LEANDER — It was 2014, and The Wall was something you “hit” when you had run about as far as you should. Casey Affleck wasn’t as well-known as Casey at the Bat. Sugar free was still winning a race for importance with gluten free.
And, ‘14 was the last year the Llano High softball Jackets won a district game.
WACO — It was a remarkable run — from her first powerlifting meet, ever, in January—to the State Championships two months later. Llano High sophomore Courtney Reina, March 17, finished 10th in Class 4A. Yes, that’s 10th from the list of 14 gifted finalists — but how many thousands of others didn’t lift, didn’t make it to region, didn’t make it to the Extraco Events Center on the ultimate stage?
Did she foresee this instant progress: “No,” she told me.
You know how it is — as a baseball fan — when certain players come to the plate, you know they’re going to get a base hit, or make a good swing, or if they make an out, how disappointed you are—not in the batter, but because he is a mainstay of the offense, and you love to see him connect for that line drive to the outfield.
Drew Baker, you asked?
SMITHVILLE — One boy had been expected to win for a year — although I’m not sure which year that was; one boy had also been expected to win—since late afternoon, March 11, 2017. Yes, on the 11th, both Jackets were crowned champions in their weight classes in the Region II, Division II, Texas High School Powerlifting Association Championships.
Dakoda Trull and Mason Greenwood will compete for a state title in Abilene, March 25.
“You {always} hope to build up a program,” said head coa ...
BURNET — Ray “I never met a throw I liked” Dixon and Avery “Tree-top” Tudyk made it two appearances of double-gold victories — in eight days — at the Bulldog Relays, March 2. And pole vaulter Shane Flint came of age, not flying higher than a disc, but maybe soaring above Tudyk.
“Not bad,” head coach Craig Slaughter said of the boys’ third-place team finish.
50% of the road to a thousand translates to 100% of the Milestone Coaching Award from the UIL. The governing body of everything but recess in Texas high school extra-curricular activities honored Llano High girls’ basketball head coach, Jerry McSherry, for his 506 wins in a 25-year career.
2016-’17 was his first as a Jacket, and he got his 500th win with Llano.
A Saturday rain could not dampen the spirit of the Llano High baseball team. Not an A+ lead, but I’m having nightmares that the presidential campaign has begun its second year. Third?
The Jackets went 3-0 in the Hill Country Classic, allowing just two runs, and Game 4 on March 4 was rained out.
“We needed this weekend,” said head coach Stephen Campbell.
JOHNSON CITY — It was the ideal time for a game — 8:00 AM. It was the Lady Eagles’ tournament, and Llano met Burnet to open play on March 3. That’s because no other game’s first pitch occurred at 6:00 AM.
“We want to flip the script,” said head coach Bobby Williams — “beat people who beat us last year.” Might as well start with the Bulldogs.
Courtney Reina (L) and Emily Ozanne had super performances at the Region Powerlifting Meet. Reina was second in her class; Emily was fourth in hers. The full story is in the sports section.
LITTLE RIVER ACADEMY — Llano High sophomore Courtney Reina, with about as much experience in lifting weights in competition as La La Land had in holding an Oscarr, finished second, March 2, at Powerlifting’s Region 2 Meet in the 220 division. This qualifies her for the State Championships, March 17 in Waco.
“Great accomplishment for her and Llano,” said head coach Clint Easley.
