Sports
Golden Wolves finish baseball district season with wins over Childress, Tulia
BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan
The Dalhart Golden Wolves played their final regular season baseball games last week, taking on Childress at home and Tulia on the road. The Wolves held on for a 3-2 win over Childress and picked up the road win over Tulia as well.
Dalhart played Childress at home on Tuesday April 21. Childress was able to lead off the top of the first with a single, but the Wolves shut them down after that, retiring the next three batters in order. Talon Garcia led off the bottom of the inning with a single to center. Krew Hines then hit a sacrifice bunt to move Garcia to second base. Garcia moved to third base on a ground out by Hunter Trusler, and then Tony Vasquez hit a single to drive Garcia in for a run. The Wolves led 1-0 after one inning.
The Bobcats were able to score two runs in the top of the second, and took a 2-1 lead into the third inning. Dalhart only allowed one single in the top of the third, and Garcia led off the bottom of the third by reaching first on an error. Garcia stole second base while Krew Hines was at the plate, and Krew ended up drawing a walk. Trusler came up next and hit a double to center, driving in both Garcia and Krew Hines. The Wolves took back the lead at 3-2 after three innings. Neither team scored again. Trusler, who was pitching for the Wolves, retired the side in order in the top of the fourth with a strikeout and two groundouts, and was able to get a Childress batter to hit into a double play in the top of the fifth with one out to end that inning. Trusler retired the side in order again in the top of the seventh to end the game, with Vasquez fielding two ground balls and throwing to first for the final two outs of the game. Dalhart won 3-2.
Trusler had two RBIs, and Vasquez had one RBI. Garcia scored two of Dalhart’s three runs, with Krew Hines scoring the other. Trusler pitched all seven innings, striking out 13 and only giving up two runs on four hits, and showed great control with no walks and no hit batters.
Since it was the final game of the season, it was also Senior Night and the seniors were honored after the game. They included Garcia, Vasquez, Trusler, Kade Speer, Geovani Barron, Kreed Hines and Jake Byrd.
Dalhart played Tulia on the road on Friday April 24 for the final district game of the season after losing two close games to Tulia earlier in the season.
Neither team scored in the first inning. Barron led off the top of the second with a double to left, and Chance Juilfs followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Barron to third base. Speer then hit a sacrifice fly to center that drove in Barron. Dalhart led 1-0 after two innings.
The Hornets took a 2-1 lead after three innings. In the top of the fourth, Juilfs was hit by a pitch with one out, and Speer hit a single to center field. Juilfs made it to third, while Speer ended up on second due to an error. Luis Deleon hit what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt that drove in Juilfs and moved Speer to third base, while Deleon made it to first safely. Garcia came to bat next and hit a double to left, knocking in both Speer and Deleon. Dalhart took back the lead at 4-2 after four innings. In the top of the fifth, Kreed Hines drew a walk with one out, and was replaced by Grant Waggoner as a courtesy runner. The next batter was retired, then Juilfs hit a double to left that moved Waggoner to third base. Speer hit a ground ball next and reached on an error while Waggoner scored and Juilfs made it to third base. Dalhart’s lead was 5-2 after five innings.
Tulia scored four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead at 6-5 after six innings, which meant that the Wolves had to score at least one run in the top of the seventh to tie it up. Kreed Hines drew a walk again with one out, and Izayah Trujillo came in as a courtesy runner. Barron was hit by a pitch to give Dalhart two runners, and both advanced a base on a ground ball by Juilfs as Tulia took the out at first.
Speer came up next and hit a double to left, driving in both Trujillo and Barron. Deleon drew a walk, and then Garcia hit a single to left that drove in Speer. The Wolves led 8-6 going into the bottom of the seventh, and the Hornets had to score at least twice to keep the game going. After the first batter got on base, the Hornets hit into a double play. Tulia ended up getting two more runners on base, but Barron was able to field a ground ball at third and throw out the hitter for the final out, and the Wolves won 8-6.
Garcia and Speer each had two RBIs for the Wolves, and Barron and Speer each scored two runs. Speer and Garcia also led with two hits.
The Wolves were scheduled to play a best-of-three playoff series against Shallowater, with a doubleheader yesterday at Tascosa High School in Amarillo. If needed, a third game will be played today at Tascosa at 3 p.m.
Male Athlete of the Week
BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan
The Dalhart Texan Male Athlete of the Week is Kade Speer. Speer is a senior on the Dalhart Golden Wolves baseball team, and this is his first time to be named athlete of the week this year.
Speer plays second base for the Wolves, and as a senior is one of the leaders on the team. He plays well on defense, and while he is in the bottom of the batting order for the Wolves, has had some big hits for Dalhart in certain games.
Speer played well for the Wolves in their final two regular season games last week. He had one hit and one walk against Childress last Tuesday, in a game in which the Wolves only had four hits. Speer had a great game in the win over Tulia last Friday, helping the Wolves avenge two earlier losses. He had three RBIs during the game with two hits, including a double. That tied him for the team lead in runs batted in. Speer also scored two runs, so he accounted for over half of Dalhart’s eight runs during the game.
Speer and his teammates were scheduled to play a double-header against Shallowater yesterday at Tascosa High School as part of a best-of-three playoff series, with a third game today at 3 p.m. if needed.
Honorable Mention: Hunter Trusler: Dalhart baseball and track and field. Trusler is a senior and has been athlete of the week multiple times this season for football, basketball and a couple of weeks ago for baseball. He was the winning pitcher against Childress on April 21, pitching all seven innings and striking out 13 hitters, while also leading the team with two RBIs. Trusler was also a member of the 800-meter relay team that won first place at Area on April 20, and was a member of the sprint relay team that placed second.
Brett Alver: Dalhart track and field. Alver is a junior and was athlete of the week earlier in the year for football, and a few weeks ago for track. He won first place in the 200-meter dash at Area with a time of 22 seconds flat, setting a new personal best. Alver was also the anchor on the 800-meter relay team that won first place and the sprint relay team that placed second.
Talon Garcia: Dalhart baseball. Garcia is a senior and has been athlete of the week three times this year, once for football, once for basketball, and a few weeks ago for baseball. He led the team against Childress on April 21, scoring two of the three runs against the Bobcats. Garcia tied his teammate Speer with three RBIs against Tulia last Friday.
Eli Garcia: Dalhart track and field. Garcia is a junior and was athlete of the week a few weeks ago. He set a new personal record again, something he has done more than once this season, by clearing 16 feet even to win first place in the pole vault at the Area meet on Monday April 20.
