Gladiator Baseball

Image: Gladiator JV — Italy JV take a walk to the dugout on Friday night after the Grandview Zebras came to town.

“No matter how good you are, you’re going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are you’re going to win one-third of your games. It’s the other third that makes the difference.”

Gladiator Baseball Season has begun

Image: DeMoss rounds the corner — Alex DeMoss (4) puts a score on the board in top of the 4th.

The Italy Gladiators traveled to Meridian this past Saturday to match up bats with the Yellow Jackets. The Gladiators got started on their season that will culminate in a district battle against Grandview, Maypearl, Axtell, Whitney, Clifton and Rio Vista.

The Last Ride

Image: The dugout — The Italy Gladiators won district champions.

The IHS varsity baseball team traveled to Royse City on Saturday to meet the Dodd City varsity. The match was fierce but in the end Dodd City held the key and the Gladiators came home on their last ride together.

Italy JV Keeps Swingin’

Image: Coach Ward  — The Italy JV played against Red Oak Life on Thursday night.

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.

Italy Gladiators are district champs

Image: Coach Coker — Coach Matt Coker has been the Italy baseball coach for three years. The hard work has paid off.

“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.

Stafford night at the ballpark

Image: I am so happy — You can’t get any better than this, Jacob Coers says.  He received a varsity t-shirt from one of his favorite players.

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.

Italy Gladiator Baseball rises to a new level

Image: Anderson pitches about 75mph — One of the parents measured Jasenio’s fast pitch with a radar on Tuesday night against Waxahachie Advantage.  The Eagles only made one run against Anderson.

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.

Unstoppable Gladiators take care of business

Image: Coach and Desmond — Desmond Anderson and head coach Matt Coker talk a bit before his at-bat.

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.

Another two bite the dust

Image: Let’s talk about it — Coach Matt Coker, Ryan and Caden take a minute about the play.

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.

The Boys are back in town

Image: Y M C A — Meagan Hopkins and Lexie Miller sing and dance to the 70’s song.

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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Italy Turns Polar Bears into a Puddle

Image: All winners — Kyonne Birdsong, Ka’Deesha Davis, Cori Jeffords and Lexi Miller gather at the concession stand to help Davis show her winning coupon.  She won a free hamburger from the “Gladiator Grill” on Friday night.

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.

Italy JV plays Axtell Longhorns

Image: Rally — The Gladiators rally around Coach Ward for last minute instructions.

The Italy Gladiator JV team traveled to Axtell on Tuesday. They picked up their mitts and played a great game. The Gladiators prevented the Longhorns from scoring in the last two innings. However, the Longhorns proved to be more in the defense department and offensively scored 4 runs throughout the game. Final score Axtell 4, Italy 1.

Italy brings down the hammer

Image: Huddle up — Coach Coker and Ward give the aftergame talk.

Friday night was the perfect night to see Italy Baseball at its finest. Not only were the Gladiators great defensively, they had their bats swinging too. Waxahachie Faith Family could not get on base and lost the game 15-0.

Italy Gladiators Finish Their Season

Image: Showing respect — The Italy Gladiators stand in formation during the National Anthem before taking on Windthorst for the Area title. Windthorst who was ranked 2nd in Class A, ultimately won the contest 9-3.

The IHS baseball boys’ season came to a screeching halt on Monday night in Mineral Wells when they fought for the Class 1A Area title against Windthorst, who was ranked 2nd in Class A. They fought a hard battle but at the end of the 7th inning the team that came to the field 25-9 was on top 9-3 moving forward in the playoffs.

Italy Gladiators wrapped up their District Season on a high note

Image: Ethan Simon is up — Lefty Ethan Simon gives that ball a good cut!

Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3! You’re out! That’s about what it sounded like for the Avalon Eagles during the last district game of the Italy Gladiators. The boys drove to Avalon to present their last defense of the district season and did a great job doing it. The final score was 10-0 with the Gladiators finishing with a district record of 10-2.

Frost Cleans Up District

Image: Justin Buchanan   — Buck waits for his pitch from catcher, Ryan Ashcraft.

On Tuesday night, the Gladiators traveled to Frost for the last showdown between the two teams in district play. Taking care of business was the order of the day for both the Gladiators and the Bears.

IHS Gladiators Baseball Honors Local Businesses

Image: Baseball and business — 2009 IHS Gladiator Baseball team took a moment and honored local businesses for their support in their season.

Italy Athletic Booster Club President, Becky Milligan, has been enthused about IHS Baseball for many years. After all, son, Josh who is a junior, has been playing Varsity since his 9th grade year. However, she has seen the need for financial support for the team by local residents and merchants for some time and last year implemented the sale of fence signs for the club.

Gladiators Cage the Eagles

Image: One big whack to centerfield — Ethan Simon hit one straight into centerfield at the bottom of the first and brought Buck in for a score.

On Tuesday night Italy hosted Avalon in a district game at Davidson Field. Both teams were ready to play until the end. They never gave up. With the ending score of 13-3 at the top of the 5th, however, the Gladiators were able to put another mark in the win column.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Image: Italy Gladiators Play Ball — On Friday, April 3 from 6-6:30 pm at Davidson Field, baseball fans will be able to enjoy a hot dog and Crackerjacks for a special price.  Also, drawings for prizes will be included.  Local businesses will be honored as well.  Come on out and enjoy the game!

Friday, April 3, the spectators at the next Gladiator ball game at Davidson Field are in for a treat! If you love prizes, hotdogs and baseball, you can get a wonderful snack for $1, along with a box of Crackerjacks. Why not?

IHS Gladiator Baseball Is A Hit!

Image: Patterson and Ashcraft — Warm up pitch with pitcher Trevor Patterson and catcher Ryan Ashcraft.

Was it the luck of the Irish that came into play on St. Patrick’s Day? Not really. Luck had nothing to do with it. The Gladiators took the field by storm on Tuesday evening at the Sports Complex in Waxahachie for their first game with full concentration and honed skills. They played Waxahachie Faith Family and skunked the Eagles 11-0.

Changes to the IHS Baseball Schedule

Matt Coker, head coach of Italy Varsity Baseball, said, “We have postponed the games scheduled for Friday due to the rain. They will not play on Saturday either.” He wants the community to know that as of right now, the Gladiators will play Monday March 16 against Waxahachie Advantage beginning at 5:00pm and Tuesday March 17 against Waxahachie Faith Family at 4:00 pm. Both games will be played at the complex in Waxahachie off Broadhead Road.

IHS Baseball-Ready To Run

Image: Coker and Ward taking care of business — Gladiator baseball is well underway and the team could use some uniforms and equipment.  Can you help?

Head Coach Matt Coker and Assistant Coach Josh Ward assembled baseball parents for a meeting last Thursday night. It is the beginning of Gladiator Baseball and the coaches wanted everyone on board. “I am excited about the upcoming season and we are ready for the program,” Coker explained.