What wears red and black, leads the nation in home runs and can strike out three opposing batters in a row? If you are a fan of Howard College softball, you would know the answer is Olive Noatala.
Noatala, a sophomore at Howard College is leading the nation (yes, the nation), in National Junior College Athletic Association play with 26 dingers.
Three of them were hit Wednesday during a doubleheader at Foundation Field against Frank Phillips College. Noatala also produced nine RBIs on the day bringing her total for the season to 74 — also on the nation’s leaderboard.
Spectators at Foundation Field not only saw a doubleheader Wednesday at which the Howard College Hawk softball squad trounced Frank Phillips College 11-3 the first game and 12-0 the second, but were also treated to a homerun display — eight to be exact — by Hawk batters including a walk-off grand slam by the NJCAA home run leader, Olive Noatala, which ended the first game in dramatic fashion.
After falling behind 2-0 to the Plainsmen early in Game One, the HC hitting engine apparently just needed to warm up a little before cranking out the runs.
COLORADO CITY — The Coahoma Bulldogettes had one thing on their minds Tuesday — avenge their only District 3-2A loss to the Colorado City Lady Wolves and take sole possession of first place in the highly competitive region.
Unfortunately, that plan was dashed with a 7-3 loss which forced a three-way tie between Coahoma, Colorado City and Forsan.
After a rough outing during the first round of Region 1-3A tournament play Monday, the Big Spring High School Boy's golf team rallied back Tuesday, jumping ahead of Ft. Stockton and taking second place behind Andrews to punch their ticket to the state championship tournament in Austin.
The BSHS boys shot a total of 648 — 330 in the the first round and 318 the second. Tyler Bryan led the Steers with a two-round total of 157. Devin Roberson shot a 163, Tate Kennedy 164, Jason Guevara 169 and Ryan Pollard 171.
Taylor Seaton is passionate about volleyball. This coming fall, she will get a chance to take that passion to the next level.
Seaton, a senior at Big Spring High School, signed a letter of intent to play volleyball at McMurry University in Abilene on Tuesday at the BSHS Athletic Training Center.
Heavily recruited by the institution, Seaton believes McMurry will be a good fit for many reasons.
“I really wanted to go to a school that has Christian values,” Seaton said. “I know that is where I am supposed to be.”
By BRIAN MCCORMACK
Sports Editor
Wind whipped through Steer Park Friday and with a potential playoff spot at stake, the Big Spring Steers’ baseball squad faced off against district leader Abilene Wylie (6-1), treating fans to yet another exciting outing.
Unfortunately, the Steers were on the short end of a 2-1 ball game despite Adam Franco’s brilliant performance from the mound.
Franco recorded a loss but allowed only one Bulldog hit, striking out six batters. The hit that went through, however, was a two-run blast in the top of the fourth, propelling Wylie to a hard-fought victory.
By BRIAN MCCORMACK
Sports Editor
ABILENE — The Big Spring High School Lady Steers won the District 5-3A Championship Friday, racking up 197 points to Wylie’s 180, ending the Lady Bulldogs 20-year stranglehold on district titles.
Bridgett Tuitt led BSHS by winning five gold medals and setting a school record with a time of 24.2 in the 200 meter. Ambra Hill also left her mark in the record book with a time of 47.54 in the 300 meter hurdles.
The 23-6 Howard College Hawks split wins in a doubleheader with the Clarendon College Bulldogs Saturday at Jack Barber Field to conclude a four game series. Howard College lost the first game 5-4, and rallied to take game two 9-8.
Clayton Crum started strong on the mound for the Hawks in game one, and Paul Hendrix homered in the bottom of the fifth inning bringing HC within one run.
Brendon McCurry picked up a RBI in the bottom of the sixth, scoring Reed Seeley who reached base on a walk, making it a 5-3 game.
FORSAN — The number 13 was lucky for the Buffaloes’ baseball squad Tuesday, as that was the number of Lubbock Roosevelt players that pitcher Payton Parker struck out during a dominating performance from the mound.
Parker kept the Buffaloes’ hopes for a win alive throughout a tight game until his team was able to rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, defeating the Eagles 6-2.
The win places Forsan alone in first place in District 3-2A with a 5-0 league mark.
Brownwood tops
Lady Steers
Big Spring Softball Coach John Sparks knew Brownwood would be a tough District 5-3A opponent, and he was proven right as Big Spring was on the short end of an 8-3 decision at the Big Spring ISD Softball Complex Friday.
Things got out of hand quickly for BSHS — Brownwood came out swinging, putting up five runs in the top of the first.
Errors — seven to be exact — derailed the Lady Steers.
Sparks said those miscues were the major reason the Lady Steers dropped to a 1-2 district record.
Local Sports.jpg "Olive Noatala leads the nation in home runs with 26 and ranks in the top 10 in several other categories."){kind=small}
jpg.jpg "Big Spring High School's Taylor Seaton signs a letter of intent Tuesday to play volleyball at McMurry University in Abilene.")
