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Weekly Newspaper and Tourism Guide for Ward County Trans Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

Sports

April 30, 1998

Lobo roars:

Eric Ray, Eddie Rowe lead Mean Green rally


By a sports correspondent of the News
ODESSA - Coach David Burnett's Big Green Mean Lobo Golfing Pack rallied
from a stroke down to two-time defending Region 1-3A golfing champion
Abilene Wylie after the first day of play to dethrone Wylie and win.

In the course of the two day match, Monahans High School set a new
regional tournament record of 294, eclipsing Wylie's old record of 295
and senior Eric Ray, the Lobo leader, finished first in the medalist
competition.

Next stop: Austin, May 11 and 12 for the state championship tournament.

In the regionals Monday and Tuesday, April 27 and April 28, at Ratliff
Ranch, Wylie was everybody's favorite. Wylie was supposed to win. But
they didn't. Monahans victory was, according to the pundits, totally
unexpected.

Lobo men's golf boss Burnett does not agree..

"I'm not so sure it was totally unexpected. I thought we had a chance if
we played good golf and we played good golf," says an exultant Burnett.
"Eric Ray and Eddie Rowe came though."

Ray was first in the regional medalist standings with a two day total of
147; Rowe, third with a 149. Rowe actually tied for second with
Bridgeport's Austin Lester but lost a play-off with Lester to drop to
third.

Continues Burnett: "Everyone played good golf. They all played good
golf. Every one came through.""

The shocker came about 2:30 p.m. not long after the start of the final
day of the tournament. The shocker came on Ratliff Ranch, Hole Number 4,
a 133-yard par 3.

Anyone in the West Texas Desert could have heard the screaming and
yelling. Loboes were jumping on each other. Parents and fans reportedly
were rolling on the ground and whooping. There was still a lot of golf
to play at this time on Tuesday afternoon before Monahans would end the
two year reign of Wylie by four strokes with their two day total of 606.
But the shocker probably sent Abilene Wylie a message the championship
ride was over before Monahans would make it official later in the
afternoon. Still when the shocker came, it still was anyone's tournament.

Lobo Josh Willson steps to the tee on Number 4. He addresses the ball
properly and smartly. The ball is up. Nice drive. It flies toward the
green 133 yards away.

"Josh Willson made a hole-in-one," says Burnett.

Josh Willson's hole-in-one, says Burnett, underscored the team concept
of any competition.

"You play as a team. You win as a team. You lose as a team," emphasizes
the coach.

Was there a basic reason why the Loboes stopped Abilene Wylie?

"I felt like we played up to our potential. If we played to our
potential, I knew we could beat Wylie and we did," says Burnett. "This
is why you play the game. Wylie had a one shot lead on Monday. I felt we
were in a position to win. Our guys came out and went for it. We got it."

On the way to the regional crown, Burnett says of his team's record
scoring.

"Our 294 total is a new regional tournament record. Last year Wylie shot
a record 295. This year our 294 beat that.

More from Burnett on the regional championship:

"Eric Ray has just been a good leader. Eric is the only senior. Eric's
been the glue to hold the thing together . . .

"Eddie Rowe is a freshman. Don Fisher is a sophomore. Josh Willson and
Josh Gaddis are both juniors. They're all home grown."

And Burnett did not want anyone to forget the Lobo Junior Varsity, which
also qualified for the regional tournament.

"They ended up fifteenth. They didn't get last. They played well. They
all played well. And they all are part of the varsity victory."

Ladys blow past Greenwood in bi-district


By Richard Acosta
News sports writer
GREENWOOD - Imagine you're away from home, the sun is going down, the
weather is getting frightful as dirt and dust blow in your face and oh
yeah... you have to win a softball game.

This was the scene for the Monahans High School Loboes 17-15 win in the
Bi-district softball play-off game at Greenwood Friday, April 24.

"I am just so proud of our girls," says Lobo Coach Becky Melius. "We
have some key players missing from our line up. Some of the girls have
really stepped up and played ball."

In addition to having players out, the Ladies faced wicked weather
conditions, on a field with no lights, while the sun was going down.

In fact the sun had already crossed the horizon when the last out was
made.

"It felt awesome," said senior left fielder Stacy Sotelo. "We have all
stuck together. I really want to go to state. I wish we had more support
from our Monahans fans. I think it would give us some encouragement in
tough games."

The Green started off a bit slow in the first inning, falling behind
1-2. However, the second inning was full of the sound of exploding bats.
The Ladies racked up nine runs while giving up two to take a commanding
10-4 lead heading into the third. Greenwood responded to the Lobo rally
with a 1-10 third inning to regain the lead 11-14. The Loboes closed the
gap by one in the fourth inning to set up a four run fifth inning to
over take the Lady Rangers 16-14. Both teams added a run in the sixth
upping the score to 17-15 heading into the seventh inning. Bottom of the
seventh, one out, runner on second. Huckabee sent one by the batter for
strike three. In the excitement, and with the sun going down, the runner
on second tried for third. sophomore catcher Vicki Lopez saw her and
gunned a shot to Molina for the third and final out of the game.

"Every one was paying attention to Kacey's strike out, " said Lopez. "I
think me and Sara were the only ones who saw her. I'm glad I got her."

M.H.S. women finish third in regional


By a sports correspondent of the News
ODESSA - Not a senior on the team and the women golfers from Monahans
High School won a District 3-3A championship.

Not a senior on the team and this bunch of golfers finishes third in the
1998 regional competition above a baker's dozen other 3A teams from West
Texas.

In this case, "Wait'll next year" does not seem to be the old cliche.
These golfers should be more than competitive next Spring.

Lobo Golf Coach Becky Hix believes: "The girls had a great year and
gained a tremendous amount of experience. There are no seniors on the
team so next year looks promising."

"Next year looks promising."

Emphasize that.

That is a conservative coach's way of saying: "Watch out!" in the season
to come. That is a conservative coach's way of saying: "We were district
champions this year. Next year, just maybe, we go all the way."

This year wasn't bad. Hix won the district title with no seniors in a
sterling season that some great coaches never see.

Regional championship is the next goal.

In this year's regionals, the Lobo women finished behind winner Abilene
Wylie and second place Alpine, a team they beat by 10 strokes in the
district tournament at Monahans two weeks ago.

But this time in the regional Monday and Tuesday, April 27 and April 28,
they fell short.

Kandace Burnett led the Green both days with an 87 and an 86.
Audrey Cox had a double 96 following Burnett.

Green sends 9 qualifiers to 12 events in Odessa


Nine Monahans High School Lobo qualifiers in 12 events.

"We're going to be well represented," says Track Coach Doug Doege.

Doege is discussing the regional 3A track and field competition this
Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2, at Ratliff Stadium in Odessa.

In this competition, there are no pre-meet favorites unless Vernon is
considered. Based on times and distances Vernon would be a slight
favorite followed by 3-3A champ Monahans. In reality, any one of a
half-dozen teams have a chance at regional victory. Loboes Robin Hanna
and Quint Melius have regional competitive times. Hanna leads in the
110 and 300 meter high hurdles and the pole vault. Melius has the third
best distances in the shot and discus.

"We're going to have to commit to great performance to win and that's
what regionals are about," says Doege. "Our goal is to qualify as many
as possible for state."

"We're talking seconds and inches," continues Doege.

Ward county Olympians take 26 gold


Special to the News
ODESSA - Nineteen athletes.

Forty-four total medals 26 gold, 13 silver and five bronze.

That was the victory tally for the Ward County Special Athletes from
the Monahans region at the Area 18 Spring competition on Saturday,
April 25, in Odessa at Ratliff Stadium.

Coordinator Frank Krhut summarizes the day of competition this way: "The
Monahans Special Olympian Athletes had a great day!"

Emphasize the "Great!" says Krhut.

All three 400 meter relays won their heats to get the gold medals.

The women's Monahans I Relay runners were Becci Hardaway, Shelly Kidd,
Kandle Krhut and Holley Westeman. Runners for Monahans II were Lorina
Galvadon, Andrea Moore, Geneva McKeleps, Sylvia Brito.

Men's relay runners were Eddie Carrasco, Lee Henson, Chad Keyte and
Billy Russell.

The Summary

Women Individual

Track

Gold - Lorina Galvadon (50 meters) Holley Westerman (100 meters)

Silver - Becci Hardaway (100 meters) Kandle Krhut (50 meters) Geneva
McKeleps (50 meters) Amanda McKelvey (50 meters).

Bronze - Sylvia Brito (50 meters) Andrew Moore (100 meters)

Fourth - Shelley Kidd (50 meters)

Field

Gold - Amanda McKelvey (softball) Holly Westeman (long jump).

Silver - Sylvia Brito (softball) Becci Hardaway (softball), Kandle Krhut
(softball), Andrea Moore (softball).

Bronze - Geneva McKeleps (softball)

Sixth - Lorina Galvadon (softball)

Seventh - Shelly Kidd (softball)

Men Individual

Track

Gold - Tony Calzada (50 meter slalom) Eddie Carrasco (200 meters) Lee
Henson (100 meters) Chad Keyte (200 meters) Paul Rubio (25 meter wheel
chair), Todd Rush (25 meter wheel chair), Ramon Valuenzuela (400 meter
walk)

Silver - Billy Russell (100 meter) Floyd Walker (400 meter walk).

Sixth - Ruben Hernandez (100 meter)

Field

Gold - Eddie Carrasco (shot put) Chad Keyte (shot put) Billy Russell
(shot put)

Silver - Tony Calzada (softball) Paul Rubins (softball) Todd Rush (shot
put)

Bronze - Lee Henson (long jump) Floyd Walker (shot put)

Fourth - Ramon Valenzuela (softball)

Fifth - Ruben Hernandez (softball)



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