Sports

CARDS SENIOR COMMITS TO ANGELINA JC

On Tuesday, May 9, the Rice athletics program held their annual Athletic Awards Assembly to recognize a host of players and athletes who had successful seasons and contributed to Rice’s forward steps in athletics this season. The theme of the night was the hope Rice has for the future as many of the featured teams had little to no seniors on their respective squads, as well as a plethora of young players hoping to take another step forward next school year. Many awards were given throughout the night as there were several general award recipients as well as awards given out for each team.

ETBU SIGNS ALL-STATE RICE RUNNER

GUSTUS SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT

ALTAIR – Weimar’s varsity softball team continues to show that they are one of the best teams in the state and one of the best teams remaining in the UIL state playoffs as they knock off their opponents in each round in convincing fashion. In six games of the postseason so far, they have allowed only two combined runs as they have had outstanding pitching performances and have not had many mistakes on defense. The Ladycats picked up their fourth shutout victory of the playoffs during their last series against district rivals the Schulenburg Lady Horns. Weimar displayed their prowess on both sides of the ball as they won two straight games for the sweep. The Ladycats will get their next opportunity to flex their abilities on Thursday, May 18 in Brenham against the Milano Lady Eagles.

VICTORIA – The Weimar Wildcat baseball team had the offensive performance they were hoping for when they drew the Skidmore- Tynan Bobcats for the Area Championship round of the postseason. The Wildcats saw the ball well and found ways to make plays as they scored 21 runs in two games as they swept their second-round opponents. It was not only their offense that led them to victory as they also held their opponents to just four runs in a dominating effort that clinched Weimar’s spot in the regional rounds of the tournament. With this series victory, the Wildcats will now be seeking redemption against the Shiner Comanches for round three. Shiner took the advantage in both district games against the Wildcats, so Weimar will have to find a way to break through starting on Thursday, May 18 at Rice High School.

The Weimar Ladycats were represented in the UIL State Championship Golf Meet by Taylor Smith who reached the state level for the second season in a row. Smith was one of the first golfers to compete on the day, but she had one of the best first days of anyone else competing. She had a quality outing in the state meets opening day, shooting for a score of 86 which placed her in the top 10 individually. She finished the day tied for ninth place. Smith finished off her run in the state meet with another outing on Tuesday morning. However, results from May 16 were not available by the press deadline.

WIMBERLY – The Columbus Cardinals baseball team kept their postseason alive after competing in a three-game series with the Lytle Pirates as the teams vied for the Area Championship and a spot in the regional tournament portion of the playoffs. Recent history for Columbus had not been kind to the Cards in the area round as Columbus had not moved on past that round for the past 17 years. Columbus finally got their breakthrough this year as they had a dominating effort against the Pirates. Pitching and defense set the tone for the Cards as they did not allow a single run in a two-game sweep to claim their first Area Championship in nearly two decades. Now the Cards move on to face a familiar foe as they take on the Industrial Cobras for Columbus’ third match this season against their district rivals. The two teams split their district season matchups with one win apiece.

LADY CARDS TAKE ON STATE MEET

The Columbus athletics programs awarded several Cardinal athletes with recognition at the All-Sports Award Ceremony to celebrate a strong season in Columbus athletics. Three main awards were given during the night as one boy and one girl received the Cardinal Spirit award, the Torch award and the overall MVP from the school year. Mayson Post for the girls and Hunter Mangum for the boys received the Cardinal Spirit awards. Treasure Upson and Colby Williams were chosen as the recipients of the Torch award. The school’s MVP award went to Colton Pitchford for the boys and Madyson Carter for the girls as each of those athletes displayed excellence in several different sports throughout the season.

MARION – The Lady Cards’ varsity softball team changed their Regional Quarterfinal round matchup with Jourdanton from a series to a one-game elimination due to concerns about the weather for the rest of the weekend. With just one chance to move on in the postseason, the stakes during their May 12 matchup elevated to a heightened level. The Lady Cards held the score close during a game that lived up to the intensity of a one-off postseason game, but they never found a way to break into the scoreboard as they were held scoreless in a 3-0 defeat to the Lady Squaws.

The Rice Raiders football team has a notable alumnus in its recent history as Marcus Cooper from the University of the Incarnate Word attempts to claim his spot in the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Cooper has given himself a chance to get looks by teams at the highest level after a strong career at Rice High School that continued at the collegiate level for Cardinals.

MORE VIEWS FROM COLORADO COUNTY SOFTBALL

RICE’S MYERS HEADS TO STATE FOR SHOT PUT

GARWOOD – The Rice Little League nears the start of the season as they hosted their inaugural co-ed softball tournament fundraiser on Saturday, May 6. Teams met together for a double elimination style tournament as they raised funds for the Rice All-Stars Little League teams. The funds were raised using the participation fees for each player and team as several residents of Eagle Lake and the surrounding areas joined in to participate in the event.

The sports programs of Weimar recognized several of their standout athletes on Sunday, May 7 as part of the festivities at the Weimar Athletics Banquet. Players in several sports received spotlights as the school gave out awards and recognition for their students’ achievements throughout the past school year. Baseball, softball and golf awards could not be given out as those seasons were still in progress by the time of the banquet.

The Weimar Ladycats have had nearly a perfect start to their postseason as they have dominated each of their first two opponents to begin what they hope will be a deep playoff run. Through four postseason games, the Ladycats have allowed just one run combined while scoring double digits in every game so far. Their lone concession came in the first round against Falls City, so this time around, Weimar made sure to keep their sheet clean as they won twostraight shutout games against the La Villa Lady Cardinals for the Area Championship. They start the regional portion of the playoffs with a series against a familiar foe, the Schulenburg Lady Horns at Rice High School. Game one begins on Thursday, May 11 at 6 pm.

The Weimar Wildcats varsity baseball team needed extra innings to secure their Bi-District Championship and move on to the Area round of the postseason. After a blowout victory to start the series, the Wildcats got into a dogfight with the Falls City Beavers in the following games as they dropped a close one in game two and needed 11 innings to decide the victor in a decisive game three. The Bi-District Champions will move on to face Skidmore-Tynan at Yoakum High School starting on Friday, May 12 at 7 pm. Game two and, if necessary, game three will be the following day with action starting at 2 pm.

The Columbus Cardinals varsity baseball team did not have many difficulties taking on their first-round postseason opponents. Facing off against the Randolph Ro-hawks for the Bi-District Championship, the Cards had some of their best offensive performances of the season as Randolph struggled to slow down the Cards’ impressive hitting. After two straight games of domination, the Cardinals claimed the Bi-District Championship round with an over 13-point average margin of victory in both games. With the series victory, the Cards move on to the Area Championship round where they will take on the Lytle Pirates in Wimberly on Thursday, May 11 at 6 pm.

The Columbus football and volleyball teams have released their schedules for the 2023 Fall season.

The Cardinals’ Ty’Vone Whitehead will be Columbus’ lone representative in the State Championship Meet after becoming the Regional Champion in the 100m dash. Whitehead will compete at Mike A. Myers stadium in Austin on Thursday, May 11 at just after 6 pm.