Sports

TAKE AWAY: The Bulldogs celebrate as Xander Ceresini rises from a dog pile after pickpocketing a Pirate for a fumble recovery that was forced by Luis Najera and Jaydon Watson. Staff photo by Chad Collett

NINE IN A LINE: The fourth in state-ranked Lady Bulldogs, according to the Cross Country Coaches’ Association of Texas, placed all nine of their runners in the top 15 at the Mona Gloff Invitational in Hamilton on Wednesday of last week to earn another XC team gold. Pictured (l-r) with Mona Gloff prior to their gold medal performance, Gloff, Fernanda Olalde (9th), Madison Henkes (6th), Mia Coker (15th), Grace Carson (8th), Kaatje Jarrell (11th), Cortland Mehaffey (14th), Ashtyn Hansard (13th), Campbell Lengefeld (2nd) and Grace Killian (7th). Staff photo

PINK OUT: In recognition of October being breast cancer awareness month, the Hamilton Bulldog cheerleaders led Hamilton students and joined Bulldog fans in wearing pink during Friday night’s contest at Kooken Field. Pictured (l-r) on the back row- Emiley Hale, Taylor Collett, Kady Weatherford, Morgan Mehaffey, Cortland Mehaffey, Averi Poe. Front row- Kassi Collett, Chloe Dolloff, Grace Killian, Campbell Lengefeld. Staff photo by Chad Collett

PLAYOFF BOUND: The Lady Bulldogs have locked down a playoff bid with two district games scheduled for this week and a final senior night showdown with district foe Bluff Dale in Hamilton next Tuesday at 6 pm. The JV Red and varsity volleyball squads were set to host Hico on Tuesday, and all three high school teams will play in Tolar on Friday with the varsity beginning at 4 pm followed by junior varsity matches at 5 and 6. The Lady Dogs outlasted Evant on the road in five sets by scores of 25- 19, 21-25, 18-25, 25-16 and 15-6 on Tuesday of last week and proceeded to clean up in Hico versus Three Way on Saturday in three decisive sets by scores of 25-6, 25-11 and 25-9. Last week’s two victories moved Hamilton to 13-7 on the year and 8-1 in district. A win over Hico on Tuesday would give the Lady Dogs an opportunity to play Tolar for a share of the District 11-2A title. If Hamilton succeeds in knocking off the Lady Rattlers, a rubber match will be scheduled to determine the outright champion. Pictured (l-r), Emiley Hale, Macie Parrish and Kelton Wright protect the net as Morgan Mehaffey pushes the ball over a pair of Tolar defenders in a match versus the Lady Rattlers in Hamilton during the first round of district competition. Staff photo

Hamilton’s cross country program was scheduled to host the Mona Gloff Invitational Wednesday at the Perry Country Club starting with the high school girls’ two-mile race at 8:30 a.m. High school boy teams will take the course following the high school girls’ competition for a three-mile race. Junior high girls will fire off the starting line at 3:45 p.m. followed by the middle school boys.

As the seventh and eighth grade Bulldogs each moved to 2-0 on the young season last Thursday evening at Kooken Field, the HJH cheerleaders took to the sidelines for just the second time of the year. Hamilton’s seventh grade Dogs defeated DeLeon 28-26, and the eighth grade Bulldogs defeated Valley Mills 42-6 to remain unbeaten in district competition. Pictured (l-r) Thursday evening at Kooken Field, HJH cheerleaders Kinsey Mizell, Destini Ranaghan, Julie Henderson, Emery Parrott, Kaitlyn Walton, Lexie Ward, Clementine Cooper, Presley Long, Laney Lane, Aubrey Ensor and Spike, aka Addison Massingill.

The Bulldogs crossed each of the Eagles’ seven bridges last Friday night, rushing across the divide that separates 100 yards of playing ground and the ten yards of scoring glory. Led by signal caller Colby Bailey, the Dogs pounded the host Eagles for 494 yards and seven touchdowns on 30 rushing attempts. Adding to the 11-part harmony of offensive perfection, the Dogs added another 131 yards and a touchdown through the air, marching in cadence for 625 total yards of offense and a 53-22 victory over the host Valley Mills Eagles last Friday night.

WRECKING CREW: A host of Bulldog defenders are pictured stuffing a Valley Mills ball carrier. The Bulldog defense forced three turnovers last Friday including an interception by Luis Najera and two forced fumbles by freshman Leonel Cardenas. Taylor Long and CJ DeLeon each came up with a fumble recovery in the Bulldog’s decisive 53-22 win over district foe Valley Mills. Staff photo by Chad Collett

SECOND ROUND: After defeating Evant on the road last Friday in four competitive sets by scores of 25-13, 25-14, 27-29 and 25-14, the varsity Lady Bulldogs returned home to open the second round of district competition last Saturday. Hamilton defeated the visiting Meridian Lady Jackets in three decisive sets, 25-13, 25-5 and 25-10, improving to 6-1 in district. The Lady Bulldogs trail only Tolar in the District 11-2A standings and were scheduled to host Evant on Tuesday of this week. The Lady Dogs will play Three Way in Hico’s elementary gym this Saturday at 10 am followed by a home match versus Hico next Tuesday. The JV Black squad is set to host Hico next Tuesday at 5 pm, directly preceding the varsity match at 6. Hamilton’s JV Black improved to 13-3 on the year and a perfect 5-0 in district with a 25-7, 25-0 two-set victory over Meridian on Saturday. Hamilton’s JV Red team dropped just their third match of the year on Saturday to Hico and are now 9-3 on the season and 1-2 in district. Pictured, Emiley Hale rises to spike the ball, and Trinity Craig makes a pass in a recent home match. Staff photos

STRONG KICK: Freshman Campbell Lengefeld is pictured passing a runner from Rogers down the final stretch in Jarrell to lead the Lady Dogs to team gold with a fourth overall individual finish. Staff photo