Sports

  Tidehaven senior quarterback Blake Garcia was named the 2019 Most Valuable Player for District 14-3A-2. 
   Garcia led a long list of Tigers who are on the All-District teams, including eight players with All-District first team offense and defense honors.
   Tigers on the All-District First Team Offense included: Jose Martinez, running back, Mason Perales, wide receiver (unanimous); Chance Riojas, offense line (unanimous); and Kyus Saha, offense line (unanimous).
   Perales also received this week Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) All-State honorable mention honors as a wide receiver.
   The Tidehaven players on the All-District First Team Defense included: Grant Vongontard, defense end (unanimous); Jerry Johnson, defensive tackle; Koey Kacer, inside linebacker, (unanimous); and Alex Hernandez, defensive back (unanimous).

  Two Van Vleck Leopards – Sam Bree and Jalen Williams – were among the District 14-3A-2 All-District first team selections.
   Junior Sam Bree was named to the All-District First Team Offense at running back, while senior Jalen Williams was selected as wide receiver (unanimous).
   Leopards on the All-District Second Team offense were: junior Cameron Franklin, wide receiver; sophomore Garrett Chambless, offensive line; and junior Slade Huerta, offensive line.
   The All-District Second Team Defense included Van Vleck players: senior Joshua DeLarosa, outside linebacker; and senior Roscoe Ellis, defensive back.
   Van Vleck’s Jalen Williams also was named as an All-District Utility selection.

   Four Blackcats were named to District 13-4A-1 first-team All-District offensive and defensive teams.
   The first-team offense selections were running back RJ Mitchell and center Logan Maclennan.
   Bay City’s first-team defense choices were defensive tackle Heart Gaskin and defensive back Marcus Edwards.
   Linebacker O’dedrick Morgan was named to the All-District second team defense, while Blackcat quarterback Carlos Lara was picked to the second team All District offensive team.
   Blackcat punter Kadin Nunez was named to the second team All-District special teams.
   Blackcats who were All District Honorable Mention included: Ray Bibbins, Davieyon Curtis, Abel Mendoza, Marlon Ford, Amarion Holman, Trent Monroe, Ivan Dewitt, Jessie Oros and Ashton George

   Bay City traveled to Freeport for the 38th annual Brazosport Invite Friday (diving) and Saturday (swimming), Dec. 6-7.
   The meet was scored to twelve (12) places.  
   Ten schools competed in the Robert “Bob” Leffingwell Natatorium.  
   “The retired legend made an appearance and our kids got to meet him,” said Bob Button, BCHS Swim Coach.
   “We still have plenty of work ahead of us, but the kids are starting to come around,” the coach saids.
   “They’re paying more attention to technique and we’re seeing improvement from one race to the next.
   “We have some serious training over the holidays ahead of us and we’re hoping that will have us ready for some solid swims at the district and region meets.
   Meeting highlights, Button said, included:
   “Ashton Wallace completed his first-ever eleven-dive list.  He barely had a six-dive list two weeks ago!

   The Bay City High School swim team’s Nov. 14 home meet - (Bay City/Brazosport/Columbia/Hightower - was postponed due to poor weather conditions.
   “The only school able to reschedule was Columbia, so we hosted a dual meet with them this evening,” said Head Coach Bob Button on the Nov. 21 meet.
   “We swam a young group of kids this evening,” Button said after the meet.
   “Of our 16 boys and girls competing tonight, 13 are freshmen and sophomores.
   We didn’t rest for the meet, so I was pleased that many of our kids were able to swim close to or faster than their personal bests.
   “Our more experienced kids are scoring well in the non-freestyle events (medleys, butterfly, etc.), while our raw ‘rookies’ are giving us the depth we need in freestyle and backstroke.
   The team’s next meet is the Brazosport Invite in early December.

   A groundbreaking ceremony – the next phase in the LeTulle Dreamscape project, took place Monday, Nov. 25, at the park.
   The project itself cost $400,000 and will cover more than 9,000 square feet for children of all abilities.
   Funds for the playground came from a $200,000 state grant, a $150,000 grant from Bay City Community Development Corporation and more than $35,000 in donations and pledges.
   “The project will start with site work, installation of the equipment, concrete and rubber surfacing throughout the months of December and January,” said Parks and Recreation Supervisor Kelly Penewitt.
   “Please excuse our mess during construction of the Dreamscape. The project is expected to be completed in late January.”  

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   Tidehaven ended its season with a 23-7 loss in a regional-round playoff game that wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter.
   “It was a good game. Poth had a size advantage on us,” said Tidehaven Head Coach David Lucio.
   “Our plan was to wear them out and try to pull it off late in the game.
   The score from the first quarter through the start of the fourth quarter was 7-13.
   “I felt like it was working but when Blake (Garcia) went down with an ankle injury it just became too much to overcome,” Lucio remarked.

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