Sports

HOMERUN DERBY - Wedle Banda, Sam Hall and Dylan Melde were among 15 batters in the derby hosted by the 10u softball girls. The fundraiser was created to purchase equipment and safety gear for the girls. Last year, the 8u girls’ teams made it to state and the Hamilton Bomb Squad won the state champsionship. Staff Photos/Hinton

Senior powerlifter Jose Najera (right), pictured with Head Bulldog Powerlifting Coach Aaron Emeyabbi (left), placed first overall in the 242-pound weight class at the Region 2, Division 4 powerlifting meet in West last Friday. Najera hoisted a regional title winning 1400 pounds in West, including a squat of 575 pounds, a bench press of 340 pounds and a dead lift of 485 pounds. Najera will compete in the Division 4 State Championships on Friday, March 25 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene beginning at 5 p.m. Courtesy photo

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