Breckenridge Texan

By Alex Kielar/Breckenridge Texan

The Breckenridge Buckaroos baseball team and Lady Bucks softball team have each opened up their district schedules this month, heading into the meat of their schedules with playoff hopes still alive.

Lady Bucks Softball: Early District Slate Produces Mixed Results

The Lady Bucks entered district play with a 6-8 record, coming off a February schedule loaded with tournament and high-level opponents. Their first three district matchups for District 8-3A opened the new month.

Raegan Robinson pitches during a recent Lady Bucks softball game against the Cisco Lady Loboes. (Photo by Alex Kielar/Breckenridge Texan)

Breckenridge started strong with an 11-9 win over the Comanche Maidens on Tuesday, March 3, but followed that with losses to the Tolar Lady Rattlers (22-6) and Eastland Lady Mavericks (20-6). Head coach Jocelyn Gonzales, coaching her first district game on Monday, March 9, after missing the first two due to surgery, said the team’s issues stem more from execution than ability.

“We started off a little bit rough,” Gonzales said. “We played some really big teams – Abilene, Mineral Wells, Stephenville – and we got kind of exposed there defensively. We can hit the ball every single time, but it’s our defense that really kills us.”

The Lady Bucks’ offense has been a bright spot, producing 20 runs against Sweetwater, 16 against Irvin and 16 against Benbrook during non-district play. But defensive lapses have repeatedly turned manageable innings into momentum swings.

“In practice, they can execute and do it well,” Gonzales said. “But when we get here, they overthink and it’s the end of the world. The score shows that. The score shows all the errors.”

Gonzales said the focus now is on trust, communication and eliminating the snowball effect that has plagued the team in tight moments.

“We’re trying to harp on the girls that it’s not about you, it’s about the girl next to you,” she said. “We just need them to trust each other, trust themselves and have more confidence. They are capable – I just hope they believe it too. “

Looking ahead, Gonzales expects Early, Peaster and Eastland to be the toughest district opponents. Early’s 13-3 win over Peaster has already set the tone at the top of the standings.

“Of course, I want to make the playoffs. Fourth (place) would be perfect,” Gonzales said. “But if we can upset some teams or shock someone, we’ll see. We’re going to have to hit the ball harder, play tougher defense behind our pitcher and really figure it out. Fingers crossed, maybe fifth or sixth. I don’t want to finish at the end, and I don’t think we will.”

The Lady Bucks continued district play on Wednesday, March 11, against the Early Lady Longhorns at home, falling 16-0. Their remaining schedule is below; all games start at 5 p.m.

• 3/17 @ Dublin
• 3/20 vs. Millsap
• 3/24 @ Peaster
• 3/27 @ Comanche
• 3/31 vs. Tolar
• 4/2 @ Eastland
• 4/7 @ Early
• 4/10 vs. Dublin
• 4/14 @ Millsap
• 4/17 vs. Peaster

Buckaroos Baseball: District Play Underway This Week

The Breckenridge Buckaroos have entered district competition this week with a 3-10-1 record following a demanding non-district slate that stacked tournament games, long road trips and several early matchups against larger, playoff-tested programs. The Bucks opened the season with back-to-back losses to Holliday before falling to Snyder and Clyde during the Clyde Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 21. A 10-2 loss to Jim Ned on Tuesday, Feb. 24 continued the skid.

The Bucks showed flashes of potential during the early stretch, including a 13-7 win over Henrietta in the Abilene Christian Schools (ACS) Tournament, a 5-4 victory against Coleman in the Windhorst Tournament and a close 10-9 loss to Stamford – one of the better teams in the state – that came down to the final inning.

Buckaroo Canyon Shirley pitches during the baseball game against Jim Ned on Feb. 24. (Photo by Alex Kielar/Breckenridge Texan)

District play opened this week with Eastland, winning both games, 10-1 on the road Tuesday and 12-9 at home Wednesday, to start 2-0 in district. The district schedule is set up for teams to play two-game series – one at home and one on the road. This format creates greater competitiveness and forces teams to deploy more than just their top starter against the same team.

Head coach Jeremy West said he was encouraged by how the team handled the conditions and the moment.

“We played pretty well,” he said. “The weather yesterday (March 11) was a little nasty, but we managed to persevere. It was a good way to come out of the gate and win a couple of district games, so we feel good about it.”

Despite the youth on the roster, West believes the Bucks are positioned to compete for a postseason berth.

“I think we’re going to compete for a playoff spot, that’s our expectation,” he said. “Peaster is pretty loaded, but after that there are a lot of winnable games. We’re still really young, playing a bunch of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, but I expect us to compete.”

He also highlighted the emergence of two freshmen – Marky Perez and Jace Bruton – who have stepped into meaningful roles early.

“They’ve played a lot of baseball and have a very high baseball IQ,” West said. “They’ve stepped in and helped us.”

The Bucks return most of last year’s roster after graduating three seniors last year. Early-season weather, late arrivals from basketball and a handful of injuries, however, have forced the team to adjust on the fly.

“We’re still trying to limp along and figure it out,” West said. “But we don’t have time, we’re already in district play. So we’re just going to push forward.”

On the mound, West feels confident in the team’s depth.

“We had a good three-man rotation last year with Hudson Woodward, Canyon Shirley and Cameron David, and all three of those guys return,” he said. “Preston Burns, Zach Beltran and Tucker Baugh are going to be able to throw innings for us, too. I feel like we’ve got some depth.”

Behind the plate, Breckenridge is still working through injuries after losing senior catcher Nieko Martinez to graduation.

“Nieko being hurt last year forced us to develop some other guys, and one of those was Tucker Baugh,” West said. “He’s been battling an elbow injury, so he hasn’t been able to play a lot.
Tripp Barrow and Gunner Pearce have split time back there and they’re holding it together for us. But I’m really looking forward to getting Tucker back – he’ll make us better offensively and defensively.”

The remaining schedule for the Buckaroos after this week is as follows:

• 3/17 vs Early
• 3/20 @ Early
• 3/24 @ Dublin
• 3/27 vs Dublin
• 3/31 @ Millsap
• 4/2 vs Millsap
• 4/7 @ Peaster
• 4/10 vs Peaster
• 4/14 @ Comanche
• 4/17 vs Comanche
• 4/21 vs Tolar

With both programs now deep into district competition, the next month will determine whether the Lady Bucks and Buckaroos can turn early momentum into playoff runs.

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge High School baseball coach Jeremy West talks to the Buckaroos during the Feb. 24 game against Jim Ned. (Photo by Alex Kielar/Breckenridge Texan)