Sports

(Fifth in a series about Ennis’ Scott Muirhead, the Maritime Rambler)

Overcoming a cold night and a dead wind, Ennis rallied from three deficits of three or four runs to deliver a resounding 15-11 victory against Joshua on Tuesday. The triumph, in which the Lions used a seven-run sixth to finally take the lead, was their first District 14-5A win against a pair of one-run losses to Midlothian a week ago.

Head football coach and athletic director Craig Horn and Italy High School have gone their separate ways, according to reports.

Close through three innings, District 14-5A leader Ennis brushed aside Corsicana, 18-8, with a mix of Aubree Lalani relief pitching and a display of muscle when Lalani and catcher Emma Rios went yard with blasts on Tuesday.

Junior catcher Emma Rios led a 16-hit attack with a 3-for-4 showing in Tuesday’s 18-8 win over Corsicana. She had a clutch HR in the fifth inning.

Bouncing back from a dismal showing the night before in a nondistrict setback at Kennedale, Ennis used the blistering arm of senior pitcher Aubree Lalani and a solo blast by Makayla Fuentes to pluck Red Oak, 11-0, in a road-game matinee on Wednesday.

Oh, what a difference a year can make. In a season in which Ennis scored in single-digits in 19-of-22 games, it wasn’t hard to see why their 5.8 runs per game translated into a barely break-even 11-10-1 record. Then there’s this year.

Ennis came up short in their District 14-5A road opener on Tuesday when Midlothian (4-3-2) escaped with a 3-2 win. In a clash of ace hurlers, the Panthers had just enough at home to take the first of the two-games the teams played this week.

Former USA Today National Coach of the Year, Hal Wasson, 65, announced his retirement last week after 33 years as a head coach, the final three at Corsicana. The Tigers, who went 17-14 in three seasons with Wasson, are now in the hunt for a successor as head coach and athletic director.

Ennis introduced the hiring of Shalyn (Martin) Colbert as the new girls varsity basketball coach on Wednesday, March 9. She will direct the Lady Lions basketball program, beginning with its off-season activities. This will be her first head coaching position.