The Graham Leader’s Athletes of the Week are being honored based on their performance in games played between Thursday, March 9 and Wednesday, March 15.
Steers soccer player, Easton Hedge, and Lady Blues softball player Zoey Harrell, have been chosen as this week’s athletes.
Zoey Harrell
Lady Blues softball played a pair of matinee games during spring break. The team welcomed a former district rival and an unfamiliar foe and split games Tuesday, March 14 and Wednesday, March 15.
Zoey Harrell opened the pair of games with a shutout victory, 8-0, over Burkburnett. The Lady Blues gave up a pair of runs late Wednesday, in a 4-2 loss to Incarnate Word San Antonio.
Lady Blues 8, Lady Porcupines 0
Harrell and the Lady Blues’ defense kept their former district rivals off the scoreboard in a shutout victory.
The Steers had opportunities Wednesday, March 15 at Brownwood. In addition to leading in the middle innings, the Steers had struggles bringing home runners from scoring position during a 3-2 loss to the Lions.
Colter Johnson hit a two-out double on a line drive to center field. Johnson was the first of six runners left on base in the game when a strikeout ended the top of the first inning.
The Lady Blues continued their fast start over the weekend by winning five of their six games at their home tournament. While sophomore pitcher Zoey Harrell achieved perfection, wet weather caused changes in the schedule. That did not matter as the Lady Blues claimed wins over Muenster, Archer City, Springtown, Kennedale and Stamford.
It felt like a long time coming for Graham Steers soccer Friday, March 10 on Newton Field. While the Steers and Lady Blues celebrated their seniors, the Steers closed a difficult season with a district win, 2-0, over Mineral Wells to avoid getting shut down during the district schedule. The Lady Blues closed the night in winning fashion, 3-0, over the Lady Rams to complete a third-place finish in the district standings.
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.
