Sports

The Canton Eaglettes wrapped up their home slate last week, edging past Rains and Mabank to improve to 7-2 overall in District 13-4A play.

Canton began its week with a rare Wednesday night contest, hosting Emory Rains a day later than originally planned due to inclement weather.

The Eaglettes would go on to make the most of five hits on the night, scoring a 5-3 victory over the Lady Cats.

Shelby Vestal got the start for Canton, allowing four hits and two earned runs over seven innings. The game against the Lady Cats marked the third consecutive contest in which Vestal struck out 10 opposing batters.

Offensively, Canton did most of its damage in the middle innings, scoring two in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth during the win.

The EPIC 12U softball girls were named champions of the Sudden Strike Slam held in Waxahachie April 8. The team played seven games, finishing with an impressive record of 6-0-1 overall. There were a total of 18 teams from the Texas area in the field for the tournament. Team members include: (l-r, bottom row) Taryn Clayton, Jaycee Bullard, Laci Edwards, Payton Bray, Peyton Young, (top row) Coach Kris Chitty, Coach Bart Clayton, Josie Krawietz, Hadison Fults, Allie Hughes, Lana Stapleton and Coach Jeff Hughes.

The Canton Eaglettes moved to 5-2 overall in District 13-4A play last week, completing a season sweep of the Brownsboro Bearettes with a 6-3 win April 4 before falling to a pesky Wills Point squad 5-2 at home April 7.

Despite outhitting Brownsboro 12-4 on the night, play between the Bearettes and Canton was relatively low scoring throughout most of the night.

Brownsboro scored first, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 lead that would lead until the top of the third.

After being held scoreless for the first two innings, Canton got a two-out single from Kylie Floyd followed by a Brownsboro fielding error and a Reagan Busby RBI single to left.

The Eaglettes loaded the bases with one-out in the top of the fifth, seizing the lead for good courtesy of a three-run Gracie Chavez double to center that plated Mattie Tullos, Kylie Floyd and Brooke Arnold.

The Canton Eaglette seventh grade track team wrapped up its season April 3, traveling to Van to compete in this year's District 13-4A Meet.

Canton finished second overall, totaling 175 total points. Brownsboro finished first overall with 193.5 points, followed by Canton in second, Mabank in third with 96.5 points, Rains in fourth, Wills Point in fifth and Van in sixth.

The Eaglettes won eight events overall during the event, and received 40 points from Kori Nicklas, 29 points from Mia Nixon, and 20 points each from Rockie Collier and Kaitlyn Hall.

Eaglette results included:

-100: Rockie Collier, first, 13.53

-200: Kori Nicklas, first, 28.34

-400: Mia McGee, second, 1:10.4

-800: Mia Nixon, first, 2:40

Track and field athletes from Canton and Van traveled to Mineola last week, competing in the Yellowjacket Relays April 6. The Canton varsity boys finished in fourth place overall at the meet with 84 total points. The Eagles finished behind Mineola (140), Eustace (115) and Henderson (95), and ahead of Bullard with 82 points, New Diana with 51 points, Winnsboro with 34 points and Van with 19 points.

Individual varsity boys results included:

-100: Cooper Bledsoe, Van, second place

-400: Bryce Wilkins, Canton, first

-800: Bryce Wilkins, Canton, second; Braylon Phifer, Canton, fourth; Cordale Harrison, Canton, sixth

-1600: Cordale Harrison, Canton, third; Jaeden Miller, Canton, fourth

-3200: Jaeden Miller, Canton, first

-4x100: Kyle Rose-Peterson, Carter Day, Dylan Cox and Dalton Williams, Canton, fourth

The Canton varsity and JV tennis teams took on some of the best players in the area last week, traveling to Van to compete in the District 13-4A Tennis Tournament. 

Coach Glenn Neal noted, “The varsity boys and girls from Canton competed well at the district tennis meet…The district meet is regularly a very competitive tournament and features state powers Wills Point and Van in addition to Canton, Mabank, Rains, and Brownsboro.” 

Sophomore Jillian Fry played extremely well against difficult opposition in girls singles, finishing second overall to qualify for the Regional Tennis Tournament.

Sammy Watson and Riley Nicks finished third overall in the boys doubles bracket, qualifying to serve as Regional alternates.

Shaylee Watson, AJ Henderson, Ashley Wood, Maddie Welty, Ivan Nelson, Bradley Shanks and Ashley Riffe all competed well and placed in the district tournament and gain points for the team. 

The Canton Eagles took two giant steps forward in their quest for a potential District 13-4A crown last week, wrapping up the first round of district play by topping both Brownsboro and Wills Point in a pair of highly competitive games.

Canton began its week on the road against the Bears April 4, needing extra innings to outlast Brownsboro 5-2 in an anticipated showdown.

Brownsboro took an early lead on the Eagles, edging in front 1-0 with a run in the bottom of the third inning.

That score would hold until the top of the seventh inning when a clutch John Adams RBI single helped to tie the score.

The inning began with Canton drawing a walk. The runner was caught just two pitches later attempting to steal second. Blayne Clower proceeded to reach base via a single before advancing to second on a passed ball.

The 2016-’17 season saw plenty of highs for Van Zandt County boys basketball teams, with Edgewood, Fruitvale, Martins Mill, Van and Wills Point all qualifying for the UIL State Playoffs.

The list of achievements for local student-athletes grew even longer last week with the Texas High School Coaches Association releasing its list of Academic All-State performers this season.

Students from Canton, Edgewood and Grand Saline were all recognized for their performance in the classroom by the THSCA. Honors included:

-Canton: Riley Crudgington, Honorable Mention All-State; Logan Willeford, First Team All-State

-Edgewood: Quinton Locke, First Team All-State

The Canton boys and girls golf teams hit the links for one final time to close out the regular season March 27, teeing it up at the Van Zandt Country Club for this year’s Edgewood Invitational Golf Tournament.

The girls golf team finished the regular season with a season-low team total of 372 and second place honors for the tournament. Kenley Nixon led the team with a season-low 86 and tied for third place individual honors. Emily Watson and Julie Bass also finished with season-low scores of 86 and 94 respectively, and Mila Harrison completed the team with a 105.

Coach Paige James stated, “I am so very proud of the girls golf team and their individual and team honors this season. They are going to do very well in district and beyond.”

The Canton Eaglettes continued their trek through District 13-4A play last week, taking on Mabank and Van to reach the halfway of district play. Canton finished its week with a 1-1 record overall, retaining a first-place tie with chief rival Van.

Canton dominated the Mabank Lady Panthers March 28, plating seven runs in the sixth and three more in the top of the seventh in a 13-2 road win.

Shelby Vestal recorded the win for Canton, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out eight in a complete game effort.

Offensively, Kylie Floyd helped lead the way for the Eaglettes by going 3/4 with a double, a home run, 5 RBI and three runs scored.