Joshua — After winning game 1 of the best 2-out of-3 regional quarterfinal-round against Meridian on Thursday 4-1, the Italy Lady Gladiators softball team defeated the Lady ’Jackets 2-0 on Saturday to claim the regional quarterfinal championship. Next up, Blue Ridge.
The Lady Gladiators haven’t been waiting a whole week to play this one. They’ve been waiting a whole year. After the Meridian Lady ’Jackets knocked Italy out of the playoffs last season during their regional quarterfinal matchup, head coach Jennifer Reeves, along with her assistant coaches Tina Richards and Andrea Windham, has been tracking this one on the calendar ever since.
Italy Gladiator track star John Isaac, a senior at Italy High School, received a heroes send-off before climbing into the Italy ISD van on his way to Austin to compete in the triple jump at State.
Currently a Biology major at Hardin-Simmons University and a member of the Cowgirls Softball Team, 6-foot Junior righthander #13 Megann Lewis was honored by the coaches of the ASC and named the American Southwest Conference West Division Pitcher of the Year.
The Lady Gladiators have battled their way into the regional quarterfinal game against the Meridian Lady Yellowjackets. These two met at this time last year with Meridian advancing after surviving a late rally by Italy.
Already bi-district champions, the Italy Lady Gladiators were in an area-round rematch against the Tolar Lady Rattlers on Friday and Saturday. Italy dominated game 1 in the best 2-out of-3 with a 7-0 victory. However, Saturday’s game was a bit more dramatic, not decided until the final “Megahit!”
The IYAA (Italy Youth Athletic Association) 2010 Baseball/Softball season has begun. Despite a few early season rain-outs, several games have been played although some teams did not start until late this week.
Good luck to the Italy Lady Gladiators (19-6) who will attempt to shed the Tolar Lady Rattlers (14-3-1) today in game 1 of a best 2-out of-3 Class A area-round playoff series rematch from a year ago.
There will be an admission fee charged at the Gladiator baseball double header this weekend. The games scheduled to be played at Tarleton State University on Saturday, May 9, against Hawley will be charging $5 for adults and $3 for students for entry into the games.
This Thursday, May 6, the Gladiators will travel to Axtell to take on the Longhorns. Game time is 6:00pm. The game will be featured on K-Mac Sports online with a warm-up show beginning at 5:45pm.
Competing in a Region the size of France that is widely recognized as the best High School Track & Field region in the world. The qualifiers from the Italy HS Track Team did our school and community proud the last two days during the Region III Track Meet in Palestine.
Glen Rose — After a dazzling 10 strikeout performance by Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook on Friday and 2 scores by Anna Viers to help Italy win 3-2 in game one, the DeLeon Lady Cats were desperate for a win on Saturday to force a third game in the best 2-out of-3 bi-district series.
IYAA Opening Day — Weather permitting, the IYAA cordially invites everyone to the Upchurch Ball Fields for IYAA Opening Day this evening. IYAA Opening Day will be dedicated to the memories of Bobby Itson, Robert Burch, Bob Tipping and George E. Scott. Each of the honorees promoted youth sports and fitness, helping to bring our community closer together thru victory and accomplishment.
Italy — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team lead by their four graduating seniors, Meredith Brummett, Cori Jeffords, Courtney Westbrook and Drew Windham, won their final District game of the season over the Frost Lady Polar Bears on Friday. It’s Playoff time!
Attention: IYAA parents, players, coaches and teachers, their will be no IYAA Softball/Baseball practices allowed until Thursday, April 29 after 5:00 p.m. once TAKS testing has been completed, no exceptions.
The Italy JV baseball team hosted Red Oak Life on Thursday night. This was their fourth game this season. The guys pooled their resources and managed to gain another win. The final score was Italy 13, Life 12.
Friday night was a special night at Davidson Field for the Italy varsity baseball team in more ways than one. Presentations of special guests included the seniors of the varsity team and Loyd Davidson, previous coach of the Italy Gladiator Baseball team for 7 years (1987-1994).
The IYAA Opening Day home games, on April 24, have been cancelled due to muddy fields. Away games will still be played in Whitney only, all other towns have cancelled. Therefore, if you have an Italy team scheduled to play in Whitney today, those games are confirmed.
With the district race winding down, the Italy Lady Gladiators Softball team had a chance to secure sole possession of 1st place in the division on Tuesday. To make it happen, Italy would have to overpower the Hubbard Lady Jaguars who had already defeated the Lady Gladiators earlier this season, 5-2 in Hubbard.
There will be a brief planning session for the 2010 IHS Athletic Banquet today, Thursday, April 22nd. The committee needs your help to ensure that the Gladiators and Lady Gladiators have the banquet they deserve. Please attend this meeting and lend a hand. The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. and will be over well before the JV baseball game that will begin at 6:30 p.m. Your help is greatly appreciated.
“We are district champions!” Italy Gladiators yelled in unison. According to head coach Matt Coker, “We are first in our district in I don’t know how long.” The Gladiators battled Frost Polar Bears on Tuesday night for the number one seed and and they accomplished what they started out to do.
Recently, Lady Gladiator head basketball coach Stacy McDonald touched up the 1997 State Champs basketball originally painted by Stevan McKey, a 1994 Italy alumnus, to honor the team after the Italy Gladiators made their dream a reality.
The Davidson Field was very busy Friday night. Besides Stafford Night At the Ballpark, the Italy Gladiator baseball team was hosting a district game against Oak Cliff Faith Family.
Congratulations to Alyssa Richards and Drew Windham who will be competing at the Regional Tennis meet today in Nacogdoches after giving it their all in a softball game last night.
You are not going to believe what was going on at Davidson Field Friday night. There was face painting, bubbles blowing, t-ball hitting, softball toss, line dancing and cotton candy. There was even a hot dog eating contest at home plate after the second inning. It was none other than Stafford Night at the Ballpark.
Tonight the Lady Gladiator Softball team plays in Italy at 7:00pm. They will not have face painters, nor will there be a hot-dog eating contest; but what there will be is a great game against a respected rival, the Hubbard Lady Jaguars. This contest will determine the top spot in the district. It is all on the line tonight. Please come and support your Lady Gladiators as they battle for #1.
While it was “Stafford Night At The Ballpark” during the Gladiator baseball game back in Italy, it was “Lady Gladiators Night” at the ballpark in Dawson as Italy’s Darlings of the Diamond played softball toss, went slipping and sliding around the bases and participated in the loudest cheer challenge. The team even had a dugout dance contest with Coach Andrea Windham stealing 1st place.
What a performance! — The Italy High School Boys and Girls Track Teams competed in nine different events at the Area Track Meet in Alvarado on Wednesday. Italy advanced to Regional in eight of those events and head track coach Stephen Coleman smiled all the way back to Italy in his big yellow bus.
The Italy Gladiators met up with Waxahachie Advantage at the Waxahachie Athletic Complex on Tuesday night for their second district game. Italy dominated in both offense and defense. Jasenio Anderson pitched 3 innings before the game was called by run rule. The final score was Italy 19, Waxahachie Advantage 1.
Hubbard — With Nike, the Greek God of victory, Hermes, the Roman God of athletes/sport and Victoria, the Roman Goddess of victory, watching from above, the Italy Junior High Lady Gladiators and Gladiators entered the District track meet in conquering fashion.
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The Italy High School Varsity and JV Track Teams represented the old gold and white in style by turning in stellar performance during the District Track Meet in Hubbard last Thursday. In fact, Italy’s athletes were doing so well, it didn’t take head track coach Stephen Coleman long to realize the Gladiators would be taking a bus to the Area Meet in Alvarado.
The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team tested their might against the 4A TAPPS Waco Reicher Lady Cougars (25-3) on Monday after the JV Lady Gladiators wrapped up their season against the JV Lady Cougars, both games in Italy.
There will be an IHS Athletic Banquet planning session on Thursday, April 15 in the Italy High School Library beginning at 6:00 p.m. All interested in the success of the banquet is asked to attend. Parent involvement is hugely necessary and greatly appreciated.
Italy Head Softball Coach Jennifer Reeves utilized two pitchers, Courtney Westbrook and Megan Richards, to keep Mildred’s hitters off balance in this one. The strategy worked and the Lady Gladiators pulled out another win in front of their home fans on Saturday.
The Italy Gladiator Varsity was visiting Waxahachie Faith Family at the Waxahachie Sports Complex on Friday. This is the second time this season they have faced each other in district play. As the game unfolded, it became evident this Italy baseball club cannot be stopped. By the second inning, the Gladiators were in the lead by 4 and by the final inning, the boys ran over the Eagles 16-0.
Gladiator baseball is in full swing now with more than half the district games played. Avalon hosted IHS last Tuesday and the Gladiators were actually challenged this time. The no-score streak ended with this game but Italy is still going strong. The final score was Italy 8 and Avalon 4.
Frost — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team singed the fur on the Lady Polar Bears in Frost on Tuesday. Italy exploded out of the batters box to cook the Bears in 5 innings, 14-0.
The JV baseball team stayed at home this week and hosted Red Oak Life. The Gladiators basically harnessed the Mustangs and put ’em up in the barn. The ending score was Italy 10 and Red Oak 4.
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The Italy Lady Gladiators J.V. Softball Team was just that on Monday against Red Oak, a team. Together, Italy’s J.V. built a 9-0 lead, and together, they held off a Red Oak rally to hold on for an impressive 14-8 victory.
Gladiator Track & Field: Eighteen members of the Italy High School Track Team traveled to Meridian on Saturday, March 27 to compete in one of the biggest 1A meets in the entire state, the Meridian Straight A Relays.
Pictures added Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Cage Matches — The Italy Tennis Team put in one final warm up before competing in district on Monday in Corsicana by hosting a tournament with the Palmer Bulldogs.
Softball — The Lady Gladiators fell prey to the Hubbard Lady Jaguars on Thursday in Hubbard 5-2. A minor setback as far as Coach Jennifer Reeves is concerned as the Lady Gladiators will now head to Frost to challenge the Lady Polar Bears on Tuesday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. Fan support will be mandatory!
With one of the largest crowds in attendance so far, the Italy Gladiator Baseball team met up with the Frost Polar Bears on Friday night at home for a challenging district game. The teams played 6 innings but when the dust cleared and everyone went home, Italy defeated the Polar Bears 11-0.
The Italy Junior High Track Team received their medals previously earned at the Gateway Track Meet on March 12 from Coach Stephen Coleman on Thursday.
Not only did Kaytlyn Bales represent Italy at the state powerlifting meet in Corpus Christi, she did it atop the championship podium with a 3rd place finish in her class at the 1A Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association’s State meet.
Changes within the law now requires Booster Clubs to separate from their ISD’s umbrella. These requirements and guidelines with be discussed at the meeting Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. in the Italy High School Library. It is imperative that there be more parent involvement in order to keep the Booster Club moving forward.
Italy took on Faith Family of Oak Cliff on Tuesday night with such a vengeance there was only one strike out for Italy and the final score was 24-0. Coaches Coker and Ward held the Gladiators back from raising the score even higher.
You might notice Coach Coker walking on air these days, his feet a few feet off the ground. The reason? The Italy Gladiator Baseball team. Why would that be? The game on Friday night proved to be another no hitter game (ok, that’s three in a row now).
The IYAA will be passing out end of the season basketball trophies and coaches plaques in front of Game On Athletics during their grand opening on Saturday, March 27, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Meet Game On Athletics owner, Erick Thompson, and have a hotdog!
