 |
Greg Higgins - Sports Editor Greg has lived in the Paris area for most of his life and is a huge sports fan. He loves talking about sports and writing about it. Greg has been a part of eparisextra since the beginning of 2012. He is also very active in his church. When he's not writing about or watching sports, you can find him working out or hanging out with his wife.
The North Lamar School District will be offering free physicals this Saturday to athletes at their Athletic Facility. Below is the schedule of when the physicals will be performed.
Kara Erickson at the UIL State Track and Field Meet in Austin
North Lamar Senior Kara Erickson finished in second place in the High Jump in District 3 at the State UIL Track and Field Meet in Austin over the weekend. It was Kara’s third trip to Austin and her highest finish.
Kara Erickson showing off her Second place medal in Austin on Saturday.
Coach LeAnn Henderson said, “[I am] very, very proud of her” after the competition on Saturday.
Kameron Sumerall warming up between innings against Gilmer.
Paris, TX – Coming into Saturday’s matchup with Gilmer, Paris High only needed to win one of the two games to move on to the next round of the playoffs. The Wildcats dominated Gilmer in game one on Friday night in Mt. Pleasant. Cannon Chadwick pitched seven strong innings as Paris defeated Gilmer 4-0 in game one of the best of three series. Paris High also seemed to have the advantage that Saturday’s games would be played at Hub Hollis Field in Paris – the sight of Paris High’s home games.
The first game on Saturday was a complete reversal from Friday night’s tilt as Paris High committed four errors during the game and only managed two hits. Gilmer also only had two hits but they did not have any errors as they blanked the Wildcats 3-0. The Gilmer pitcher, Bryce Tomlin, was outstanding on the hill. He faced the minimum number of batters at 21. Both runners who reached base were immediately removed from the base paths with the help of double plays. Tomlin struck out nine batters and walked none. Jaxon Radar and Jake Clark were the only Wildcats to reach base during the game.
Defensively, the Wildcats had a game they would like to forget. The Buckeye’s scored three runs before they got a hit off of pitcher Kameron Sumerall. Tomlin reached on an error by first baseman Jordan Williams to start the second inning. Travis Carter tried laying down a sacrifice bunt, but Sumerall threw the ball into the right field fould area. The throwing error allowed Tomlin to score and put Carter on third base. Carter would later score on a ground out by Collin Hardin. In the third inning Jaidon Parrish would walk for Gilmer and would later score on a sacrifice fly to center field. That would be all the offense Gilmer would have but that would be all they needed as Paris High struggled at the plate.
Cannon Chadwick leading off at first base against Gilmer.
Game two would provide the necessary drama that game one lacked. It would, however, start off the same way. By same way, that’s what I mean. Gilmer put their big gun back out on the mound to start the second game. Having only thrown 57 pitches in game one and with the Wildcats unable to hit him, he decided to keep him out there. Paris would send Jake Clark out there to try and bring home the victory. The first batter for Gilmer, Dylan Bowman, reached first on an error by Dakota Smith. Luckily Bowman got stranded at second base with no damage done.
The second inning saw Gilmer hit back-to-back doubles to open the inning. Eventually, Gilmer would load the bases before Clark was finally able to get out of the inning with no further damage done. Gilmer would add another run in the third and the fifth before taking a 3-0 lead over Paris High.
Jaxon Radar had a bunt single with one out in the fifth. Jake Clark hit a single up the middle which moved Radar to second base. Chadwick hit a deep fly ball, in which everyone thought it was going to tie the game. However, the left fielder leaped up and caught it against the wall for a very long out. Brice Winter hit a ball to short stop which appeared to end the inning but an error on the short stop prolonged the inning and allowed Radar to score. The sixth inning bagan with Sumerall and John Nichols getting on base with a single. A wild pitch would score Nichols and Sheldon Baker would score later on a Radar RBI single. Paris tried to take the lead on a double steal attempt but Conor Henry was thrown out at home plate.
Paris High Wildcats Saluting those who have supported them.
The Wildcats had new life and new energy going into the final inning after they tied the game at three. That was short lived however, as Gilmer loaded up the bases with one out on Chadwick. After Chadwick struck out Colton Hendrix for the second out, Colin Hardin worked a walk and Skylar Hollis scored giving Gilmer a 4-3 lead. The Wildcats were able to get runners on the corers in the bottom of the seventh inning but a strikeout ended the game for Paris High and ended their season. Playing at home, Paris was able to salute the fans who came out and cheered them on all season long.
Jack Kraft preparing to bat against Gilmer in Game 1 on Friday.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas – Coming into Friday night’s game with Gilmer, Paris High had thrown back-to-back no-hitters in the playoffs. One by Cannon Chadwick and one by Kameron Sumrall.
Friday night, Paris sent Chadwick back to the mound and he started where he left off as Paris High defeated Gilmer 4-0 in Game 1 of their best-of-three series. Chadwick went all the way, allowing only four hits.
The Wildcats’ bats and base running were in sync as well. Brice Winter led off the second inning with a double and scored on a throwing error by the Gilmer pitcher on Dakota Smith’s sacrifice. Smith scored later on a passed ball by the catcher. Paris added two more runs in the fourth inning, and that was plenty enough for Chadwick.
Game 2 of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Hub Hollis Field in Paris. If Gilmer wins, Game 3 in the series would follow soon after the conclusion of Game 2.
Kara Erickson Leaving for State
Paris, TX – Kara Erickson, North Lamar High School senior, left early Friday morning for Austin where she will compete in the State High Jump. She will be competing at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11 with high hopes of earning the gold. Seeing her off in front of NL’s administration building from left are Athletic Trainer Danny Bulls, Business Manager Tammy Crutcher, Superintendent Secretary Terry Steelman, Parker 4th grader Kaylee Brush, Kara, Coach LeAnn Henderson, and Kara’s brother, Sam Erickson. North Lamar High School supporters arrived early showing their support as Kara, Coach Henderson and Coach Bulls drove by on their way out of town.
North Lamar showing support for Kara.
follow: RSS