Sports

The 2022 track season starting gun fired on Thursday of last week as Hamilton’s high school track athletes took to the outdoors for the Tolar Rattler Relays. Hamilton’s varsity girls trapped a Rattler Relay title, and the varsity Dogs raced to a second overall team finish.

REGIONAL STRENGTH - Seven Bulldog powerlifters, including Alex Thiele, Ben Bruce, Carson Marquess, Jose Najera, Miguel Gonzales, Nik Adams and Ron Ramirez, qualified for and will compete this Saturday in the Region II Powerlifting Meet to be held in West. Najera enters the contest as the frontrunner in the 242-pound weight class. On Thursday of last week in Dublin, five Lady Bulldogs competed at regionals. Jordyn Medina, Chasiti Ranaghan and Hannah Bell narrowly missed advancing to state, each placing third in their weight divisions. Kassidy Collett placed fifth in her class, and Helena Knutson bested many of her personal records in Dublin. Regional bound Bulldog powerlifters pictured (l-r) on the back row include Gonzales, Marquess, Thiele and Adams. On the front row, team manager C.J. DeLeon, Najera, Bruce and Ramirez. Photo by HHS Yearbook Staff

SCHOOL RECORD - With only 21 outs to be recorded in a seven inning ballgame, junior southpaw pitcher Chase Weaver logged a Hamilton High School record 20 strikeouts to help the 13th in state Bulldogs upend the seventh-ranked Tolar Rattlers on the opening day of the Louis Lowe IV Invitational last Thursday by a score of 4-0. Perhaps the Tolar Rattlers summed up Weaver’s performance best on their Twitter feed @TolarBaseball in writing, “Hats off to Chase Weaver of Hamilton for pitching a complete game. He threw 114 pitches, gave up only three hits, walked one and struck out 20. Best left handed pitcher we have seen in many years.” Pictured, Weaver helps his cause in aggressively rounding the bases. Photo by Julie Weaver

KICKING UP DUST - After falling to Rio Vista on Tuesday at home, 27-7, the Lady Bulldogs returned to the softball diamond last Friday in Jonesboro and staked a needed 15-10 district win to improve to 4-3 on the year and 2-2 in district. Hamilton and Jonesboro were knotted at six runs apiece in the top of the sixth when Kenedy Craig drove in two on a single to kickstart a seven run inning for the Lady Dogs. Addison Kelley recorded a team leading three RBIs, and Dezlyn Lamb turned in a perfect 3 for 3 performance at the plate. Jordyn Medina toed the mound for the Lady Dogs in Jonesboro, striking out five in six innings of work. The Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to host Itasca on Tuesday of this week before traveling to Hico next Monday for an 11 a.m. ballgame. Pictured, Dezlyn Lamb makes a play from shortstop versus Rio Vista. Staff photo/Hinton

GREEN KEEPERS - Lady Bulldog golfers (l-r)Campbell Lengefeld, Clementine Cooper, Laney Lane, Braylee Wilson, Karah Niemann, Peyton Raibourn, Fernanda Olalde and Grace Carson. Not pictured, Helena Knutson. Read all about it on page 1B. Courtesy photo

ON PAR - Bulldog golfers (l-r) include Kade McKandless, Garrett Guinn, Tyner Haile, Davin Crouch, Darby Craig, Mason Guinn, Ace Lane and Justin Dearing. Not pictured, Cooper LeGrande, Kazdon Thedford and Jaxon Edwards. Read all about it on page 1B. Courtesy photo

The Bulldog baseball team took to the diamond for the first time this season last week during the Brady Tournament.

Five Lady Bulldog powerlifters qualified for and will compete in the Region II Powerlifting Meet at Dublin High School this Thursday beginning at 9 a.m. The boys’ regional meet will be held the following week in West. Lady Bulldog regional qualifiers pictured (l-r) seated on the front row include Chasiti Ranaghan, Kassidy Collett and Hannah Bell. Standing in the back is Jordyn Medina. At right, Helena Knutson celebrates with her dad, Wade, at last Saturday’s Hamilton meet. Staff photos/Hinton

ABOVE PAR - Three days after competing in the area-round of the basketball playoffs, five of Hamilton’s 2021 regional qualifying Lady Bulldog golfers returned to the links for the first time of the season last week in Horseshoe Bay. After combining for a team score of 600 on day one of the tournament held at Apple Rock Golf Course, the Lady Dogs returned the following day to play Delaware Springs and shaved 61 strokes, posting an impressive 18-hole, day two cumulative score of 539. Hamilton’s Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to send two teams to compete in Comanche on Monday of this week before teeing off next Wednesday at Shady Oaks in Baird at 8:30 a.m. Pictured (l-r), Hamilton’s sophomore contingent of Lady Bulldog golfers, including Fernanda Olalde, Peyton Raibourn, Karah Niemann, Grace Carson and Campbell Lengefeld. Courtesy photo