The top senior athletes in the area converged on three different sites to compete in the annual All-Star Games hosted by the Waco area Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The basketball games were played at the Johnson Activity Center on the campus of Fairfield High School, then on to the baseball and softball games. These were moved from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor to Salado High School when the potential threat of weather prompted the move early Friday afternoon. Then the 16th annual FCA football game was at Waco ISD Stadium on Saturday morning and finally, the annual volleyball game on the campus of University High School on Saturday afternoon.

BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL

The girls’ basketball game was the lead off event for the week and the Blue and Red All Stars took to the court. The teams spent the first period with solid defense and Red led 11-9 at the end.  Cici McDonald, from Connally, scored ten in the second period and the Red All-Starts doubled up the Blue All-Starts (20-10) and led 31-19 at the half.

Academy’s Aislinn Chaffin and Lorena’s Avery Harris each hit a three pointer in the second half but could not draw the lead in and the Red All-Stars claimed the 52-38 win.

Cici McDonald, from Connally, was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

The Boys game featured Blue All-Stars Pierre Algood, who was playing on his home court in Fairfield.  Jehmel Rice of Teague and Hunter Fitch of Mexia also played several minutes in the game.

Zach May of China Spring and Fitch would put on a show in the high scoring offense.  May scored eight in the first period and Fitch topped him by one with nine and the Blue All-Stars held a seven-point lead.  Camden Brock of Lorena scored ten for the Blue team to hold the lead.

The second period saw some balanced scoring with Rice tallying five in the frame and Fitch adding six. Algood hit a pair of free throws and May countered eight for the Red and the Blue team maintained a 38-34 lead.

Fitch matched his first half total of 16 and added 16 more in the second half for a game high total of 32 points. Brock led all scorers with 34 points and hit eight three-pointers. Fitch had the late game heroics and held off the Red All-Stars 81-79.

Blue team scoring: Connor Sweat (Iredell) 0 points, Zach Warnell (Bosqueville) 0 points, Jehmel Rice (Teague) 16 points, Hunter Fitch (Mexia) 32 points, Pierre Algood (Fairfield) 7 points, Shamar Wilson (Bosqueville) 6 points, Cameron Brock (Lorena) 22 points

Red team scoring:  Rocco Marasca (Waco Reicher) 5 points, Kendan Johnson (Hubbard) 12 points, Finley Peterson (China Spring) 2 points, Logan Young (Aquilla) 6 points, Zach May (China Spring) 34 points, Hunter Walter (Oglesby) 6 points, Nathan Maxile (Waco Rapaport) 14 points.

SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL

The FCA softball game was on Friday night under cloudy skies but not enough rain to delay the event. Fairfield Lady Eagles Madox Mitcheal and Kennedy Lane competed for the Blue squad and had several moments in the contest.

Mitcheal was the leadoff hitter for the Blue team and played shortstop. Mitcheal grounded out to second for the first out in the top of the first inning.  Lane began the game in center field and saw action in all three outfield positions.

Red notched a pair of runs in the top of the first and another in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The Blue team worked the bases loaded and Lane was on the bases when Mitcheal steps up and hit a deep fly ball to left field. The ball was caught, and Ella Engel of Kerens came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Mitcheal to cut the lead to 3-1.

Lane would run for another player in the top of the seventh and would come around to score to cut the lead to 5-3. The Blue squad would get no closer and the game ended with the Red victory 5-3. The Gene Pemberton Servant Heart Award for the game was presented to Brittany Morgan of Holland.

The baseball game had a pair of Mexia Blackcats when Key Majors and Hunter Murphy lined up for the Blue team. Murphy pitched a scoreless inning, and Majors had a single but was stranded in the first. A nice double play by the Blue defense prevented further damage and trailed 1-0.

Murphy walked to load the bases in the second and the Blue team took a 2-1 lead. Red regained the lead with a pair of runs in the home half of the third.  Cash Bolgiano had a one out triple and Andrew Faulknor followed with a double and Red led 3-2.

Murphy pitched a scoreless third inning and came to bat the next inning was a swinging strikeout victim.  Red scored five in the fifth to break open the game and Majors had an RBI single in the fifth to try and keep the game close.

Murphy and Majors anchored the left side of the infield in the sixth and the Blue defense gave up a run.  Red would go on and finish out a 10-4 win.  The Gene Pemberton Servant Heart Award would go to Blake Brown from Waco Reicher.

FOOTBALL

The focus turned to Waco ISD Stadium for the annual football game. Jonathon Allen and River Bonds of Fairfield, Tylin Randle and Rowdy Phillips of Teague, and Cash Perez and Anthony Fortoul of Wortham saw extensive action in the game and the final day of Victory Bowl activities were exciting.

Fortoul started on the defensive side of the ball and teamed up on a sack with Wyatt Butler of Belton to force an early punt. The teams exchanged punts and the quarter ended in a scoreless tie but the Blue squad had advanced to the Red 19-yard line.

After a penalty, on the first offensive snap of the second quarter, Kaden Roberts of Lorena hit Quori Hardman of Cameron for a 29-yard touchdown. The extra point was good and the Blue team took the 7-0 lead. The lead quickly became two scores when Isaiah Redd of Chilton crashed in from one yard out to complete the nine-play drive that covered 77 yards. The extra point was good and the Blue team led 14-0 with 6:59 remaining in the half.

The Red All-Stars cut the lead to eight on a 57-yard drive. The Hillsboro pair of Tory Brooks and Chris Montoya teamed up for a 19-yard touchdown on fourth down and cut the lead to 14-6 on the failed two-point conversion.

Blue took the lead back up to double figures on a connection from Roberts to Tylin Randle of Teague. Randle made a spectacular catch in the back of the endzone, and the extra point extended the lead to 21-6 at the half.

The teams exchanged possessions in the opening moments of the second half and the Red team was able to cut into the lead. After the Blue team had to punt out of their own endzone, the Red team took over at the Blue 33. Dylan Plake of Harker Heights connected with Hastin Easley on a touchdown that covered those 33 yards and cut the lead to 21-12 when the conversion failed again. During the quarter, Allen and Bonds played on the defensive front and Allen had a tackle for loss.

Blue answered again with Redd finding his brother from Chilton, Isaac for the 11-yard touchdown and the 28-12 lead.

Red scored one final touchdown on a Brooks two-yard run to cut the lead to the final score of 28-18.

The Redd brothers made Victory Bowl history by being named co-MVPs, not only together but from the same household.  Connor Woods of Rogers was named the defensive MVP.

VOLLEYBALL

The Victory Bowl events concluded at University High School for the Volleyball game. Fairfield Lady Eagles Avery Thaler and Lily Beaver and Teague’s Landree Bragg participated and at times, all three were on the court together.

The first game of the match showed how evenly matched the teams were. Thaler had an early kill and block while Korah Ives of Lorena was serving and built a 6-0 lead. A couple of service aces and some kills by Kayee Cavanaugh of Troy tied the game at 9-9. Red would take a lead and Bragg kill put the Blue team back on top. Red maintained the lead for the remainder of the game and took the first game of the match 25-20.

Thaler began game two by digging one off the floor and then finished with the kill for the early lead. Grace Schneider of Academy teamed up on the kills and the Blue kept the slim lead.  The rallies went back and forth, and the score was tied ten times during game two. Thaler had a pair of service aces and Bragg added a kill and the Blue team built their largest lead of the game at 16-13. Thaler and Bragg had kills down the stretch and on set point, all three Freestone County players were on the court. Schneider fired one over the net to clinch game two 25-23 and tied the match at 1-1.

The Blue team jumped out to an early lead with Hannah McGarver had a kill and Thaler and Bragg combined for a dig and a spike to continue a long rally that the Blue team would win and take a 12-7 lead. Three more kills from Thaler and the Blue team was well on its way to controlling the game and win 25-17 to be one game point away from winning the match.

Red took the lead in the fourth game and built it up to 12-7. Reese Rich of Salado had five service points and cut the lead to 12-11. Thaler had a pair of kills and a block and the Blue team took the lead. The Blue team would close out the fourth game (25-20) and the match to conclude the FCA events.

Avery Thaler and Kaycee Cavanaugh were named the Most Valuable Players on the day and they were the top two on the day.

This will conclude our school year for sports coverage and from a writer’s perspective, it has been a pleasure and honor to cover Avery Thaler and the rest of the Fairfield athletes this season and we wish them the best as the move onto the next level.

Scott Batts reporting

 

2024 All-Star Players

Participating in the 2024 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Super Centex Victory Bowl held May 29th – June 1st in Waco, Texas were several Freestone County athletes.

–Football

Playing for the Red Team were Wortham Bulldogs Cash Perez – #44 and Anthony Fortoul – #75.

Blue team players were Fairfield Eagles River Bonds – #70 and Jonathan Allen – #68, as well as Teague Lions Tylin Randle – #32 and Rowdy Phillips – #42.

–Softball

Fairfield Lady Eagle Kennedy Lane – #1 played on the Blue Team.

–Volleyball

Teague Lady Lion Landree Bragg – #15 and Fairfield Lady Eagles Avery Thaler – #1 and Lily Beaver – #17 all played for the Blue Team.

-Cheer

Fairfield Lady Eagle Emma Jo Smith performed on the Blue Cheer Squad.

–Boys Basketball

Fairfield Eagle Pierre Algood – #4 and Teague Lion Jehmel Rice – #2 both played for the Blue Team.

Congratulations to these athletes for receiving this honor.

(Photos by Melissa Perez and Scott Batts)