It’s Gladiator Baseball in the front and party in the back as Cassi Windham and her mom Andi Windham showoff their custom shirts that pay homage to sophomore Gladiator Ty Windham and his infamous mullet hair do. Ty is Casssi’s younger brother. (Barry Byers)
Junior Gladiator Kyle “Catfish” Fortneberry(14) goes fishing for a home run and catches Grand Prairie unaware. Fortenberry uncorked a shot into right field recording a 2 run homer, his first of the season. (Barry Byers)
Junior Gladiator John Byers(18) reaches home all the way from first-base thanks to a 2 run home run shot from teammate Kyle Fortenberry. (Barry Byers)
And here he comes! Kyle Fortenberry(14) rounds second and eventually beats the relay to the plate for a 2 run inside-the-park-home run. (Barry Byers)
Kyle Fortenberry(14) gets congratulated by teammates after recording his first homer of the 2014 season. It was Italy’s fourth home run ball this season, their third inside-the-park accomplishment. (Barry Byers)
Senior Gladiator Kevin Roldan(16) gets hit by a pitch and then is awarded first-base. Roldan has a knack for getting on base. (Barry Byers)
Senior Gladiator Zain Byers(5) slides into second-base and then hustles to third-base on the overthrow. (Barry Byers)
The Eagle pitcher forces Zain Byers(5) back to third. (Barry Byers)
Senior Gladiator Eric Carson(2) looks for a chance to steal third, which he does with ease. (Barry Byers)
Junior Gladiator Tyler Vencill(15) holds up at third-base, temporarily. (Barry Byers)
John Byers(18), one of the top hitters in the district, connects on a pitch. (Barry Byers)
Kevin Roldan(16), still with a bit of a shiner on his left eye from the MIlford game, punches one into play against the Eagles. (Barry Byers)
Ty “Windsprint” Windham(12) and teammate Levi McBride(1) round the bases. (Barry Byers)
Senior Gladiator first-baseman Bailey Walton(17) helps keeps the Eagle offense grounded. (Barry Byers)
Kyle Fortenberry(14) slides safely into second-base. (Barry Byers)
Junior Gladiator Cody Boyd(10) beats the Eagle throw to reach third-base. (Barry Byers)
Zain Byers(5) lofts a shot into deep center but the Eagles make a snow cone catch to foil the attempt. (Barry Byers)
Tyler Vencill(15) and his Gladiator teammates flew high over the Eagles in district play outscoring Grand Prairie 36-13 in their two meetings. (Barry Byers)
Bailey Walton(17) slides his way onto second-base to beat the throw down. (Barry Byers)
Eric Carson(2) hits his way onto first-base for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)
Sophomore pitcher Levi McBride(1) closes out the game for Italy with fellow pitcher Tyler Anderson, a senior, getting the win. (Barry Byers)
After an overthrow, Ty Windham(12) makes his way to the next base. Go, mullet-man, go! (Barry Byers)
Ty Windham(12) dances his way across home plate as the game winning runner batted in by teammate Levi McBride. (Barry Byers)
Levi McBride(1) and the Gladiators trot off victorious with McBride recording a game winning RBI to help Italy run rule visiting Grand Prairie Advantage Academy for the second time in district play. Italy won 12-2 in the top of the fifth-inning. (Barry Byers)