial, 11:30 Game 5: Chapman Field, Calallen H.S. No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed, 4 p.m. p.m., Cabaniss Game 19: G13 loser vs. G9 loser, 2 p.m., KING H.S. a.m.; Del Rio vs. Spring Branch, 4:30 p.m.; Game 6: Cabaniss Field CHAMPIONSHIP Game 9: G5 winner vs. G6 winner, 5 King HS Beeville vs. Cigarroa, 11:30 a.m.; Heb- Del Rio vs. Veterans Memorial, 7 p.m. 11:30 A.M. Semifinal winners, 7 p.m. p.m., Cabaniss CHAMPIONSHIP LOSER’S BRACKET Game 20: G13 winner vs. G9 winner, QUARTERFINALS 3:30 p.m., King HS Game 10: G1 loser vs. G2 loser, 2 p.m., LOSER’S BRACKET Carroll’s Matt Carroll HS Game 11: G3 loser vs. G4 loser, 3:30 SEMIFINAL Salinas (left) p.m., Carroll HS Game 14: G10 loser vs. G11 loser, 9 celebrates Game 12: G5 loser vs. G6 loser, 5 p.m., a.m., Ray HS Carroll HS CONSOLATION FINAL with Michael CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET Game 18: G14 winner vs. G12 winner, Berglund after WINNER’S BRACKET noon, Ray HS catching the SEMIFINAL GUARANTEE GAMES Game 13: G7 winner vs. G8 winner, 9 Game 15: G7 loser vs. G8 loser, 10:30 ball for an out a.m., Cabaniss a.m., King HS against Veter- THIRD-PLACE GAME Game 16: G10 loser vs. G11 loser, 10:30 Game 19: G13 loser vs. G9 loser, 2 p.m., a.m., Ray HS ans Memo- Cabaniss Game 17: G15 winner vs. G12 loser, rial during the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME noon, King HS 12th annual Mira’s Sport & More South SALINAS Texas Classic from 1C on Thursday at Cabaniss Field. PhoToS By GaBe heR- nanDeZ/CaLLeR-TiMeS IWA’s extended run in the girls basketball playoffs this season, which has led to its slow start this sea- son. The Angels also have played the likes of 2015 Region IV-5A finalist Flour Bluff, TAPPS 4A power- house Fort Bend Christian Academy and Houston St. John’s — whose top pitcher has verbally committed CARROLL Carroll baseball to play college softball for RaCheL Denny CLow/CaLLeR-TiMeS from 1C players shake Georgetown University incarnate word academy’s hands with Vet- (in Washington D.C.) — natalie Smith catches a fly erans Memorial which makes their overall ball for an out during Thurs- said. “We have to get a players after the record deceiving. day’s game at Moody high little better first, but I feel Tigers’ victory IWA also dropped its School. pretty good about where Thursday. CCISD Bayfront Bash we are headed.I think Softball Tournament “I believe we can do some of our younger guys pool play opener to 2015 that. We’re a good team are getting better pretty Region IV-5A semifinal- and we’re stronger than quick. I think that rivalry ist Moody, 3-0, Thursday ever.” will be pretty good once at Salinas’ high school Guzman said Salinas’ we get filled in and ready alma mater. positive attitude ap- to go.” “We’re going out and proach to coaching is Veterans Memorial taking every game as the just the thing to help IWA showed the inexperience championship game,” take even higher ground when the Tigers pounced said Salinas, who is also in the postseason this for eight runs in the bot- the son of area baseball year. tom of the first on their coaching legend Hector “We talk about it a way to an 11-3 win in Pool Thursday. job with the pitchers when matchups will increase Salinas and brother of lot,” Guzman said of the A play. “It wasn’t really be- we were there through the rivalries not just be- Veterans Memorial soft- Angels wanting to win The exchange of the tween us, it was about the those good years,” Yeager tween Veterans Memorial ball coach Paula Salinas. a state championship. lineups before the game players,” Leal said. “They said. “He is a good guy. I and Carroll, but for all six “We’re definitely not tak- “(That’s) definitely (our saw Yeager meet with are the ones that play and respect him and what he district schools. ing anyone lightly, espe- goal this season).” his former assistant Mike do what they need to, to is doing with that program “I like it.I grew up here cially in the district that Thompson said Salinas Leal, who stayed at Carroll get the job done. I never right now. It is pretty neat and we were all in the we play in.” is the perfect fit to help when Yeager left to take really thought about that. to see that what we estab- same district back then,” The Angels clinched a the Angels take that next over the baseball program They have a decent team lished is still doing good. Leal said. “I think it is go- share of the TAPPS 4-4A step in the playoffs. at Grapevine. and we had to go out and Mike is a good friend of ing to be good.I think it is title with John Paul II last “Coach Salinas is going The 1989 Carroll grad play well today. mine and I hope they do going to be better for our season, but they won’t be to bring good changes to had been an assistant un- “Our kids stepped up to well this year.” community. It isn’t going content with sharing it the team that should ulti- der Yeager since 2009 be- the challenge.” Both coaches are look- to be one team, it is going this season — not with mately push us to where fore getting the chance to Yeager said it pleases ing forward to the schools to be all the teams — ev- the team that they have. we need to be and help take over the Tigers last him to see the Tigers car- being a part of 30-5A next erybody is going to have a “We want to be (out- us finish our unfinished year. rying on the success under season, including all six little rivalry.” right) district champs business (in the playoffs) Leal downplayed the Leal. teams from CCISD. this year,” Thompson this season,” Thompson matchup with Yeager on “Coach Leal did a great Leal said the district Twitter @qmartinez said. said.