This week’s episode of “The Press Box” featured an in-depth conversation with three members of the (11-1-1) Maypearl Panthers baseball team after their season was cut short due to COVID-19. The link to the podcast can be found at the bottom of this article. On-air hosts Seth Sims, Tater Beard …
Read More »UIL cancels all spring sports, state championships amid COVID-19 fallout
By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports Finality came by way of UIL press release Friday afternoon — high school sports are finished for the 2020-21 season. The announcement was delivered at little surprise following a directive issued earlier in the day by Governor Greg Abbott, who requested all Texas …
Read More »Allen continues Waxahachie baseball legacy with Division I commitment
By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports WAXAHACHIE — As Ryan Allen sat inside his uncle’s pick-up truck in the Home Depot parking lot Wednesday, he couldn’t help but smile. Sure, his college roommate was still asleep and wouldn’t answer the phone to hear the news. And, yeah, the circumstances …
Read More »Ellis County athletic programs begin virtual coaching, canceling spring sports amid COVID-19
By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports As school districts have turned to virtual learning and classrooms amid the COVID-19 outbreak, local athletic departments are now pivoting toward much of the same. Those same district officials are also beginning to make tough decisions related to annual spring athletics events, namely …
Read More »The Press Box: Dealing with the Corona Virus: Ep. 20 (March 16, 2020)
This week’s episode of “The Press Box” focused on the effects of the COVID-19 virus and its impact on high school and college athletics. On-air hosts Seth Sims and “The Voice of the Panthers” Tater Beard, who filled in for Brian Stevens, first with Luke Morton, a Waxahachie graduate and …
Read More »Red Oak skipper, baseball lifer and former Braves prospect wins No. 400
By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports Three preseason conversations ago, Jay Johnson sat in a half-broken rolling chair and doubted how much longer he’d coach. Johnson was obviously uncomfortable as he spoke about his Red Oak ballclub and the upcoming season. It was evident in the tone and measure …
Read More »UIL extends suspension of spring sports, activities to May 4
KBEC report AUSTIN — Any last hopes for a return to the playing field for high school teams in Texas were all but dashed Thursday afternoon following the latest action taken by the University Interscholastic League. Via an official press release, the UIL extended the length of the suspension of all UIL-sanctioned activities due to …
Read More »Palmer senior hurler signs with Navarro College
By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports A four-year varsity Palmer Bulldog hurler recently signed his national letter of intent at a junior college baseball powerhouse. Jaden Lopez, a senior at Palmer, cited the overall program success and proximity to home as to why he signed to continue his playing …
Read More »The Press Box: Baseball in Midlothian: Ep. 19 (March 9, 2020)
This week’s episode of “The Press Box” featured on-air interviews with a pair of Midlothian head baseball coaches. On-air hosts Seth Sims and “The Voice of the Panthers” Tater Beard, who filled in for Brian Stevens, first spoke longtime Midlothian head baseball coach Ray Hydes about his program, philosophy and …
Read More »Graham makes OU baseball history with Big 12 weekly superlative
SPECIAL to KBEC Sports NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma baseball freshman Peyton Graham has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week after hitting .500 in five games last week, the conference office announced Monday. Graham went 10-for-20 at the plate, scoring nine runs and tallying four RBIs to lead …
Read More »