Staff reports

DAYTON — Port Neches-Groves found a little more offense at Dayton on Friday after losing 6-1 a day earlier, but the Broncos had already done the damage.

A four-spot in the sixth inning was all PNG could muster in a 7-4 loss Friday to end the 5A softball bi-district best-of-three series. The Indians finished the season 18-13-1.

Dayton will take on Santa Fe or Houston Northside in the area round.

Bayja Newby drove in two runs, while Kaitlyn Boudreaux and Kasidee Sartin batted in one each. Each of them had one hit, along with Callie Jourdan, Rachel Hammersmith and Brooke Smith. Jourdan, Hammersmith, Boudreaux and Sartin each scored a run.

Dayton scored three in the fifth inning to build a 7-0 lead, but PNG ended the shutout bid by trying to mount a big comeback. A win for the second-seeded Indians would have forced a Game 3 immediately following.

 

Dayton 6, PNG 1 (Thu.)

PORT NECHES — For one game, anyway, Port Neches-Groves had the home field advantage.

The Indians donned the rally caps. They put runners in scoring position. They only pushed across one run.

Dayton got two hits from Ally McKinney and did most of its damage in the fourth and fifth innings Thursday in taking a 6-1 win.

The Indians almost struck first, but Callie Jourdan was thrown out at home plate on a relay throw from left field on a Kasidee Sartin double. PNG ended the inning with bases loaded, and Dayton pitcher Brooke Austin gave up just one hit over the next four innings.

PNG starter Britni Hunt scattered six runs on seven hits. Four errors also marred the Indians’ evening.

Haylie Burns (two RBI), Bianca Rodriguez (RBI) and Hailey Pence (RBI) produced runs on doubles, just three of seven hits for the Broncos, who were third in District 21-5A.

Rachel Hammersmith ended the shutout for PNG in the bottom of the seventh with a bunt single to score Bayja Newby. Hammersmith went 2 for 3, while Kaitlyn Boudreaux, Sydnee Adams, Newby and Sartin (double) each added a hit.

 

Sabine Pass 5, North Zulch 4 (Thu.)

In Humble, Sharks advanced to the area round of the 2A softball playoffs for the second year in a row, coming away with a one-run victory.

Jaizee Landry threw seven complete innings and went 2 for 4 at the plate for the Sharks, as did Lauren Price (three RBI). Price also picked off a runner at first to end the game.

Sabine Pass, the District 24-4A runner-up, awaits Shiner or Thrall in the area round.

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Also in the playoffs: Barbers Hill swept Vidor 13-2 and 12-1 in 5A; Bridge City beat Jasper 6-0 in a single game, and Lufkin Hudson swept Orangefield 4-0 and 4-3 in 4A.

 

 

GOLF

Feemster qualifies for state; PNG fourth in 5A Region III

In Montgomery, Timothy Feemster’s best shot was good enough to earn him a trip to next month’s 5A state tournament but it wasn’t quite enough to carry his Port Neches-Groves teammates with him.

Feemster, the District 22-5A medalist, fired a two-over-par 73 for a 150 that earned him a tie for seventh overall in the 5A Region III tournament at La Torretta Golf Club. He advanced to the state tourney at White Wing Golf Club in Georgetown by having one of the best three scores outside the three top teams.

PNG, after starting the day in fifth place — 12 shots out of the third and final qualifying spot — moved up to fourth. But the Indians wound up three shots behind third-place Georgetown with a 36-hole total of 645.
Cedar Park won with a 608, followed by Magnolia at 614 and Georgetown at 642.

The Indians, after shooting 327 on Wednesday, improved by nine shots.

“It was just a little too much to overcome,” said PNG coach Ricky Keyes. “I hate it for the seniors (Josh Elmore, Chase Selman). Last year we missed by four strokes. It hurts to get that close and not make it.”

Feemster, a sophomore, improved four shots from Wednesday’s 77, and looked to go lower after being two under at one point. But a string of four consecutive bogeys blunted his momentum.

“Timothy had that one tough stretch, but he had a solid tournament,” said Keyes. “I am really proud of him earning a spot at state. I think he will do well.”

PNG’s other scores that counted Thursday were a 79 for 157 by Elmore, an 81 for 168 by Bryce Parsley and an 85 for 170 by Selman. Parsley improved by six strokes over his Wednesday round.

Medalist honors in the tournament went to Vishru Sadagopan of Shadow Creek with even par 142 (72-70). He edged HS Chang of Cedar Park (71-72) by one stroke.

PNG’s “B” team was once again led by Dalton Shields, who carded his second consecutive 87 for 174. Paul Muse was next with 186 (90-96).
Nederland’s Brendan Marley, competing as a medalist, bounced back from a first-day 86 with a 79.

 

TRACK

SP competing in 2A Region III meet

Sabine Pass has qualified four relay teams and three individuals in four different events for the 2A Region III meet, which conclude Saturday at Palestine High School.

Zion Parker, Bryson Woods, Jeann Zuniga and Dillan Daniels will run the boys’ 4×100- and 4×200-meter relays. Parker also qualified in the 200-meter dash.

Yainn Zuniga, Aisha Vaughn, Lexi Emerson and Paige Noe will compete in the girls’ 4×100 and 4×20. Yainn Zuniga also has a spot in the triple jump.

Joanna Smolsky will vie for a title in the long jump and 100-meter hurdles.

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The 5A Region III meet began Friday in Humble. No field event results were available.

The meet concludes Saturday.

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Bob West contributed to this roundup.