Sports

HAIL TO TENNIS - In addition to facing the region’s top 2A tennis talent in Richland Hills, Hamilton’s regional qualifiers, including Morgan Aing, John Polster and Joseph Polster, also withstood torrential downpours of water and ice and were forced to sweep hail from the courts in between matches during the 2A Region II Tennis Championships last week. Doubles partners, district champions and brothers, John and Joseph Polster, handily defeated a duo from McLeod in two sets (6-1, 6-2) before dropping a three set quarterfinal match to Albany by scores of 6-4, 4-6 and 6-3. Hamilton’s district singles champion, Morgan Aing, also dominated her opening round match, defeating a player from Archer City in two sets (6-1, 6-2). Like the Polsters, Aing was removed from state contention in the round of eight, falling in a pair of competitive sets to a player representing Sam Rayburn High School by scores of 7-5 and 7-5. The Polsters and Aing were joined at the regional tournament by Head Coach Miles Sellers and teammate Presley Sliger. Sliger placed third in singles in district competition and traveled to Richland Hills as the district’s regional singles alternate. Pictured (l-r), regional qualifying Hamilton Bulldog tennis players John Polster, Morgan Aing, Presley Sliger and Joseph Polster. Courtesy photo/Tracy Cox

The junior high District 12-2A Track and Field Championships were pushed from Monday of last week to Wednesday in Italy due to expected inclement weather. Regardless of the change, Hamilton Junior High thundered out of the starting blocks in Italy to claim three district team championships and a team silver.

With just two district games remaining, the Lady Bulldogs currently sit in third place with a 7-5 district record behind first-placed Hico and secondplaced Rio Vista with Itasca and Meridian battling it out for the fourth and final District 12-2A playoff seat.

All cutting their teeth at the local Perry Country Club, the Hamilton Bulldog varsity golf teams took first and third at the District 12 Golf Tournament held at the Cleburne Golf Links.

DISTRICT LEADERS -- Izaac Wood slides safely into second for a double versus Gorman. Courtesy photo/Barbara Fowler

WARMING UP - Right fielder Jaileigh Young warms up between innings. Staff photo/Hinton

Hamilton’s eighth grade Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs deposited team gold medals on Monday of last week during the annual Extraco Relays. Anna Pearcy accumulated 41 of Hamilton’s winning 179 points and was the top scoring eighth grade female athlete. The gold medalist Bulldogs were paced by top performer Morgan Henkes with 36 points.

Hamilton High School hosted another successful Extraco Relays at Kooken Field last Friday. As coaches and volunteers feasted on the always popular steak and shrimp served up by Greg Eilers and Extraco employees, the Dogs and Lady Dogs were busy sinking their teeth into precious medals.