Arabian Softball season opener ends indramatic fashion

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports editor
The reigning bi-district champs took the field in their first game of the season against the Jourdanton Squaws, losing a tight game on the final play. 4-5. The Squaws were down 4-3 at the bottom of the seventh inning when an error led to two runs scored. This dramatic back and forth had four lead changes and one tie, a thrilling way to start the season to say the least.
Head coach Micheal Sotelo said the team has room for growth but have really embraced the process it takes to put in the preparation for these games. As much as they are focused on executing on the field, the coaches want to foster other attributes for the young athletes as well. 
“Now that the scrimmage season is behind us I’ve seen young ladies being the best versions of themselves,” Sotelo said. “Being a good person first is what we’ve worked on with the ladies and it is showing what great teammates they are when they step in between the lines.” 
Moreover, Sotelo noticed the collective buy-in the athletes display extends to the parents as well. The commitment not just from the team, but the community at large will help the team reach their goals as they make their journey through the regular season. 

Batting

7 Kenny Cruz– 4 ABs, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 double

12 Jaylynn Hernandez– 3 ABs, 2 H, 1 RBI

17 Tucker Traylor– 4 ABs, 1 H

22 Paislee Friesenhahn– 1 AB, 1 R

25 Karsyn Deleon– 3 ABs, 1 H

Fielding

7 Cruz– 2 outs on 2 chances

12 Hernandez– 1 out on 1 chance

17 Traylor– 1 out

25 Deleon– 2 outs on 2 chances

Pitching

17 Traylor– Gave up 5 runs on 6 hits with 8 strikeouts

The Arabians will participate in their first tournament of the season starting on Thursday, Feb. 12 beginning at 12 p.m. at the SAISD sports complex in San Antonio.

Devine Varsity in full swing at Southwest Tournament

Varsity Warhorse duo Bryson Robison and Cord Lassere took home the second place medal at the Southwest tournament. Photo by Kandi Darnell.

Matthew “Moose” Lopez
Sports editor
Varsity Tennis put on a show during the Southwest high school tournament, with multiple athletes medaling in their respective categories. Head coach Kandi Darnell has been impressed with the teams performances in the first two tournaments of the season. 
“Bryson Robison and Cord Lassere are looking very good with first and second finishes in two different tournaments. Jeremy Steinbrunner played a good match,” Darnell said. “MJ Lawler has been improving every time he has played.”
Darnell noted…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Arabians defeat Uvalde 54-30, now wait on playoff opponent

Varsity Arabian #20 Caroline Suhr intercepts the pass during Devine’s dominant win over Pearsall. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
By the time The Devine News readers pull this edition of the rack, the Arabians should know who they will face on their side of the UIL Class 4A playoff bracket.
Since beginning District 27-4A 1-3 the Arabians have gone 6-1 since with their only loss coming to Carrizo Springs on January 16, a team they happened to play on Tuesday, February 10 to close out their league schedule. Carrizo Springs was 11-0 and had already clinched the district championship with a three game lead over second place Floresville who sat 8-3.
Devine (7-4) avenged first round losses to Pleasanton (3-9), Somerset (6-5), and…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

JV Horses knock down Pearsall

JV Warhorse #5 Brody Lane focuses on the rim during Devine’s game against Pearsall. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The JV Horses may not have started last week on a winning note, but they more than made up for it in Pearsall as they demolished the Mavericks 58-50 on Friday night.
Devine had played a spirited game against Somerset on Tuesday but fell short of victory. Their latest win will hopefully carry over to their last few remaining games.
vs Pearsall
From the time the Warhorses hit their first bucket then quickly went up 7-0, they never trailed in their 58-50 win on the road over the Mavericks. Becker Byrd had team-highs of 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 of his team’s 10 steals.
Jack Bandel also knocked down double figures as he finished with 11 points. Nick Vasquez also had a nice stat line of 9 points and 7 rebounds and Jacob McKee was next going for 8 points and 7 rebounds. Jack Rumfield had his team’s only blocked shot.
Devine led 15-5 after the first period and 30-20 at the break. The Horses took a 39-35 lead into the final frame.
Coach Zac Valenzuela was rightly pleased with his crew’s overall complete performance saying, “We were powered by dominance on the glass and balanced scoring throughout the lineup. We set the tone in the trenches.”
Valenzuela was…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Horses defeat Pearsall, chase playoff positioning

Varsity Warhorse #0 Christian Beaver swings on the rim after the emphatic dunk during warmups before Devine’s game against Somerset. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine went 1-1 over the last week, not counting their February 3rd monumental tip against Floresville on Sessions Court. The Horses were sitting firmly in fourth place in District 27-4A after defeating Pearsall on January 30 and could theoretically move up in the standings if they pulled out a win against the visiting Tigers.
A Devine win would put both teams at 6-3 and even in a tiebreak situation. A Floresville win would put them at 7-2 and drop the Horses to 5-4 with the Tigers holding the 2-0 tiebreak if they happen to finish with identical district records.
Devine lost to Somerset on January 27, dropping to 0-2 against the third place 5-2 Bulldogs and giving them the tiebreak advantage. Carrizo Springs and Pearsall need some sort of unfathomable magic to have any hopes of joining the state playoffs.
The Horses are primed…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Arabians roll two wins over Somerset, Pearsall as playoffs loom

Varsity Arabian #15 Kenadi Marek ascends for the block during Devine’s dominant win over Pearsall. Marek had nine points in the game, five of them were scored in the fourth quarter. Photo by Brigid Howard.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Arabian Head Coach Hannah Thompson and her crew of basketball players took care of business over the last couple of games as they stayed in the thick of a playoff berth with consecutive wins over Somerset and Pearsall.
Devine played Floresville on February 3, and finish league play against Uvalde on Sessions Court on February 6 then travel to Carrizo Springs for their finale on February 10.
Prior to tipoff versus the Jaguars, Devine sat in third place tied with Somerset whom they split their season series at 1-1. Both teams were 5-4 with the Lady Bulldogs more than likely defeating winless Pearsall on February 3.
Carrizo Springs pretty much has…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Somerset squeaks by freshman Horses

Freshman Warhorse #21 Stephen Caballero muscles his way to the baseline during Devine’s thrilling game against Somerset. Caballero secured one board during this game. Photo by Moose Lopez.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
The never-say-die freshman Horses tried their best making a valiant comeback attempt versus the visiting Somerset Bulldogs on January 27. After falling behind by 14 points in the first half, Devine closed to with three points going into the final quarter.
However, time ran out for the Horses and Coach Zachary Robles in their 45-33 setback to Somerset.
Brian Martinez led Devine with 11 points followed by Collier Paige who had 10 points.
Martinez and Paige were also the…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Warhorse lifters Castilleja, Hagdorn medal in Floresville

Angel Castilleja earned gold at Floresville lifting meet. Photo by Betsy Leal.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
As the high school powerlifting season hits past the halfway point, Warhorse lifters are gaining traction on qualifying totals to advance to the Regional Meet that is in just a few weeks. Angel Castilleja and Jackson Hagdorn led Devine at Floresville last Thursday but other lifters had nice showings as well.
Castilleja earned a gold medal in the 242 pound weight class as he totaled 1,145 pounds between squad, bench, and deadlift.
Hagdorn finished…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!