HS Softball: Heights, SPX softball show out in tournament play

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

As the high school softball season gets into full swing, several area softball teams were out last week putting on standout performances in tournament play.

Both the Heights Lady Bulldogs and St. Pius X Lady Panthers put on a show at their respective tournaments last weekend as part of strong early season play. The Lady Bulldogs kicked off their season by going 3-1 in tournament play, splitting a pair of games against Baytown Sterling Sterling (8-7 win) and Vidor (4-2 loss) on Feb. 17 before sweeping games against Sam Rayburn (8-0) and Baytown Lee (7-1) on Feb. 18. Helen Maddux had two hits including a homer and two RBIs for Heights (3-1) in the win over Baytown Lee, while Sara Paniagua also homered and Haylie

Jaime hurled struck out seven hitters while allowing just one earned run in four innings in the circle. Paniagua was flawless in the circle against Sam Rayburn with five strikeouts in five innings, while Laila Robins had three hits and Kennedy Hill homered.

In the win over Sterling, Angelina del Pozo and Flora Moreno both doubled, while Hill added two more RBIs to her total as part of a six-run fourth inning that proved to be the deciding blows.

Elsewhere on the public school circuit, Booker T. Washington’s Lady Eagles are set to kick off their 2023 regular season with a Friday night district game against Kashmere.

On the private school side, the St. Pius X Lady Panthers went 3-3 at the Goose Creek ISD Tournament last week to move to 5-3 overall on the season. SPX pounded out 16 hits in an 11-2 win over Goose Creek Memorial on Feb. 17, with Brooke

Landry collecting three hits and University of Texas commit Victoria Hunter. Hunter also homered in a 12-4 victory over St. John’s on Feb. 14, while Madeline Trejo and Kennedy Flenner combined for 11 strikeouts in the circle. Landry was stellar all weekend, collecting nine total hits along with seven RBIs and three stolen bases in the tournament.

Apprenticeship, from P. 1A which is based at 2150 W. 18th St. Suite 104. The program will train mechanics to work on the new electrified fleet of buses that will soon be taking to Houston’s streets.

“During the energy transition, we have a chance to build a better community for ourselves, to expand opportunities to everyone in Harris County, and make sure that underserved communities have access to good, safe jobs,” said Horace Marves, the current president of TWUL Local 260. Two new programs will also launch in 2023 as part of the program according to the county. There will be a new entertainment industry apprenticeship, led in part by Northside-based Theatrical Employees (IATSE) Local 51 at 3030 North Fwy. These programs will train stagehands to work in events pertaining to theater performances and other live entertainment events such as the 2026 World Cup.

“The new programs that we will be able to develop will be a game changer for our local and the entire Harris County entertainment industry, helping to ensure that

Parkland, from P. 1A its $347 million plan to elevate the I-10 main lanes and HOV lanes between Heights Boulevard and Interstate 45 that is aimed at helping reduce flooding risks during major events like heavy rains and hurricanes. Along with elevated lanes, there are also plans to build 21.7acre retention ponds underneath and to the north of the elevated lanes as well as a 10-foot wide shared use path for walkers/runners and bikers. It will use a combination of state and federal funding, and is also in the midst of conducting a required environmental impact assessment we have the homegrown skilled workforce to staff any event,” said Mark Grady, a business agent with IATSE Local 51.

According to the county, union apprenticeships provide health insurance, workers compensation insurance, and a pension to those traditionally underrepresented, in addition to a higher working salary. All union apprentices are also required to take safety trainings, as part of an effort to rectify a trend that has previously seen Texas lead the nation in occupational fatalities – many in the construction industry – according to Jan. 10 report from the Houston Chronicle.

And Ellis said the new program is just the start of a new Harris County.

“More than ever, the working people of Harris County—especially people of color, women, and youth—need training and career pathways that lead to goodpaying jobs,” he said. “That’s why Harris County is investing in the Apprenticeship Advantage program to develop a skilled workforce that can meet the demands of our local economy.” this year with an eye on beginning construction in the middle of 2024. The organization said during the public meeting that it does not expect any homes or residences to be displaced as a result of the project.

“During major rain events, such as Tropical Storms Allison and Imelda and Hurricane Harvey, water from White Oak Bayou can overtop its banks, flooding I-10 and making it impassable,” Jeff Kaiser with TxDOT said during the public meeting.

However, residents say they are concerned about how the elevated lanes would impact the noise level

Winter, from P. 1A ton Arts Alliance, the organization has received applications for assistance from 64 artists who have called Winter Street Home, with those artists reporting more than $2.5 million worth of damage to their studios and artwork.

HAA board chair Leal Farah said the organization created the Disaster Services program and Emergency Relief Fund after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 as an attempt to provide artists more security for damages if something should befall them or their art.

“Houston should be proud of this program. It is the only one of its kind in the nation, and it is supported by private donations from the community it serves,” Farah said.

“Artists and cultural institutions are a critical part of our City’s economy and community.

Today, I am glad it is here to help the artists of Winter Street.” One such artist who has had work damaged by the fire was Taylor Clennenden, and she and other artists have expressed gratitude to the city and many others who have been supporting Winter Street artists in the months since the fire as they attempt to re- and encroach upon the greenspace that the White Oak Bayou Association says is home to nearly 200 different species of birds, along with other natural wildlife.

“Without formal protection, this land is not protected and can be destroyed to make way for development,” the petition reads.

A Tuesday evening email request for comment to a TxDOT spokesperson regarding a response to the petition was not immediately returned.

However, the city said it is not as easy as simply trying to acquire and designate the land as a city park. In build or start over.

“It doesn’t cover all that was lost, but it definitely helps,” she wrote on Facebook. “I miss my studio and seeing all my art buds around Winter Street.”

The Disaster Services Program for the Houston Arts Alliance has set up a support page to help artists at ready.haatx.com/. There have also been GoFundMe accounts set up for artists such as Jack Potts of Bohemian Photography, Holly Nowak, and others. And artists and officials alike say that’s just how the city has always supported its own.

“When we have faced tragedies in all different walks of our lives, this city has always responded…These artists are Houstonians, and they are valued members of our city and our community. We want their work to be shown, demonstrated, and showcased,” Turner said Feb. 16. “There is light at the end of the tunnel. You will get back on your feet, I have no doubt about it. You will have your creative space again…Houston is here for you, as you have been for this city.” response to discussion surrounding the effort. Even if the White Oak Bayou Greenway were to be designated as a one big park, a letter from District H council member Karla Cisneros’ office – whose district includes White Oak Bayou – said the federal considerations afforded by the US Department of Transportation Federal Highways Administration Law, Section 4F, would not actually protect the park.

Cisneros’ office said in the letter that such a designation only requires that there has be “an attempt to show whether or not a property can be completely avoided while meeting the transportation need,” and highway construction would be allowed.

“(Council member Cisneros) believes that understanding the challenges and legalities will help us better position ourselves to effectively advocate for the White Oak Bayou Greenway now and in the future,” the letter reads.

But that is not going to stop residents from pushing the petition.

“This will preserve natural habitat for area wildlife, provide greenspace for public use, and prevent development on this land,” the petition says.