Sports

Hamilton’s Saundra Lengefeld, pictured on the back row, second from right, along with other former Baylor Basketball players representing the decades of the 1960s through the 2010s were recognized last Saturday at midcourt during halftime ceremonies at the Ferrell Center in Waco as the 2021-2022 nationally ranked Lady Bears defeated Kansas, 85-77, on their way to clinching a share of a twelfth consecutive Big 12 title. Courtesy photo

FAIR BALL - Hayden Blackwell puts the ball in play down the third baseline in Hamilton’s season opener versus Mason last week in Brady. Photo by Julie Weaver

Hamilton’s bi-district champion Lady Bulldog basketball team wrapped up another successful campaign last Friday in Cross Plains after falling to Haskell 64-47 in the area round of the playoffs.

BIG LIFT - Above, Senior Jose Najera squats 600 pounds to lead the Dogs with a firstplaced individual finish in the 242-pound weight division Najera lifted a combined total of 1430 pounds on Saturday. Staff photo/Hinton

DEFENSE - Despite holding Bruceville-Eddy to just three runs in Hamilton’s home opening softball game on Tuesday of last week, the Lady Dogs were only able to manufacture one. Returning to the diamond on Thursday and Saturday during the Rio Vista Tournament, the Road Dogs bounced back by defeating Texas Wind 15-2 on Thursday and Dublin by a score of 7-1 on Saturday. District competition for the now 2-1 Lady Bulldogs was set to begin on Tuesday of this week in Hamilton versus Meridian. Sandwiched between tournament play in Llano this Thursday and Saturday, the Lady Bulldogs will travel to Blum for their second district game on Friday with the first pitch scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Next Tuesday at 5:30, the Lady Dog softball team will host district foe Rio Vista. Pictured, Addison Kelley tags a Bruceville-Eddy base runner at third, and outfielder Lily Emeyabbi is pictured reeling in a fly ball in left-center. After fielding a routine grounder, Grace Killian gets the easy out by making a successful throw to first baseman Laurel Ann Elkins during Hamilton’s home opener versus Bruceville-Eddy. Staff photo/Lengefeld

GRAND FINALE - Varsity Bulldogs pictured (l-r) prior to taking the court for their final game last week include Head Coach Ryan Marwitz, Mason Guinn, Bryson Tarpley, Cooper LeGrande, Jaydon Watson, Sutton Lee, Caden Hopper, Chase Weaver, Mike Bushnell, Baylyn Parrish, Coach Howard Cox and Coach Andrew Heers. Not pictured, Keagan Votaw. Staff photo/Lengefeld

Bulldog fans, including the area-qualifying Lady Bulldog basketball team (pictured above), packed The Grain Drafthouse and Eatery for dinner last Thursday evening as Hamilton ISD Superintendent Clay Tarpley and Hamilton High School Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Casey Jones revealed the 2022 Bulldog football schedule live on Mixlr.com/HISD.

HHS TENNIS - John Polster and Morgan Aing represented Hamilton High School at the Waco Tennis Center on Thursday of last week. Polster fell in two competitive matches and Aing made it to the semi-final round of tournament play before being eliminated. The Bulldog and Lady Bulldog tennis teams were scheduled to be back in action in Waco on Wednesday of this week. Pictured, Hamilton High School tennis players John Polster and Morgan Aing with Head Coach Miles Sellers (middle) following match play at the Waco Tennis Center last Thursday. Staff photo/Hinton

RACK IT - Hamilton High School will host the Hamilton Invitational powerlifting meet this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. in the Larry Eilers Gymnasium. Last Thursday, the Dogs and Lady Dogs competed in the Comanche Invitational. The Bulldogs placed fourth as a team behind only Lampasas, Dublin and DeLeon, and ahead of Comanche, Hico and Rising Star. The Lady Bulldogs finished in fifth position, just five points behind fourth-placed Comanche. Pictured, Darby Craig racks the bar after a successful squat press, and Jordyn Medina executes a squat under the watchful eye of Coach Katie Emeyabbi. Staff photos/Veigel