Several area athletes participated in the 10th Annual Victory Bowl celebration events held this past week. High school athletes competed in the football, volleyball, baseball, softball and golf events held in McLennan and Bell County venues. The crowds came and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes hosted this wonderful celebration.
A couple of Teague athletes competed in the Ryder Cup style gold event at Twin Rivers Golf Club in Waco. Ben Whitaker and Kaitlin Villa from Teague competed on the Red squad that featured five boys and three girls on the team. The Blue team won the event with limited information released to the press.
On Friday night at Dee Dillon Field on the campus of the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, the red and blue faced off in the third annual softball game. Abby Garcia of Fairfield and Emily Garza of Fairfield competed for the blue team. The Blue Team put up three runs in the top of the sixth inning and that was the difference in the 7-4 Blue win.
Garcia had three plate appearances and did not have a hit but she took the mound in the eighth inning for her highlight of the night. She got three ground outs to third base and on one University’s Destiny Guerra snared the hit shot and made the put out at first. She only allowed a single in her inning of work and did not allow a run. She also saw time at left field.
Garza was hitless in three trips to the plate and struck out twice. She played shortstop.
Over on the next field, Red Murff Field, the third annual baseball game was taking place. It was the most competitive of the three games so far and the Red team squeezed out an 8-6 win.
Miller Smith of Fairfield played third base and singled to left field in his first plate appearance in the bottom of the third inning. He was stranded to end the inning. He also had a lead off walk in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Zach Klosterman of Mexia also played for the blue squad. He had a one out single down the left field line and scored on the home run by Garrett Kilcrease of Kerens. Brayden Bradley and Luke Bailey of Groesbeck saw time on the Blue team and Bradley pitched one inning and gave up five runs.
On Saturday afternoon at University High School, teams took to the court for the fifth annual volleyball game to begin a big day of Victory Bowl events. Blue swept the game in three sets and broke a 2-2 tie in the series history.
Fairfield High School had Sarah Richmond and Katie Henrichs played for the blue team, as well at Madison Steen from Teague High School. Kayla Lansford played for the Red team.
In game one, Steen served a point to open the game and Richmond also served the Blue to a 7-3 lead. Henrichs served the blue team out to a 16-7 lead. Lansford had a couple of kills for the red team to draw to within a 23-14 score and her kill attempt at match point sailed wide and the Blue won game one 25-18.
Henrichs served in the middle of game two and opened a sizable lead with three straight service points. It gave the blue team a 14-8 lead. Lansford had a couple of kills to get the red team to a 21-19 deficit. Later in the match, Henrichs served match point and it was for the win in game two 25-21.
The third set had Steen with service points early but the red team jumped out to an early 5-2 lead. Richmond served the blue team closer and Steen returned in the rotation to serve the blue into the lead at 14-13. Lansford and the red defense worked to keep the game close but again, Henrichs came on to serve match point and preserve the win 25-21 and the match.
Steen, Richmond and Henrichs did well on the defensive side of the ball with sever digs and kept rallies going. Lansford had a few blocks in the match in her final high school match before moving onto Cedar Valley College next fall on a volleyball scholarship.
The highlight of the day was Bailey Keith of Waco Live Oak High School. She had kill after kill and was the named the Most Valuable Player in the game. She will take her talents to spike volleyballs in the Air Force Academy.
Scott Batts reporting.
