Sports

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Jerry English, the dean of area basketball coaches with 43 years experience, did not have his contract renewed by Faith Academy.

“We are restructuring our girls basketball program as far as the leadership,’’ Faith Academy athletic director Randy Denton said Friday. “We’ve had success but it’s not all about wins and loses. It is time to make a change.’’

The job is open Denton said.

“This is a Faith Academy decision,’’ Denton said. “We need a lot of more girls in the program. It’s all about getting more kids in the program.’’

English had led the Faith Academy program for 13 years and consistent winning.

He has 19th trips to the state Final Four in 43 years of coaching at stops in Pflugerville . Sweeny, Dripping Springs and Faith Academy.

“It’s not something I want to talk about,’’ English said.  “I’m just going to let it go.’’

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls had a big turnaround inning Tuesday night scoring five runs on five hits in the sixth inning to come away with a 11-7 victory over Boerne Champion.

The Lady Stangs trailed 7-4 going into the inning when Elicia Gonzales had a two-run single to set up a remarkable play.

With Gonzales on third and Taylor Dixon on  second with one out, Gonzales got caught in a rundown between third and home. Gonzales raced back and forth when she decided to go for home plate. She made an incredible slide between the Boerne Champion catchers legs to score the tying run.

"It was the only place to go,'' Gonzales said. "She had the plate blocked but her legs were out the this and I went between them.''

Dixon and Logan Hulon added two more runs for a 9-7 lead.

Marble Falls lost 2-0 to Richmond Foster in the area round Class 5A playoff soccer game at Giddings High School Friday night.

In softball, Marble Falls fell to Medina Valley, 6-2. Medina Valley’s first baseman ArieAnn Bell had a big two-run single in the fifth inning for the key hit of the game.

Bell was 1-for-3 and scored twice.

Marble Falls fell behind 5-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Bailey Hamilton scored the Lady Mustangs first run after belting a triple and scoring on a sacrifice fly by Hailey Guerra. Taylor Dixon scored the final Marble Falls run in the seventh inning reaching on a single, stealing second and scoring on a grounder.

Logan Hulon gave up eight hits and struck out nine Medina Valley players.

Hulon walked four batters.

Marble Falls is 8-11-3 overall and 4-5 in district.

The team has lost four straight in district.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls’ Ethan O’Riley needed just 65 pitches to notch a 1-0 victory over rival Dripping Springs Friday night. O’Riley allowed three hits, struck out four and walked none.

The Mustangs played error free ball and scored the winning run in the top of the seventh with Dalton Mayberry putting down a sacrifice bunt to score O’Riley.

O’Riley opened the seventh inning with a walk then advanced to second on passed ball. Mayberry came to the plate with no outs and placed a sacrifice bunt. An errant throw by Dripping Springs on the play allowed O’Riley to score.

Marble Falls scored the run with no outs.

Dripping Springs retired the next three batters.

In the bottom of the inning, O’Riley retired all three Tigers to notch the Mustangs second win in a row in District 26-5A play.

The Mustangs played their best defensive game of the year including diving catches and double play efforts.

District 26-5A softball

Dripping Springs         8-0      

Lockhart                     6-2

Seguin                         5-3      

Medina Valley             5-3

Marble Falls                4-4

Kerrville Tivy              1-7

Boerne Champion       1-7

Alamo Heights            2-6

March 28 Tuesday games

Alamo Heights 5, Marble Falls 4

Dripping Springs 10, Tivy 0

Medina Valley 7, Boerne Champion 0

Lockhart 7, Seguin 0

March 31 Friday games

Medina Valley at Marble Falls, 7 p.m.

Seguin at Dripping Springs, 7 p.m.

Lockhart at Boerne Champion, 7 p.m.

Alamo Heights at Kerrville Tivy, 7 p.m.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls girls had a strong showing at the Marble Falls Daybreak Rotary Mustang Relays Saturday at Mustang Stadium.

The varsity girls finished fifth overall in a strong field including Rouse, Cedar Park Austin Westlake and Round Rock Westwood.

“Overall I was pleased with all the performances for the girls track team,’’ Marble Falls coach Anthony Torns said.

Highlights for the girls included:

On Jesse Stephenson, “she has about a foot more I think she can clear but I was very pleased with the way she competed and pulling out the win.’’

On Kim Boni, “she had a big time PR in the mile she actually dropped 11 seconds off her best time.  She’s now number two in school history in that race. Kim give it her all in practice and it shows in meets, she is self motivated and inspired and that why she has improved so much this season.’’

Marble Falls softball and baseball teams both lost Friday.

The girls lost, 5-0, to Dripping Springs on the road. Marble Falls had just one hit and the Tigers took advatage of five hits to remain unbeaten in District 26-5A action.

Marble Falls is 4-3 in district and lost two straight this week,

Marble Falls boys gave up seven runs in the bottom of the fifth and lost, 7-5, to Seguin on the road Friday night.

Marble Falls is 2-10 on the season and winless in district at 0-5. The boys are at home against  Lockhart Tuesday and on the road Friday at Dripping Springs.

The Marble Falls Mustangs defeated Austin Lanier 1-0 in their bi-district soccer match Friday at Nelson Field.

The boys will advance to playthe winner of Richmond Foster versus San Antonio Jefferson game.

Marble Falls is 19-1-6 on the season.

Marble Falls boys’ soccer team hopes to get the most out of some injured players for its  Class 5A playoff clash Friday night against Austin Lanier in a 8 p.m. start at Nelson Field.

The Mustangs had three key players limited in their final regular season game against Dripping Springs before Spring Break.  Fortino Tinajera is doubtful for the game tomorrow night and Gavino Tinajera and Cristian Santibanez will play but they are only about 50 percent healthy, Marble Falls coach Rick Hoover said.

Austin Lanier 10-5-5 record, finished tied for second place in district.

“They are a very good team and solid in every position, they really have no weaknesses. I consider this an incredibly tough first round playoff game, it is going to be a dog fight for both teams,” Hoover said.

The winner plays the winner of Richmond Foster versus San Antonio Jefferson.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Mya McMillian, the leader scorer and rebounder for the Marble Falls Lady Mustangs, has earned All-State honors in two coaches polls.

Aubree Adams, another key contributor on the Lady Mustangs historic 26-11 regional semifinalist, made All-Region in one of the polls.

“They worked real hard all year and they earned it,’’ Marble Falls coach John Berkman said.

The Lady Mustangs went four rounds deep beating LBJ, San Antonio Sam Houston and Port Lavaca Calhoun before losing to Corpus Christi Flour Bluff.

McMillian finished averaging 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals.

Adams averages were 7.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steals.

“The season was more than I expected,’’ Adams said. “It was crazy. I’m looking forward  to next year and I’m already practicing with my AAU team working hard to get better.’’