(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) The Liberty Hill Panthers 'dogpile' after a hard-fought, come-from-behind victory 2 weeks ago over Castleberry. The Panthers fell to state-ranked Kennedale last weekend.

by Chuck Licata

Winners: Before falling to Kennedale in two straight in the Region I quarterfinals, the LHHS Panthers won 22 of 25 games after an 0-9 start to the season.

That span covered win streaks of eight - and then, nine – straight games and 17 out of 18 at one point.

Return on investment: As mentioned in today’s Final Score column, the Panthers return plenty of talent next season.

Coming back are starting pitchers Kannon Prior, Marshall Brown and Dane Rumley as well as Cody Remore. Plus there are other players who took the mound who return next season.

And, as Kristan himself pointed out on the K-MAC Sports broadcast postgame show, there are plenty of position players returning next season. Catcher Colby Schmidt, one of the best hitters in the entire state, returns behind the plate. Mason Baty (first base), Tyler Vickers (second base), Tristan Heidelberg (center field) and Jason Reeves and Mike Stalder, who split playing time in right field, all return next season. And contributors such as Colt Stofle, Alex Rosales and others will also wear the purple-and-gold colors next year as well.

“We’ve been very fortunate (the past few years),” Kristan admitted. “We’ve had the Fickels (Braden and Ryan) for four years and talent like the Lattimores. This senior class had four four-year players (Tyler Cannon, Kyle Marshall, Spencer Pennington and Austin Zamarrippa) plus Tyler Barrows, who transferred in last year. We thank them for all their contributions.

“Next year we’ll have targets on our back. When you win a district championship and have most of your pitching returning, and most of your lineup returning, (you’ll be targeted). It boils down to the kids and their will to win. (Duke Coach) Mike Krzyzewski says it’s the players who win the game. We didn’t win a game this weekend, but the kids still did a great job.”

Schmidt a hit: Don’t ever let it be said LHHS catcher Colby Schmidt doesn’t have a good sense of humor.

As this reporter gathered lineups for Friday’s Game One of the Kennedale/Liberty Hill series, he ran into Schmidt on the way.

“Hey Colby,” I joked, “do you think maybe you can start hitting this season? You know, now (the regional quarterfinals) would be a great time to do it.”

“Oh yah,” Schmidt replied without missing a beat. “I’ll see what I can do.”

All Schmidt did was go 3-for-4 combined with a run scored, stolen base and hit-by-pitch in the two games. His only “out” was a fly out in his last at-bat.

I have no doubt Schmidt will be all-state next year.

Program escalation: Just like Charice Hankins and the LHHS softball program, the Liberty Hill baseball program is slowly – but surely – putting itself in the spotlight when it comes to Class 3A baseball.

Two straight district championships will do that.

Plus, with the talent coming back (as talked about), the Panthers will be favored to claim another district title next season. B.J. Walters of K-MAC Sports, an expert on 3A baseball, said Liberty Hill and Brownwood will be the favorites to battle for the 8-3A title, with Gatesville and Burnet also to be considered.

Final Score by Chuck Licata

Academy Award winner Tom Hanks muttered those famous words during the 1992 movie, “A League of Their Own.”

Hanks (the mananger of an all-girls baseball team) chastises one of his players, Evelyn (played by actress Bitty Schram) for making a terrible throw upon which Evelyn starts balling like a baby in front of the dugout. Stunned, Hanks (whose character name is Jimmy), asks, “Are you crying? There’s no crying..there’s no crying in baseball!”

Well, if you’re a fan of the Liberty Hill High School baseball program, you have no reason to be crying.

Obviously, LHHS fans are a little disappointed after the team got swept in two games last weekend by Kennedale in the Region I quarterfinals.

The Panthers fell to the Wildcats by scores of 6-2 and 13-0. It certainly wasn’t the team’s best performances of the year – after all, we’re talking about a team that started the 2013 season with nine straight losses.

Count them – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, NINE straight losses. That streak included losses by scores of 11-1, 13-1 and 18-7.

Yikes.

But, as has become a trademark of a team coached by Mike Kristan, back came the Panthers. Kristan’s crew beat Taylor for the first win of the season. The Panthers then lost to Austin LBJ – and wouldn’t lose again for another nine games, a loss to St. Andrews.

Then came the team’s longest win streak of the season. The team coached by Kristan, Ryan Revere and Heath Hohmann would then win another nine games in a row – that included a 9-0 start in District 8-3A play. After suffering a 7-6 loss to Gatesville, the Panthers wrapped up their second straight district title with a 16-2 thumping of Llano.

A warm-up win (5-3) over Class 2A state-ranked Salado launched the Panthers into the playoffs. Kristan’s bunch beat Castleberry (out of Fort Worth) in the area round two weeks ago – and it included a tremendous comeback. The Panthers trailed the Lions, 5-3, going into their last bats in Game 2. But junior Jake Stalder, who entered the game in the fifth, stroked a one-out solo home run to put LHHS within one at 5-4.

Spencer Pennington then drew a walk off Louie Perez and immediately stole second base; he moved to third on a passed ball with Heidelberg at the plate. Heidelberg then plated Pennington with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, tying the score at 5-5 and sending the game to extra innings.

After LHHS winning pitcher Cody Remore (two innings pitched, two hits, no runs and two strike outs) held the Lions scoreless in the top of the eighth, Liberty Hill’s Mason Baty stroked a one-out single in the bottom of the frame. He was replaced by Adam Rosales on the basepaths.

Remore came up and sacrificed Rosales to second base. Kyle Marshall, who was 0-for-3 at that point, then laced a liner down the right-field line that allowed Rosales to come across the plate for the game-winning (and series-winning) run.

That pushed the Panthers into the regional quarterfinals against Kennedale. The Wildcats proved to be a formidable opponent, taking the Panthers out of their game in sweeping the best 2-of-3 series at Waco ISD’s Veterans Field and sending the Panthers home.

Still, the Panthers and their fans have plenty to be happy about.

First, the squad’s five seniors – Pennington, Tyler Barrows, Tyler Cannon, Kyle Marshall and Austin Zamarrippa – left their mark on this squad. They helped a team that started 0-9 win 22 of their next 25 games and finish 22-14 overall with a district championship as well as area championship.

Second – the team returns so much!

Coming back are starting pitchers Kannon Prior, Marshall Brown and Dane Rumley as well as Cody Remore. Plus there are other players who took the mound who return next season.

And, as Kristan himself pointed out on the K-MAC Sports broadcast postgame show, there are plenty of position players returning next season. Catcher Colby Schmidt, one of the best hitters in the entire state, returns behind the plate. Mason Baty (first base), Tyler Vickers (second base), Tristan Heidelberg (center field) and Jason Reeves and Mike Stalder, who split playing time in right field, all return next season. And contributors such as Colt Stofle, Alex Rosales and others will also wear the purple-and-gold colors next year as well.

So, yes, LHHS baseball fans, it’s okay to expect not only a third straight district title but a long run in the playoffs next season.

And Kristan knows it.

“There’s going to be target on us,” Kristan admitted. “When you win a district championship and have most of your pitching returning, and most of lineup returning, (you’re going to be targeted). We’ll learn lessons from this weekend (the sweep by Kennedale).

“I’m blessed to be able to do this. I can’t thank enough the people who help (make the program). It should be awesome with opening of new stadium next season.”

There certainly should be plenty to celebrate at the “new stadium” next year.

(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) LHHS seniors (l-r) Austin Zamarripa, Spencer Pennington, Tyler Cannon, Tyler Barrows and Kyle Marshall helped the Panthers win their 2nd straight district championship and advance to the Region I quarterfinals. The Panthers finished 22-14 overall.

Kristan’s crew finishes 22-14, winning 2^nd straight district title

by Chuck Licata

There’s a nice little pattern setting up inside the Liberty Hill High School baseball program.

After missing the playoffs in 2011 because of a play-in loss to Llano, Mike Kristan’s Panthers have won the last two district championships with identical 9-1 records.

Last season, the Panthers fell in the area playoffs after winning the 25-3A title. This year Kristan’s District 8-3A title crew swept Castleberry in the area round before taking on District 6-3A champion Kennedale in the Region I quarterfinals.

Unfortunately for LHHS, the Wildcats (ranked #6 in Class 3A by the THBCA) swept the Panthers by scores of 6-2 and 13-0 (in five innings) last Friday and Saturday (May 17-18) at Waco ISD’s Veteran’s Field.

The Wildcats improved to 28-7 and moved on to a Region I semifinal matchup with Lubbock Cooper. Meantime, Kristan’s Panthers finished with a 22-14 overall record for the 2013 season – that included a 9-1 mark in 8-3A.

The 2013 season, though, may be remembered most for Liberty Hill’s Panthers overcoming an 0-9 start to the season – that’s right, this team lost its first nine games of the season.

Just call it a tremendous comeback.

“We had great year,” Kristan said on the K-MAC Sports postgame show, sponsored by Hill Country Recycling and ACA Appliance & Air Conditioning. “We started off 0-9; it wasn’t the best of starts. In fact the odds in Las Vegas wouldn’t say we’d finish with a district title and go 2-3 rounds in playoffs!”

“You can’t explain the way the kids bounced back from the 0-9 start. That start was like a bad dream; you were hoping someone would wake us up! But the kids never quit; it was amazing. (Senior) Spencer Pennington said the kids never (lost faith) in themselves or the coaching staff. The fun thing was different kids were (stepping up and) helping us win ballgames.”

Five seniors – Pennington, Austin Zamarrippa, Kyle Marshall, Tyler Cannon and Tyler Barrows – left their mark on this squad.

“We talked to the seniors after the game,” Kristan revealed. “We told them ‘thank you for all you did for us’ in front of the other kids. Tyler, Spencer, Austin and Kyle have been with us all four years; Tyler moved in his junior year. Their efforts were very much appreciated.”

The following is a summary of the two losses.

KHS 6, LHHS 2

The Panthers made two errors and had a few other defensive snafus as they lost a 1-0 lead to fall 6-2.

Liberty Hill, the visiting team in this contest, struck first as catcher Colby Schmidt (2-for-2 for the game with a run scored) beat out a two-out infield single and scored on a line-drive single to right-center field by Mason Baty (1-for-2, RBI). That put the Panthers up 1-0 after a half-inning.

LHHS kept that lead until Kennedale responded with a run in the bottom of the second then two more in the third. The Wildcats reached starting lefty Dane Rumley for five hits over those two innings; however, the LHHS defense added an uncharacteristic two errors in the second inning.

The Panthers, still trailing 3-1, launched a comeback in the fifth. Jason Reeves reached on an error and was replaced at first base on a fielder’s choice by Pennington (0-for-2, run scored). Tristan Heidelberg (1-for-3) sent Pennington to third with a double before Barrows (0-for-4, RBI) plated Pennington with an RBI groundout. That made it 3-2 Kennedale.

Schmidt was next up and he was hit by a pitch; he promptly stole second. Baty was then intentionally walked, loading the bases. However, KHS starter Brett Taylor got Kannon Prior (1-for-3) on a bouncer to short to end the threat.

The Wildcats then responded with three runs in the fifth; an RBI single by Jay Thomas and a two-run single by Austin Hunt did in the Panthers.

Cody Remore finished up for Rumley, tossing 1.2 innings and retiring all five batters he faced, including striking out the side in the bottom of the sixth.

KHS 13, LHHS 0

The Wildcats racked up 14 hits and were helped by three LHHS walks in thumping the Panthers to finish out the best 2-of-3 series with a 10-run rule win in five innings.

Meantime, KHS starter Justin Jakubisin held the Panthers’ bats to two hits – one each by Kolby Schmidt and Tyler Cannon – and no runs.

LHHS sophomore pitcher Marshall Brown started the game for the Panthers; Cody Remore and Tyler Barrows also got mound work in the game.

(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich File Photo) Former LHHS legend Kourtney Bevers is among those offering summer instruction tho those in Liberty Hill and nearby communities.

by Chuck Licata

The only possible drawback on the new Liberty Hill High School facilities and campus opening up is the “transition” stage.

The good news: word has it the construction is ahead of schedule and going smoothly.

As readers of The Liberty Hill Leader have seen, notices about summer camps are already being printed.

Here’s an update on what we know to date, by order of date.

KOURTNEY BEVERS LESSONS/HELP WITH CAMPS

Former LHHS All-District MVP Kourtney Bevers is offering a variety of lessons and services.

From Kourtney: I am offeringpitching lessons for all ages Mondays 5-6pm and 6-7pm starting May 20th. With more participants this is subject to change around their schedules. They are hour-long lessons for $20; participants need just bring their glove and a catcher. Hitting and fielding lessons are an hour long $20 as well, with flexibility (and mutual agreement) on the schedule.

I also offer basketball lessons (this includes ball handling, shooting, and defense) for those interested for just $30 an hour. This is more of a teaching/training work-out; there will also be conditioning and agility drills. As far as times/dates I will work with the participants individually as they contact me

For the Lady Panthers Hoop Camp (see below): I am offering to pick the children up from hoop camp (they must be in the morning group) and take them back to my house while their parents finish the work day. The charge is only $50 for the whole week. Children will only be able to go home with ONE person their parents has designated, if indeed the parent or guardian themselves don’t pick the child up.

Contact info: Kourtney Bevers, phone number, 512.887.0010; email, Krbevers@mail.umhb.edu.

LADY PANTHER HOOP CAMP

Monday-through-Thursday, June 10-13 from 9 a.m. to Noon for incoming 2^nd-through-5^th graders; 1p.m.

to 4:00 p.m. daily for 6th-through-9^th graders.

Please make not that this year’s camp is a half-day event.

All boys entering the 2^nd-grade through the 9^th-grade next year. Age exceptions can be made on an

individual basis.

Cost: before June 3^rd, $60; after June 3^rd, $75. This is the cost for each camper attending. If there are sisters, $10 can be deducted from the total amount for each one registering.

The camp will be held at Bill Burden Elementary School, 315 Stonewall Pkwy. Liberty Hill, TX. The school is on the North side of Highway 29 just east of Liberty Hill.

Contact information: Coach Matt Kirschner, cell phone (512) 484-2467; home (512) 259-0992.

RUNNIN’ PANTHER HOOP CAMP

Monday-through-Thursday, June 10-13 from 9 a.m. to Noon for incoming 2^nd-through-5^th graders; 1p.m.

to 4:00 p.m. daily for 6th-through-9^th graders

Please make not that this year’s camp is a half-day event.

All boys entering the 2^nd-grade through the 9^th-grade next year. Age exceptions can be made on an

individual basis.

Cost: before June 3^rd, $60; after June 3^rd, $75. This is the cost for each camper attending. If there are brothers, $10 can be deducted from the total amount for each one registering.

The camp will be held at Bill Burden Elementary School, 315 Stonewall Pkwy. Liberty Hill, TX. The school is on the North side of Highway 29 just east of Liberty Hill.

Contact: Coach Barry Boren, cell phone (512) 775-7979; home (512) 778-6919.

2013 PANTHER STAT CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBAL CAMP

Wednesday-through-Friday, July 24-26 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon for incoming, 7^th-grade, 8^th-grade and 9^th-grade students.

Cost: $50 per camper or $75 per family (that includes 2 or more campers from the same family).

The camp will be held at the LHHS practice field; campers are asked to report to the field at 8 a.m. on July 24.

Contact information: Call LHHS athletic director/head football coach Jerry Vance at 512.260.5505.

(Chuck Licata photo) Liberty Hill High School head coach Matt Kirschner stands with former pupil and student-athlete Macy Floyd after Floyd (who overcame injuries from a horrible car accident a year ago) announced she was going to play basketball at Howard Payne University.

Former LHHS star headed to play at Howard Payne

by Chuck Licata

It was a simple tryout.

When former LHHS student-athlete Macy Floyd (Class of 2012) participated in college tryouts recently – including one May 2 at Howard Payne Univeristy – it marked the culmination of one incredible year.

As most in the Liberty Hill community know, Floyd was part of her family’s devastation back on May 10, 2012 when a car accident affected her father (Todd), her mother (Kim), her brother (Dillon, 16 years old) and her sister (Sarah, 10).

Fast forward a year later and Macy announced she’s not only recovered from the accident but will play basketball at Howard Payne University starting this fall.

“I’m so excited,” stated a smiling Floyd at a meeting where she was joined by current LHHS head girls’ coach Matt Kirschner as well as her father, Todd. “I participated in a tryout at Howard Payne (University, located in Brownwood) with a group of girls from Howard Payne as well as some other high school graduates. I didn’t play as well as I had liked but I did alright.

“The assistant coach (Meia Daniels, a former HPU player who sits second all-time in HPU scoring and played on Howard Payne’s 2008 NCAA Division III national championship) gave me a tour of the campus – it was beautiful. The HPU girls I played with have a great camaraderie!

“They know how to have fun, but they’re very serious when it comes to playing basketball.”

Floyd then applied and got accepted at HPU.

“I was really impressed with Macy’s performance at the Howard Payne tryouts,” Todd Floyd added. “She played very well; I was very impressed. I also like their focus on academics too. They have a four-hour-per-week tutorial requirement. They’re very focused and (determined).

“Their head coach (Joshua Prock) worked at the University of Oklahoma under Kelvin Sampson. He knows what winning is all about (OU was 178-56 during Prock’s time there, including an Elite 8 appearance in 2003 and three consecutive Big 12 Tournament Championships).”

Besides the basketball program, Macy likes Brownwood and the campus setting.

“I like the small town atmosphere,” she remarked. “But there’s still a lot to do in that area. It’s a great situation, plus I’m only two hours away.”

Macy revealed she suffered abdominal injuries and internal bleeding from the accident. Her mom, Kim, got the worst of it.

However, as has been document in The Leader, the family persevered and fought strong – and grew stronger – through the tragedy.

“It (the accident) strengthened our family bonding,” Floyd stated.

Macy was diligent in her academics right after the accident – and got a lot of help.

“My teachers (at Liberty Hill High School) were very understanding and helpful of my situation,” Floyd stated. “They helped me finished up my (senior year) work and walk the line at graduation.

“My mom, Kim, was released just a day or two before graduation and got to see me. That was a great family moment for all of us.”

Macy received plenty of other help too. She credits T.J. Garza for training her and helping her get some work in with D-1 Nation basketball (“I got to play in four tournaments with the girls’ team,” Floyd declared). She also started working at Gold Gym’s in Cedar Park and worked out there as well.

LHHS coach Matt Kirschner also helped.

“I sat with Macy and we made a list of 10-15 schools she wanted to attend,” Kirschner remarked. “We emailed the coaches on the list. It was right after the recruiting period. From there we got the tryouts.”

Floyd participated in tryouts at Tarleton State University and San Angelo State as well as HPU.

Plus, Floyd attended classes at Austin Community College, taking up “the basics” such as English, Government and Psychology.

Now, Macy takes her education – and basketball game – to the American Southwest Conference.

District MVP

Scott Kinzler, Brownwood (Sr)

Offensive MVP

Will Kyle, Burnet (Sr)

Defensive MVP

Dane Rumley, Liberty Hill (Jr)

Newcomer of the Year

Jason Reeves, Liberty Hill (Soph)

All-District First Team

Pitchers

Dane Rumley, Liberty Hill (Jr)

Scott Kinzler, Brownwood (Sr)

Shae Edmonds, Burnet (Jr)

Catcher

Colby Schmidt, Liberty Hill (Jr)

Cullen Mayhew, Gatesville (Sr)

First Base

Nick Melvin, Burnet (Sr)

Second Base

Bryant McDaniel, Brownwood (Sr)

Matthew Wallace, Gatesville (Sr)

Shortstop

Will Kyle, Burnet (Sr)

Third Base

Colton Rockafellow, Burnet (Sr)

Outfield

Tristan Heidelberg, Liberty Hill (Jr)

Rhett Brooks, Llano (Sr)

Zach Evans, Burnet (Sr)

Wyatt Crum, Gatesville (Jr)

Utility Player

Seth Owen, Brownwood (Jr)

Designated Hitter

Blaine Schilling, Burnet (Sr)

All-District Second Team

Pitchers

Kannon Prior, Liberty Hill (Jr)

Cody Remore, Liberty Hill (Jr)

Tyler Jaynes, Gatesville (Sr)

Cullen Singleton, Lampasas (Sr)

Catcher

Josh Thompson, Burnet (Jr)

First Base

Mason Baty, Liberty Hill (Jr)

Second Base

Ben Rundzieher, Burnet (Soph)

Shortstop

Colton Guidry, Brownwood (Soph)

Third Base

Trent Carlton, Brownwood (Soph)

Outfield

Jason Reeves, Liberty Hill (Soph)

Hunter Dean, Gatesville (Sr)

Jesse Barker, Burnet (Jr)

Taylor Sorenson, Llano (Jr)

Utility Player

Holden Simpson, Llano (Soph)

Designated Hitter

Justin Osteen (Jr)

Honorable Mention

Liberty Hill: Tyler Barrows (Jr), Kyle Marshall (Sr), Jake Stalder (Jr)

Brownwood: Emilio Salazar (Sr); Austin Chick (Jr)

Burnet: Jeremy Ayers (Jr)

Gatesville: Trevor Barton (Sr); Seth Martin (Jr); Jeff Speer (Fresh)

Lampasas: Cutter Estep (Jr)

Llano: Andrew Decker (Sr); Wil Siegenthaler (Sr); Isaac Hutto (Sr); Caleb Penny (Jr); Eli Tiffin (Jr); Chance Ware (Jr); Logan Bauer (Soph); Jalen Bauman (Soph); Kyle Tarter (Soph); Lance Reven (Soph); Tommy Yelvington (Soph).

Academic All District – Liberty Hill

Player, Grade Average

Austin Zamarripa   94.5

Tyler Cannon           93.2

Tyler Vickers           93

Jason Reeves           92

Tyler Barrows          91

Colby Schmidt        91

Tristan Heidelberg 90

Kannon Prior          90

From LH VFW Post 8200 Ladies Auxiliary

Every day is a good day to fly the United States Flag, but June 14 stands out above all the rest because in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day which was the official day that the U.S. flag was chosen as the flag that would be flown to represent the United States of America.  This day was sealed by an Act of Congress in August of 1949.

The Liberty Hill Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8200 Ladies Auxiliary would like to ask that everyone who possibly can to please fly the American Flag on this very special day.  Thank you.

As if finding an Eastern yellow-belly racer, Texas rat snake, and a tarantula

aren't enough, this Alligator//er, snapping turtle was found walking by the L.H.

cemetery association.  He is now safely in the San Gabriel River.

(Courtesy Photo) Helga Smith and Mary Litfin were honored by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Helga Smith and Mary Litfin were honored by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary at their

May dinner in recognition of National Volunteer Appreciation Week.  Helga

donates crocheted items to the Aux and Mary used to volunteer at the L.H.

Public Library.  We appreciate these two wonderful and giving ladies very much. 

They were each given a volunteer pin on behalf of the Auxiliary.

(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) The Liberty Hill Panthers 'dogpile' after a hard-fought, come-from-behind victory, 6-5 8-inning Saturday over Castleberry. The Panthers play Kennedale this week in a Region I, best 2-of-3 semifinal.

LHHS sweeps Castleberry thanks to 8-inning, Game 2 win

by Chuck Licata

There’s another round of playoff baseball for LHHS Panthers fans.

The 2013 Panthers whipped up on the Fort Worth Castleberry Lions, sweeping their best 2-of-3 Region I, Class 3A area playoff round in two games – although Mike Kristan’s crew needed eight innings to pull out a 6-5, extra-inning victory in Game 2 of the series.

With the series sweep, the Panthers (22-11 overall) take on District 6-3A titlist, the Kennedale Wildcats (26-7 overall), in the regional quarterfinals. That best 2-of-3 series is set for Waco ISD Stadium (Veteran’s Field #1) in Waco.

Game 1 of the series takes place Friday night (May 17) at 7pm; Game 2 will occur Saturday (May 18) at 3p.m. If a deciding Game 3 is necessary, it will take place 30 minutes at the conclusion of Game 2.

(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) The LH Panthers charge towards Alex Rosales, who stands at home plate after scoring the winning run Saturday against Castleberry.

All playoff games will be broadcast on K-MAC Sports (www.kmacsports.com) on Panthers Prime Time, with pregame taking place 20 minutes before the first pitch. Panthers Prime Time Playoffs is presented by Hill Country Recycling; ACA Appliance & Air Conditioning of Liberty Hill; and, the Liberty Hill All-Sports Booster Club.

Mike Kristan’s Panthers beat Castleberry Friday (May 11) in a steady rain Friday at Waco Connally High School. The weather brightened and dried up on Saturday (May 12) as the Panthers needed a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to tie Game 2 at 5-5 before winning the game in the bottom of the eighth on a walk-off RBI single by Kyle Marshall.

LHHS 6, FWC 5 (8 innings)

Liberty Hill trailed Castleberry’s Lions 2-0, 4-3 and 5-3 as the Lions fought for their playoff lives. However, Kristan’s scrappy Panthers kept fighting back, saving their best for last.

Castleberry reached Liberty Hill ace Kannon Prior for five runs on six hits in just five innings. Those hits included two solo home runs – one by Bryce Larson to lead off the second inning and another by Tyler Nelson to give the Lions their 5-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Prior finished with six strikeouts and two walks; he also hit two batters before givine way to Cody Remore in the seventh.

Meantime, the LHHS offense consistently scored in the first five innings to keep it close. With his team trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Dane Rumley (0-for-1 officially with two runs scored) drew a walk off starter Louie Perez and stole second. One out later, Spencer Pennington (1-for-2, two runs scored and an RBI) singled to right to bring Rumley home. After Tristan Heidelberg (1-for-2 with an RBI) sacrificed Pennington  to second, Tyler Barrows (2-for-4 with two RBI) singled to right, scoring Pennington to tie the game at 2-2 after three complete.

The Lions came back with two runs in the top of the fifth, making it 4-2. Liberty Hill answered back with one in their half of the fifth as Rumley was hit by a pitch and scored – two outs later – on another Barrows RBI single.

Nelson’s one-out solo homer gave the Lions a 5-3 lead in the sixth. That’s how it stayed into the bottom of the seventh.

Jake Stalder (1-for-2 with a run scored and RBI), who entered the game in the fifth, stroked a one-out solo home run to put LHHS within one at 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Pennington then drew a walk off Perez and immediately stole second base; he moved to third on a passed ball with Heidelberg at the plate. Heidelberg then plated Pennington with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, tying the score at 5-5 and sending the game to extras.

After winner Cody Remore (two innings pitched, two hits, no runs and two strike outs) held the Lions scoreless in the top of the eighth, Liberty Hill’s Mason Baty (1-for-4) stroked a one-out single in the bottom of the frame. He was replaced by Adam Rosales on the basepaths.

Remore came up and sacrificed Rosales to second base. Kyle Marshall, who was 0-for-3 at that point, then laced a liner down the right-field line that allowed Rosales to come across the plate for the game-winning (and series-winning) run.

LHHS 8, FWC 2

(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich) Jake Stalder crushes a home run in the bottom of the 7th, bringing the Panthers to withing 1 run of Castleberry. The Panthers would eventually tie the game then win it in extra innings.

The weather certainly wasn’t accommodating on Friday night but the Liberty Hill bats were, as the Panthers stroked five hits and scored eight runs with help from the Castleberry pitchers (five walks and two hit batters).

Mike Kristan’s crew trailed 1-0 but rallied for six runs in the top of the second. Kannon Prior lunched a solo homer over the left-field fence, a ball that was out of the park as soon as it was hit. Kyle Marshall followed with a walk and proceeded to steal second base.

(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) Spencer Pennington bounces up after scoring the game-tying run against Castleberry.

One out later, Jason Reeves was hit by a pitch, and Marshall and Reeves pulled off a double-steal. Spencer Pennington then walked to load the bases.

Leadoff hitter Tristan Heidelberg then walked in one run before Tyler Barrows ripped a two-run double down the right-field line, giving LHHS a 4-1 lead. After Heidelberg scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-1, Colby Schmidt then reached on an error that allowed Barrows to score, capping the six-run inning.

Starter Dane Rumley settled down, giving up just one more run in the third inning. Meantime, the Panthers scored once in the fifth (on an RBI double by Schmidt) and once more in the top of the seventh to seal the 8-2 victory.

(Abarw.com/Allison Weirich Photo) Maddie Metzger (sitting, center) signed to play at Chadron (NE) College last week. Joining Maddie were (sitting, l-r) Judy Metzger, Maddie and LHHS coach Matt Kirschner; (back row) Allison Metzgerand Stephanie Metzger.

Metzger second in her family to sign – and play at cold-weather college

by Chuck Licata

There’s just something about recent LHHS graduates who are (1) female and (2) named Metzger.

Two years ago, LHHS then-senior Stephanie Metzger – a two-sport athlete in volleyball and basketball – signed to play volleyball at Bentley University in Waltham, MA.

Last week her younger sister, Maddie, signed to play basketball at Chadron State College. Maddie, like Stephanie did this past year, will experience the full force of winter weather as Chadron (the city and college) is located in Nebraska.

Something about winter weather, we guess.

More so, another compliment to Liberty Hill High School, LHISD and the coaching staff. Metzger, who was coached by Matt Kirschner and Kim Holt, was All-District Academic for all three years she was on the LHHS varsity; she was First Team all-district her senior year after an honorable mention her junior season.

Metzger played on three district championship squads and was a member of the 2012 squad that played in the state semifinal her junior year.  Maddie led the team in scoring, free throws, blocks and rebounds this past season; she was also the free-throw leader for state of Texas Division 3A (she made 153 of 186 charity shots for an astounding 82 percent mark).

“For a while during m junior year I went through a phase where I didn’t think about college ball or even getting a scholarship,” Metzger said after her signing. “We started looking; I definitely knew wanted to go out of state after I knew how much Stephanie enjoyed going to school out-of-state.

“My parents and I started looking at different schools; I once got an offer from a school in Nebraska. That’s when Chadron came up and started talking to me. The coach there (Tim Connealy, who’s in his sixth year as head coach) told me his team was looking for a post player who could shoot outside and it was very important to them.”

The Eagles play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Metzger and her Eagles’ teammates have their work cut out for them; the team has an average of six wins in RMAC play the past six seasons and hasn’t hit double figures in total wins since 2008.

Metzger, who averaged 11.4 point, seven rebounds and two blocks per game her senior season, signed last Tuesday (May 7) at the LHHS library with Liberty Hill coaches and officials as well as friends and family in attendance.

“The actual signing makes it so much more real,” Metzger admitted. “I’m actually going somewhere and someone actually wanted me. When I visited the campus, everyone was pleasant to be around and I love the small-town situation. There’s a big focus on academics and I love that.

“I want to major in agricultural business and possibly have a double-major in criminal justice, or at least minor in criminal justice.”

Metzger is supported by her parents, Judy and Alex Metzger, and her sisters Stephanie (19) and Allison (14).

“I want to thank my mom and my parents for getting me where I am,” Metzger acknowledged. “Also I want to thank Chris Huppee, my two AAU coaches (Dennis and Wendell), my uncle Eric and grandpop (Papa).