Celebrating 126 Years of Serving the communities of Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot, and Moore in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties
Local Sports coverage of your Warhorse and Arabians, Colts, Fillys, Lytle Pirates, Lady Pirates, Mustangs and Lady Mustangs
Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
The Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas released its first poll of the 2023 season and to no one’s surprise the Lytle teams found themselves at or near the top of each list.
Continue reading “Texas Poll shows Pirate Cross Country at the TOP”
The Natalia Lady Mustangs defeated Fox Tech in two games with scores of 25-4 and 25-12 to finish up the Arabian Roundup Tourney on Saturday, August 19.
Stat Leaders: Kills: Anaya Jones 13, Angelina Solis 6. Assists: Yahdira Lujan 20. Digs: Angelina Solis 7, Abigail Fulton 6. Aces: Abigail Fulton 7, Angelina Solis 3.
Defeat Ingleside 2-0
Continue reading “Lady Mustangs defeat Fox Tech to finish up strong in Arabian Roundup”
Eric Smith
Staff Writer
The Natalia Mustangs and the Jourdanton Indians will kick-off the 2023 Football season this Friday in Natalia which will be one of seven home games for the Stangs this year. Looking back over the last five years, the Tribe holds a 3-2 edge winning the 2022 campaign 48-20. J-Town and Natalia wrapped up their final scrimmage(s) last week and both Head Coaches are excited to kick-off the season.
Eric Smith
Staff Writer
There is a new sense of hope, a new sense of pride, a brand new offense and new leadership at the helm of the Lytle Pirate Football program. Will unstoppable success come overnight? No one will know that, until the lights shine in November. For now, one thing is for sure and that is the boys in black and gold are ready to “Dig Deep” as they welcome the Carrizo Springs Wildcats this Friday at Walter Joyce Stadium.
Continue reading “Pirates ready to dig in Friday night v Carrizo Springs @ the Peanut Butter Bowl”
Jerel Beaty Staff Writer
Mark your calendars. Devine’s Athletic Booster, Band Booster, and community members will host a Meet the Athletes, the Marching Band, and the Cheerleaders Pep Rally Friday, August 18 at Warhorse Stadium.The event kicks off at 7:00pm.Free hot dogs and water add to the excitement and serve as a bonus because all who show up will also not have to worry about cooking dinner that night.
Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
The Lady Pirate track season continues to Austin, its final destination of the 2023 season as Klayre Cook, Marissa Lopez, Moriah Gomez, and Calyssa Sevier all advanced past the regional round this past weekend in Seguin.
Gomez qualified in both the 800m Run and in the 4x400m Relay along with teammates Lopez, Cook, and Sevier. The foursome set a school record finishing with a time of 4:02.88 which was just enough to qualify as the “Wild Card” team going into their last, and biggest, race of their season.
“Wow! Did we just do that?” was the initial response by head coach Gilbert Ruiz. “That is what went through my head as Moriah was crossing the finish line as the anchor leg in the 4x400m relay 10 minutes after placing 3rd in the 1600m.”
It was a monumental moment in the history of Lytle track and field.
“Not only did she become the first Lytle track athlete to get on that Regional Track medal stand three times, but she also helped the team set another school record of 4:02.88, bettering it by 5 seconds. This after placing 2nd in the 800m earlier in the day, breaking her own school record set last week at Area (2:20.28) with a time of 2:18.59 and becoming the first female to make it State since Natalie Cortez did it in 2014 in the 1600m and 3200m.”
With nine lanes available at Mike A. Myers Stadium in the state’s capital, there will be two teams from each of the four regions along with Lytle who snatched up that sole spot as the next best team out of all Regional track events.
“That 4:02.88 was only good for 3rd place (that time would have won last year), but we knew it would give us a chance for the State Wild Card Slot (Fastest 3rd place of all 4 3A Regions) and it did. This after we just ran a 4:07 the day before and I told them we needed at least a 4:04.”
Having yet another goal set in front of them, the Lady Pirates did not blink an eye in going for the gusto for what could have been their last race.
“They gave it their all for each other for four laps with Calyssa running a :58 split third leg to get us closer and now becoming the first 4x400m Relay to make it to State and the most we have ever had that will be participating at the State Track Meet.”
It was a great day for both the Lady Pirates and the Pirates, according to Ruiz.
“We had three Personal Records” Ruiz said in reference to Moriah’s and the 4x400m team and included Pirate Robert Wagner who did so in the 800m Run as well. “They set those records in very windy conditions on Saturday and all of those three efforts helped them get to the State Meet that will be held on May 11th for 3A.”
Up next
Moriah, followed by Robert will run the 800m at 5:20pm Thursday, May 11 at 5:20pm. Marissa, Klayre, Calyssa, and Moriah run the 4x400m Relay at 8:20pm.
Results
Sevier placed fourth in the 400m Dash with a time of 1:01.20. Lopez also finished fourth in the 800m with a time of 2:26.83, while Cook came in soon thereafter at 2:33.46.
Gomez was so close to qualifying for State in the 1600m Run as she came in third with a time of 5:25.82. Samantha Mujica set a personal record in the 3200m with a time of 12:14.91 that placed seventh overall.
Congratulations to all Lady Pirates, and best of luck to Klayre, Marissa, Moriah, and Calyssa in Austin!
Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
Robert Wagner gets to run the 800m race one more time on the state’s biggest stage as he qualified for the State Meet to be held in Austin on Thursday, May 11. Wagner placed second in Seguin at Regional last week with a time of 1:58.78 which was less than a second behind the 800m champion Isai Moran of Great Hearts Northern Oaks who crossed the finish line at 1:57.92.
Wagner competes in Austin after Lady Pirate Moriah Gomez runs her 800m which begins at 5:20pm. Wagner was also trying to qualify in the 1600m but came in 12th with a time of 4:59.43.
Abel Sanches was in the mix for a state-spot in the 800m as well as he came in fifth at 2:03.63. Brandon Obando was 9th at 2:05.68. Sanchez also ran the 3200m, coming in 7th at 10:03.47.
Johnny Rey Alvarez placed 7th in the 1600m at 4:44.72 and was 8th in the 3200m at 10:16.30.
Tristan Lopez was the last distance runner in competition for the Pirates. He placed 12th in the 3200m with a time of 10:36.75.
The lone speedster in the group was Brandon Adkins as he ran the 200m Dash. He placed 12th in preliminaries at 24.72.
The Pirates were well-represented in field events too as Conner Martin competed in Pole Vault and High Jump, Alex Medina in Discus, and both William Davalos and Mario Diaz in Shot Put.
Martin vaulted and even 13’0 to place third, missing that state-qualifying spot by one. He high jumped 5’10 to place 9th.
Medina was also in that third place finish spot as he threw the discus 146’2.
Davalos placed 11th in Shot Put, throwing 42’6.
Diaz was 15th in Shot Put with an effort of 37’9.75.
Congratulations to all Pirate Regional Qualifiers and best of luck to Robert in Austin!
Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Texas Sports Writers of America honored three Warhorse football players by naming them to the TSWA All-State Honorable Mention squad for their performances during Devine’s District Championship, state playoff qualifying 2022 season.
Junior running back Ethan Santos, senior defensive tackle Logan Camarillo, and junior tight end Aaron Bonilla all earned the special recognition.
“These young men had very successful seasons and I am excited that they get recognized by the Texas Sports Writers Association for their hard work. These young men put a lot of hours and commitment towards being the best football players that they can be and we appreciate them,” said excited Head Coach Paul Gomez.
Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Three senior Arabian powerlifters fit the term “student-athlete” to a T as they landed on one of three Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Academic teams at the conclusion of last season.
Jordan Erxleben earned the highest possible ranking as she was recognized on the Academic Elite honor roll. Jordan was one of 104 lifters from the entire state to make the Elite list.
Cassandra Elias was tabbed First-Team Academic All-State. Elias was one of 78 to make the First-Team.
Victoria Nunez made Second-Team Academic All-State. Nunez was one of 114 honored on the Second Team.
“These ladies excelled both in the sport of powerlifting and in academics,” stated Head Coach Paul Gomez. “It is a full time job to be on the top of both of those categories and we are very proud of them!”
Congratulations Jordan, Cassandra, and Victoria for upholding the academic value of being a true student-athlete and excelling both in the classroom and in athletic competitions.
