With a lineup that rarely remained the same from week to week, the Hebron Varsity recently finished its Fall season with a semifinal loss to Plano West in the Top of Texas Tournament.

  The Hawks won their first game of the tournament in dramatic fashion when sophomore Taylor Payne delivered a bases-clearing, game-winning triple to beat McKinney Boyd. Taylor Payne also homered in the game. It was the second straight week the Hawks beat Boyd.

  The Hawks also got a home run from junior Jon McManemin later in the day, helping Hebron beat Frisco Wakeland and sending the team into the semifinals against Plano West.

  Down by three runs with two outs in the bottom of the fifth against West, junior Ryan Payne slugged a two-run home run to bring the Hawks to within one run – 7-6. Hebron, however, could not muster another run in the sixth before time expired and the Hawks fell by one run.

West went on to win the tournament.

  For the Varsity, it was a successful Fall, as the team went 10-1-1 during the regular season and 12-2-1 overall.

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Members of the District 6-5A All-District Team are Jon McManemin (far left, second team), Jon Bartlotti (second team), Patrick Kocher (first team), Jesse Payne (first team), Matt McManemin (second team), Payden Bravenec (second team) and Kegan Stephens (back row, first team).

   The final meeting of the 2007 Hebron Baseball season came and went Thursday (May 17) at the banquet, and for the varsity players the banquet and getting together one last time helped ease the disappointment of the final game.
   The banquet was a time to say goodbye to the seniors, and a time to look ahead to the sophomores, juniors and seniors of next season who will carry the Hawks into 2008. But it was a night to reflect on the senior ballplayers.
   “I’ll remember all the things you did, all the great things and all the goofy things,” Coach Steve Stone told the seniors. “I wouldn’t trade you young men for anyone in the world. I’ll always have a place in my heart for you guys. And I’ll love you always.”
   Coach Mike McBride introduced the Freshman team and said some of those players could be ready to help as soon as next year. Coach Mike Davis talked about the JV team, and how many of those players will be counted on to help at the varsity level next year.
   So now we say thanks to Jon Bartlotti, Payden Bravenec, Ryan Dant, Travis Griffith, Ryan Kelley, Ethan Patton, Jesse Payne, Adrian Rubalcava, Kegan Stephens and Jon Velez. As Coach Stone told them, "You will always be a part of the Hebron Baseball family."
   And we turn our eyes to the next generation of Hawks with names like Kocher and Matty Mac, R.Payne and McCarver, J-Mac and Putman, Farley and Lensch, Tarpley and Denton, Angus and McNamara, Simkins and Neyen, Padmore and Hill, Armstrong and. . .who else is going to step up??? The field is wide open. And we look forward to seeing who joins the five returning varsity players for a run at a playoff spot in 2008.
   The All-District awards were announced at the banquet, as well as the annual Hawk Awards. The Hawk Award winners’ names were already inscribed on a large plaque revealed after the announcement. The plaque sits prominently in a display case in the athletic area outside of the large gymnasium in the school.

   It wasn’t supposed to end this way.
   The Hebron Varsity was supposed to come out, win on Senior Night, and give those seniors who have worked so hard a chance at postseason play.
   That’s how the script was supposed to be written.
   As anyone reading these words right now knows, that’s not how it happened.
   What happened is an R.L. Turner team that had nothing to play for beat a Hebron team that had everything to play for. And please. . .no more “lesson learned” speeches from the crowd. True, nobody who attended that game Friday night expected Turner to win – nobody – but the Hawks did not take the field with a cocky swagger. This wasn’t a case of one team disrespecting the other. The facts were the facts as the National Anthem was being sung (quite well, too, we must say): Turner had not won a game all season. None, zero, nada. So if anyone reading this says “Yeah, I had Turner winning the game” please be so kind as to pick my next Lotto numbers and we’ll share the millions.
   What happened Friday is the then-winless Lions made the plays, while the Hawks – for the most part – did not.
   It was a tough night for Hebron. Once again, the team looked to have something going when Matt McManemin opened the bottom of the first by reaching base on an error and Jesse Payne tripled him home. But as has been the case since the Hawks’ loss at Creekview (which opened the second round of district play), key first-inning runs were left stranded. Hebron could not get Payne in, and instead of putting up at least a couple of runs the Hawks had to settle for the one, and a 1-1 tie at the end of the first inning.
   Granted, two runs would not have been enough against a Turner team that came out swinging. The Lions hit the ball, but also capitalized in other ways as two batters who were hit by pitches scored, one that walked scored, one scored on an error and three came home on a semi-deep fly ball that appeared catchable, but was not touched and fell safely.
   The Hawks managed an exciting mini-rally in the bottom of the seventh when they pulled within one run – the inning starting when Jon Bartlotti slugged his third home run of the season – but in truth, the Hawks had dug themselves in too deep of a hole. The tying run in the form of Kegan Stephens remained at second as the rally fell short.
   Know this, and this is extremely important: No one player on the Hawks team lost the game – it was a series of missed opportunities by the team, poor execution by the team and the fact that Turner hit the ball and made the most of their chances. What was very gratifying from a Hebron fan’s viewpoint was to see a few seniors standing near the on-deck circle in the sixth and seventh innings. They stood there offering encouragement to their friends as they prepared to hit in a stressful situation. That’s leadership. To those who suggest this team lacked leadership, you weren’t paying attention all season. Or you simply didn’t know what to look for.
   At the plate, the Hawks had several players with extra base hits including Stephens (2-4, double, 2 RBI) and Payne (triple, RBI) as well as Bartlotti (3-4, double, HR, RBI), Adrian Rubalcava (double, 2 runs) and junior Matt McManemin (double, run, RBI). Sophomore Erin McCarver drove in two runs with a single in the bottom of the second.
   This is a very difficult, and personal, end-of-season report to write. And I’ve had to wait some 48 hours after the last out to even be able to get my thoughts in order. Who knows why these things happen? Who knows what kind of situations we are put into, and why sometimes they work out and sometimes they don’t. I certainly don’t have the answer, and my guess is Coach Stone has spent the same last 48 hours looking for an answer that makes any kind of sense.
   That game, that moment, that outcome does not define any player on the 2007 team. The hope here is that after the banquet next month, after the sting has begun to subside, people associated with Hebron Baseball will remember how these players worked to achieve some form of success on the playing field. Some of those players return next year. But for the seniors who deserved a better exit than they got, just know that your coaches appreciated those of you who worked hard and never cheated yourselves or the team.
   Ultimately, that’s the greatest gift you could ever leave the program.

   - Mike Payne

   Even though they continue to make it hard on themselves, the Hebron Varsity still has a playoff breath.
   But now they need help from the district leaders if they are to have any chance of getting to a play-in game to advance to the playoffs.
   Hebron’s 7-2 loss at Flower Mound Marcus continued a disturbing trend that began with the start of the second round of district play at Creekview: Get a couple runners in scoring position with less than two outs and leave them stranded. It happened again at Marcus after Jesse Payne drew a one-out walk, Jon Bartlotti singled and both moved up on a passed ball.

But the Hawks couldn’t score, and that would be the story of the night.
   The Hawks left a shocking nine – nine! – runners in scoring position. Marcus, meanwhile, took advantage when they had the opportunity, scoring once in the second on a Ryan Morgan home run then adding three more off Hawks starter Payden Bravenec before Coach Steve Stone went to the bullpen and Bartlotti. But the Marauders posted three more runs in the fourth to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
   The Hawks made a little noise in the final two innings, but by then they had buried themselves too deep. Erin McCarver drove in the first Hawk run with one out in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs and bases loaded, Jesse Payne laced a rope that appeared to be headed toward the right-field corner only to have Marcus first baseman Matt Beasley make a leaping catch to end what was shaping up as a serious rally.
   They again loaded the bases in the seventh, but could only push across one run.
   Now, the Hawks will have to take care of business from winless R.L. Turner Friday night. Should the Hawks lose, their season is over.
   Lewisville’s win over Creekview and the Marauders’ win over the Hawks Wednesday means Hebron will be pulling for Coppell to beat Marcus Friday and for Flower Mound to beat Lewisville. Should both Lewisville and Marcus win Friday, they advance into the playoffs and the Hawks are done.
   It never should have gotten to this point, but it did. Now Hebron has to win. . .and hope they get some help from the district powerhouses.
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   The Hebron Varsity – coming off an important win Friday night – saw their modest one-game win streak snapped with a 14-4 thrashing by Coppell.
   While the Cowboys were hitting the ball everywhere – including two over the fence – the Hawks collected two hits, although they had batters who blistered the ball only to hit it right at one of the perfectly-stationed outfielders. Jon McManamin’s single in the second inning and Patrick Kocher’s two-run bloop double to right were the only batted balls that did not find their way into a Coppell glove.
   The Hawks’ four runs came in the fifth on four consecutive walks to Erin McCarver, Ryan Payne, Kegan Stephens and Jon Velez, who drove in a run when he walked with the bases loaded. With relief pitcher Chad Kettler in the game, Jesse Payne was hit in the foot with the bases loaded to score another run and Kocher’s double brought home the final two for the Hawks.
   There are now four times tied for third place in District 6-5A, all with 6-6 district records: Hebron, Creekview, Flower Mound Marcus and Lewisville.

   Isn’t baseball a strange game? You get run ruled in the afternoon, then turn around and run rule somebody else just hours later.
   Such was the Hawks’ Saturday, as they hammered Plano 16-0 in the “nightcap” of their doubleheader April 21. The game only went five innings because of the mercy rule.
   Travis Griffith pitched four innings of three-hit, shutout baseball for Hebron. He struck out four, walked three and recorded a strikeout to end both the second and third innings with runners at third base.
   Ethan Patton pitched a scoreless fifth inning, walking one and striking out one.
   Griffith got plenty of run support as the Hawks posted four runs in the first, then added six more in the second – the big blows being back-to-back home runs by third baseman Ryan Payne and catcher Jon Velez. It was the second HR of the season for both.
   Leading hitters in the game:

• Matt McManemin - 2-4, 2 runs, RBI


• Jesse Payne - 2-2, double, 2 runs, RBI


• Jon McManemin - 1-3, sac fly, RBI


• Patrick Kocher – 1-3, run, RBI (8 RBI in last three games)


• Ryan Payne – 2-3, HR, double, 2 runs, 3 RBI


• Jon Velez – 1-2, HR, run, RBI


• Adrian Rubalcava – 1-1, 2 RBI, run, 2 BB


• Erin McCarver – 2-3, 2 runs, RBI


• Jake Farley – 1-1, RBI (first Varsity at-bat)

   The JV Hawks squeaked out a 7-6 victory over the Newman Smith Trojans Friday evening at Hawk Field.  A three-run bomb by 1^st baseman Dustin Tarpley led the way for the Hawks.
   The Hawks scored 2 runs in the first inning without getting a single hit.  Smith committed 3 errors in the inning, allowing Blake Denton and Michael Putman to score. The Hawks allowed Smith to score one run in the second inning and another in the top of the 3^rd to keep the game close.
   But the third inning was when Tarpley decided to break out the big bat. The inning started with Westin Lensch drawing a walk followed by a single into centerfield from Putman. Smith pitcher Tyler Mapes then coaxed 2 outs from the Hawks. It was then Tarpley’s turn to smash a fastball way over the left-center field for a three-run homerun.
   In the fourth inning the Trojans scored three runs to tie the score at 5-5. But the Hawks answered with two more runs in their half of the fourth to take a two-run lead. Riehle Simkins led off the inning with a hard single up the middle. Cody Knight sacrificed Simkins to second.  Denton followed Knight with another sacrifice to move Simkins to third with 2 outs. Lensch then hit an RBI single, scoring Simkins, and scored himself on a double in the left-center gap by Putman.
   The Hawks were led on the mound by starting pitcher Ryan Angus, who went 4 innings, giving up 5 runs on 6 hits while striking out five. He was relieved by Ben Neyen, who pitched the final 3 innings, giving up one run on 2 hits while striking out 2 batters to earn the save.
   At the plate, Hebron collected eight hits, including two each from Lensch, Putman and Tarpley.
- THANKS TO TRENT LENSCH FOR ANNOUNCING AND FOR THIS REPORT

   When Matt McManemin and Jesse Payne led off the game with back-to-back doubles Friday (April 13) at Lewisville, giving Hebron a 1-0 start before an out was recorded, it looked as if the Hawks would get back on the winning streak after two straight district losses.
   But the Hawks could never really get anything else going, while the Farmers broke though with three runs on four hits in the fifth inning and beat the Hawks 3-2 at Lewisville, just before heavy rains fell.
   Now the Hawks find themselves at 5-5 and need to take care of business if they are to remain a playoff contender. That won’t be easy this week with Newman Smith coming to Hawk Field Friday, and then the team travels to Coppell Saturday afternoon.
   If the Hawks can avoid falling victim to a big inning – which hurt them at Creekview and at Lewisville – they have as good a shot to advance as any of the other contenders for the District 6-5A playoffs. A good sign was the fact that several Hawks hit the ball hard at Lewisville, but those shots were held up by the strong wind blowing straight in from centerfield.
   Hebron heads into Friday’s play tied with Flower Mound Marcus for fourth place in the district at 5-5. The two teams still meet head-to-head April 24 at Marcus.
   The remaining district schedule for playoff contenders:
HEBRON (5-5): Home games vs. Newman Smith (April 20) and R.L. Turner (April 27); Road games at Coppell (April 21) and Marcus (April 24)
CREEKVIEW (6-4): Home games vs. Coppell (April 20) and Lewisville (April 24); Road games at Flower Mound (April 21) and Newman Smith (April 27)
MARCUS (5-5): Home games vs. Lewisville (April 20) and Hebron (April 24); Road games at Newman Smith (April 21) and Coppell (April 27)
LEWISVILLE (4-6): Home games vs. R.L. Turner (April 21) and Flower Mound (April 27); Road games at Marcus (April 20) and Creekview (April 24)
NEWMAN SMITH (3-7): Home games vs. Marcus (April 21) and Creekview (April 27); Road games at Hebron (April 20) and R.L. Turner (April 24)

   One week ago the Hebron Varsity was flying high, tied for second in the tough District 6-5A.
   After their 3-0 loss to Flower Mound Tuesday night, the Hawks are just hoping to stay alive in the district race where the top four teams make the playoffs.
   Flower Mound pitcher Zach Neal embarrassed the Hawks hitters Tuesday, hurling a four-hit shutout in which he struck out 13. Hebron batters looked like Little Leaguers stepping in against Roger Clemens; few had any idea how to solve the righthander.
   Hebron managed just four singles, and one of those came from Matt McManemin to lead off the bottom of the first. But the next three hitters went down in order as Neal retired the next 11 in a row before Patrick Kocher's two-out single in the fourth. Kocher finished 2-for-3. Jon Velez (1-for-2) had the other Hawks hit, a single to lead off the sixth. But as had been the form all game, the next three hitters went down quickly and quietly.
   Lost in the team's second straight disappointing loss was a darn good pitching performance from senior Payden Bravenec. He hurt himself by walking Collin Ashley to open the game, as Ashley came around to score, but after allowing two earned runs in the first he settled right down and worked hard to keep the hot-hitting Jaguar hitters off the bases.
   Bravenec got some help from his defense as the Hawks turned double-plays to end the second inning (strikeout of Mike Stephens, and Patrick Kocher throwing out Bobby Doran trying to steal) and the sixth inning (1-6-3). At one point Payden retired seven in a row before issuing a two-out walk to Jimmie Pharr. But he got Tant Shepard to line out to Kegan Stephens in right field to end the inning.
   Flower Mound added their third run in the top of the seventh. The Hawks? Well, they got a guy to second base with one out in the seventh. That was the furthest any Hebron baserunner got in the game.
   Bravenec allowed just six singles to the Jags, and struck out four, and definitely pitched well enough to win. Trouble was, he got virtually no help from his own offense.
   So the Hawks sit at 5-4 in the district, and 16-8 overall. And the team is at a point where they need to look in the mirror and ask themselves a question that seemed so obvious just one week ago: Are we contenders or pretenders?

   The JV Hawks shutout Creekview 12-0 Thursday in a game shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.
   Jake Farley started on the mound for Hebron, going 3 2/3 innings while allowing just two hits. He struck out three in picking up the win. Ben Neyen followed with 1 1/3 innings of no-hit ball.
   The Hawks’ first two runs came in the second inning when Landon Hill and Riehile Simkins crossed the plate. The Mustangs committed three straight errors, a balk and an RBI by Cody Knight.
   The Hawks’ breakout inning was the fourth when they scored six runs on the strength of four hits and two more Creekview errors. Simkins was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Knight followed with a single. Ryan Angus also was hit by a pitch, and Hebron followed that with a Westin Lensch walk, a single by Michael Putman, Dustin Tarpley reached first on an error, a single by Farley and a double by Hill.
   Hebron put the exclamation point on the win with a four-run fifth inning that included a slicing two-run triple by Putman. Blake Denton, Angus, Lensch and Putman all crossed the plate in the inning.
   Putman (2-3, RBI) and Lensch (2-3) led the Hawks at the plate with multi-hit games. Knight added two RBI for the Hawks.
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   The Varsity Hawks were hoping to make a statement as the second round of district play began Thursday night at Creekview.
   But there would be no statement. Instead, Hebron was silenced by sloppy and uninspired play.
   In what is clearly the most disappointing loss of the season thus far, the Hawks looked like a team mailing it in rather than one that had opened the night tied for second in the tough District 6-5A race. The result: a 6-5 loss of a game that was crying to be won.
   The loss drops the Hawks to 5-3 in district play – the same record as Creekview. Hebron is now 16-7 on the season. Next up is Flower Mound on Tuesday, so things don’t exactly get any easier for the team.
   While the Hawks committed just one error - and that did not lead to a run - the team never got into a rhythm. Until the sixth inning when he struck out three, starting pitcher Jon Bartlotti didn’t have the same command he had against the Mustangs when he dominated them with a 14-strikeout performance the first time the teams met this season.
   Bartlotti did not issue a walk, but a hit batter came around to score and a wild pitch brought in another run as Creekview jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
   Hebron, meanwhile, couldn’t seem to get out of their own way, blowing an early opportunity after Jon McManemin and Jesse Payne drew back-to-back walks to open the game. McManemin was hung out to dry when Creekview centerfielder Jonathan Dallalio dropped Bartlotti’s sinking fly ball and was then thrown out easily trying to reach third on what became a fielder’s choice play - a tough situation that could not be avoided. Payne was gunned trying to steal third and a ground out ended what had looked to be a promising start.
   The Hawks didn’t get their first hit until the third when Payne sent a two-out single to right. The senior stole second, and Bartlotti followed with a walk. But alas, the rally ended almost as quickly as it started.
   Hebron finally got to Creekview starter Ben Chrisman - who had walked four through the first three innings – with a four-run fourth inning. “Being a first-year varsity player, we figured he’d have some jitters,” Creekview coach Brian Jones told radio station KDKA after the game.
   Chrisman seemed on the verge of pitching himself out of the game when Kegan Stephens lined a one-out single to center and junior second baseman Matt McManemin doubled to right field. With Stephens on third and Ryan Payne at the plate, Chrisman then uncorked a wild pitch to bring home Stephens with the Hawks’ first run. Ryan Payne walked, and Jon McManemin followed with a single to right that scored brother Matt and brought Payne to third. Rightfielder Colton Wood came up throwing, trying to nail Payne at third but his throw hit the sophomore in the back as he was sliding into the bag, allowing McManemin to reach second.
   Then, with two outs and two in scoring position, Jesse Payne (2-2, 2 walks) found a hole in left with a bloop double that fell out of reach of leftfielder Kyle Grau to drive in two more runs. Just like that, the Hawks led 4-2.
   That would be Hebron’s last hit for the 2 1/3 innings.
   The Mustangs took the lead for good in the fifth when they collected three straight singles. All three of those eventually scored - two on hit balls, the third on a passed ball.
   Meanwhile, Chrisman got on a roll, retiring seven of the next eight Hawks he faced, the only blemish a hit-by-pitch to Stephens in the fifth. The streak ended in the top of the seventh when Jesse Payne drew a walk and Bartlotti singled to left. Two on with no out. Creekview turned to Colton Wood to put out the fire, and Kocher greeted him with a textbook sacrifice bunt that moved both runners up. With one out, Ryan Kelley’s RBI ground out brought in Payne to pull the Hawks to within one run, 6-5.
   But the tying run never got in.
   “We just didn’t play with any intensity,” Hawks coach Steve Stone told KDKR after the game. “And I don’t know why. You’ve got to give credit to Creekview; but this is disappointing.”
   Hebron collected just six hits to Creekview’s 10.
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   The Varsity Hawks collected 15 hits and blew up a 2-0 game at R.L. Turner for a 13-3 win over the Lions in a game started Tuesday night and finished Wednesday night after a rain delay.
   The Hawks are now 5-2 after the first go-round of District 6-5A play, and 16-5 overall.
   Ryan Payne was 2-for-2 with a home run and double, driving in two runs. He walked his other plate appearance. Kegan Stephens was also 2-for-2, and drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Matt McManemin was 2-for-3, and narrowly missed a home run and had to settle for a 300-foot RBI single.
   Ryan Kelley pitched the first three innings Tuesday to earn the win. Jon McManemin pitched three innings Wednesday to earn a save. The Hawks had a shutout until there were two outs in the last inning when three errors and a mental error led to three unearned Lion runs.
   There was a lot of offense for the Hawks in the game, so we’ll list it this way:

• Jon McManemin – 2-5 (double), 3 RBI


• Jesse Payne – 1-3, run


• Jon Bartlotti – 2-4 (double), 2 runs


• Ryan Kelley – 1-2 (double)


• Matt McManemin – 2-3, RBI, 2 runs


• Kegan Stephens – 2-2, walk, HBP, RBI, run


• Jon Velez – 1-3, RBI, 2 runs


• Ryan Payne – 2-2 (HR, double), 2 RBI, 2 runs


• Ethan Patton – 0-0 (Sac. Fly), RBI


• Michael Putman – 1-1, RBI


• Payden Bravenec – 1-1, RBI


• Erin McCarver – 0-0, HBP, walk, 2 runs

    The Hawks play at Creekview Thursday night (April 5) at 7 p.m. The JV game begins at 4 p.m.

   Ten minutes before the first pitch of Hebron’s 8-3 win over Flower Mound Marcus Saturday night, Hawks starting pitcher Payden Bravenec was downing pain relievers to help offset a throbbing headache to go with the fever the senior righthander brought to the ballpark with him.
   That medication must have kicked in by the fifth inning.
   Although he worked out of trouble in the second and third innings, Bravenec was a different pitcher in the final three innings, with command of his fastball and change, and throwing both for strikes. He went the distance to improve to 4-2 on the season.
   The win also was a big one for Hebron in the District 6-5A race, as the Hawks had entered the game tied with the Marauders at 3-2 in district play. Hebron is now 4-2 in district and 15-6 overall.
   Ryan Kelley provided much of the pop for the Hawks, launching a three-run home run in the  second inning – his second HR of the season – and delivering an RBI single in the fifth. The senior designated hitter finished 2-for-3 with 4 RBI.
   Kelley’s home run gave Hebron a 3-1 lead after two innings of play, but that didn’t last long. Marcus tied the score in the top of the third on three singles – two of them infield hits. The inning opened with Bravenec striking out Sean Springer and ended with Hawks catcher Patrick Kocher gunning down Matt Beasley trying to steal second base.
   If there has been one dramatic difference in this Hawks’ season from last, it’s Kocher’s presence behind home plate. The junior has already thrown out close to half the runners who have attempted to steal – a phenomenal percentage.
   Bravenec got into some trouble in the fourth after an infield single to open the inning, and one out later back-to-back walks. But he struck out Springer again, and got a ground ball to shortstop to end the Marcus threat.
   The Hawks’ took the lead for good in their half of the fourth, thanks to their three sophomores – Erin McCarver, Ryan Payne and Jon McManemin. With two outs in the inning, McCarver was hit by a pitch, and – with Ryan Payne at the plate – McCarver stole second. On a 2-2 pitch, Payne then singled to left driving in McCarver. And McManemin scored Payne all the way from first base with a line double into the right-field corner.
   The fifth was a scary one for everyone at the ballpark. Marcus starting pitcher Jonathan LeGuen was struck on the head by a hard line-drive single off the bat of Jon Bartlotti. LeGuen was soon taken to a local Plano hospital, where tests were to be run after he reportedly became sick and complained of hearing difficulties. According to a Marcus parent, he later was transferred to Parkland Hospital for observation and because of some bleeding. The parent said the boy would have to be kept up all night, but that – according to her – doctors believed he would be alright, which is great news.
   Hebron went on to score two runs that inning, and then added its final run in the sixth when Jesse Payne (2-for-4, RBI) drove in brother Ryan (1-2, RBI, 2 runs) with a single off Britton Drown, the third Marauder pitcher of the night.
   Hebron batters collected nine hits, and seven different batters had a least one hit.
   Bravenec retired seven of the last eight batters he faced (including strikeouts of cleanup hitter Matt Beasley and Colter Bright to end the fifth), and was helped by a 4-6-3 doubleplay by Matt McManemin, Jesse Payne and Ryan Payne that ended the sixth inning. Payden then retired the side in order in the seventh.
   Hebron next plays at R.L. Turner on Tuesday. Directions to the field will be posted on the website in the next day.

   The Freshman Hawks used a three-run fourth inning to beat district foe Flower Mound Marcus 4-2 Wednesday at Hawk Field.
   The game was a make-up of Monday’s game that had been rained out. The win upped the Freshman’s district record to 4-1.
   The big blow for Hebron in that fourth inning was a two-out double by Tim Wallace, after Taylor Payne had walked. With Blake Courville running for Wallace, Trent Madden delivered a two-run single for the Hawks who had scored earlier in the inning on a wild pitch.
   Hebron opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Steven Tocci (1-2) pulled a pitch down the left-field line for a double, and later scored on a two-base error.
   Nick Sawyer got the win on the mound, going five innings. Brandon Harris hurled the final two innings for the save.
   The Freshmen Hawks host Lewisville Saturday at 10 a.m.
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   Coppell rallied for three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh, breaking open a tie game and beating the Hawks 8-5 in what had been a close game for 6 2/3 innings.
   The loss is a heartbreaker for Hebron (now 3-2 in District, 14-6 overall), but the Hawks don’t have time to mourn this defeat. They are tied for third place in District 6-5A with Flower Mound Marcus, who lost to Newman Smith Tuesday night, and Marcus comes to Hawk Field this Friday for a big showdown.
   Jon Bartlotti (5-1) suffered his first loss of the season, and was one out away from getting the Hawks to the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 5-5. Jon looked strong in striking out pinch-hitter Andrew Rehling looking at a curveball in the top of the seventh, then struck out pinch-hitter Trevor Trudell swinging. But singles by sophomore Chad Kettler (3-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI) and sophomore Austin Elkins put two on with two out, and Bartlotti then hit Greg Higginbotham with a pitch – the fifth Cowboys batter hit in the game (all but one with curveballs). With the bases loaded, Chris Castillo – who had been 0-for-4 for the night up until then - singled to right to drive in the go-ahead run.
   With Bartlotti’s pitch count a concern, the Hawks went to reliever Ryan Kelley who surrendered a chopper up the middle by Jonathan Kaskow that went for a two-run single and broke the game open.
   Kaskow, who has signed with Stanford, finished 3-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI.
   Hebron got home runs from Bartlotti in the first, a solo blast and his second home run of the season, and from shortstop Jesse Payne, a solo shot off Coppell starter Cameron Watten to open the bottom of the fourth, and his second home run of the season.
   After Payne’s homer tied the game 2-2, Hebron took a 3-2 lead when Bartlotti walked, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch by Watten, and strolled home on another wild pitch.
   In the top of the fourth, Bartlotti was one strike away from getting out of the inning with no runs, but hit rightfielder Jonathan Walsh on a 1-2 count. That proved costly, as Matt Reynolds singled, Kettler doubled and the Cowboys suddenly had posted three runs.
   Hebron fought back however, when sophomore Ryan Payne tripled to deep left-center - his team-leading third triple of the season - and came home on a sacrifice fly by Jesse Payne.
   Hebron tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth when junior second baseman Matt McManemin singled, was bunted to second by Kegan Stephens, stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Jon Velez.
   The Hawks had another runner in scoring position that inning, but Kettler made a good play on Jon McManemin’s hard grounder up the middle and stepped on second to end the threat.
   Bartlotti struck out eight, three of them on called-third strikes.
   Time to file this one away, take the time to understand that the Hawks can play with virtually anyone this season, then hit the field ready to play Friday against Flower Mound Marcus.

   Erin McCarver wasn’t inserted into the game until the seventh inning, but he made his presence known in both halves of the frame, helping Hebron to a 5-4 come-from-behind win over Lewisville Tuesday at Hawk Field.
   Coming off the bench to go to left field in the top of the seventh with Hebron holding a slim one-run lead, McCarver’s throw from the outfield to catcher Patrick Kocher on Brett Kelly’s bases-loaded single nailed what would have been the go-ahead Lewisville run at the plate. Pitcher Jon Bartlotti then caught Josh Choate looking at strike three to end the threat.
   Up came the Hawks in the bottom of the seventh with Patrick Kocher (3-4, double, RBI) leading off with a single. Payden Bravenec was inserted to run for the catcher. Matt McManemin followed with a perfectly-executed sacrifice bunt that moved Bravenec to second. With one out, Kegan Stephens was then intentionally walked. Up stepped McCarver, who drilled a double to the deepest part of straightaway center field bringing home Bravenec with the winning run.
   It was a big win for the Hawks, who improved to 2-1 in District 6-5A and 13-5 overall.

After one inning of play it didn’t appear as if the Hawks would have to rally to win. They posted four runs in the first on singles by Jon McManemin, Jesse Payne (3-4, run) and an RBI-double by Bartlotti. Kocher’s run-scoring single scored Payne, and two other runs came home courtesy of an infield error and a wild pitch by starter Josh Choate.
   Bartlotti (5-0) cruised through the first, was nicked for a double and walk in the second, then got off track in the third after surrendering a leadoff single to Justin Wilson, hitting leadoff batter Chance Young in the head and walking Brett Kelly to load the bases. After a flyout held all runners, Austin Richard singled in a run and Jordan Fernandez followed with an RBI single bringing Lewisville to within one, 4-3.
   The inning, however, ended when Patrick Mackie grounded into a 4-6-3 doubleplay.

After that, Bartlotti completely settled down and – despite the ridiculous and ever-changing strike zone behind the plate – retired seven in a row and eight of nine through the sixth inning.

That set up the seventh, in which he issued back-to-back walks. . .well, that’s what the home plate umpire called them anyway, even though he appeared to have struck out Jordan Dotson with a pitch at the belt. Wilson’s pop bunt to third baseman Ryan Payne was the first out, then Young laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases. Kelly’s single to left brought McCarver into play, and his one-hop throw home nailed Dotson at the plate.
   The Hawks then went on to win in the bottom of the seventh. Big win, and the kind of game this team learned how to win Tuesday night.
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   Missing key scoring opportunities in the early innings, the Hebron Varsity fell to Flower Mound 7-2 Friday in a game that was there for the Hawks to take.
   Flower Mound, ranked No. 4 in the preseason Texas Coaches Association State 5A Poll, twice trailed Hebron in the game but each time came back to answer the Hawks’ scores in the third and fourth innings.
   By the bottom of the fourth, the Jaguar bats exploded and Flower Mound collected six doubles between the fourth and sixth innings. Four of those doubles came around to score.
   Hebron starter Payden Bravenec had a 2-1 lead through three innings, getting some outstanding contributions from his outfield and catcher. In the first, centerfielder Jon McManemin gunned down Jags’ leadoff hitter Mike Stephens at the plate, trying to score from second base on Tant Shepherd’s single. Stephens never slid, allowing Hawks catcher Patrick Kocher to make the tag despite some contact at the plate.
   The Hawks executed a perfect cutoff from rightfielder Kegan Stephens to shortstop Jesse Payne in the fourth, gunning DH Ty Wheeler trying to score from second. Kocher was waiting with the ball when Wheeler tried sliding around him at home plate.
   The Hawks had nothing to show for scoring opportunities in the first two innings of Jaguars starter Jacob Morris. Jesse Payne singled to center in the top of the first, and moved to second on a passed ball. But with two outs, he was gunned attempting to steal third base by catcher Jimmie Pharr.
   In the second, singles by Kocher and Stephens put two runners on with just one out, but a doubleplay ended that threat.
   The Hawks finally broke through in the top of the third, after Ryan Kelley opened with a single, Adrian Rubalcava walked and Jon McManemin reached when Jacob Morris fielded his ground near the mound but threw wide at first loading the bases. Payne then drove in the Hawks’ first run with a ground out between first and second that was in the hole enough to allow the runners to advance to second and third. But two ground outs followed and promptly ended that threat before another run was able to cross.
   Hebron chased Morris from the mound in the top of the fourth after the sophomore had walked his fourth batter. Morris had also surrendered the Hawks second run, that coming courtesy of a great slide at home by Matt McManemin who went in head first ahead of the throw from first base.
   That would be about the last highlight for the Hawks. Flower Mound coach Steve Stinson turned to senior Brett Bruening who literally silenced the Hawk bats. Bruening retired the 10 batters he faced in a row, four of them on strikes including striking out the side in the sixth inning. The senior not only got Morris off the hook, but earned the win as well.
   Hebron is now 1-1 in district play, and hosts Lewisville (also 1-1 in district) Tuesday night. The Hawks are 12-5 overall this season.

   The JV Hawks mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn’t push across the tying run in falling to Flower Mound Marcus 4-3 in the LISD Junior Varsity Tournament Thursday afternoon at Hawk Field.
   Down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks got back-to-back singles from Ryan Angus and Michael Putman, and one out later an RBI single by Jake Farley. It was the sophomore’s second RBI of the game, the first coming on a solo home run over the left-field wall in the fifth inning to get the Hawks on the board.
   The Hawks pushed the tying run to second but with two outs could not advance him further.
   Hawks starter Andrew Armstrong went five innings, running into some trouble in the third when he was touched for three runs from a combination of walks, hits and errors – the third run trotting home with two outs on a throwing error. Putman came in to relieve in the fifth, and surrendered one run in the top of the seventh.
   The JV Hawks are now  9-1 on the season.
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  Jon Bartlotti struck out 14 over seven innings, and the Hebron Varsity gave him enough offense to win as the Hawks beat Creekview 3-0 Wednesday in the opening night of District 6-5A play.
   The Hawks are now 12-4 overall, and 1-0 in district play.
   Bartlotti, who upped his season record to 4-0, pitched a gem, allowing just one hit – a line-triple by Todd Braden that skipped past a diving Kegan Stephens in right field. Braden was the only Mustang to reach third base.
   Bartlotti struck out at least two batters in every inning but the first, and struck out the side in the sixth.
   The Hawks started slowly against Creekview lefthander Kyle Grau, but broke through with the first run of the game in the second inning when Stephens’ ground out to shortstop Josh Carroll brought home courtesy runner Erin McCarver from third.
   Hebron added another run in the bottom of the fifth when Adrian Rubalcava (3-for-3, RBI, run) opened with a base hit, and one out later Jesse Payne singled to right. Bartlotti then helped his own cause with a run-scoring single.
   Rubalcava drove in what appeared to be an insurance run in the sixth when he singled with two outs, bringing in Matt McManemin who had opened the inning with a fly ball to center that initially appeared to be routine but landed untouched for a double.
   The Hawks collected nine hits, with Rubalcava and Jon McManemin (2-for-4) having multi-hit games. Hebron stranded seven baserunners in scoring position.
   The Hawks play at Flower Mound Friday night.

   Ben Neyen threw five innings of no-hit ball and the Hebron JV posted eight runs in the first three innings en route to a 9-0 shutout over Creekview Wednesday afternoon.
   The JV Hawks are now 9-0 on the season, and 1-0 in District 6-5A play.
   Michael Putman went 2-for-2 with 3 RBI, and added a walk and sacrifice as well. Ryan Angus delivered a two-run double in Hebron’s three-run third inning. Blake Denton also doubled for Hebron.
  Brian Laster pitched the final two scoreless innings for the Hawks.
  All but two starters had a least one hit, but one of those – Riehle Simkins – never got the chance, having got hit by a pitch in each of his three plate appearances. Simkins scored a run and added a stolen base as well.
  Neyen cruised through his five innings on the hill, striking out 11 Mustangs to get the win.

  Hebron’s Varsity rolled through the Fort Worth Western Hills Classic, beating Arlington Seguin 13-3 to win the round-robin tournament.
  The Hawks went 4-0 in the event, and are now 11-4 on the season. Three of those losses have been by one run.
  As they have most of the season thus far, the Hawks’ bats boomed against the Cougars. Hebron posted two five-run innings, with the top of the seventh the most exciting of the game. Payden Bravenec (2-for-2) opened that inning with a line single to left, then trotted home on Adrian Rubalcava’s home run to left field – the Hawks’ second home run in as many days.
  One out later, Ryan Dant was called on to pinch-hit. On a 1-1 count, Dant singled to center field, getting a loud ovation from the Hawks’ crowd and a huge high-five from first base coach Jim Farley. If Dant thought his day was over, he was mistaken.
  With Dant getting a lead at first base, Cougars relief pitcher Adam Kresge unleashed a wild pitch in the dirt, and Ryan took off for second. With Dant just getting his bearings at second base, Ryan Payne – who had singled an inning earlier – drove a triple to the deepest part of center field, scoring Dant from second.
  Before the seventh was over, Patrick Kocher (1-2, 2 RBI) and Matt McManemin (2-3, 2 RBI) had delivered RBI singles. Rubalcava became the seventh different Hawk Varsity player already this season to slug a home run, and he finished the game 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.
  Ethan Patton pitched five scoreless innings to up his record to 2-1 this season. He allowed just two hits, and his defense helped him close out the fourth inning (a great running catch in the left-field corner by sophomore Erin McCarver) and the fifth (a nifty double play turned by third baseman Jon Bartlotti with the bases loaded and one out). Patton struck out one and walked one, and was successful in getting ground balls to his infield.
  Travis Griffith worked the final two innings for the Hawks.
  Hebron opens its District 6-5A schedule Tuesday, hosting Creekview.
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  The Hebron Varsity swept a doubleheader Thursday, pounding Denton Guyer and then beating host Western Hills in first-day play of the 2007 Western Hills Cougar Classic Tournament.
  The Hawks beat Guyer 12-0 in a game shortened to five-innings because of the lopsided score, then downed Western Hills 5-2. Hebron is now 8-4 on the season and plays two more games today against Aledo (Noon start) and DeSoto (2:30 p.m.)
  Against Guyer, the Hawks exploded for 11 runs in the fourth inning as 16 batters stepped to the plate for Hebron in the inning. Payden Bravenec drove in three runs in the inning, one on a perfect bunt scoring Matt McManemin from third base and two more on a double to left. Other RBI hits in the inning included Jon McManemin (single), Jesse Payne (single), Jon Bartlotti (double), Patrick Kocher (two singles in the inning), Jon Velez (single), Matt McManemin (single) and Kegan Stephens (single).
  Get all that?
  A true highlight for the Hawks came in the fifth when Ryan Dant ran for Jon McManemin who had walked. Dant reached third, then came around to score on an error. He then played right field in the bottom of the seventh – his first varsity inning in the field.
  Jon McManemin pitched all five innings to pick up the win for the Hawks. He fanned four, did not walk anyone and gave up just two hits in the shutout.
  In the Hawks’ win over Western Hills, the team scored three runs in the second and two in the fourth then held its breath after Jason Roberts narrowly missed what would have been a game-tying three-run home run to left in the bottom of the sixth. The ball was deep, but just hooked to the left of the foul pole. Roberts then hit into a double play that went from third baseman Jon Bartlotti, to second baseman Matt McManemin to first baseman Adrian Rubalcava – the second time in three innings Roberts had hit into an inning-ending double play.
  The Cougars led 1-0 after one inning, but Hebron took the lead for good in the top of the second after Matt McManemin opened the inning with a single, stole second and then trotted home when Cougars pitcher Matt Cliff’s pickoff attempt at second sailed into center field. Kegan Stephens followed with a triple, and came home on Ryan Payne’s single to left. Payne stole second, moved to third on Jon McManemin’s infield single, then scored on Jesse Payne’s fielder’s choice ground ball.
  The Hawks’ final two runs came in the fourth; Stephens walked, and eventually scored on an error by the second baseman. Jon McManemin reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to third, and Jesse Payne drove him home with a sacrifice fly to center field.
  Jon Bartlotti earned his third win of the season, and struck out five. Although he worked to get command of his pitches through much of the game, he got help from the play of his infield and was aided by a strike-em-out-throw-em-out double play in the second after he whiffed a batter and catcher Patrick Kocher threw out Todd Harlan trying to steal second.
  Bartlotti allowed just one run in his four innings of work, that coming in the first inning, but struck out the side in the same inning. Travis Griffith pitched one inning of relief and Ryan Kelley pitched two to earn his second save of the season.

    The Hebron Freshmen started strong but ultimately lost to Birdville 10-9 in the opening round of the Richland Freshman Tournament Thursday.
  The Hawks also suffered another one-run loss in the second game, falling to Haltom 8-7.
  Against Birdville, the Hawks had built a 7-2 lead after four innings behind the pitching of Nick Sawyer and timely hitting from center fielder Kyle Trammell (2-3, double, 3 RBI) and first baseman Lance Warren (1-3, double, RBI, 2 runs scored).
  Unfortunately for the Hawks, with Sawyer tiring in the 5th inning, the Birdville offense strung together five straight hits that, coupled with a couple of costly Hawks’ errors, led to six runs and allowed Birdville to take the lead. The Hawks made it close late in the game, but left the tying run stranded at third.
  Other hits for Hebron in the game came from Taylor Payne (single, RBI), Bret Wurzbach (single, run scored) and Trent Madden (single, run scored).
  The second game Thursday was against the Haltom Buffaloes and was very similar to the opener. The Hawks jumped out to an early 6-0 lead with three runs in the first inning and three more in the second as Kyle Trammell (2-4, 1 triple, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored) and Lance Warren (3-4, 2 RBI) continued to pound the baseball for Hebron. But just as Birdville did in the opener, a huge offensive inning by Haltom was a key part of the game. Haltom answered with six runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning via four hits and two Hebron errors.
  Hebron later tied the game at 7-7, but the Buffaloes won when a single to center landed just out of reach of a diving Cameron Bayles to score the winning run.
  The Hawks were 1-2 on the season heading into Friday's game.
 Thanks to Gary Payne for this report.
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  It’s official: Hebron is now 1-0 at Ameriquest Field.
  The Hawks, behind a 12-hit attack and a parade of strong pitching performances, beat former district foe Justin Northwest 9-3 Tuesday at Ameriquest Field in Arlington.
  While the win is certainly nice, and ups the Hawks’ season record to 6-4, the players truly seemed to enjoy themselves and each looked comfortable on the major league field. Hebron coach Steve Stone used seven different pitchers, one for each inning played, and made use of his roster finding playing time for just about all of his players.
  Ethan Patton (1-1) pitched the first inning for the Hawks to earn the win. He allowed a leadoff double to Jacob Loveless, then retired the next three batters in order, needing just eight pitches to strike out the last two hitters of the inning.
  Junior righthander Ryan Angus was next in the rotation, striking out two in his inning of work. The other Hawks pitchers, in order, included Travis Griffith, Adrian Rubalcava, Ryan Kelley, Payden Bravenec and Jon Bartlotti. Rubalacava’s inning was three-up, three down. The Texans managed at least one hit in the other innings.
  Five of the Hawks’ 12 hits were doubles, those coming from Rubalcava, Bartlotti, Jon Velez, Matt McManemin and Jesse Payne.
  Hebron, the visiting team, built a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third, on a two-run single by McManemin, a sacrifice fly by Kegan Stephens and a run-scoring double by Rubalcava. The other run came when Velez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
  Velez finished the night 2-for-2 with 3 RBI. Matt McManemin was 2-for-3 with 4 RBI and was flawless at second base, while Rubalcava was 2-for-2 with his run-scoring double. Bartlotti finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
  Junior catcher Patrick Kocher, who collected the Hawks’ first hit of the game with a first-inning single, was 2-for-4. He was replaced on the base paths by runner Erin McCarver, who scored twice while pinch-running.
  Hebron is scheduled to play Denton Guyer in the first round of the Western Hills Tournament in Fort Worth Thursday evening.

  Troy Padmore struck out the first seven batters he faced, and the JV Hawks scored five runs in the sixth to post an 11-1 win over Justin Northwest Monday at Hawk Field.
  Padmore, a junior righthander, got the start for Hebron and breezed through the first five innings, allowing just one infield single in his 5 1/3 innings of work. Anthony McNamara pitched the final 2/3 of an inning, striking out one while not allowing a hit.
  The Hawks scored their five in the sixth after Jon Lueders delivered a one-out pinch-hit single. He came around to score in the inning, as did Brian Laster (walk), Jake Farley (walk), Westin Lensch (single) and Ben Neyen (single). Cody Knight’s two-run double put the exclamation point on the victory for the Hawks.
  Knight had a big game for Hebron, finishing 2-for-4 with the double, a triple and 4 RBI. His triple in the fourth was immediately followed by a triple off the bat of Blake Denton, one of four Hawks hitters with multiple hits in the game. Others included Farley (2-3), Lensch (2-4) and Knight (2-4). Neyen was 1-1, with two walks, scored three runs and picked up 2 RBI.
  The score was tied at 0-0 until the third when Michael Putman singled to right field. Two errors on the play brought the sophomore all the way around to home, where he slid in safely under the tag.
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   HOUSTON - Scoring multiple runs in three of seven innings, the Hebron Varsity walked and hit their way to a 9-5 win over the Seguin HS Matadors Saturday afternoon at Clear Lake HS’s Bob Cobb Field in Houston.
   The Hawks finished the CCISD tournament with a 3-2 record, with both losses coming by one run. The Hawks may not have pounded the ball like they did a week earlier in the Rawlings Lake Cities Classic, but the defense was nearly perfect (one error in four games, and that came on a pickoff attempt at third base) and the pitching solid.
   Jon McManemin earned his second win of the season Saturday, going four innings. Although not as sharp as in his previous start, the sophomore battled hard to preserve a Hawks’ lead that had shrunk to one run, 6-5, after four innings. Senior lefthander Travis Griffith came on to pitch the final three innings for the save and may have pitched his best baseball in a Hawks uniform, allowing just one infield hit (that had actually ricocheted off his glove) while challenging hitters and getting ahead in the count.
   He struck out one, did not issue a walk and allowed just two balls to even leave the infield for outs.
   Everything was working for Griffith, who even got a four-pitch walk when he hit for himself in the top of the seventh – a sight Hawks fans may never see again, but worth the price of admission to those in attendance and certainly one of the highlights of the weekend for the Hawks players themselves who were at the front of the dugout cheering every pitch.
   McManemin scored two runs, drove in another with an RBI single and stole two bases. Payden Bravenec, getting the start in right field, was 2-for-4 with two doubles and scored two runs. Ryan Angus, pinch-running for catcher Patrick Kocher, also crossed the plate twice.
   The Hawks were actually held hitless through the first two innings of play until Jesse Payne singled up the middle off tall lefthander Josh Grienke in the third. Payne came around to score on a wild pitch, and Angus scored on Matt McManemin’s grounder to first base the same inning. That gave the Hawks a 3-1 lead.
   Hebron added three more in the top of the fourth on a double by Jon Bartlotti, an RBI single by Matt McManemin and a couple runs that came courtesy of Seguin errors. The Hawks sealed it in the top of the seventh, scoring three more to put the came out of reach. The big hit that inning was Bravenec’s second double.
   Grienke was still pitching for the Matadors, but clearly wavering as he hit two Hawks that inning (Payne and Kocher) and walked two (Griffith, Adrian Rubalcava).
   The Hawks' (now 5-4) next game is Tuesday, 6 p.m. against Justin Northwest as Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

   The Hebron Hawks JV won the championship of their own JV Classic Tournament Saturday night, scoring a 15-3 lopsided win over Denton Ryan in a game that went just five innings due to the mercy rule.
   The JV Hawks scored in every inning but the first, putting nine runs up in the second inning. Michael Putman went 1-for-4 and the hit was a big one – a two-run home run over the right-field fence in that big second-inning explosion.
   Other hitting leaders in the title game included Landon Hill (3-for-3, 2 RBI), Blake Denton (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Dustin Tarpley (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Westin Lensch (2-for-2).

  HOUSTON - Hebron split its two games Friday, beating Pearland 3-1 behind the pitching of Jon Bartlotti, but falling to Clear Brook 4-3 with the tying run at third base to end the game in the Clear Creek ISD Tournament.
  Against Pearland – who run-ruled the Hawks last year in the same tournament – Hebron fell behind 1-0 in the top of the fourth when Pearland’s Taylor Lobb slugged a home run to right field. The Hawks answered with one of their own in the bottom of the fourth when Erin McCarver – running for Patrick Kocher, who opened the inning with a single – scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Jon Velez.
  The score remained 1-1 with Bartlotti and Pearland lefthander David Blount locked in a pitching battle until the sixth when Hebron scored two runs to give Bartlotti a little cushion.  Jon McManemin opened the inning with a double, and one out later Kegan Stephens and Adrian Rubalcava coaxed back-to-back walks. That chased Blount, and with the bases loaded pinch-hitter Ryan Kelley beat out an infield single to drive in one run, and Jesse Payne followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in the Hawks’ final run.
  There still was a little drama in the top of the seventh after Matt Murphy laced a Bartlotti pitch in the gap for a double. But Payne went deep in the hole to backhand a ground ball and throw out Lobb for the first out of the inning, keeping Murphy at second base. Bartlotti then caught Nick Long looking at a third strike and tossed a fastball past Jordan Bunch to end the threat and the game. The result: The Hawks’ fourth win of the year, and the second win for Bartlotti this season.
  In the Hawks’ second game Friday, the team jumped to a 3-0 lead over Clear Brook after two innings – the big blow a solo home run off the bat of Ryan Kelley that cleared the fence in left field. Kegan Stephans also doubled in the inning, coming around to score on a wild pitch.
  The Hebron bats then went silent as Wolverines pitcher Matt Juengel retired 10 of 11 beginning with the third inning, the lone hit during that stretch a line-drive double to left-center by McCarver – the sophomore’s first varsity hit.
  Kelley, the Hawks’ starting pitcher in the game, was hit hard in the fourth inning, allowing three runs on four hits while walking one in going the distance for Hebron. He then settled down and retired the next eight of nine hitters.
  In the seventh, needing one run to tie the game, the Hawks got two on base (McCarver and Jon Bartlotti walked), but the Hawks could not get the run in, as Clear Creek relief pitcher David Prahm struck out the side to end the threat.
  Hebron is now 4-4 on the season and plays its final game of the tournament Saturday against Seguin.

  Although the Hebron Varsity did not finish the way they wanted, the team still finished the Rawlings Lake Cities Tournament among the four best teams in the tournament and will go to Houston with a winning record thus far in 2007.
  The Hawks lost their final game of the tournament in disappointing fashion, watching a three-run lead evaporate before their eyes in what became an 11-10 loss to Plano East. Hebron actually rallied in the bottom of the last inning, getting two on with one out, but could not push across the tying run.
  Hebron twice blew leads in the game, having built a 6-2 cushion after two innings. But the combination of errors (the Hawks committed three), walks, hit batters (two, both of which scored) and 14 Plano East hits (including seven doubles), proved to be too much to overcome.
  Usually when you score 10 runs in a game, it’s enough to win. But not this time.
  Hawks pitcher Travis Griffith, called out of the bullpen, kept it a one-run game in the sixth by striking out Chris Slater to end the inning with one runner on base. Slater had doubled in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
  Slater, the second of three Panthers pitchers used in the game, had surrendered a two-out, three-run home run to Jesse Payne in the bottom of the fifth inning that gave Hebron a 10-7 lead. Scoring ahead of Payne was brother Ryan Payne (3-for-4, double, 2 RBI) and Payden Bravenec.
  Jesse Payne finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Matt McManemin – playing with a painful toe injury – was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored while Jon Bartlotti (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI) also had a multi-hit game.
  The Hawks head to Houston next Thursday for the Clear Creek Varsity Tournament.
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  Two bad innings doomed the Hebron Varsity in the first game of the championship bracket of the 15^th Annual Rawlings Lake Cities Classic.
  The Hawks dropped their first game of the season late Saturday morning, losing to Lewisville 10-6 at Lewisville. That loss put the Hawks into the tournament’s third-place game against Plano East.
  Jon Bartlotti got Hebron on the board in the top of the first when he launched a two-out solo home run to left field. Hebron batters have already hit more home runs in five games this year than they did all of last season.
  Hebron added two more runs in the second after Jon McManemin doubled and scored on an RBI single by pitcher Ryan Kelley. Erin McCarver, running for Kelley, came around to score on an error.
  But the Fighting Farmers plated five runs in their half of the second, one on an error and three on seeing-eye singles that found their way through holes. Another came on a wind-blown bloop single. Hebron tied the game at 5-5 in the fourth, then mounted a mini rally in the fifth when Bartlotti (2-for-3, HR, 3 runs scored) opened the inning with a base hit, but Patrick Kocher was robbed on a great play by Lewisville third baseman Brett Kelly who gloved a screaming one-hopper headed down the line and threw him out by a half-step. Jon Velez drove in another run in the inning, but it would be the Hawks’ last of the game.
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  Sophomore righthander Jon McManemin provided the pop on the mound, and Kegan Stephens and the Hawks provided the power at the plate to help Hebron to a 6-1 win over Odessa Permian in the second round of the 15^th Annual Rawlings Lake Cities Classic Friday afternoon at Hawk Field.
  McManemin tossed six scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking just one while scattering four hits. He twice retired five batters in a row and at one point retired seven of hit. The only threat the Panthers could muster against him came in the first when leadoff batter Ryne Rice walked to open the game, and reached third with two outs. But he was thrown out at the plate when shortstop Jesse Payne back-handed Steven Acosta's ground ball in the hole between third and short and fired to catcher Jon Velez who applied the tag to retire the side.
  The game was scoreless until the fourth when the Hawks exploded for four runs – two of them on a home run by Stephens that hugged the left-field line and struck the netting of the foul pole. The inning opened with a double from Patrick Kocher, a single by McManemin and a two-run double off the bat of Velez. Sophomore Michael Putman, running for Velez, then trotted home on Stephens’ home run.
  The final two Hebron runs plated the next inning on back-to-back doubles by Jon Bartlotti and Kocher (2-4, 2 runs, RBI), and an RBI grounder from Erin McCarver.
  Ethan Patton pitched the seventh for the Hawks, and picked up three strikeouts in the inning.
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  The first scrimmage of the 2007 season featured solid pitching and some timely hitting for the Hebron Varsity.
  For the record, the Hawks fell to Southlake Carroll 8-6 in their 12-inning scrimmage. But the score is virtually irrelevant in these scrimmages. These are designed to get on the field and get some game-action in. They also allow coaches to work in several pitchers, which Hawks Coach Steve Stone was able to do, using nine pitchers.
  Some of the highlights of the scrimmage:

• Payden Bravenec pitched the first two innings, striking out four


• Jon Bartlotti followed and looked smooth over his two innings


• Jesse Payne banged a two-run triple off the right-center field wall in the third inning and Patrick Kocher followed with a line-drive RBI single


• Sophomore Jon McManemin, who had singled in the second inning, drove in brother Matt McManemin with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning


• Ryan Angus, a junior pitcher seeing his first varsity experience, looked confident


• Ryan Kelley scored a heads-up run in the second inning when he raced home from third base when the catcher rolled the ball back to the mound


• Two sophomores – Jon McManemin and Ryan Payne – each pitched a scoreless inning


• Senior Ethan Patton worked out of a tough inning in which his defense failed him, allowing just an unearned run.


• Senior Travis Griffith, the only lefthander on the Hawks’ roster, pitched a three-up, three-down ninth inning and struck out Dragons’ clean-up hitter Chase Reid. 

  Overall, a solid performance giving reason for optimism while also displaying areas the Hawks can improve on over the next two weeks and through the course of the season.

   With game-time temperatures in the upper 40s, the start of the 2007 baseball season officially arrived with the annual Meet the Team Day games Saturday, Feb. 3 at Hawk Field.
  With temperatures warming slightly in late morning, the Varsity and part of the JV squad played for about an hour and 15 minutes before breaking for lunch and team introductions.
   Five players slugged home runs in the first game including juniors Matt McManemin and Patrick Kocher, seniors Jon Bartlotti and Jon Velez and sophomore Ryan Payne.
   The freshman players and the JV sophomores played in the afternoon.
   The Varsity and JV play their first scrimmage games Tuesday, with the Varsity hosting Southlake Carroll and the JV traveling to Carroll. The Freshmen play their first scrimmage Monday, Feb. 12 at Keller HS.
  The regular season arrives Feb. 22nd for the Varsity and March 1st for JV - with the Varsity playing in the Rawlings Lake Cities Classic and the JV hosting the annual Hebron JV Classic tournament.
  Coach Mike McBride's Freshman team opens its regular schedule hosting Justin Northwest Feb. 27 at Hawk Field.