Ph may 23, 2013

Sports

Section B

The Princeton Herald

Baseball

State champs up next

By David Jenkins Staff Writer

sports@princetonherald.com PARIS – For the first time since 2009, the Panthers (28-10 overall) find themselves in the fourth round of the Class 3A Region II playoffs.

It’s there they will face Texarkana Pleasant Grove (23-11) at North Lamar’s Pos Long Field.

“We will have to get healthy this week, we have had a few key players get injured during the last playoff series. We will have to play our best baseball of the year to compete with them,” head coach Richard Boring said.

The best-of-three series begins 3 p.m. Friday, with the second game slated for 1 p.m. Saturday.

If needed, a third contest would be played 30 minutes following the conclusion of Game 2.

The Hawks have won the last five regional titles dating back to 2008, and a year ago they took the state title.

Pleasant Grove enters the matchup fresh off a two-game sweep of Athens, which won the District 153A title.

They won those games 10-0 and 4-1 at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.

Earlier in the playoffs the 13-3A champions had a bye in the opening round and pulled out a 2-1 series win against 16-3A runner up Bullard.

Prior to the start of the postseason, the Hawks ended up 8-2 in district, finishing ahead of Paris 7-3 and Paris North Lamar 6-4.

Princeton and Pleasant Grove faced off twice in 2009.

In the regional finals the Hawks took the opener 4-3 and rode a nine-run ninth inning to a 14-1 runrule win.

Pleasant Grove went on to finish as state semifinalist, suffering a 5-1 loss to state runner-up Giddings.

In other playoff action from 123A, Melissa takes on Longview Spring Hill in a best-of-three semifinal series.

The Cardinals beat No. 4 stateranked Argyle in three games last week.

Note: Rankings are from the most recent Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 3A Top 10.

7-on-7 Football

May 23, 2013

Girls Soccer

Lady Panthers win a whole slew of awards

By David Jenkins Staff Writer

sports@princetonherald.com The Lady Panthers parlayed their success in district into multiple AllDistrict honors.

Leading the pack with 19-4A superlatives were Chele Naudin (co-Most Valuable Player with Greenville’s Maddy Crabtree), Rosa Hernandez (coMidfielder MVP with Sulphur Springs’ Grace Grafton), Megan Fulkerson (coDefensive MVP with Sulphur Springs’ Harlee Schulz) and Darista Herrera (co-Goalkeeper of the Year with Greenville’s Jenny Hardaway).

Selected to the first team were Naudin, Fulkerson, Hernandez and Herrera.

Named to the second squad were Kensey Thomas, Haley Lewis, Jackie

Beaster and Maddie Guitierrez.

Honorable mentions were Brittany Ostrander and Jessica Guerrero.

The past season was a successful one for the Lady Panthers, as they made their first-ever appearance in the Class 4A Region II playoffs.

Once they reached that point they fell 7-0 in the bi-district round to The Colony at Prosper.

Princeton got to the postseason after taking second in district at 6-2 mark, just behind champion Greenville at 7-1.

They ended up with a 7-12 overall behind the guidance of first-year head coach Shelby Hale.

Graduating in June will be Hernandez, Naudin, Fulkerson, Morgan Smith, Beaster, Sara Gough, Elexia Espinosa and Gutierrez.

The 12 players expected back for

Rosa Hernandez

Megan Fulkerson

Darista Herrera

Kensey Thomas

Haley Lewis

Jackie Beaster

Maddi Guitierrez

Brittany Ostrander

Jessica Guerrero

2014 will compete for the final time in 19-4A. Bonham, which will be playing its first season on the varsity level, will be

Fighting back

joining the district.

Besides Princeton, also in the district will be Sulphur Springs, Paris North Lamar, Paris and Greenville.

Baseball

Football

Schedule for 2013 released

By David Jenkins Staff Writer

sports@princetonherald.com

Victor Tapia/The Princeton Herald

Riley Lowrance prepares to connect for a home run on May 18 during the second game of the Class 3A Region II best-of-three series at Denton’s Bronco Field. (Additional photos princetonherald.com and page 4B.)

Panthers rebound after series-opening loss

PHS finishes at 2-1

By Greg Ford Sports Editor

sports@princetonherald.com

From Staff Reports

sports@princetonherald.com Princeton’s bid for a spot in the Div. II state tournament fell just short last week in the May 15 Springtown Porcupine SQT. In Pool C action the Panthers finished second with wins over Stephenville’s junior varsity 42-20 and Decatur 26-15, but ended with a loss to Graham 36-24.

Moving on to Round Rock for were Graham and Springtown.

The Panthers have one final SQT on June 22 to Boyd and prior to that compete in the non-SQT Mike Adams Conquers tourney at Cedar Hill.

They begin McKinney League action on June 11 at McKinney Boyd High School.

Chele Naudin

Victor Tapia/The Princeton Herald

After fielding a ground ball Gunner Starr makes a throw to first base for the out at Denton. (Additional photos princetonherald.com. and page 4B)

DENTON — Princeton’s Panthers played around 4:45 worth of baseball Saturday, but, in the end, the long day on diamond at Bronco Field was worth it.

For in those nearly 300 minutes of hitting, pitching, throwing and base running, the Panthers (28-10 overall) were able to drop Krum 5-0 and 7-5 to capture a Region I, Class 3A regional quarterfinal series at Denton High School.

Krum took the first game 4-0 on Friday.

Taking the third game, and the eventual quarterfinal championship, didn’t come easy, as the Panthers built a 5-0 lead only to see the Bobcats claw back to deadlock the contest at 5-5 after seven innings. Princeton won the

game and series with two runs in the top of the ninth.

“Our team had it’s back against the wall (after Friday) and I told them they had two options. They could fight or lay down. They chose to fight,” said Panthers’ head coach Richard Boring.

Princeton’s grit began to show in the bottom of the second during Game 1, when Riley Lowrance launched a lead-off homer to left.

After a pair outs, Grant Gilbert on base after being hit by a pitch. He moved to second and third on a pair of wild pitches.

Reese Schultz worked out a walk, and was replaced at first by courtesy runner Brandon Purcella. Derek Strawn walked to load the bases, which was followed by Trevor Williams’ single to right, a

See PHS page 2B

This past season was one the Panthers will not soon forget.

They went 10-2 overall and advanced to the second round of the Class 3A Div. I Region II playoffs.

It was the program’s best overall finish under then fifthyear head coach Stacey Dillard.

Princeton will look to do the same in 2013 under new coach Lee Wilkins.

Wilkins steps into the top spot after calling the defensive plays the previous two years.

Also added this year is spot for a fourth playoff qualifier.

To make postseeason, all a fourth-place finisher must do is win one district game.

The Panthers kick things off on Aug. 5 with non-contact practices and four days later they will put on the pads.

They’ll follow that up with scrimmages at Denison (Aug. 17) and McKinney North (Aug. 23). Denison is new to the slate.

The season gets underway on Aug. 30 with Greenville.

Non-district games left are at Carrollton Ranchview (Sept. 6) and Commerce (Sept. 13), with Dallas Samuell (Sept. 20) and Bridgeport (Sept. 27 for homecoming), and at Wills Point (Oct. 4).

Princeton opens District 123A action on Oct. 11 at home versus Bonham.

Contests remaining are at Anna (Oct. 25), with Melissa (Nov. 1 for Senior Night) and at Community (Nov. 8).

All games will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Start times for the scrimmages have yet to be determined.

Victor Tapia/The Princeton Herald

Jourdan Blake will be back at quarterback for 2013.

2B

Thursday, May 23, 2013

sports

PHS one-hit in quarterfinals opener at Denton

continued from page 1B

misplayed fly ball, that scored two runs.

Those three runs would have been more than enough for starter Carlos Contreras, who declawed the Bobcat hitters for seven full innings to earn the win. The Panthers added two more runs, scoring once in the third inning and then in the fourth.

The solid hitting continued in deciding game, with Princeton getting two runs in the top of the first. Williams crossed the plate first on a wild pitch.

Gunner Starr followed him a short time later when Contreras singled to center.

The Panthers added two more in the top of the second,

staging a two-out rally that began with Starr’s single to left.

He moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a balk.

Marcos Molina then launched a two-run homer to left.

Princeton built the margin to 5-0 in the top of the fifth, when Logan Teel’s double to left scored Purcella. The latter was a courtesy runner for Contreras, who doubled to center a couple of batters earlier.

However, just when things looked solid for the Panthers, the Bobcats returned to life with two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to make it 5-4.

They tied it in the bottom of the seventh, and appeared primed to score the winning run when Princeton put Con-

treras back on the mound. He took over the duty after pitching seven innings in Game 2 and playing catcher for six innings in Game 3. “(Carlos said) ‘I want the ball and I want you to give it to me,’” Boring said.

Contreras got two outs to end the seventh and then kept the Bobcats in check in the eighth and ninth to earn his second victory of the day.

He was also instrumental in the two-run top of the ninth that put Princeton up for good, with single to center that scored Molina with the go-ahead run.

Contreras’ courtesy runner, Purcella, crossed the plate with the insurance run on Teel’s single to right.

The extra-inning victory was

972-784-6397 | The Princeton Herald

Athletics

Night of celebration

Awards handed out at high school From Staff Reports

sports@princetonherald.com Victor Tapia/The Princeton Herald

Grant Gilbert saves a low pitch. (Additional photos princetonherald.com.)

the second time this postseason the Panthers were pushed beyond seven innings.

They needed 12 a week earlier to down Bridgeport, a contest that also was played in Denton.

Princeton held their yearly end of the year banquet on May 18 at the high school.

Below is the list of award winners for each sport in the fall and spring.

Football Most Valuable Player – Jourdan Blake Offensive – Jakari Dillard Defensive – Frankie Peters Special teams – Eli Anthony Panther Pride – Trenton Williams and Dathan Seymour Volleyball MVP – Breanna Leon Offensive – Alyssa Thompson Defensive – Sierra Johnson Panther Pride – Shaina Bail Girls Cross Country MVP – Rachael Mukweyi Teammate – Nancy Millan Heart – Miranda Mitchell Most Potential – Julianna Myrick Boys Cross Country MVP – Derek Lockman Boys Basketball Charges – Jonas Honea (five) Rebounds – Fayola Oyatayo (220) Blocks – Oyatayo (52) Assists – Marquis Thomas (171)

Points – David McKinzie (388) Girls Basketball MVP – Jonae Isaac Most Improved – Alexis Smith Panther Pride – Brooke Campbell Boys Golf MVP’s – Connor Owen and Williams Girls Golf MVP – Ashleigh Evans Boys Tennis MVP – Josh Perkins Girls Tennis MVP – Valen Chapman Powerlifting MVP – Darius Rivera Boys Track MVP – James Nash Girls Track Sprinter – Brittany Schantini Distance – Millan Field events – Shaycee Blankenship Boys Soccer MVP – Hugo Cruz Panther Pride – Grant Villa

Softball MVP/Panther Pride – Ali Saldivar Baseball MVP – Marcos Molina Defensive – Grant Gilbert Offensive – Gunner Starr Pitcher – David Gieke

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4B

Thursday, May 23, 2013

sports

972-784-6397 | The Princeton Herald

The scoreboard displays the final score from Game 3 of the Class 3A Region II quarterfinals series versus Krum.

Victor Tapia/The Princeton Herald

Reese Schulz hits a foul ball during his turn at bat.

Garrett Autrey dives head first into home plate.

Riley Lowrance makes the throw on the run to first base for the out during the bottom of the second inning.

Derek Strawn gets close to tagging out Krum’s Colten Lucas at first base.

Carlos Contreras unleashes a pitch in the second game.

Panthers rally around Carlos Contreras after he strikes out a Krum Bobcat for the final out of the series deciding third game.