Yellowjackets are bi-district champs; Butter celebrates 100th career win

Bi-District Champs, defeating Martinsville 10-2 – Back Row L-R: Coach Marty Thompson, Coach Butter, Waylon Sturrock, Jesse Bittick, Coach Evan Stewart, Rex Gilzow, Cutter Lowe, Will Thomason, Henry David, Brad Davison and Trayce Knox. Front Row Kneeling L-R: Kasen Citrano, Jaxon Gay, Jayse Gay, Turner Johnson and Coltin Kosina. BECKI BYRD | TCB

By Becki Byrd

Yellowjacket baseball started their playoff run facing Martinsville in a one game series on Wednesday, May 1 at Hudson for the Bi-District title. The Pirates were the visiting team and started the game off early scoring two runs in the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Waylon Sturrock hit an inside the park home run which tied the game 2-2 in the first. The Yellowjackets took the lead in the bottom of the second when Bradley Davison grounded out, scoring one run.

The Jackets scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jesse Bittick doubled, scoring one run, a passed ball scored one run, Jayse Gay hit a line drive to right field scoring one run, and Jaxon Gay tripled scoring two runs. The weather turned bad and was ultimately delayed until the next day due to lightning. When the Jackets returned to Hudson the next day the game resumed just as they had left it the night before with runners on first and second with one out. The Jackets were not able to score that inning but held the Pirates for their at bat keeping the score 9-2. In the bottom of the sixth, Jaxon Gay tripled for the second time, then scored the very next pitch, stealing home, on a passed ball, making the score 10-2. Will Thomason earned the win surrendering five hits, two runs, eight strikeouts and no walks over six innings. Waylon Sturrock pitched one inning allowing zero hits, one strikeout, and two walks.

This win was extra special to Coach Coleman Butter as it marked his 100th career win. The Yellowjackets advance to the Regional Quarterfinal round and will face the Oakwood Panthers in a double header on Friday May 11 at 5pm with the third game if needed scheduled for Saturday May 12 at 11 a.m.

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Lady Jackets take on Martinsville

The Lady Jacket softball team played the Martinsville Lady Pirates for the Regional Quarterfinal round of play-offs in a best of three series on Wednesday May 1 and Thursday May 2. The first game the Lady Jackets defeated the Lady Pirates 15-0. The Lady Jackets went on a streak in the second inning scoring 13 runs with hits from Kinsley Barnes, Holly Moore, Lauren Citeano, Allie Ogden, and Emma Byrd. Barnes earned the win surrendering two hits, zero runs, two strikeouts, and three walks over three innings. Lily Read, Kinsley Barnes, Emma Byrd, and Holly Moore each drove in two runs. Read, Ogden, and Hailey Purvis led with two walks each.

The next day the Lady Jackets were the visiting team and wasted no time getting on the board, scoring three runs in the first inning. The Lady Jackets scored nine runs on hits from Emma Byrd, Holly Moore, and Lily Read in the top of the second inning. In the third inning Sydney Brock laid down a sacrifice bunt, scoring one, Kinsley Barnes walked, scoring one, and Lauren Citrano stole home on a wild pitch. The Lady Jackets continued racking up hits, including a triple by Lauren Citrano, a double by Emma Byrd, and a line drive by Koree Hilliard to earn seven more points securing the win in five innings 23-0. Kinsley Barnes pitched three innings giving up zero hits, zero runs, two strikeouts, and three walks. Allie Ogden came in as relief also giving up no hits, one strike out, and one walk.

The Lady Jackets will face Brookeland in the Regional Semi-Finals on Thursday May 9 at 5:30 p.m. in Lufkin. The winner of this game will advance to the Regional Finals and face either Neches or Bloomburg, who play early this week.