High school confidential

Final: Saginaw 2, Birdville 0

Caitlyn Crain and Randi Frentress combined for 24 strikeouts, but it was Crain and her Saginaw teammates that came out on top at Birdville to stay atop District 6-4A on Friday. The Lady Rough Riders (20-8, 10-2) got a run in the first inning and picked an insurance in the sixth, but Crain was in command for most of the game. She struck out the first batter she saw and then seven straight at one point.

Fentress pitched well, giving up just three hits. It was the two walks and two Birdville errors, as well as Crain's pitching, that did in the Lady Hawks (11-9, 7-6).

Saginaw headed to playoffs for first time in any sport with boys basketball win over Azle

Nathan Purvis scored 12 points and added 12 rebounds and Saginaw managed to hang on through the final 2:54 without leading scorer Jeremy Joseph to earn a playoff-clinching 56-54 win over Azle. It’s the first time in the school’s short history – only the second year of varsity competition – that a Saginaw team of any kind has made the playoffs. Joseph had 16 points. The Rough Riders entered the game one-game up on Azle for the final playoff spot in District 6-4A and needed a win with Azle having won the first meeting. Each team ends the regular season next week with one game remaining. Despite the best efforts of John Derr, who had 30 points, the Hornets couldn’t sustain a 15-point lead early in the third quarter. Saginaw was 12 of 16 from the line in the fourth quarter and 21 of 27 overall. Azle was just 5 of 9 from the free throw line in the game.
- William Wilkerson