Morrison finishes mid-pack at Region II-6A Tournament

By TJ MAXWELL 

Cove Leader-Press

 

Copperas Cove senior Tyler Morrison competed in her final University Interscholastic League tournament during the Region II-6A golf tournament held Monday and Tuesday at the Cottonwood Creek Golf Course in Waco.

 

With some of the top golfers in the state in Region II, it was a tough road for Morrison as the single qualifier for Cove.

 

She shot an 81 on day one of the tournament and improved two strokes with a 79 on day two for a combined total of 160.

 

The low round of the tournament came from Lake Travis’ Kristen Gillman, who shot a five-under-par 67 on day two. She also had the best combined score with 141 for the first place Lake Travis squad. They shot a combined 582 to win. Austin Westlake finished second with 588.

 

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Cove Junior High wins third-straight tourney

 

The Copperas Cove Junior High girls’ 7th grade golf team continued their win-streak this week when they finished in first place at the Belton Junior High Invitational at Stonetree Golf Course in Killeen.

 

Led by Elle Fox and Maddy Miller, the Lady Dawgs shot a combined 203 to best second-place Midway by 28 strokes.

 

Fox shot a one-under-par 34 to claim first place individually and Maddy Miller shot a personal best 44 to place third.

 

Contributing to the strong finish were Jordan Dillon (61), Maddy Scribner (64) and Abby Baker (67).

 

SC Lee Junior High golfers Ashonte Robatte and Andrea Vandegrift and also had a good tournament. The medalists finished with a 60 and 65, respectively.

 

The boys competed well but did not place. Yun Choi shot the low round for the boys with a 50.

 

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Lady Dawg softball falls to Midway 11-1

 

The Lady Dawgs softball team suffered a mercy-rule loss to No. 7 Midway Tuesday in Waco.

 

The Pantherettes combined for 11 runs on 11 hits to claim the five-inning victory, led by senior shortstop Taylor Ellis. She was 3-for-3 with a home run for two runs and five RBIs.

 

“They are good sticks and we kept them in check in the last game,” said Cove head coach Bryan Waller. “They did what we expected them to do today. They hit the ball well. We just have to make sure we limit bases. That’s the one thing we can take away from this game – limit bases when the ball is put in play. We also need to make sure we’re doing what we need to do offensively to get as many runs across as we can.”

 

Ellis cranked one over the centerfield fence as part of a four-run first inning.

 

Ellis added two more runs in the bottom of the second when she connected on a double to center to score Rhein Trochim and Haley Moore, who each reached on Cove errors.

 

Cove leadoff hitter Marissa Williams broke up the potential no-hitter by Midway hurler Morgan Ling. She beat out the throw on a bunt to put a runner on for Cove.

 

Zoe Frizzell followed with a double to centerfield to put Williams in scoring position where a groundout by Peyton Choate scored Williams to prevent the shutout.

 

Midway added two more runs in the third, two more in the fourth and a wild pitch allowed Camryn Collier to score from third for the walk-off win.

 

The Lady Dawgs (5-5) in District 12-6A play hold their destiny in their own hands. If they win out at home against Harker Heights tonight and on the road at Shoemaker, they will lock up the third playoff spot behind undefeated Belton (9-0) and (Midway 8-1).

 

“We need to practice hard and be mentally focused when we play Heights and Shoemaker,” said Waller. “If we can get two wins to go out in district, we can use that momentum to carry us into the playoffs.”

 

A loss in either game would muddy up the waters with Killeen Ellison one-half game back at 4-5.

 

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Cove Dawgs fall to Belton Tigers 9-2

 

The Dawgs took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning against the Belton Tigers on Tuesday in Belton, but the Tigers scored nine unanswered runs to claim the 9-2 win and maintain their hold of second place in District 12-6A play.

 

Despite the loss, the Bulldawgs (14-7, 4-4 in District 12-6A) are firmly planted in the playoff chase with their current third-place spot.

 

The Bulldawgs had several opportunities with runners in scoring position in every inning from the fourth on but they could not get the runners home.

 

Tim Bechtold did his part. He was 3-for-4 from the plate with a run in the loss. Cameron Johnson also hit well with his 2-for-3 performance.

 

Reese Hohhertz led the Belton bats. He was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs and four RBIs. Tyler Kastner was also 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

 

Cameron Whitman picked up the win for Midway on the mound. He allowed two earned runs on eight hits. He struck out six and walked one.

 

Josh Carbajal suffered the loss for Cove. He surrendered six runs (four earned) on five hits. He struck out five and walked three.

 

The undefeated Ellison Eagles lead the way at 8-0 with Belton right behind at 6-2. It’s a four-team race for the final two playoff spots with Killeen (3-4), Ellison (3-5) and Midway, (2-5) nipping at the heels of Cove in that third spot.

 

Midway had some of their wins vacated due to an ineligible player, which knocked them out of the race for the district crown down to a scramble to merely even make the playoffs.