When Klarisa Mijares crosses the stage for graduation tonight, she’ll write the final chapter of her Diboll career. Among a long list of accomplishments, possibly the most fitting description for her softball playing days will simply be that of a winner.

The awards keep pouring in for the Hudson Lady Hornets as the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches and Officials (TASCO) announced their yearly honors earlier this week.

The University Interscholastic League recently announced plans allowing high school teams to begin summer workouts in preparation for the 2020-21 athletic seasons.

Four-year letterman. Team captain. District runner-up.

In any normal year, Lufkin’s Halea Wells would be walking across the stage at Abe Martin Stadium in wrapping up her high school career tonight.

When the stakes are the highest, Lufkin’s Shaun Bowers always wanted the ball in his hand.

Since walking onto the field for the Huntington Devilettes, Sydney Lewing has done it all.

Hudson’s Jocelyn Gonzalez rounded out a spectacular career by being named the 19-4A MVP and the all-district team had a decidedly Lady Hornets’ feel as it was recently announced.

With their high school playing days cut short, a group of Lufkin Lady Panthers were among those honored for their contributions throughout their high school careers as District 16-5A selected its All-Senior Team, which was announced earlier this week.

Hudson catcher Ben Penn spent the better part of two years showing it wasn’t a good idea to test his cannon of an arm.

ZAVALLA — Zavalla’s Bryson Sluga has seemingly done it all at the high school level. From the classroom to the basketball court, his list of accomplishments is a lengthy one.

Nine Lufkin players were among a group of players who were honored after their seasons were cut short with the District 16-5A All-Senior Baseball Team being announced earlier this week.

In the game of baseball, there’s versatility. Then there’s Diboll’s Ethan Smith.

DIBOLL — Diboll’s Ethan Smith has been playing baseball seemingly from the time he could first walk.

Lufkin’s Luis Flores saw it all from the rest of the district as the sensational scorer frequently drew double and triple teams on a nightly basis.

Hudson Lady Hornet Tashia Pierce built a fearsome reputation as a player who swings a big bat.

Featuring a young team with talent to spare, the Lady Panthers entered the 2020 season knowing the future was bright.

I readily admit pretty much nothing makes sense in today’s sports climate.

Central senior K.K. Hancock admits there was a time as an inexperienced freshman she was “scared to death” to make a mistake on the softball field.

Even before he started school, baseball was always there for Nick Mosley. From lacing up the cleats for a T-ball game up until his high school days, his days were spent around the sport.

Before he could make a final impression on the track, Diboll senior Darryl Weaver Jr. had his last season in red and white cut short.

Hudson’s Olivia Bachman admits swimming isn’t for everyone. Hours in the pool turn into days, while the results come along slowly with a ton of hard work.

Lufkin’s Brianna Padilla and many of her Lady Panthers’ teammates spent this past summer watching the U.S. Women’s National Team take on, and beat, the best the world had to offer.

Even as various sports had been canceled and postponed, high schoolers held out hope they would get the chance to complete their regular seasons.

From back-to-back appearances on the first-team all-district squad to a recent spot on a pair of academic all-state teams, Jackson Parks has been the model student/athlete for the Lufkin Panthers.

Just a game?

With both local and national sports on hold, entertainment options have become sparse for those waiting patiently to enjoy a night at the ballpark or a stadium.

Growing up as a Lufkin Panthers’ fan, Brett Riggs patiently waited for his opportunity to step into the varsity lineup.

When the 2020 season officially comes to an end, there will be plenty of words to describe the sensational senior class for the Hudson Lady Hornets’ soccer team.

Several area athletes were honored on the District 20-4A All-District Basketball Team that recently was announced.

What the Huntington Devilettes lack in numbers, they have plenty of ways of making up for in other areas of the game.

Many baseball players have played so long they have no idea when they first picked up a baseball.

On any given spring night over the past few years, fans could see exactly what Tasha Pierce and Hanna Allen have meant to the Hudson Lady Hornets’ softball team.

First impressions are nice. The last impression is a bonus. But lasting impressions are the ones that are always remembered.

Central’s Brenom Brown earned Newcomer of the Year honors while several other area players were honored on the 21-3A All-District Team, which was recently announced.

Approaching my 40s, I’ll admit to occasionally turning into that old guy who might make the comment of “back in our day.”

Tatum Liles has seen it all for the Lufkin Lady Panthers.

With a program steeped in tradition, the Central Lady Bulldogs have done almost everything on the softball field. From a state title to a team consistently ranked in the Top 10, Central is a unique softball program.

If it’s spring, then it means it’s softball time for Huntington centerfielder Lainey Gates. And if she’s being honest, almost any other time of the year is softball time as well.

High school football players from across the nation grow up with dreams of playing in NFL stadiums.

Lufkin’s Luis Flores has the type of talent that is hard to put into words. On a nightly basis, he is the player that draws the attention of an entire defense.

A banner year for the Diboll Lumberjacks led to a long list of awards as the 21-3A All-District Basketball Team was recently announced.

Simply put, K.K. Rodriguez loves the game of softball.

The pressure doesn’t come much higher when it comes to high school underclassmen. Matched up against Central Heights’ Grayson Rodriguez, Central’s Dylan Cloonan shared a bullpen with the future No. 11 pick in the MLB Draft.

Like many softball players, Lufkin’s Natalie Chavez admits to her own variety of superstitions.