wordman

Two schools in Tyler County look to be playoff caliber teams and this is how I score them;; Spurger - A-/B+  This team has two intangibles that cannot be measured; character and heart. They have fought through devastating injuries and never once complained.  The bench and lack of inconsistency could be the weak links of this team.  Having said that this team has the potential to go all the way "if" it can get consistent intimidatiing play in the middle. Coach Isaacs certainly gets everything and then some from his starting five. Woodville - B+ This team needs to learn how to put teams away.  Too often they get a lead and give it back.  With the exception of a few this team cannot shoot free throws very well and we know in tight playoff games that will be key.  This team is quick and athletic.  They can play tough defense and are explosive on offensive.  How deep they go in the playoffs will depend on how hungry they are to play a full 32 minutes?

How can we nominate someone?  I think Daniel Blankenship from SPurger should be invited.  Thanks

Why isn't Colmesneil's Matt Greenwood a part of this selection?

Alex Davis -  Colmesneil

Darrin Sells Woodville, 75 yards rushing 5 TD's

The difference maker in this game could be new Warren QB Matt Lowe who transferred in from Kountze. I''ll give them the benefit of the doubt since the last two years Warren has played WH tough winning both matches by less than a touchdown. Warren wins.

I think you should not take Colmesneil too lightly. They have a lethal running game with the addition of a quick, elusive runner named Berry to compliment their 1,000 yard rusher Jared Eaves. Look for Eaves right, Eaves left, Eaves up the middle and boom here comes Berry. Their passing game will be helped with the addition of a talented sophomore TECullen Baker.

When and where is this game being played?

Watch out for Wooville's boys doubles team.

Are ther any adult indoor soccer leagues in the Lumberton area? Also looking for over 30 or coed outdoor leagues in Lumberton/Beaumont.

Sabine Pass - 10 Spurger - 6

Rebel Yeller has it right. Sabine Pass doesnt have the hitting or the pitching to keep up.

On a day when it appeared that rain would wash out another ballgame in southeast Texas, the sun suddenly appeared and the baseball gods smiled once more on District 24-1A baseball. Blayne Shook took the mound for the Pirates in his second home start of the season. After hitting the leadoff batter and an error on Pirates third baseman Tanner Hollier, the Bobcats threatened to score early with runners on first and third and just one down but Hollier redeemed himself on the very next play turning a routine popup into an inning ending double play. The Pirates wasted no time scoring in their half of the first inning. Senior John Gossett led off with a double down the left field line and one batter later scored on a sharp single to centerfield by first baseman George Whittaker. It was a lead the Pirates would never give up. The Pirates tacked on another tally in the second inning when Senior Alex Stark drove a Bobcat offering into the right centerfield gap for a triple and then scored on a throwing error. The Pirates knocked out the Bobcat starter in the 3rd sending 11 batters to the dish and plating seven of them building an 9 - 0 lead. In the top of the 4th, though, the Pirates got both sloppy and generous handing the Bobcats 5 runs on only 3 hits while committing 2 errors, a poor fielding decision with 2 outs and a wild pitch. Spurger reclaimed 2 of those runs in the their half of the 4th inning with timely hitting and the aggressive base running of starting catcher Jonathon Hutto who scored from second on a routine ground out to finish the Pirate scoring and then it was all Blayne Shook. Shook and his slow looping curveball retired 9 of the last 10 batters he faced. His complete game 9 strikeouts, 0 walk performance lifted the Spurger Pirates district record to 4 – 3 while Hull Daisetta fell to 3-4 in district play.

Samantha Hall is the lone bright spot in Spurger Tennis and this year she is looking to win a title.

It was a battle of Pirates on Tuesday March 4th as the sounds of baseball filled the sir in Spurger Texas as the host Spurger Pirates welcomed the visiting Leggett Pirates in their season opener. Spurger starter, senior, John Gossett got off two a rocky start as Leggett tagged him for two quick runs in the first but Gossett would settle down surrendering just 1 run over the next three innings while striking out 5. Spurger quickly rallied back plateing 3 runs of their own on key hits by freshman Tannier Hollier and sophomore Chase McGallion. In the second clutch two out hitting by Alex stark led to 2 more pirate runs and a 5 - 2 lead after two innings of play. Spurger would add 2 more runs in the fourth, 3 in the fifth and 4 in the sixth highlighted by Tanner Holier's base clearing 3 run double down the third base line. Jonathon Hutto would relieve John Gossett in the 5th and hold the Indians check allowing just 2 runs before tiring in the 7th. Pirates manager Shane Nutt then called on senior ALex Stark to stifle the Pirates rally and a preserve a 14 - 6 PSpurger victory. Chase Mcgallion paced Spurger's 14 hit attack with 3 hits while John Gossett and Tanner Hollier chipped in two a piece. The Pirates next host the Big Snady WIldcats at Pirates Cove Field on Tuesday March 17th at 5pm.

Once again Jasper played their hearts out only to be denied victory by poor game preparation and strategy. The coaching staff has neither and until they geet a real soccer coach, it will always be a tough road for Jasper players. They players deserve better.

Heartbreak in Huntsville It was only 5:30 when I arrived at Huntsville's Paul Gohan gym and already the stands were filled with hundreds of Spurger fans and as the opening tip neared, the crowd continued to swell. It was an awesome sight and they were ready to see some basketball and root our Pirates to victory. Even before our boys took the floor, they were on their feet yelling Let's go Pirates. All week long on SETXsports.com, people were going about which game would be the game of the week. Forget game of the week, this WAS THE GAME OF THE YEAR!!!! After losing the opening tip, the Pirates took control and played their finest quarter of the year as they surged to a 22 -15 first quarter lead behind the hot hand of George Whittaker. The second quarter was just the opposite as the Bremond Tigers showed why they belonged in this game by going on a 9-0 run and taking a two point lead. Spurger bounced right back and for the remainder of the half it became a game of you make one, I make one and as the clock ticked down to 0:00 the score was knotted at 30. Bremond continued its push as they jumped out to a quick 5 point lead to start the third quarter but back came Spurger and as the third quarter came to a close the deficit was two. Spurger continued its comeback in the 4th quarter and with 6:20 left to play George Whittaker's highlight reel thunder dunk gave Spurger back the lead. The lead seesawed back and forth until Kacey Collier's 3 point swish gave Spurger what appeared to be a commanding lead at 51 -45 with only 2:30 minutes to play. There was no quit with the Tigers and with 25 ticks of the clock and nursing a one point lead the Pirates Chase McGallion stepped to the line and sank the first free throw and when he missed the second Bremond corralled the rebound as they did so many times on this night. The Pirates fouled Bremond and their shooter returned the favor by missing one of two free throws to make it a one point Spurger lead as Bremond pulled in the rebound and set up for another shot but then George stepped up again and swatted the ball out of bounds giving the Tigers the ball with 8.26 seconds to play. Under their own basket, the Tigers in bounded the ball and No 24 LiDarral Bailey who the Pirates could not stop all night drove the lane and floated the ball through the net with 5.21 seconds to play. The Pirates still had life but as time expired the last shot of the Pirate season bounced harmlessly off the rim and the heartbreak in Huntsville was complete 55 - 54. This was indeed the GAME OF THE YEAR!!

It was only 5:30 when I arrived at Huntsville's Paul Gohan gym and already the stands were filled with hundreds of Spurger fans and as the opening tip neared, the crowd continued to swell. It was an awesome sight and they were ready to see some basketball and root our Pirates to victory. Even before our boys took the floor, they were on their feet yelling Let's go Pirates. All week long on SETXsports.com, people were going back and forth about which game would be the game of the week. Forget game of the week, this would soon become THE GAME OF THE YEAR!!!! After losing the opening tip, the Pirates took control and played their finest quarter of the year as they surged to a 22 -15 first quarter lead behind the hot hand of George Whittaker. The second quarter was just the opposite as the Bremond Tigers showed why they belonged in this game by going on a 9-0 run and taking a two point lead. Spurger bounced right back and for the remainder of the half it became a game of you make one, I make one and as the clock ticked down to 0:00 the score was knotted at 30. Bremond continued its push jumping out to a quick 5 point lead to start the third quarter but back came Spurger and as the third quarter came to a close the deficit was down to two. Spurger continued its comeback in the 4th quarter and with 6:20 left to play George Whittaker's highlight reel thunder dunk gave Spurger back the lead. The lead seesawed back and forth until Kacey Collier's 3 point swish gave Spurger what appeared to be a commanding lead at 51 -45 with only 2:30 minutes to play. There was no quit with the Tigers though and with 25 ticks of the clock and nursing a one point lead the Pirates Chase McGallion stepped to the line and sank the first three throw. When he missed the second Bremond corralled the rebound as they did so many times on this night. The Pirates fouled Bremond and their shooter returned the favor by missing one of two free throws to once more make it a one point Spurger lead 54 -53. Bremond grabbed the rebound and set up for another shot but then George Whittaker made his presence felt once again as he swatted a potential game winning shot out of bounds giving the Tigers the ball yet again. Under their own basket,with 8.26 seconds to play, the Tigers inbounded the ball and No 24 LiDarral Bailey who the Pirates could not stop all night drove the lane and floated the ball through the net as the seconds ticked away. Coach Isaacs called time and with 5.21 seconds showing on the clock, Spurger set up their final shot of the season. The Pirates quickly moved the ball downcourt but as time expired the last shot of the Pirate season bounced harmlessly off the rim and the heartbreak in Huntsville was complete 55 - 54. The Pirates came with class and in defeat they left with class congratulating the Bremond Tigers on wining the GAME OF THE YEAR!!

At 8PM on Friday February 27th, Willis High School. Willis TX was the place to be as 2 time defending champion Thorndale looked to continue its run to a third straight title. With a couple of quick, strong floor leaders, Thorndale was counting on the Pirates to be nervous and walk the plank. What they didn't count on was the size of the heart in our athletes. These pirates had no intention of giving up the ship. They had battled too long and too hard to get to this point. Spurger drew first blood and an early first quarter lead was soon stretched to a 9 point game at halftime. In the tough third quarter though, Thorndale began to show why they are called the Bulldogs and the 2 time defending state champion. They scratched. They clawed. They growled. They forced turnovers. They capitalized on easy baskets and with just 5:00 minutes to go in the game, the once double digit lead had dwindled to a 5 point game. It would grow even closer. As the Bulldogs closed in on their prey, the more than 200 Spurger fans who had traveled nearly 2 hours to witness this victory were not to be denied. As their Pirates settled in for the final 1:46 of hand to hand combat, the fans set course to drown out the Bulldog crowd and sail home to victory with their team. Coach Isaacs and his team too set out to finish off the Thorndale Bulldogs. Shain Rawls and Daniel Blankenship continuously stepped forward not only to sink free throws but the hopes of the Bulldog faithful. As the final seconds ticked away the Thorndale Bulldog's bark had turned to a mere whimper. You could almost hear the legendary broadcaster Howard Cosell screaming into his microphone "Down goes Thorndale! Down goes Thorndale!" as Coach Isaacs, the Pirate athletes and fans once more shared the sweet taste of victory. The Area Champion Spurger Pirates will look next to tame the Bremond Tigers at 6PM on Wednesday March 4th at Huntsville HS in Huntsville, Tx. The Tigers who lost to our Pirates last year will be out to cage our team so we need once more for Spurger to be a ghost town on Wednesday night. Come join the Top Row Rowdies and root our team to victory.