In sports,

 

Texas High School Rodeo State Finals:

 

Center High School sophomore Whitlee Reed is headed to the Texas High School Rodeo Association State Finals in June after winning Champion Barrel Racer and reserve Champion Pole Bender at the Region 5 High School Rodeo Finals in Marshall April 11 & 12. The State Finals will be June 5-13 in Abilene.

 

 

The THSRA in the largest High School Rodeo Association in the nation and they sponsor over 125 rodeos per year throughout ten regions across Texas. Approximately 650 student athletes and 800 horses will call Abilene home for the week!

 

 

Baseball

The state-ranked Center Riders take on Huntington in a best-of-three home-and-home Class 4A bi-district series starting at 7 p.m. Friday at Roughrider Field. Game 2 will be in Huntington at 1 p.m. Saturday. Game 3, if necessary, would follow Game 2 in Huntington.

 

Center Broadcasting will have Rider playoff action on Q100 KQBB throughout the state playoffs as Don Wall has the call.

 

The Joaquin Rams enter the Class 2A state baseball playoffs this week against Broaddus, in a best-of-three Class 2A bi-district series, with all games in Gary. Game 1 is at 6 pm Friday; Game 2 at 1 pm Saturday; Game 3 if needed 30 min after game 2.

 

Gary, the other Dist. 23-2A team playing this week in this week in the playoffs will meet Colmesneil. Game 1 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Gary, Game 2 7 p.m. Friday in Colmesneil, and Game 3 at 2 p.m. Saturday in Douglass, if necessary.

 

In Class 3A No. 1 Central Heights and the Garrison Bulldogs will enter the state playoffs this week. It’s unsure this morning whom they’ll play, either Buffalo or Crockett. Garrison was second from Dist. 22-3A. Third place team, Hemphill vs. Elkhart, best-of-three, at Livingston. Game 1 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Game 2 at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

 

Dist. 19 4-A Baseball Playoffs:

 

W19 Center (18-3-1) vs F20 Huntington (6-15)

Game 1: Friday, May 8th @ Center, 7:00

Game 2: Saturday, May 9th @ Huntington, 1:00

Game 3: After Game 2 (if necessary)

 

R19 Carthage (13-10) vs T20 Diboll (13-12)

Game 1: Friday, May 8th @ SFA, 7:00

Game 2: Saturday, May 9th @ SFA, 1:00  

Game 3: After Game 2 (if necessary)

 

R20 Jasper (15-6-2) vs T19 Tatum (6-13)

Game 1: Friday, May 8th @ Pollok Central, 7:00  

Game 2: Saturday, May 9th @ Pollok Central, 2:00  

Game 3: After Game 2 (if necessary)

 

W20 Lufkin Hudson (18-9) vs F19 Rusk (8-14)

Game 1: Friday, May 8th @ Lufkin Hudson, 7:00  

Game 2: Saturday, May 9th @ Rusk, 1:00  

Game 3: After Game 2 (if needed)

 

Softball

 

The Joaquin Lady Rams are headed to the area round of the Class 2A playoffs. Joaquin will take on Groveton in a best-of-three series at Central Heights starting Thursday. Game 1 is 6:30 p.m., with Game 2 at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and if necessary, Game 3 is 3 p.m. Saturday.

 

The Shelbyville Lady Dragons will meet Cushing in a best-of-three area round home-and-home series beginning Thursday. Game 1 is 7 p.m. in Cushing, with Game 2 at 6 p.m. Friday in Shelbyville. Game 3, if necessary would be in Nacogdoches at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The winners of both series will meet in the region quarterfinal round next week.

The Garrison Lady Bulldogs are in a one-game Class 3A, Region III area championship game versus East Bernard at 7 p.m. Friday at Sam Houston State in Huntsville. Garrison beat New Waverly, 11-0 in last week’s bi-district round to advance.

 

NFL Draft:

Former SFA Lumberjack Gus Johnson has signed a free agent deal with the Oakland Raiders following last weekend’s NFL Draft. Johnson set SFA and Southland Conference single-season rushing records last season with 1,683 yards. The Gilmer native ended his senior year by being named to two first-team All-American teams and the Associated Press’ second team.

 

CMS Athletics Parent’s Meeting

There will be a parent meeting for all parents of incoming 6th, 7th & 8th grade students at Center ISD who are participating in athletics on May 11th & 14th.

Monday, May 11th will be for the middle school girls and *Thursday, May 14th*, will be for the middle school boys. These meetings will take place in the Center Middle School Auditorium at *5:30 pm* both evenings.

 

Center Athletic Banquet:

There’s been a rescheduling of the Center High School “Banquet of Champions”. The athletic banquet will now be held Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. at the Windham Civic Center. The meal is catered by Pete Lowe’s Catering, and the event will feature a slideshow and awards. Tickets are $7 adults, $5 students, five and under are free, and $3 for kids 6-12. All athletic students are admitted free. Tickets are available in the athletic office until May 1. No tickets sold at the door. For more information, call the athletic office at 598-6173, ext. 2231.

 

Joaquin Athletic Banquet:

Joaquin High School Athletic Banquet will be held on Monday, May 11th . The catered meal will be served at 6:00 pm in the cafeteria and the program will follow at 7:00 pm in the new gymnasium . The adult tickets are $15.00 and children $7.00, you can attend the program without eating. All tickets MUST be turned in to the HS office by FRIDAY, MAY 1st for a plate count. Athletes attire should be Sunday dress. All athletes are guest of the booster. This year we will be holding the $10,000 Raffle in conjunction with the banquet. You can purchase your raffle ticket from a booster member. It will be drawn during the program in the gymnasium. No meal will be provided with the raffle ticket.

 

DU Greenwing event:

The Shelby County Ducks’ Unlimited annual Green Wing event will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 6. According to Clint Tanner, the location has been changed to a familiar site, Weldon Boles’ property off Old City Lake Road. Tanner said DU used that location previously. There will be prizes for all kids, along with Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Wardens providing hunter safety, Mike Hudman with Black Water Retrievers with a dog demo and a free hot dog meal. All kids’ ages up to 17 are invited to attend. Mark your calendar for June 6, the Shelby County Ducks Unlimited Greenwing Event. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. The location is 245 CR 1006, Center. By the way, kids, bring your fishing pole. For more information call Clint Tanner at 936-332-4767 or Adam Reeves at 936-332-6420.