WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012
BUNA BEACON, PAGE 7A
Lady Cougars hoping for playoff spot this year
Terrier says Cougars off to a promising start With basketball season over, it’s time to move on to focus on spring sports like baseball, track, golf, and tennis, but for Buna High School head varsity baseball coach Kevin Terrier, the only thing on his mind is baseball. Since dropping to 2A, the Buna team has won five consecutive district championships. The team has been to the Area round twice, Regional Quarterfinals once, Regional Semi-finals once, and the State Semi-finals once, and although he would be quick to take any credit, much of the success has been because of Terrier. “The team knows I have very high expectations,” he said. “The players have a little added pressure this year, and they know it is their job to go get number six.” Returning this year for the Cougars will be: Richard Walden, senior, playing second base and pitching; Justin Yoes, senior, playing centerfield and pitching; Caleb Hardy, senior, playing right field; Brian Askew, senior, playing left field; Kolton Clark, junior, playing third base and pitching; Glenn Patrick, junior, catching; Ryan Houston, junior, playing second base; and JM Kelly, sophomore, playing shortstop, pitching, third base, and outfield. “In practice we have been focusing on the fundamentals of hitting and base running,” said Terrier. “We’ve also been focused on fundamental fielding.” Coach Williams is a new addition to the couching staff this year, and Terrier said “he’s been doing a great job with the pitchers.” New Cougars to the varsity team will be: Braden Franklin, junior, who has depth at pitching and will possibly be a first baseman; Tate LeJeune, junior, playing infield and outfield; Jacob Graves, junior, playing first base; Ethan Franklin, freshman, pitching and playing as a corner infielder; Joe Clark, freshman, playing as a middle infielder; and Kreston Richardson, freshman, playing as a middle infielder and in the outfield. The Cougars started their preseason scrimmages out in Newton on Feb. 6 where they played seven innings and scored 13 runs. “Our pitchers dominated the scrimmage, striking out 20 New-
The Buna High School varsity softball team has been knocked out of the playoffs the last three consecutive years by the Hardin Lady Hornets, but this year, the team has been hard at work since the beginning of January to make sure that doesn’t happen again. “Last year we left a lot of THE BUNA HIGH School 2012 varsity boys golf team consists of members, left to right, Tanner Crumpton, Conner runner on base, so we have been Dawson, Lucas Sammons, Kreston Richardson, Colton focusing on hitting and taking care of runners in scoring posiBrown, and Alan Cripps. Not pictured is Quade Hebert.
BUNA HIGH SCHOOL varsity baseball head coach Kevin Terrier is counting on the 2012 Cougar team to earn the school’s sixth consecutive district playoff spot. ton batters and giving up only one hit while walking four,” said Terrier. “We collected seven hits and eight walks offensively.” Since the Newton scrimmage, the team has faced Orangefield, Silsbee, and Hamshire Fannett. “We are looking really good, and I’m very excited about this year’s team,” said Terrier. The team played their first district game in Hardin on Monday, and the Beacon staff will have the full results next week. The first opportunity for baseball fans to see the Cougars at home will be Tuesday, Mar. 13 against Warren at 6:30 p.m. Terrier said that he is keeping his eye on several teams as far as district play is concerned. “We will not take anyone lightly,” he said. “This is the most even I have seen this district since we entered into it. Every team in this league has good players, and everyone has at least one really good pitcher.” Speaking of pitchers, Buna senior Richard Walden recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Williams Baptist College beginning in the fall. “It is always exciting when one of your players gets the opportunity to play at the next level,” said Terrier. “I wish him nothing but the best when he leaves our Cougar family and moves on to the next level. The good thing is, we still have him for the next few months and I look forward to seeing how he performs his senior year.” District play will now continue in full swing for the Cougars, and Terrier said the only thing he could hope for is a little more time on the field coaching the game that he loves so much.
THE BUNA HIGH School 2012 varsity girls golf team consists of members, left to right, Tori Kellum, Lauren Hale, Emily Walker, Keather Nichols, and Jodi Erickson.
Rebels finish second in Evadale tournament By Scott Loar Beacon Correspondent The Evadale Rebels hosted their baseball tournament this past weekend with a field of eight teams. The Rebels finished 2-1 for the tournament falling to West Sabine in the tournament championship game. In the Thursday game, the Rebels defeated the Spurger Pirates 17-2. The Rebels scored 8 runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back as they cruised to the season opening victory. Tanner Hawthorne led the Rebels from the plate going 3-for3. Wes Williams had two stolen bases. Kyle Taylor picked up the win on the mound for the Rebels. In Friday’s game, the Rebels tied the Colmesneil Bulldogs 6 to 6, but due to tournament time limit rules the Rebels advanced as they were ahead in the last full inning before time expired. The
Rebels did all their damage at the plate in the first inning as they scored six runs. Brandon Midkiff had two RBI’s, and Hunter Jackson picked up the win. The Rebels faced the Tigers from West Sabine in the championship game, but fielding errors proved to be the Rebels undoing in the 15 to 5 loss. Hawthone had two RBI’s as did Cody Ingram. “We played a home school team in a scrimmage of sorts on Tuesday, and we got to use eight different pitchers in the game in order to get an opportunity to evaluate who we thought might be able to help us out this season,” said head coach Mark Williams. “It is a very short time to get a team prepared as we will begin district this week. We know what we need to work on and we will address those things in order to get better.”
BUNA RESIDENTS ISAAC and Chris Gingery recently traveled to Coconut Creek, Florida to recieve their level two MMA certification at American Top Team Headquarters.
THE BUNA LADY Cougars softball team has been gearing up for what they hope is a very successful season. tions,” said head coach Jim Sherman. “Defense is certainly our strength.” Returning Lady Cougars are: Hailey and Bailey Campbell, playing catcher and first base, respectively; Raylie Richardson playing shortstop and outfield; Suzanne Berry starting in the outfield along with Katie Welty playing centerfield; Madison Frankin playing second base; and Kaitlyn Midkiff playing first base and pitching. Newcomers to the varsity team will be Jaeci Dans, Jessi Clark, and Kendra Bean. Future talent to watch for include Jaelyn Heirtzler, Keana Ratcliff, and Sarah Seaman. The Lady Cougars started their scrimmage season off on Jan. 30 against Port Arthur Memorial. “It was a good start,” said Sherman. “We hit the ball well and played good defense.” On Feb. 2 the girls hosted Jasper, and according to Sherman, they “lit us up pretty good.” Wanting to make the most out of the scrimmage, Sherman said he switched the girls’ focus to base running. The team then faced Newton and Brookland on Feb. 10 and 13,
and it went well against both of these teams. In the Legacy scrimmage Feb. 21, the Lady Cougars came back with a 19-0 win. Madison Franklin hit a two run homerun over the left field fence, a career first for her. “This was our first game with all of our players back from basketball and cheerleading,” said Sherman. “For several of the girls it was their first time on the field in months. It was a good win.” The Little CypressMauriceville tournament got shortened due to weather, but the Lady Cougars had a couple close games in there. “We ended up losing to Crosby who later won the tournament,” said Sherman. Feb. 27 was the Lady Cougar’s second match up of the season against Orangefield. They had seen them in the LC-M tournament and left the game tied. Unfortunately for the Lady Cougars, the Lady Bobcats fought back in this game and won, 10-6, due to two late Buna errors. “We spotted them 5-0, and we only left the bases loaded once,” said Sherman. “Although it brought us to 1-1 on the season, I still think it was a good game that taught us alot.” The Lady Cougar’s first district game was held Mar. 5 in Buna against Hardin, so check back with the Buna Beacon next week for the full report. “We are definitely watching Hardin, Warren, and Anahuac closely,” said Sherman. Anahuac is always well coached and Warren is normally in the top two spots in district.” Sherman was excited that district play opened up at home as generally the first district game is on the road. The Lady Cougars will also be at home this Friday, Mar. 9 against Warren with the game beginning at 5 p.m. “We are battling with everybody right now,” said Sherman. “There’s nobody that’s bad, and there’s really nobody that’s great. The district is wide open.” With this year’s experienced group of all juniors and seniors on varsity, that wide open district is exactly what gives the Lady Cougars hope in securing a playoff spot this year.
Game pictures available at bunabeacon.smugmug.com. Download pics or have them mailed to your door!