Sports

The rodeo is returning to Young County with the 20th annual Young County Rodeo. The event opens Thursday, March 16 and runs through Saturday, March 18. The YCR brings in cowboys and cowgirls of the United Professional Rodeo Association to benefit the Knights of Columbus.

The three-day rodeo will feature nine rodeo events including Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Ranch Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie-Down Roping, Ladies Breakaway, Team Roping, Barrel Racing and Bull Riding.

It was nearly a record breaking day Thursday, March 9 for sophomore high jumper Emi Gordy at the Bridgeport Double B Relays. While Gordy and the girls’ track team took first place, Gordy’s final height in the high jump matched Shelley Cypret (1991) and Erica Balderson (1999) with her recorded height of five feet, six inches.

Boys’ team results

1. Peaster 145.5, 2. Springtown 136, 3. Paradise 97, 4. Boyd 82, 5. Graham 79, 6. Bridgeport 37, 7. Lake Worth 35.5, 8. Moody 8

Individual results

The Steers experienced a little bit of everything last weekend at the Bowie tournament. Thursday's games included a pair of comebacks. A pair of pitchers gave their opponents troubles Friday and the Steers experienced struggles of their own in a Saturday morning blowout loss.

The Graham Leader honors two local athletes each week for exceptional performance over the previous week’s games. Athletes are chosen based on performance with feedback from team coaches.

Both varsity and subvarsity athletes are eligible for The Leader’s Athletes of the Week.

This week’s athletes are being honored based on their performance in games played between Thursday, March 2 and Wednesday, March 8. Tate Loesch of Steers baseball and Meagan Brooks of Lady Blues softball were chosen as this week’s athletes.

Meagan Brooks

The Lady Blues’ defense continued its positive trend Tuesday, March 7 during the team’s 4-0 win over Bridgeport. Behind 11 hits and no errors, the Lady Blues improved to 9-2-2 as they prepare for district play beginning later this month.

Steers baseball coach Allen McGee has said throughout the early portion of the 2023 season that the team will experience growing pains. He has described losses as a matter of a missed play here or a bad inning there. The Steers started strong during Tuesday’s district opening loss at home to Stephenville, defensive miscues and struggles at the plate led to a 6-0 loss to the Yellowjackets and an 0-1 start to the district schedule.

The Graham Steers struggled to find wins over the weekend at the American Cancer Society baseball tournament. Brock High School and Hoskins Field in Wichita Falls hosted the Steers in games March 3-4.

The Steers opened the tournament with a shutout loss Friday, March 3 to Brock. Later in the day, the Steers gave up runs late in a loss to Paradise. After a loss Saturday, March 4 to Canyon, the Steers bounced back to close the tournament with a win over West Plains.

Brock 9, Steers 0

The Lady Blues took on four teams at the rain-impacted Iowa Park tournament this weekend. Rain shortened the Lady Blues’ first game of the weekend Thursday, March 2 against Iowa Park and forced a schedule change Friday, March 3.

After opening the weekend with a 6-0 loss to former district rivals Iowa Park, the Lady Blues bounced back Friday with an 8-0 win over Breckenridge and finished two games Saturday, March 4 with ties in time-shortened games.

Iowa Park 6, Lady Blues 0

The Lady Blues will host their annual softball tournament this weekend with games taking place at the Graham High School softball field, Graham City Field and Windthorst High School. The GHS softball field is located in front of the Young County Arena (120 Barclay Blvd, Graham, TX 76450). The Graham City Field is located behind the old ag barn which is located at 150 US Hwy 67 in Graham. Windthorst High School is located at 100 St. Mary's Street Windthorst, TX 76389.

Each week The Graham Leader honors two local athletes for exceptional performance over the previous week’s games. Athletes are chosen based on performance with feedback from team coaches.

Both varsity and subvarsity athletes are eligible for The Leader’s Athletes of the Week.

This week’s athletes are being honored based on their performance in games played between Thursday, Feb. 23 and Wednesday, March 1. Emily Lawson of Lady Blues softball and Ryder Taylor of Steers baseball were chosen as this week’s athletes.

Emily Lawson