Sports

Tiger track teams made their way to Lindale March 23, competing against teams from Hallsville, Lindale, Pittsburg, Sulphur Springs as part of the annual Blackberry Relays.

Wills Point varsity boys with top six finishes in events included:

-200: Brandon Smith, 23.85, fourth

-800: Cade Davis, 2:09.60, third; Aiden Phillips, 2:12.22, fifth

-1600: Cade Davis, 5:01.39, fifth

-4x100: Wills Point, 45.99, fifth

-4x200: Wills Point, 1:37.36, fourth

-4x400: Wills Point, 3:39.47, fourth

-110 Hurdles: Ricky Navarro, 18.16, sixth

-300 Hurdles: Trey Patterson, 42.82, fourth; Ricky Navarro, 43.37, fifth

The Wills Point Lady Tigers hit a roadblock on their way through District 13-4A play on Tuesday night, surrendering 13 unearned runs over the course of three innings in a 15-0 loss to in county rival Van.

Play between the Lady Tigers and Van was originally slated to take place March 24, but inclement weather rolling in throughout the afternoon ultimately caused the game to be rescheduled.

Wills Point went down 1-2-3 in their half of the first inning, including a strikeout and two groundouts.

Van had no such issues, opening the home half of the first by having their leadoff hitter reach on an error, followed by a single, and two walks to take a 1-0 lead.

The Wills Point Tigers resumed District 13-4A play last week, looking to get back in the win column after a home loss to the Mabank Panthers March 13. The Tigers squared off against the Van Vandals March 25, a day later than originally scheduled due to inclement weather that blew through the area during the early afternoon March 24.

Wills Point prevailed in the battle of freshman pitchers as Josh Brogden outdueled Van counterpart Hoss Brewer in a highly competitive 4-0 win for the visitors. Brogden carried the Tigers through seven dazzling innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out eight in the game.

Brewer, coming off a no-hitter against Pittsburg during the I-20 Classic last week, was Brogden’s equal throughout most of the night, allowing no Tiger baserunners to cross home in any of the first six innings.

The Wills Point Tigers opened District 13-4A play at home this week, welcoming the Mabank Panthers to town March 21.

Defensive miscues would be story of the night for the Tigers with five errors helping lead to six unearned runs in a 6-1 Wills Point loss.

Mabank got on the scoreboard in the top of the first, scoring a two-out run on an error in the outfield to take a 1-0 lead.

Wills Point countered Mabank's run with one of their own in the bottom of the frame, courtesy of a Seth Wilson leadoff double, Sam Berberich sacrifice and Caden Bennett RBI single to center.

The Panthers got what would turn into the winning run in the top of the second on a triple that barely landed in play down the right field line and a groundout.

Friday night's game between the Wills Point Lady Tigers and Leonard Lady Tigers was not for the faint of heart with the two teams combined for 31 runs, 20 hits, 21 walks and 17 errors in a back and forth affair that spanned eight innings in non-district play.

In the end, 14 runs by Wills Point over the game's final five innings would not be enough as Leonard prevailed in a 16-15 marathon.

Wills Point found itself in a hole early as Leonard plated three runs in the top of the first inning for a 3-0 lead.

Wills Point cut the Leonard deficit down to two with a run in the bottom of the second inning on an Adrianna Holland single and three passed balls.

Leonard re-established a three runs lead with one in the third, and expanded their advantage with two more in the top of the fourth to build a 6-1 lead.

The Wills Point Tiger tennis team put together an impressive showing at their annual State Farm Invitational Tournament March 2, taking the overall team title by lapping the field with three first place finishes, a second and a third place showing.

Wills Point collected 200 points overall, followed well behind by Kaufman in second with 90 points, JJ Pearce in third with 80, Athens in fourth with 60 and Spring Hill in fifth with 50.

Tiger medalists included Chase Daniell and Kelsey James winning first in mixed doubles, Maddie Booth and Claire Hiler winning first in girls doubles, Cassidy Wilcoxson finishing first in girls singles, Jack Johns finishing second in boys singles and Hope Turner and Maddie Baker finishing third in girls doubles.

The Wills Point Tiger track team traveled to Rains High School in Emory March 9, competing against several familiar foes during this year's Avon Rice Relays.

Van Zandt County varsity boys with top six finishes in events included:

-200: Brandon Smith, WP, first; Nathan Johnson, WP, sixth

-400: Christopher De La Cruz, WP, second; Efrain Muniz, EW, sixth

-800: Cade Davis, WP, third; Aidan Phillips, WP, sixth

-1600: Cade Davis, WP, fifth

-3200: Cody Delarosa, EW, first; Noble Smith, EW, fifth

-110 Hurdles: Trey Patterson, WP, sixth

-300 Hurdles: Trey Patterson, WP, first; Ricky Navarro, WP, third; David Umana, WP, fifth

Law enforcement agencies from across the state went on the offensive throughout the month of February and into the first week of March, cracking down on those with outstanding warrants and monies owed through their participation in the annual Great Texas Warrant Roundup.

In a press release announcing this year's event, organizers explained "The roundup is designed to target thousands of defendants with traffic, parking, city ordinance, penal code, and higher charge warrants from participating jurisdictions. The focus is to bring these individuals into compliance with court orders; there are multiple options that are available to do so.

“Numerous counties, justices of the peace, constables, and municipalities of all sizes will participate in the roundup. It is believed to be the largest joint operation of its kind.” 

The Wills Point Tiger and Lady Tigers track teams hosted a slew of teams from across East Texas, including Canton, Royse City, Kaufman, Rains, Scurry-Rosser, Crandall, Mabank for the annual Bluebird Relays.

Top six finishes for Van Zandt County athletes competing in the varsity boys division included:

-Pole Vault: Umana, WP, sixth

-Shot Put: Sherwood, WP, fifth

-Discus: Yarber, Canton, third; Sherwood, WP, fifth

-Long Jump: Williams, Canton, sixth

-High Jump: Johnson, WP, second; Gebauer, Canton, fourth; Goodson, Canton, fifth

-Triple Jump: Williams, Canton, third; Johnson, WP, fifth; Smith, WP, sixth

-100: Johnson, WP, third

-200: Cox, Canton, second; Smith, WP, fourth

-400: Wilkens, Canton, second

-800: Wilkens, Canton, third

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The Wills Point Tigers will be able to enjoy the comforts of home for the first time since the start of the regular season beginning this week, welcoming seven other schools for the annual Wills Point Classic Baseball Tournament March 9-11.

Teams scheduled to appear in the three-day event will include Community, Eustace, Kemp, North Lamar, Princeton, Sunnyvale and Waxahachie Life.

Wills Point, competing in Group 1 during pool play, were scheduled to take on Eustace for a 7:25 p.m. first pitch March 9, and Community and Sunnyvale in back-to-back games today (March 10) beginning at 11:05 a.m.

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