HS Softball: Fulshear, Foster vying for 20-5A lead

By Landan Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

The early race in District 20-5A softball is looking to be a good one early on, with a new face – Fulshear – and old reliable – Foster – both taking care of business last week to make their cases as the district’s teams to beat in the early going. Fulshear is in search of the program’s first district championship this year, while Foster is seeking its third in the last five full seasons. Fulshear took care of business on their win, winning 11-1 against Randle on March 14 before winning via forfeit over

Willowridge to improve to 17-7 and 5-0 in District 205A. Alanna Routt had two doubles and two RBIs in the win over Randle, while Ryan Stratman tripled and drove in two runs.

Not to be outdone, Foster ran its winning streak to six games with a pair of wins last week, beating Marshall on March 14 and taking down Kempner on March 15 to move to 21-3 and 5-0 in district competition and keep pace with Fulshear. Lamar Consolidated also had a 13-2 win over Terry on March 14 to improve to 12-5 overall and 2-2 in district play.

Class 6A Ridge Point continued to dominated early on in District 20-6A, beating Austin 18-3 on March 13 before shutting out Travis 1-0 on March 14. Braelyn Daniels homered twice and drove in four runs for the Lady Panthers (15-5, 7-0) against Austin, while Jade Uresti tripled twice with five RBIs and freshman Abi Parker drove in four runs. Daniels also homered for the lone run in the win over Travis, and Bailey Gray racked up 11 strikeouts while allowing just three hits during a complete-game effort in the circle.

Austin bounced back from the loss to Ridge Point with a 16-7 win over Bush the very next day. Seven players had multiple hits for the Lady Bulldogs (6-13, 3-4) in the win, led by Alyssa Carter with two triples and six RBIs. Sophia Lundstrom also homered and drove in two runs for Austin against Bush, while Jenna Strong tripled twice and Charlotte O’Callaghan drove in three runs. Addison Walker doubled and drove in two runs for Bush (4-8, 0-7) in the loss to Austin, while Kiersten Kyle tripled and had three RBIs in a loss to Clements on March 13.

Elkins’ Lady Knights had a 15-4 win over Hightower on March 13 before winning via forfeit against Dulles last week to improve to 10-9 overall and 4-3 in district competi - tion. Kourtney Jones, Mia Wong, and Victoria Vargas all doubled and drove in two runs for Elkins against Hightower, while Viviana Vargas had four strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs in five innings of work in the circle. Hightower, however, would bounce back the next day to claim a 156 victory over Clements. Baylee Bonner had four RBIs for the Lady Hurricanes (8-11, 2-5) against Clements, while Carmen Barrera and Trinity Yates also drove in two runs apiece.

Class 4A Needville had a strong week, beating Wharton 15-0 on March 13 and tak- ing down El Campo 4-1 on March 14 in district play before losing a non-district game 6-1 against Weimar on March 15. Annabell Humbird had a homer, two doubles, and four RBIs for Needville (15-8, 4-0) against Wharton, while JoJo Cantu also had three RBIs. Makala Smith, meanwhile, amassed eight strikeouts in a completegame effort in the circle against El Campo.

Stafford’s Lady Spartans split two games last week, losing 13-1 to Brazosport on March 13 before bouncing back with a 20-1 win over La Marque the next day. Stafford moved to 8-6 overall and 1-2 in district competition with the victory over La Marque.

HS Baseball: District play underway for Fort Bend area squads

last week, winning 13-2 on March 14 before emerging victorious 4-1 on March 15 to improve to 4-11-1 overall and 2-0 in District 20-5A. Brian Luna and Thomas Moss drove in two runs apiece for Kempner on March 14, while Jerson Benitez racked up six strikeouts in a complete- that was rained out last week.

Foster also picked up a win in their only game of the week, a 7-1 win over Randle before a scheduled Friday game was rained out. Josh Ramirez hit a two-run homer for Foster (12-6, 1-0) in the win, and Cooper Schwank struck

While students were off from school last week, the area’s baseball teams were getting district play start ed, and several were able to get off on the right foot in notable action last week.

In the Class 5A ranks, the Kempner Cougars are off to a roaring start with a pair of wins over Marshall down George Ranch 8-1 on March 18. Parker Martin homered for the Panthers (14-4-2, 4-0) against Dulles, while Kellen Gradisar had 11 strikeouts on the mound against Hightower. Hightower bounced back from the loss to Ridge Point on March 14 before taking down Houston MacArthur 8-6 in a non-district tilt on March 15 and beating Bush 12-10 in eight innings on March 17.

The Clements Rangers split a pair of games last week, beating Elkins 10-3 on March 14 before dropping a 6-1 game to Austin on March 18. Stefano Demeris, Cooper Cegielski, and Taylor Brown all had two hits for Clements (10-7, 1-2) in the win over Elkins, while Griffin Culver and Ben Couture had a double and two RBIs apiece.

Alex Hale, Jonathan Moye, and Braylon Payne each had hits for Elkins (49-1, 0-1) in the loss.

Austin picked up a pair of wins last week, defeating George Ranch 4-3 on March 14 before the win over Clements to improve to 6-8 overall and 3-0 in District 20-6A.

Class 4A

Stafford got its district slate off to a strong start last week, running past La Marque 14-4 on March 14 before holding off Bra - zosport 1-0 on March 16. Gabriel Ibarra had two hits and three RBIs in the game for the Spartans (4-6, 2-0), while Zachary Brown and Bryce Williams each slugged a triple and drove in two runs.

Needville also continued strong early play, defeating Wharton 3-0 on March 14 before taking down El Campo 7-3 on March 17 to improve to 13-2 overall and 3-0 in district play. Joziah Lerma and Lee Guest combined to strike out six hitters on the mound against Wharton, and Nathan Elster drove in three runs against El Campo while Colton Stavinoha had three hits.

Hilaria “Lala” Cruz Duran, age 92, passed away on March 16, 2023. She was born December 9, 1930, in Rosenberg, Texas, to Neddie and Procopio Cruz. She was married to her childhood sweetheart and lifelong love, Jack N. Duran, in December of 1952.

In addition to the daily tasks of being a mom and wife, Lala worked as a teacher’s assistant at Alvin Elementary. She enjoyed sewing for family and friends. She was often found in the kitchen, cooking, making homemade tortillas, and brewing coffee. Her hands were rarely still.

Lala was a dedicated mother first and foremost, she treasured her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild and cherished every moment with them.

She was preceded in death by three (3) daughters, Debra Ann Duran, Bobbi Jane Duran, Cindy Jean (Duran) Bridge and her husband, Jack N. Duran. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Angela Duran; granddaughter and her husband, Dr. Alexandra and Jonathan Backof; granddaughter and her husband, Erica and Jeff Safenowitz and her great granddaughter, Summer Safenowitz; her sonin-law, Jim Bridge; and sisters, Margie Gonzales and Neddie De La Fuente. family friend Carlos Gallegos, 12. Hernandez said he got his start as an artist as a high school student at Via Colori.

Lala was a loving mom, a great friend to many and woman of strong faith and she is now on her journey “home” to be with the Lord! Memorial Service will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church located at 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, Texas on March 24, 2023 at 10:30am. Burial to follow at Veterans Memorial at 2:00pm (everyone is welcome).

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"I'm all about representation, and I want to show kids of color that they can become astronauts or whatever they want to do," Carter said.

Corella Fairchild, of Houston, painted a portrait of famed aviator Amelia Earhart wearing her signature leather flying helmet. Fairchild began chalk