LH Independent, March 12, 2020 by The Liberty Hill Independent

2020

Volume 33, Issue 16

Council hires new Chief Operating Ofﬁcer

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor The long-awaited question on how the Liberty Hill City Council would fill the role formerly designated as City Administrator was answered Monday when the Council unanimously named Lacie Hale as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO). The vote came after discussion in executive session and was not discussed before or after the vote in open session. Council member Kathy Canady made the motion that was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Liz Rundzieher. In an interview Tuesday morning, Mayor Rick Hall cited Hale’s experience as reason for her selection. “She comes to us with several years of experience in municipalities,” he said. “This fall she will be graduating with her master’s degree in public administration. She is a certified international municipal clerk along with a list of other trainings she has. She’s worked for several cities here in Texas and she is here to work for us now.” The new job description – previously requested by The Independent – was provided by the City Tuesday and specified that the COO reports directly to the Mayor and Council. Essential duties for the position include management of capital projects, community relations, department operations and providing assistance in negotiation and enforcement of contracts. The required education and experience specifies a bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science or business administration and three to five years of

See COUNCIL, Page A5

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Council terminates Chief Campbell

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor Following an internal investigation spanning roughly two weeks, the Liberty Hill City Council voted unanimously Monday to terminate Police Chief Maverick Campbell. “I’d like to make the motion to terminate Maverick Campbell for cause pursuant to Section 13 of his contract,” said Council member Kathy Canady in her motion, which was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Liz Rundzieher. There was no discussion in open session and no other speciﬁc reasons given Monday for the termination. The only comment following the vote was from Rundzieher, clarifying who was making the decision to terminate Campbell. “This is a decision made by the Council and has nothing at all to do with the Mayor,” she said. The Council did not identify speciﬁcally which portion of Section 13 in the contract was violated. Section 13 of Campbell’s contract spells out the causes for termination, including “willful misconduct, gross negligence, dishonest or fraudulent conduct, or such other acts in bad faith which result in injury to em-

Local venues work to bring more live music

By a unanimous vote Monday, the Liberty Hill City Council terminated the employment of Police Chief Maverick Campbell. Campbell, who has been employed since June 2016, said he has never been counseled or disciplined for any reason prior to his termination this week.

By ANTHONY FLORES Staff Writer In an effort to bring Central Texas’ live music scene closer to home, several venues in the area are working to bring more live entertainment to Liberty Hill. With the hope of ushering in a live music scene in the downtown area, Hell or High Water Brewing is hosting live music every Friday and Saturday starting this month. With house musician Zach Willard at the helm as the talent booker at their downtown location, investor and co-owner Jim Jenkins believes Hell or High Water can be one of the best spots for live entertainment. “Zach is going to work local talent in as well as regional talent,” said Jenkins. “We want to make sure that we give people a different experience a couple times a week.” The goal for the downtown hot spot, musically, is to keep things fresh and explore a broad spectrum of music. Last Friday night, former “Voice” and “America’s Got Talent” contestant Dave

See CAMPBELL, Page A6

See VENUES, Page A3

liamson County. But as cases of the virus are diagnosed closer to home, area ofﬁcials are working to be prepared. “Every week at 4 p.m. on Thursday we have a statewide teleconference where a lot of people weigh in and discuss what their individual municipalities and all levels of government are doing to stay ahead of this, prep and plan,” said Liberty Hill Emergency Management Planner Casey Cobb. “One of the main things coming from the county is really controlling

our messaging.” Beyond that regular communication and some basic preparations there is not much for the City to do at this point. “Outside of staying wired in and tuned in with higher guidance and authority, here locally all we’re doing is monitoring,” Cobb said. “We’re ordering some sanitary equipment, we’re doing emergency management posts on the website. There’s a ton of literature and guidance and

ployer.” The other four causes included in the contract include theft or embezzlement, conviction of a felony, refusal to obey lawful direction by the City Council, and failure to abide by the rules and policies issued by the Council. Not only did the Council not elaborate on the incident at the meeting for the public, but Campbell’s attorney, Tiger Hanner, told The Independent he and Campbell were never told the reason either. “They never expressly said what the cause for termina-

tion was,” Hanner said. “The investigation focused on the matter in Atlantic City. As for anything else, we were never given any information there was some other reason.” Since the March 1 meeting where the Council spent more than three hours discussing the issue in closed session, Hanner said no other information has been shared about the investigation or questions asked of Campbell as part of the investigation. During the Monday executive session, City Attorney Tad Cleaves came out to talk

to Hanner, Campbell and his wife in what Hanner said was “some brief discussion about whether we’d like to resolve the matter informally”, but he said there were no real negotiations. But even after the back and forth, Hanner was not surprised by the Council’s decision. “Based upon the behavior of the Mayor and several other people with the City, I wasn’t surprised,” Hanner said. “Obviously this was a breach of

Area ofﬁcials closely watching COVID-19 situation

By MIKE EDDLEMAN Managing Editor News of conﬁrmed COVID-19 cases creeps closer to home every day, but local authorities are focused on keeping the community updated and prepared to avoid the spread of misinformation and panic. Deb Strahler with the Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) said so far the wealth of information available has kept their phones relatively quiet. “Overall we’ve not been

getting a lot of inquiries from the public,” she said. “We’ve been pushing out a lot of messaging, working with the school districts and cities within Williamson County to push out information. There’s literally so much information in the media and on social media that we’re trying to point people to credible places like CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and Texas Department of State Health Services.” Since ﬁrst being detected in Wuhan City, China, on

Dec. 31, 2019, COVID-19 – also called coronavirus – has claimed 3,996 lives worldwide with 113,584 confirmed cases of the virus. The hardest hit countries include China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Germany in terms of confirmed cases. The United States has 423 confirmed cases in 35 states, including Texas, with 19 deaths as of March 9. In Texas, there are 12 travel-related cases of the virus and no deaths to date. No cases have been identified in Wil-

See COVID-19, Page A5

BUSINESS

Grand Donuts keeps customers happy with old-fashioned recipes

By RACHEL MADISON Staff Writer The smell alone is enough to draw you into Grand Donuts, along with the promise of freshly-made donuts, kolaches, breakfast tacos and more. And with 20 years of experience under his belt, Ty Heng, owner of Grand Donuts, knows a thing or two about making quality food. Heng and his family are originally from Cambodia. He ©2020 The Liberty Hill Independent

immigrated straight to Texas from there in 2000. “The economics over there were not good for us, so we decided to move to the U.S.,” he said. “When I came to the United States, my uncle trained me to be a baker and donut seller.” For a couple of years, Heng trained with his uncle, who had his own chain of donut shops. “It took a lot of training,” he said. “It took one to two years to completely learn everything. We were working every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.” In 2007, Heng opened his own donut shop, under the name Super Donut, in Cedar

Park. Next came a shop in Leander, and then in 2009, a third shop opened in Cedar Park and a fourth opened in Leander. “We have family come over from Cambodia and we train them, and then once they are ready, we let them run and manage it themselves,” he said. “We train people for one to two years on making and selling donuts before they’re experienced enough to run the business.” In 2010, Heng expanded his business to Austin, and then in 2011, to San Antonio. The name was still Super Donut RACHEL MADISON PHOTO then. While several Super Sochenda Pheau and Ty Heng are the couple behind Liberty Hill’s Grand Donuts. Heng and his family own several Grand Donuts in the area, and are excited to serve their fresh-made donuts See DONUTS, Page A4 and kolaches to the Liberty Hill community.

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Public Meetings

The following are standing open meetings that are subject to change within the guidelines set forth by the Texas Open Meetings Act. For the most current meeting postings, and meeting agendas, visit the respective websites. - Liberty Hill City Council, 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 23 at City Council Chamber, 2801 RR 1869. libertyhilltx.gov/agendacenter - Liberty Hill ISD Board of Trustees, 6 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2020, at LHISD Administration Bldg., 301 Forrest Street. libertyhill.txed.net

Learn to Fish on March 28

LEANDER -- Williamson County is hosting its Annual Learn to Fish Day in the Southwest Williamson County Re-

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gional Park, located at 3005 CR 175, Leander, on Saturday, March 28, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Children of all ages will be able to spend time learning various fishing tips and techniques from local experts. The Learn to Fish Day event is free and open to the public. All activities are in preparation for the day’s objective -to catch a fish. Angler hopefuls will be guided through learning stations that emphasize the use of basic tackle, appropriate bait selection, knot tying, boat casting, conservation ethics, and general outdoor/water safety. Additional activities such as “backyard bass” will also help participants hone their casting skills. With all the planned activities, please allow at least an hour or more to fully enjoy the event. We recommend an early arrival to gain the most from the program. Fishing poles and tackle will be provided, so please leave personal fishing gear at home. We suggest wearing loose, comfortable clothing, a hat or visor, and closed toed shoes. No flip flops or sandals, please. The use of insect repellent is advised along with sun block. Commissioner Cynthia Long hopes the Learn to Fish event will inspire families to spend quality time with children discovering the outdoors and engaging in the lifetime recreational activity of fishing. No pre-registration is necessary. Upon arrival at the park, all participants are asked to stop at the registration table to pick up materials needed for the stations.

Williamson County’s Learn to Fish Day is funded through the donations of private individuals and corporations. For more information, please contact the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department at 512-943-1920 or the ofﬁce of Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long at 512260-4280.

Judge Greenleaf Fisk Chapter meets March 14

The Judge Greenleaf Fisk Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas will hold its monthly meeting on Saturday, March 14, at 10 a.m. at the Cross Tracks Methodist Church in Liberty Hill. The meeting will be in the Worship Center of the Church. The program will feature Historian, Tennye GiOtis, speaking on the Traveling Trunk. The trunk contains artifacts and items and discusses the uses of these items by the frontier settlers in Texas, before and during the days of the Texas Republic. In addition, it talks about food, lifestyle, laws, education, clothing, commerce, medicine and manners among the early cross cultures that were living side by side on the frontier. It is an educational tool designed to teach both youth and adults about the history of Texas. Besides the program on March 14, there will also be a program presentation by Aften Serrano, Secretary-Treasurer of the Judge Greenleaf Fisk Chapter, at the Liberty Hill Library on March 28 at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend this edu-

cational program. Children, parents, and grandparents are especially welcome. Any woman who believes that she is descended from an ancestor who was in Texas before or during the time of the Republic (1836-1846) may bring any papers that she has and our registrar and qualiﬁed members of the group will help the prospective candidate with beginning to put her lineage together and ﬁnd documentation. For more information contact registrar, Joyce Parsons at jnparsons1114@gmail.com, or president, Mariann Fisk Laughlin at truetexaswomen@ gmail.com.

DAV RecruitMilitary Austin Veterans Job Fair is April 2

AUSTIN -- The DAV and RecruitMilitary are joining forces to attract, hire and retain military veterans and military spouses in the Austin area. This is a free hiring event for veterans, transitioning military personnel, National Guard members, Reserve members and military spouses. The event is April 2nd from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Frank C. Erwin Jr. Special Events Center in Austin. In 2019, DAV RecruitMilitary hosted more than 140 veteran hiring events across the United States with 6,400+ exhibitors engaging more than 28,000 military-trained job candidates. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/Austin040220.

Liberty Hill Police Blotter Prepared by Liberty Hill Police Department

Week of March 2-8, 2020 The Liberty Hill Police Department responded to or self-initiated a total of 329 incidents resulting in five cases, 35 citations, 57 warnings and one arrest. Weekly Highlights: - On March 2, at approximately 1:45 PM, officers responded to CR 279 for a disturbance. - On March 2, at approximately 3:06 PM, officers responded to Ancelotta Way for an abandoned vehicle. - On March 2, at approximately 10:01 PM, officers responded to the 1000 block of Loop 332 for suspicious activity. - On March 3, at approximately 2:29 AM, officers responded to W. SH 29 and CR 260 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 3, at approximately 12:33 PM, officers responded to Grange Street for suspicious activity. - On March 3, at approximately 3:38PM, officers responded to 12000 block of W. SH 29 for a traffic hazard. - On March 4, at approximate-

ly 8:18 AM, officers responded to CR 279 for a disturbance. - On March 4, at approximately 10:23 AM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for an accident. - On March 4, at approximately 12:05 PM, officers responded to CR 279 for a disturbance resulting in the arrest of a male adult for assault. - On March 4, at approximately 5:17 PM, officers responded to Summerwood Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 5, at approximately 7:16 AM, officers responded to the intersection of W. SH 29 and RM 1869 for an accident. - On March 5, at approximately 3:50 PM, officers responded to the 13000 block of W. SH 29 for a disturbance. - On March 6, at approximately 11:49 AM, officers responded to the 15000 block of W. SH 29 for a fraud complaint. - On March 6, at approximately 10:55 PM, officers responded to the 12000 block of W. SH 29 for suspicious activity. - On March 6, at approximately 8:24 PM, officers responded

to Panther Pass for a disturbance. - On March 7, at approximately 1:48 AM, officers responded to Cinnamon Teal to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 7, at approximately 7:00PM, officers responded to Cutter Bill to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 8, at approximately 12:36 AM, officers responded to Spring Grove Drive to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 8, at approximately 2:20 PM officer responded to Foundation Park for a baby locked in a car. - On March 8, at approximately 7:17 PM, officers responded to CR256 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. - On March 9, at approximately 4:40 AM, officers responded to US 183 and RM 1869 to assist the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office with an accident.

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page A3

OBITUARY Mark Neas Cox

Throwback Thursday Recalling the ﬁrst meeting of the City Council

By JAMES WEAR Columnist A lot of water has p a s s e d under the bridge since that Monday evening of May 10, 1999 when the ﬁrst meeting of the Liberty Hill City Council was held. The meeting, which was held a few days after Nathan Wetzel was elected the City’s ﬁrst mayor, took place at the Over the Hill Gang’s Headquarters. Joining Wetzel at the dais that evening were other members of the newly-elected city council, including Angelo Montemayor, Charles Canady, Bob McCullough, Liz Hanna (now Liz Rundzieher) and Jimmy Oliver. Wetzel, a retired school teacher who had been active in many community organizations, had been elected with 79 percent of the vote, easily outdistancing four other candidates. A total of 194 votes were cast for Wetzel, while the runners-up included Jim Burnett (34 votes),William Holder, Sr. (10 votes) and Cecil Williams (seven votes). Holder had actually dropped out of the race prior to election day due to health issues. I was among a group of about 20 people who attended the meeting that lasted until about 10:30 that night. The council voted to name McCullough as mayor pro tem while Patty Hyman was appointed as city

VENUES

Nathan Wetzel served as Liberty Hill’s ﬁrst mayor and served one term before stepping down. He passed away in 2001. His wife, Margo, would later serve on the city council before her passing. (Courtesy Photo) secretary. John Clary of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs was on hand for the meeting and spoke for two hours on what the mayor and council had to look forward to during their tenure. He advised that city council meetings “are not public forums but a place to conduct city business.” Clary told the group setting a proper agenda was of key importance and said the city fathers should establish early on how the agenda was to be determined. “You should post it where if somebody wants to read it at 3 in the morning with a ﬂashlight they can,” he said. Clary listed possible sources of funding for the city, including ad valorem property tax,

city sales tax, donations and franchise fees. One bit of advice Clary offered that night, in addition to opening up a bank account, was for the city to obtain its own post office box. “You could, as some cities have, let the mayor use his own address, but four years from now he might not be mayor and 10 years from now he’ll still be getting some of the city’s mail. Get your own post office box.” Other issues Clary addressed that night were regarding laws governing open meetings, and the ins-and-outs of executive sessions. He suggested one of the council’s first actions might be one of goal setting. “Consider drawing up a list of

‘this is what we’d like to do.’” As I recall, the council did come up with a list, but during that ﬁrst year of municipal government, moved slowly, perhaps mindful that incorporation had passed by only 15 votes and many citizens remained wary of how that would impact their lives. One statement Clary made that night has remained with me in the 20-plus years since that meeting, and cropped up in my mind over the next few years while I was covering city council meetings as a reporter and yet again, now as an outside observer of city government. “You must conduct yourself above reproach,” said Clary.

Continued from Page A1

Fenley took the stage. “We do like a full spectrum,” said Harrison Holmes, co-owner of Hell or High Water. “When you have the local guys come in, it’s the grungy, down-home feel. Then you have guys like Dave that come in. He still has the grungy feel but also national recognition.” The brewery’s set up lends itself to live music, and offers music lovers a selection of beers, spirits, and food options as well. With the stage located in one corner of the venue, the music isn’t hard to miss. As things move forward, the plans are to add to the outside patio, and eventually, once things warm up, have music outdoors. “We want the community to know this is a place they can rely on to have different music acts, and we’ll bring creativity to the music scene,” said Jenkins. “As the weather turns, we’re going to look to the outside patio for additional opportunities for music.” As Hell or High Water works on locking down the downtown area of Liberty Hill, Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant is laying claim to Highway 29 East, offering a variety of live entertainment. The establish-

ment is one of the few, if not only, places that provide an open mic. “It’s a lot of fun, we’ve had some outstanding talent come by,” said Co-owner Karen Kirkendall. “People from stand-up comics to ﬂute players. It’s a little of everything.” Currently, work is being done to add to an outdoor area to provide even more opportunities for live music. The biggest goal for Kirkendall is creating a local entertainment spot, and she’s planning to add nights focused on the youth in the community. “We’re going to try and have a teen night once a month,” she said. “We want to try and involve everybody in Liberty Hill. We have so many people moving in here, and we want to be that safe haven people can go to.” The new area will be around 3,500 square feet and offer various activities including pool and mini-golf, along with a dance ﬂoor and a brand new stage for music and comedy acts. Just down SH 29 is the Liberty Hill Beer Market, offering a variety of food, along with a large selection of beer and a

Mark Neas Cox, age 61, passed peacefully in his home surrounded by family and friends on March 7, 2020. Born October 14, 1958, in Wichita Falls, TX, he was raised by his mother, Anita Joyce Love. He graduated from Weatherford High School in 1977, where he was a captain of the football team, and from McMurry University in 1981, where he played football and was a team captain his senior year. Mark married the love of his life, Lisa Jo Harris, in Wichita Falls in 1979. Dedicating his life to the teaching and development of young men, Mark spent most of his career coaching at Brownwood High School, Westlake High School, Liberty Hill High School, Weatherford High School, Sachse High School, and South Garland High School. He ended his career building relationships with families in Garland ISD as a member of the transportation department. Mark was well known for his jokes, his card tricks, and his ability to tell a great story. He was preceded in death by his mother, Joyce Love; his grandmother, Martha “Cutie” Neas; his uncle, Herby Neas; and his mother and father-in-law, Billie and Revis Harris. He is survived by his wife, Lisa Harris Cox; his sister, Carole Reeves; his sister, Martha Pink; and her husband, Harris. He is also survived by his sister-in-

law, Lita Harris Cox, as well as many nieces and nephews. Additionally, he is survived by countless players he coached, mentored, and treated as his own. Mark has left a legacy of unwavering faith, strong character, high morals, and the belief that all people are inherently good. He was dearly loved and will always be missed. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Manish Gupta, nurse Jennifer Holton, and the staff at Texas Oncology Plano for their treatment and care during Mark’s seven-year battle with cancer. Nurse Jennifer Holland of Faith Presbyterian Hospice and caregiver Kiesha Mwaba are also appreciated for their love and dedication to Coach Cox during his ﬁnal months. A Celebration of Mark’s life will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 11 a.m. in the auditorium at Sachse High School. The family will begin receiving visitors at 10 a.m., and memorials can be made to the Garland ISD Education Foundation or the Texas High School Coaches Education Fund.

staff notebook Our views and other news and musings from THE INDEPENDENT Staff Rodeo Scholarships

ANTHONY FLORES PHOTO

“America’s Got Talent” semi-finalist and “The Voice” contestant Dave Fenley takes the stage at Hell or High Water as the local brewery prepares to bring weekly live music to Liberty Hill. overlooking a pasture between weekly trivia night. The Beer Market, like Mar- Liberty Hill and Bertram, a logarita’s and Hell or High Wa- cation that allows customers ter, offers live music for the to view the sunset and various community, bringing in acts animals like zebras while enfrom time to time. On March joying beverages and music. To mix things up, the loca28, the venue will host musition also frequently brings in cian Michael Ingalls. On the more mellow side of different food vendors, includthe spectrum, Fire Oak Dis- ing gourmet hot dogs, grilled tillery is offering a chance to cheese and tacos. Just outside of Liberty Hill, enjoy spirits by the fire pit and listen to a variety of local mu- south on US 183, Sabino’s Pizza Pub give its patrons a resicians. “We focus on more local mu- laxed musical experience. The sicians because we’re local,” eatery doesn’t bring in bands, said Co-owner Guy Endsley. instead choosing to focus on “We maintain a board where more of a background experilocal musicians and acts can ence. post their cards or flyers and “We try to keep music at a reshare their information to al- spectable volume,” said owner low for more acts.” David Sabino. The distillery sits on a hilltop

Liberty Hill High School graduating seniors still have time to apply for one of six scholarships to be presented by the Liberty Hill Rodeo on April 17-18. Applicants are asked to write a one-page essay about the individual who has made the most impact on their lives. Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each are available for students entering the military, a vocational school, or a college/university. Applications are due by March 15, and may be submitted by email to jmclark45@gmail.com. For more details, contact John Clark at (512) 740-2870.

Summer Guide

Look for The Independent’s SUMMER GUIDE in mailboxes March 26. The annual publication is the go-to resource for all things summer in and around Liberty Hill. From a listing of summer

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camps for sports and art enthusiasts, to ideas for family outings and close-to-home entertainment, the Summer Guide promises to be a publication families will hold onto all summer. Businesses and churches looking to promote family activities and special events this spring and summer should contact us by March 18 to be part of this popular publication. Call us at (512) 778-5577 or send email to Stacy@LHIndependent.com.

Tribute to LHHS Class of 2020

Families of graduating seniors should make note of our special tribute to the Class of 2020, which publishes May 21. Deadline for student congratulatory ads is May 16. Our award-winning design work is provided at no charge. For more details, send email to news@LHIndependent.com. ~ Shelly Wilkison

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

BUSINESS

Liberty Hill Chamber welcomes Lone Star Oaks

The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening March 5 of Lone Star Oaks, located at 3350 County Road 236, Liberty Hill, TX 78642. Co-owners are Mary and David Spradlin and Janna and Roger Ponder. The Open House was held in conjunction with the Chamber After Hours event. (Courtesy Photo)

Liberty Hill Chamber welcomes Holiday Inn Express

Members of the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce celebrated the grand opening Feb. 18 of Holiday Inn Express Inn & Suites with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The new hotel is located in Leander at 247 W. Metro Road Drive. Feb. 18. Heather Smith is General Manager. (Courtesy Photo)

Thursday, March 12, 2020

DONUTS Continued from Page A1 Donut locations are still around Central Texas, the ones Heng specifically owns are now called Grand Donuts. He has 11 locations, including Liberty Hill, as well as others in Austin, Cedar Park, Leander and San Antonio. Heng’s family and friends run all of the Grand Donuts and Super Donut locations. Grand Donuts is run by Heng and his wife, Sochenda Pheau; his sister, Theary Lay and her husband, Wilson Lay; and his other sister, Srun Cheng Chann and her husband, Chenglun Kong. “We expand our business when family comes [from Cambodia],” he said. “We immigrate one by one. My sister and I came in 2000, and then my other sister came later on. Several other cousins and family have come, too. My uncle trained us, so we are really a family-generated business. It took us a long time to get to where we could own the business ourselves.” Heng said he chose to open his newest location in Liberty Hill, which opened last September, because of the growing market and population. “We decided to open a shop here about four years ago,” he said. “The population is going up, and we knew we had a lot of customers from Liberty Hill coming to our Leander store. We wanted to expand here. The location is good and we are very steady with business here.” Heng said he and his family are always working to make sure customers have the best experience in Grand Donuts. “We correct what we need to correct and make it better,” he said. “We want to provide quality services and quality food. Our main goal is making sure the food is fresh and really good, so our customers will always come back. We guarantee our products are all freshly made.” Heng and his staff arrive at Grand Donuts daily around 3 a.m. to start the donut making process. The first thing they do is make their donut and kolache dough from scratch, which takes about two hours from start to finish, he said. Around 5 a.m., they start to fry the donuts and get the first batches out for the first customers of the day. Donuts

are continuously made until around 10 a.m. to keep the shop fully stocked as customers come by. “We only make a certain amount of donuts each day, because all of our items are one-day sale,” Heng said. “Sometimes we’ll be short an item, but it’s usually just that item and we have more of everything else.” Besides donuts, Grand Donuts also sells a variety of kolaches, breakfast tacos and beverages. The most popular kolache Heng sells is the sausage and cheese kolache, which he says is all about the bread they make in house daily. He added that the fruit kolaches are also popular and come in a variety of flavors, like raspberry, strawberry, lemon, apple and cream cheese. The most popular donuts are the glazed and the chocolate donuts, because they are simple and flavorful, Heng said. “The dough we make is a special recipe that is soft and fluffy,” he said. “The ingredients aren’t special, but the way we make it is. You can find sweet donuts anywhere, but our bread is what makes our donuts different.” Heng added that Grand Donuts’ offerings stick to old-fashioned favorites. “We don’t upgrade with fancy things; we stick to the old-fashioned recipes,” he said. “We have a few special flavors, like our pink donut, which is a cherry-strawberry mix, but we keep things original as much as we can.” In the future, Heng hopes to open more Grand Donuts locations, but he doesn’t have any plans in the works. For now, he is working on making sure Liberty Hill customers are happy and want to keep coming back for more. “Hopefully our customers like us,” he said. “Come in and let us know good or bad—I want to know. We try the best we can, and we are always going to be improving.” Grand Donuts is located at 14125 W. State Hwy. 29 in Liberty Hill in the Water Tower Center. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Thursday, March 12, 2020

COVID-19 best business practices that have come out and we just push that out to everybody.” The City of Austin cancelled the annual SXSW event last week and is limiting events with a crowd size greater than 2,500 for the immediate future. The only local event coming soon that will create a large gathering in Liberty Hill is the May Whimsy and Wonder festival downtown. Mayor Rick Hall doesn’t anticipate any impact, but said it is too early to tell if it will be affected. “It could potentially be, but I’m not aware of any known cases in the area,” he said. “We do take a risk you know if people come here from somewhere else. I think when we get closer me and (Cobb) will be talking and of course me and Katie (Amsler) will be talking. At this point I don’t anticipate any issues with Whimsy and Wonder. I’m hoping and praying we don’t have to do that, but it’s just one of those things we have to deal with as it comes.” Liberty Hill ISD has taken additional precautionary measures to help prevent future infections such as hospital-grade disinfectants on campuses and buses, continual education with students on hand washing and sanitizing, and enhanced efforts by teachers and staff to wipe down high-touch areas. The district said it will also continue to strictly enforce the policy of requiring all students with a fever to stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours. In a letter sent home Monday with students across the

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

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district, LHISD said it is monitoring reports and information about the virus and “Any decisions that may need to be made regarding a change to school operations will be done so with guidance from the CDC and local health ofﬁcials, along with guidance and direction from the authorities at TEA (Texas Education Agency).” Based on current information, the WCCHD says the threat of COVID-19 to the general public in Williamson County and Texas remains low and there is currently no need to cancel local events or classes. Accordingly, there is no current need for residents and visitors to Williamson County to take out-of-the-ordinary precautionary actions against COVID-19. The focus is on preventive habits to stop the potential spread of the virus if it were to be diagnosed in the area. “The most important thing is to practice those same ﬁve things everyone has been preaching,” Strahler said. “Focus on preventive practices such as washing your hands for 20 seconds, staying home if you’re sick, limiting your time in large crowds. That’s become more of a concern, but not a high concern because there’s still no evidence of community spread cases. All the cases in Texas are from persons who acquired it from abroad. At this point Texas is still considered low risk, but as you’ve seen in other parts of the nation that can change. We’re just using an abundance of caution.” The virus is spread between

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progressive municipal management experience. A request was made to Hall to provide a copy of Hale’s resume, but the Mayor did not immediately respond. Hale resides in the Liberty Hill ETJ. Hall did spell out how the new COO position fit into the supervisory structure of the City. “The municipal officers, that are designated by state law – the city secretary, finance director, code enforcement, chief of police, court administrator and emergency management – will continue to report to me,” Hall said. “The director of planning and public works director will report through Lacie and then Lacie will report to me.” Following the departure of former City Administrator Greg Boatright in August 2019, Hall said the City would begin a search for his replacement. But over the past six months the plan evolved into what was determined by the Council at its Feb. 24 meeting -- that the position would be different carrying the title Chief Operating Officer. Intersection plans Nearly nine months after the Council shelved plans for a downtown roundabout at the intersection of Loop 332 and

CR 279, members got their first look at an alternative plan to address traffic issues at the intersection. “We are talking about it, but it is not finalized,” Hall said of the new plan. “We should have a finalized drawing that we hopefully will be able to have at the next Council meeting and put it out there to the public.” The basic plan would alter the Loop coming from the east toward CR 279 to create a T-intersection with a threeway stop. Traffic coming into downtown from CR 279 would be able to turn right onto the loop or continue into downtown after a stop. Drivers entering downtown from the east on Loop 332 will be able to continue right on the loop with a yield or turn left onto CR 279 after a stop. Traffic leaving downtown will be able to continue south on CR 279 or turn left and continue on the Loop following a stop. To assist with traffic control at the intersection and designate the continued right into downtown from the Loop, a triangular median will be constructed at the intersection. “What most people were concerned about with the safety is the angle that 279 comes up at and you can’t see back on the Loop,” Hall said. “This would

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people in close contact by droplets landing in the nose or mouth, primarily from the cough or sneeze of infected individuals. It is also possible it can be contracted from touching surfaces with the virus on it then touching one’s nose or mouth. Hand washing, staying home when sick, not touching eyes, nose and mouth, covering a cough or sneeze and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces are the primary prevention measures to slow the spread of the virus. Residents are encouraged to get a ﬂu shot if they haven’t already, even though it is late in the season. The shot is not related to COVID-19, but helps prevent people from contracting other illnesses. “If you have a weakened immunity from being sick with the ﬂu it is going to make you susceptible to any other illnesses,” she said. “Typically in our area until the end of April we still see cases so it’s not too late to get a shot.” Currently the elderly population is the most at risk. “Right now they are saying elderly folks are more susceptible to this so our messaging is shifting toward that,” Strahler said. “They’re asking the elderly population to reconsider being out in a crowded area and to stay home if they can.” This segment of the population, as well as those who have traveled internationally to places hardest hit by COVID-19, should seek medical attention if they show symptoms of being ill. “Because they are in the high-risk category they should

not wait to see a physician,” Strahler said. “They are susceptible as is anyone who has other health issues such as a low immunity, asthma, diabetes or any other chronic disease who is experiencing illness should seek attention.” The current fatality rate for COVID-19 is 3.4 percent, with a two to 14-day incubation period. While it is similar in symptoms to the flu Americans deal with annually, there is one key difference. “The base difference is there is not an identified treatment yet,” she said. “So with the flu you have Tamiflu and other antivirals and there are medications now that are shown and proven to reduce the affects of an illness. We also have a flu shot, so a majority of the population that gets their seasonal flu shot will experience a much milder case if they do end up contracting the flu. Right now there is no vaccine and no treatment for this virus yet.” No one is predicting what changes might come if the virus hits Williamson County the way it has hit other countries or regions in the United States, but looking at their response is a good indicator of what could happen here. “Looking at other parts of the U.S. in the northwest, they’ve really cut down on all of their large community events. They’ve kind of cancelled everything,” Strahler said. “I would suspect that’s what would happen here. Congregational things would be either cancelled or delayed.” She added that there is a good middle ground between

bring it in at a true 90 degree angle, which would help with the safety.” Through traffic modeling, Hall said engineers determined the three-way stop sign at the intersection would manage the traffic flow well. “We actually took the traffic counts we got from the engineers, they sent them over to Steger Bizzell, and they modeled it with the traffic counts and this was basically what came up,” Hall said. Cross walks will also be installed allowing pedestrians parking in the new lot on the laundromat property to safely cross Loop 332 to reach Wetzel Park.

meet,” Canady said. “It is like an adult special needs organization. It gives them a way to be out. They teach them math, they do crafts, they teach them life skills and they go there Monday through Friday 8-2.” The solution brought forward was to work out an agreement for use of the Over the Hill Gang building part of the week. “We met with the Over the Hill Gang today and they were open to giving it a try, to utilize that one room in the building for their needs,” Canady said. The Council discussion led to the agreement that a contract should be drafted “Is this something, Tad (Cleaves), even if it is short, that we should draw up some kind of contract with them just to make sure from a liability standpoint we’re covered?” Hall asked. Cleaves, the Liberty Hill City Attorney, responded that a contract was deﬁnitely needed. The unanimous vote by the Council called on legal staff to draw up a contract to allow “Our Village” to use the Over the Hill Gang facility.

Our Village The Council stepped in to assist “Our Village” after the organization reached out to the City about its need for a new place to meet. Canady took up the cause and brought it to the Council’s attention. “I got an e-mail from someone that was concerned about the fact that Our Village is losing their ability to have a place to

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TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES

preparing for the worst and choosing to ignore basic preparedness guidelines. “There’s really no reason to hoard supplies, hand sanitizers, masks and other things that have been selling out,” Strahler said. “Especially masks, because health workers in hospitals still need those to operate day to day. That’s being felt as a ripple affect as the public is hoarding those supplies. There’s no reason at

this point that would need to happen. Using common sense is most important and listening to trusted places for news like DSHS and CDC. They have armies of people watching and updating their guidance every other day.” To stay updated with the latest recommendations, visit the Department of State Health Services at www.dshs.texas. gov/coronavirus or the Center for Disease Control at cdc.gov.

NAVY GMSR ETHAN L. SCHUESSLER MILITARY GRADUATION

Navy GMSR Ethan L. Schuessler graduated from Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois on Sept. 13, 2019, as a member of Ship 03, Division 340. Ethan graduated from Great Lakes A School on Feb. 7, 2020, in Great Lakes, Illinois. According to www.bootcamp.navy.mil, “Recruit training, or boot camp, is approximately seven weeks long. The goal of this training is to transform a civilian into a Sailor with all of the skills necessary to perform in the fleet. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control, and lessons in our heritage and core values, teamwork, and discipline. Training is challenging but highly rewarding. The goal of military training is to instill and reinforce the Navy’s Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment with the basic skills of training in a team environment. Recruits are academically, physically and emotionally challenged. RTC will prepare you for life in the Navy.” According to www.navycs.com/navy-jobs/gunners-mate, “Gunner’s Mates are responsible for the operation and maintenance of guided missile launching systems, underwater explosive

ETHAN L. SCHUESSLER US NAVY GMSR

weapons such as torpedoes, rockets and missiles, and the systems used to launch them, gun mounts and other ordnance equipment as well as small arms magazines. They work with electrical and electronic circuitry: mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems.” Ethan is the son of proud parents, Dennis and Christie Schuessler and the brother of proud sisters, Marissa and Madison Schuessler of Liberty Hill. He is the grandson of Larry and Debbie Schuessler and James and Marsha Whited of Liberty Hill. Ethan is a 2019 graduate of Liberty Hill High School. Congratulations, Ethan! Forged by the Sea! We Love You, Your Family!

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CAMPBELL

his contract. He has a contract that requires specific legal standards to terminate it and this does not qualify. We will look at and pursue all legal options regarding not only the breach of his contract but also the libel, slander that has been committed by various individuals with the City.” While Hanner said all legal options are on the table, Campbell still wanted to send a message to residents in Liberty Hill. “I want to say to the citizens that I appreciate all the support, I appreciate all the memories and allowing me to serve the community for almost four years,” he said. “It’s very heart-wrenching for me because I consider Liberty Hill my family. I treated Liberty Hill residents like my family and I was a very accessible chief. I made myself accessible rather than hiding in my office. I was always out and about.” The incident An investigative report by the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) dated March 2 was provided by the City of Liberty Hill on March 11 to The Independent in response to an Open Records Request. The report, with names redacted, details the specifics of an incident between Campbell and his wife, which city officials said was at the center of their investigation. The report states that on the night of Feb. 23 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, two officers from the New Jersey State Police noticed a group of people at the casino’s security podium and offered their assistance. That’s when they first interviewed Campbell’s wife about an argument that occurred between the two in the casino. She said her husband left the casino floor angry and that he had a firearm. Officers viewed the casino security video and observed the conversation between Campbell and his wife, and at the end of the conversation Campbell threw a chair and knocked over a trash can. “He then departed, it should be noted that at no time did Maverick become physical with (Mrs. Campbell),” the re-

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Continued from Page A1 port states. Later, officers made contact with Campbell in his hotel room, asking him where his firearm was located and asked him to come to their office to “clear up some matters.” Campbell indicated his firearm was in the room safe and he went with the officers. The report said Campbell was cooperative and provided the room safe combination to officers who then secured the firearm, telling Campbell it would be retained until the matter was resolved. Campbell told officers his wife threw a drink in his face earlier in the evening and struck him. Campbell’s wife indicated she did not want to press charges over the incident on the casino floor. Campbell told officers he would sleep in a friend’s hotel room that evening. The next day, Campbell’s firearm was released to him and “due to the fact the victim did not wish to pursue the matter any further, this case can be considered closed.” The reporting officer made no mention of alcohol use or alleged violence. However, a Supplementary Domestic Violence Office Report indicates alcohol was involved, and described the offense between the two as “harassment”. Campbell was never placed under arrest or charged. “I had a disagreement with my wife,” Campbell told The Independent. “It was a simple disagreement that got blown out of proportion. A lot of rumors started spreading and people reacted based on those rumors being factual. There was no violence, there were no charges.” The City investigation Mayor Rick Hall said in a March 2 interview the City was made aware of the Atlantic City incident by a call from the NJSP, a claim Campbell and his lawyer dispute. Hanner said he confirmed with the NJSP that no call was made to the City, and a follow up confirmation by The Independent resulted in the same response from NJSP officials. “Our information shows that the contact came from the po-

lice detective with the City, not from the New Jersey State Police,” Hanner said. The Liberty Hill Police detective at the LEAD conference with Campbell was David Bonessi. One of three statements made by department staff, however, indicates a call did come from the NJSP to the department. Campbell and his attorney argue the incident was used as an excuse to seek his termination. Hanner conﬁrmed that in the course of the investigation, but prior to the Council taking up the issue at the March 1 meeting, efforts had been made to push Campbell out prior to the meeting being posted. “The Mayor, at least four times, asked Maverick to resign his employment with the City,” he said. “Before there was any investigation conducted, before anything, he was advising Maverick to resign his job.” Because he is a contract employee, Campbell can’t be terminated without a Council vote. Rather than vote to terminate Campbell March 1, the Council voted 3-0-1 -- with Gram Lankford abstaining and Steve McIntosh absent -- to have Human Resources and Finance Director Becky Wilkins continue the investigation into Campbell. As part of that investigation, Nick DeMauro, the Executive Director and CEO of LEAD was contacted by Hall. DeMauro sent a follow up e-mail to Hall at the conclusion of their telephone discussion. “In follow-up to our brief conversation yesterday which you ended abruptly, I would like to reiterate that Chief Maverick Campbell is an active member of our Law Enforcement Advisory Board and presented at our Board of Director’s meeting which was held in conjunction with the 5th Annual 21st Century Drug & Violence Prevention Training Conference and Summit. “We have no information of any conduct on Chief Campbell’s part that would interfere with his participation with our organization. If you become aware of any information to

the contrary, please feel free to call me at any time. We are proud of our relationship with not only Chief Maverick Campbell but also with the Liberty Hill Police Department and we look forward to a long relationship with your community. On behalf of the Board of Directors I want to thank you for all you have done in support L.E.A.D.” The City investigation included a written statement from Campbell to Hall on Feb. 27 where he verified – though in less detail – the circumstances of the incident in the casino between him and his wife. The City requested the report from the NJSP on March 3. Three interviews with Liberty Hill Police Department employees – with names redacted – were included in the investigative documents provided by the City to The Independent. Present for those interviews were Wilkins, Hall and the individual being interviewed, and the documentation provided to the newspaper consists of handwritten notes by Wilkins. Wilkins would not confirm how many total interviews were conducted, and the City redacted names from all materials provided to The Independent. One of the three reports provided details of the incident while at the LEAD Conference. Campbell said only he and Officer Bonessi attended the conference from Liberty Hill PD. The statement begins with praise for Campbell, then says, “Per your request, this Internal Memorandum outlines recent events pertaining to Chief Campbell and the Law Enforcement Against Drugs Conference.” The statement goes on to provide a timeline of interaction between the individual and Campbell Feb. 23 and 24, then referenced a text message sent to someone in Liberty Hill to “check in”. The individual claims to have been informed at that time of the incident between Campbell and his spouse the night before. The individual was then directed by someone with the City to leave the conference early and flew home Tuesday morning.

Thursday, March 12, 2020

The other statements – taken on Feb. 28 – make a variety of claims regarding Campbell’s behavior as Chief while in Liberty Hill in response to 14 questions asked as part of the City’s investigation. Only the ﬁrst question pertained to the incident in Atlantic City. Other comments included claims about Campbell not being at work, being intoxicated while off duty, and heavy handedness with jobs being threatened and employees being told not to confer with other City staff. The statements cited “embarrassment” due to Campbell’s actions and “constant and ongoing fear” among employees. They also allege constant calls and text messages from Campbell at all hours of the night. Past discipline For his part, Campbell disputes the claims made in the statements regarding his absence from the ofﬁce, consumption of alcohol and actions that created an uncomfortable work environment. He said he has never been counseled or disciplined for any issues related to any of the claims made in the statements included in the investigation. “I haven’t had any disciplinary action,” Campbell said. “All my evaluations are above board.” His last evaluation was in April 2019 and his contract was renewed in May 2019. That contract, which went into effect June 1, 2019, included a $14,000 salary increase for Campbell to $125,384.26 annually. “I haven’t been counseled or written up for anything,” Campbell said. “I’ve never been told any of my employees had an issue with me or anything like that. This sounds like to me they thought they had something and couldn’t get anything, and they trumped up other stuff. They were hoping there was an arrest.”

his attorney point to what he calls increased involvement in the operations of the department by Hall and McIntosh. “This has been a personal agenda of the Mayor and Mr. McIntosh from the beginning,” Hanner said. “The action was not based on the facts or whether it met the legal standard to terminate the contract. This was a personal matter for those two gentlemen and it’s been that way from the beginning.” Campbell said the interest in the department dated back to Hall’s election in May 2018. “Even before the election there was an expressed interest in the police department (by Hall),” Campbell said. “I didn’t think anything of it and even four to five months into him being elected there was an expressed interest I wrote off as being supportive of the department and wanting to get us the resources and personnel and staffing and equipment we needed.” At the end of summer 2018 is when Campbell says the interest turned more toward increased input and control. “Probably around August or September there was a little more showing up at the police department and more involvement,” Campbell said. “From then up until now it’s just gotten progressively worse and it intensified once he and (Steve) McIntosh started appearing and it came to a point where they were interfering with the overall day-to-day operations of the police department.” He said the two elected officials were heavily involved in the budget and hiring process and other department operations from standard operations to investigations. McIntosh retired from a sheriff’s department in Colorado. “In the last six months it got progressively worse,” Campbell said. “It was as if there was some sort of very strange odd obsession with being involved with the police department and being involved in controlling what my decisions were even though that authority is given to me by the Council.”

Power struggle? Campbell said he “owns the mistake” he made in Atlantic City, but he contends the investigation has been an excuse Quick disclosure to ﬁnd a reason to terminate The Council made its decision him for other reasons. He and to terminate Campbell Monday and the City was willing to make available to the newspaAn Independent Insurance Company per by Tuesday a redacted version of 14 documents related to the internal investigation in response to a Freedom of Information request. Hall said the quick availability was due to anticipated questions. “We’re making the assumption people will be asking questions, which they already have been,” Hall said. “We’re trying to get our packet put together with everything redacted from it today so we can have it in the next day or so for someone who wants to have information on this. What’s best for our community is to let the community know what’s happened so we don’t have the black eye anymore, that it’s a power play or whatever.” The Independent has made 13 unrelated requests for information since Jan. 1 and to date, most of them have only been partially responded to or the City has sought to withhold the information.

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, March 12, 2020 Section B Page 1

Mike Riley honored for contributions to youth baseball, softball

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Mike Riley is heading home after another day of work, he’s always encouraged when he happens past a particular sight. “When I drive near one of the baseball fields and see the lights on, it makes me feel good,” said Riley. For his decade-long service to Liberty Hill Youth League, Riley was honored with the first Volunteer of the Year award during opening ceremonies at Lions Foundation Park on March 7. According to LHYL Marketing Director April Thomas, Riley himself was the inspiration for creating the new award. “We wanted Mike to be the first recipient,” said Thomas. “I’ve never known someone who loves the game of baseball so much and I’m always

floored by his generosity.” Riley first got involved with LYHL when he and his family moved to Liberty Hill in 2010, with two sons - Cade and Carson - who played in the league and felt it was important to be involved with something he holds so dear. “I love how youth baseball brings the entire community together,” he said. “When I look back now, I realize everything started here.” Thomas said whenever someone has been in need of anything having to do with participation, Riley has always been one of the first to answer the call. “Whenever I post something – whether it’s somebody needing a glove, for example, he’s always right there asking how he can help,” she said. “I’ve always been so moved by Mike’s generosity.”

Riley said he wants to help keep the playing ﬁeld level as far as not letting money get in the way of someone’s ability to play. “I never want ﬁnancial burdens to get in the way of someone being able to participate,” he said. “Expenses should never be a reason for a kid not to play.” After receiving the award, countless people came up to Riley, offering congratulations, which he said is validation of his efforts. “I’ll always cherish all the friendships I’ve made through the game,” he said. “Along with all the friendships the kids make at that age which last a lifetime.” The fact the LHYL continues to grow year after year is encouraging to Riley as the

See LHYL, Page B4

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Mike Riley, who was honored with the LHYL Volunteer of the Year award, throws out the ceremonial ﬁrst pitch during opening ceremonies for Liberty Hill Youth League at Foundation Park on March 7.

Sisters strengthen Lady Panthers

Athena and Cordelia Brown share more than clothes

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor It’s early morning on a school day and Athena Brown wakes from a slumber to face another day. But before the Lady Panthers junior striker sets out on her daily activities, she must decide on what to wear. Which is where the gamesmanship begins. She quietly makes her way into younger sister Cordelia’s bedroom like a ninja in a quest to find the perfect outfit for how she’s feeling on this day. To the closet. “I’m usually the first one to wake up,” said Athena. “So, I’ll go into her room – I know she hears me.” Yes, she does. “I usually hear her when she comes in,” said Cordelia, a Lady Panthers freshman wing back. “She likes to say ‘hi’ to my clothes.” However, despite the chaos such a situation could cause, both sisters accept it as part of their respective worlds. But, there is one rule, said Athena. “If it’s something our mom bought for us, we share it,” she said. “But, if it’s something one of us buys with our own money – it’s off-limits.” Aside from clothing controversies, the Brown sisters share another passion – soccer. Cordelia has burst onto the Purple-and-Gold scene this season, steadily improving her

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Sean Snelgrooes (#3) brings the ball forward during the Panthers’ 7-0 home win against Salado on March 6. SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Athena Brown (#4) and younger sister Cordelia (#14) wear the same uniform during games, but off-the-ﬁeld clothes are a different matter altogether. game, getting increased playing better on a particular day.” ing time as a result and has Being sisters – as well as rewarded Liberty Hill head teammates – can sometimes Coach Darren Bauer’s faith in provide an added dynamic, he her, scoring four goals on the said. “Sometimes I have to keep current campaign. But, it wasn’t an overnight them in check,” said Bauer. process, she said. “But, they do provide us with “I knew coming in as a fresh- some comical relief – it’s fun man, I was going to have to be to just sit back and listen.” patient at the beginning of the Like the time when they aryear,” said Cordelia. “If I kept rived an hour in advance to contributing with my effort, get ready for a home game and Athena was trying to help CorI’d be rewarded.” According to Bauer, the dif- delia with something on her ferences between the sisters phone and the younger wanted isn’t that wide a gap. no part of big sister’s interven“I think they’re similar play- tion. ers,” said Bauer. “Sometimes, it just depends on who is playSee SISTERS, Page B2

Panthers clinch district soccer title Liberty Hill defeats Salado to secure third straight championship

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Look, ma, no hands! Only problem for Salado was that clearly wasn’t the case inside the ﬁrst minute of play during its visit to Panther Stadium on Friday evening for its district soccer game against Liberty Hill. An Eagles defender was deemed to have handled the ball inside the area and after the Panthers’ Jaron Frye had placed the ball down on the penalty spot and coolly slotted home his 40th goal of the season, the Purple-and-Gold had all but clinched the district championship, as they

would go on to defeat Salado by a score of 7-0. Liberty Hill had entered the match with a one-game lead over the Eagles, but after defeating them for the second time this season, now have a two-game advantage with two games left and hold the tiebreaker over their nearest rivals. Indeed, the Panthers closed this one out early with the 1st minute penalty and another which was awarded in the 12th after a Liberty Hill player was brought down in the box. Hayden Ersham sent his spot kick past the Salado keep-

er and just like that, it was quickly 2-0 in favor of the hosts. However, it was the opener which was the back-breaker for the visitors, said Liberty Hill head Coach Wayne Munger. “To give up the first goal like that was a tough one to overcome,” he said. “But, for us, we didn’t gain or lose any confidence – we just kept playing our game.” Salado tested the Panthers’ defense for the first time in the 14th minute, but a cross into the area was headed wide

See DISTRICT, Page B4

Page B2

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Hoops season crashes to end, but not before leaving lasting memories

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor The Panther boys basketball squad walked off the court in San Marcos for the final time this season after a loss to Boerne in the regional quarterfinals. Exactly a week earlier, the Lady Panthers’ hoops gang suffered the same fate in Marble Falls after losing to Fredericksburg, also in the regional quarters. Although it’s true only one team can win its last game of the season once you reach the playoffs, it’s still heartbreaking when you see a group of young athletes who you’ve gotten to know over the course of the campaign suffer such disappointment and witness the emotions such an occurrence brings forth. Especially for the seniors. For most of them, it’s the final competitive basketball game of their respective careers. Closure is a good thing, but sometimes it hurts – a great deal. Sure, it’s only a game and all that, but when you’ve played a sport since you were knee-high to a grasshopper and suddenly you realize it’s all over, it can be quite a shock to the system. For the Lady Panthers, only two seniors – Kailey Berzin and Brooke Wright – were affected by this, but for the boys, there were eight – Carson Perkins, Brady Brewer, Caeden Minix, Cole Ondrasek, Kaleb Bannon, Sujit Panday, JC Russell and Walker Baty. For Baty, he has a bright future as a Division I college football player at the Univer-

sity of Texas-San Antonio, but that fact didn’t make it any easier for the big, burly redhead when he was sent to the bench after fouling out in the fourth quarter of his final high school hoops game and could only look on helplessly as his and his teammates’ title dreams came to an end. Especially seeing how basketball is Baty’s first love – and he’s pretty darned good at it – but even better on the gridiron. Perkins definitely has a hoops future at the next level with his slippery, skillful moves and marksman-like shooting touch. However, at 6-foot-1, it’s difficult to attract the attention of college scouts and coaches regardless of how big a baller you are. Here’s news. You’ve heard all the old adages like “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog” and “You can’t measure a man’s heart” and many others? Ever heard of Allen Iverson? Anyone who’s followed hoops over the past 25 years certainly has. Iverson ended up in the Basketball Hall of Fame after a stellar career in which he employed a gritty, gutty playing style, part of which was having no fear in venturing among the man-mountains in the paint when driving to the basket and possessing an absolutely deadly shooting ability. Did we mention “AI,” as he was known, was only six feet tall? Perkins is 6-foot-1. Now are we suggesting he’s a future NBA star? Of, course not. But, you never know. How many athletes in all sports have all the metrics – size, speed, skill, what have

you – but lack that x-factor which is ultimately their downfall? Any college who “takes a chance” on Perkins is going to look back and be very glad they did. As far as the girls go, Wright put her sneakers away and picked up her pole to begin vaulting for the Panthers’ track team, so she immediately has something to occupy her consciousness after the disappointment of her hoops career ending. Berzin couldn’t hold back tears, but one could sense they were a mixture of sorrow and joy – the former because of the gravity of the situation and the latter due to the flood of memories she collected over the course of four years in Purpleand-Gold. As the Boerne boys exploded in a rapture of happiness at the final buzzer, the Panthers were left to wonder what had hit them as their collective body

Sisters

language suggested all the life had been suddenly drained from them without warning. After all, they had their way early against the Greyhounds, leading 21-10 in dominating fashion after the first quarter in what looked to be a runaway. Liberty Hill had comfortably defeated this same team at this same stage of last season’s playoffs on their run to the state championship game, so you know vengeance was on Boerne minds and as we know, revenge is a dish best served cold. Heads were in hands, eyes teared up and hugs were exchanged. Wait ‘til next year. Except for the seniors. Wright said it probably wouldn’t completely sink in her hoops career was over until the time for practice to begin next season rolls around and if that doesn’t do it, certainly the first game she returns to see as an alumnus.

Ondrasek was as fired up as anyone in the early stages of the game when it seemed as if his last high school hoorah would last a bit longer, but could only pull his jersey up over his mouth in the immediate aftermath as if it was a mask to hide his emotions. Let it all out, son – it’s okay. Coaches will tell you they suffer defeats much more than they celebrate victories and Panthers boys’ head Coach Barry Boren is no different. The veteran bench boss who has certainly been around the block more times than he might care to remember, stood leaning against a wall in a hallway adjacent to the gym and right outside the entrance to the Panthers’ locker room. You could tell he was emotionally drained and despite the fact this wasn’t his first go-round in such a situation, it sure hurt just as much – if not more. With Boren in the twilight of

his coaching career – not to mention family health issues to deal with all season as his wife, Sue, fights cancer – this year might have been the most difficult of any. But, he stuck it out and his players stuck with him in a show of solidarity. Boren said the defeat would probably leave him in a state of depression for two or three weeks and was crestfallen about not having the chance to coach his seniors anymore. But, life goes on and as we also know, sports are a perfect metaphor for life. Less than 48 hours after the Lady Panthers’ stinging conclusion to the season, there they were already back in the weight room with smiles on their faces. After all, this is Texas. The season never really ends. So, we don’t have to wait ‘til next year. Because it’s already here.

together different. “I’ve always thought about modeling,” she said. “So, I decided to go to a school for it.” Athena already competed in a competition in Florida in August and will go to another in Dallas in June. “We have different mindsets,” said Cordelia. “I think I’m more dedicated to something, where Athena will get bored and look for something different.” Bauer said his squad is a tough one to break into and the standards to gain access are high. “We have a solid starting 11 and there’s not much room for anybody else,” he said. “At

Liberty Hill, sometimes good just isn’t good enough.” So, the two sisters continue to press on. “Both of them play well wherever I put them,” said Bauer. “It’s one of those things – I want to be able to put you anywhere at any time.” When the ball is kicked off, Athena and Cordelia are united and wear the same uniform. But, while off the field, don’t mess with their wardrobes, said Athena. “We’re extremely close,” she said. “Except for when we fight about clothes.”

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“We were mad at each other,” said Athena. “But, as soon as the game started, we were fine again.” Or the time they were on the bus returning from an away match and upon finishing a post-game meal, found there was only a single cookie for two mouths, she said. “I thought we should split it,” said Athena. “But, she ended up taking the whole thing.” What about the time one was supposed to wake up the other from a pre-game nap and failed to do so at the prescribed time? However, petty squabbles aside, the two find themselves fighting for the same cause when the Lady Panthers take

to the pitch. Despite the fact Cordelia has been getting more minutes on the field this season, there is no root of bitterness or jealousy between them, she said. “I think she’s very proud of me when I play a lot,” said Cordelia. But, seeing her little sister get more game action than her has also caused Athena to question things a bit, she said. “I needed to get a job and I started losing passion for the sport a little,” said Athena. “I felt like I was working really hard and it wasn’t doing me any good.” So, she stopped playing club soccer to pursue something al-

PANTHER OF THE WEEK

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Taylor Sims must have blue Gatorade for peak performance when she competes as a Liberty Hill powerlifter.

State-bound Sims finishes second at regional powerlifting meet

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Taylor Sims was already quite adept at putting a shot and hurling a discus by the time she arrived on the campus of Liberty Hill High School as a freshman. But, after her accomplishments in the weight room were taken note of, she was approached to give a new sport a try. “Someone suggested I get into powerlifting,” said Sims, a junior who will compete for the Panthers at the state meet in Waco on March 20-21. “So, I tried it and liked it.” Initially, Sims was planning on playing softball for the Lady Panthers, but those ambitions didn’t pan out, she said. “My freshman year, I got cut from the team,” said Sims. “So, I went to track and made varsity.” Ever since, she’s been steadily improving until finally making it to the state competition after finishing second in the Class 4A 165-pound weight class at the regional meet in Del Valle, with scores of 345 pounds in the squat, 180 in the bench press and 335 in the dead lift for a total score of 860.

Not bad for someone who admittedly wasn’t the best at the beginning. “I wasn’t good at first,” said Sims. “But, I don’t like quitting.” After a strong performance last season at the regional meet, Sims was ranked in the top-10 of her division entering this year, something which provided her with even more motivation, she said. “I was ranked seventh coming into the season,” said Sims. “So, going from seventh to second is pretty good.” Sims attributes her rapid improvement this season to a change in her training approach, she said. “I started doing less reps, but heavier,” said Sims. “It’s a good feeling to see all the hard work you put in pay off.” The results have been quite remarkable ever since the switch, as Sims will be only the second Liberty Hill girl to compete at the state meet. Sims said she’s particularly pleased with her effort in the bench press. “I was really happy with that because I could never get past 145,” she said. “I went from 145 to 160 to 180.”

With only about five minutes between the three sets lifters must complete at a meet, there’s not much time for reflection, said Sims. “All I do is get myself ready for the next set,” she said. “Also, you have adrenaline to help you.” Something else that Sims has to power her feats of strength is a particular beverage which she must have by her side at all times while competing. “I need to have blue Gatorade – blue cherry,” said Sims. “It’s my favorite flavor.” Another ally is teammate Perla Hernandez, who serves as a training partner for Sims. “When I have her as a spotter, I can go heavier,” said Sims. When she’s not lifting weights, Sims likes to exercise her brain in her favorite class in school. “I’ve always liked math,” she said. “Because you can always find an answer to a problem.” Sims said she wants to go to Texas A&M and major in business, but first she has some to take care of in Waco. “I know it’s going to be difficult,” she said. “It’s pretty cool, but it’s going to be nerve-wracking.”

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Gavin Bailey has won the pole vault in two of three events this season.

Flying without fear

Panther pole vaulters trust in abilities, equipment

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor Brooke Wright stands at the end of the runway holding onto her best friend with both hands. The Liberty Hill pole vaulter is on her mark – she knows a precise number of strides must be taken before she can plant her pole in the box and then use all of her strength in propelling herself up and over a bar that sits tantalizingly still – almost as if it’s beckoning and daring her to attack. Wright does exactly that – soaring to a height of 10 feet, six inches before giving in to gravity and falling to the padded pit below. Her body has achieved the desired result, but her mind is what ultimately enabled her to overcome the obstacle, she said. “You need to have good core strength and be very coordinated,” said Wright. “It seems very physical, but it’s mostly mental.” To that end, she trains herself to perfect each and every part of the entire sequence

– with the help of father and coach Lyle Wright. “We do planting drills, how to run and how to get the right rock-back and swing with proper mechanics,” said Lyle Wright. “Pole vaulting includes a lot of physics.” But, what makes an individual want to hurl his or her body many feet above the ground, putting trust in a fiberglass pole to support one’s entire weight on the way up? Sophomore Gavin Bailey, who has won two of the first three meets this season, is one of them. “You have to be mentally strong and have physical ability,” said Bailey. “Upper body strength is very important.” Bailey trains at a pole-vaulting school in Killeen to help hone his craft, part of which is selecting the proper pole in a given situation, he said. “On windy days, you need a stiffer pole,” said Bailey. “But, on calm days, you want one which is softer.” In addition, rules stipulate a vaulter’s pole must be at or above the athlete’s body

weight, a factor that also comes into play, said Bailey. “I need to use different poles as I get heavier,” he said. Bailey said he’s improved a great deal since he took up the sport. “At first, I was only vaulting seven feet,” he said. “Now, I’m up to 12 and by the end of the season, I want to be at 13 feet.” As the Panthers’ top boys’ vaulter, Bailey uses his knowledge in helping his less-experienced teammates improve. “I try to coach them at meets and sometimes in practice,” said Bailey. “You have to be strong mentally, but you also need natural ability.” Perhaps the most critical element is the relationship with one’s primary piece of equipment, he said. “Every time you get a different pole, you need to be able to trust it immediately,” said Bailey. “Once you get over the bar, you have that feeling of success.”

See TRACK, Page B4

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Hitting with a purpose

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Page B3

Lady Panthers batters always have a plan at the plate

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor When Ashton Dirner strides to home plate with a bat in her hands, she does so with a deﬁnite purpose. Are there runners on base? How many outs are there? What’s the score? All of these vital factors come into play as she formulates how she’s going to approach the plate appearance. “If there are runners on base, I try to drive them in,” said Dirner, a senior shortstop who is one of the Lady Panthers’ top run-producers. “Also, it depends on where they pitch. Sometimes, I’ll keep fouling off pitches until I get the right one – that opens up the strike zone more.” Whatever Dirner’s doing, it’s certainly paying off so far this season, as she is among the leaders in several offensive categories, hitting .414 with two home runs and 16 runs batted in to go with four doubles, three triples and 14 runs scored, which pleases Liberty Hill head Coach Kristin Brewer. “We want our hitters to be producing runs,” she said. “Anything to get that runner in.” Brewer said Dirner and her teammates have some freedom at the plate, but must still adhere to certain standards. “It all depends on the situa-

tion,” she said. “If a runner’s on first, we want them to advance them and sometimes we go for extra-base hits.” Dirner usually hits cleanup for the Lady Panthers – a far cry from when she initially arrived at the high-school level. “My freshman year, I was more of a bunter,” she said. “Since then, I’ve learned a lot, come a long way and gotten stronger.” As young athletes mature and grow into their bodies, more can be expected of them and Dirner is no exception, said Brewer. “When Ashton first got here, her mechanics at the plate weren’t good,” she said. “But, after her sophomore year, we wanted her to progress to being able to use her power and she’s done that by filling out her uniform and having patience.” Increased strength has allowed Dirner to use her entire body in getting power behind her swing, she said. “My batting stance is much different now than it used to be,” she said. “I can use my legs a lot more to generate power.” Dirner also possesses a desire to atone for her mistakes when she has a bad at-bat. “I don’t forget about it and want to go up and hit again,” said Dirner. “I try not to think about it until I’m back in the dugout.”

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Ashton Dirner (#8) has a keen understanding of situational hitting as one of the Lady Panthers’ top run producers. Having the ability to gauge a pitcher is critical in making proper contact, she said. “I’d rather have a faster pitcher because most of the power is already supplied,” said Dirner. “So, I just try to put the bat on the ball and put it in play.” Some hitters tend to look for certain pitches to hit, but not Dirner. “When I look for a particular pitch, I usually don’t do well,” she said. Brewer added when players arrive as freshmen, sometime adjustments are necessary when it comes to situational

hitting. “We get a mix of players,” she said. “Some who have already played the game for a long time know, but with others we need to work on the little things .” As a result, Brewer will work situations into batting practice. “We work on pitch selection,” she said. “We’ll tell our players a situation, then have them verbally say what they’re supposed to do before they even get in the box. We try to make it like a real game.” Brewer especially likes when players go out of their way in

Lady Panthers claim district soccer title

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor The Lady Panthers of Liberty Hill begin each soccer season with three objectives. Win district. Make it to state. Win state. Consider the ﬁrst item on the list mission accomplished. Liberty Hill defeated Salado by a ﬁnal score of 4-0 at Panther Stadium on Friday night to secure its fourth consecutive district championship on goals by Emma Stephens, Kassidy Contreras and Mykenna Russo, along with an Eagles own goal. Victory over Salado – their nearest rivals in the title race – clinches the championship with two regular-season games remaining, as the Lady Panthers increased their lead over the Eagles to two games and hold the tie-breaker after sweeping the season series. Despite the fact it only took Stephens three minutes to test Salado goalkeeper Avery Wright, which was followed by a Kailey Fowler effort 10 minutes later, the opening 15 minutes of play were devoid of any serious scoring chances for either side. However, that all changed

their spare time to study their swing. “Sometimes our players will self-assess,” she said. “Things like hitting a bucket of balls after practice or watching video of themselves – we like to see that kind of desire to get better when the wheels are turning, which shows competitiveness.” The Lady Panthers use a video system called “Hudl, which makes it easy to examine their respective swings – even on a phone. “We record all of our games, so they can watch themselves,”

said Brewer. “They can see an at-bat and ask themselves ‘Did I make the best decision at the time?’ – it’s a big asset to have.” However, the biggest factor in developing an entire lineup which understands what to do and when is having the willingness to learn, said Brewer. “You need to be open to changes,” she said. “Be coachable, approachable and conﬁdent, believing in your success and not having fear of what might happen – having the mindset you’re going up there to hit.”

LIBERTY HILL DISTRICT

WEEKLY RECAP

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Kailey Fowler (#9) moves past a defender during the Lady Panthers’ 4-0 home win against Salado on March 6. in the 18th minute when Ste- the season once the ball settled home side continued to presphens lined up a free kick into the back of the net. sure the visitors in relentless Contreras tried her luck from fashion. just outside the area and sent a long, arching shot from 25 distance moments later in the Finally, in the 24th minyards out which beat the out- 21st minute from even farther ute, Alyssa Lee took a corner stretched ﬁngertips of Wright, out – 35 yards – and beat the which curled into the area only as she backpedaled toward the keeper only to be denied by the to be sent inadvertently into net and leaped in an attempt to crossbar. the net by a Salado defender Madi Fuller then had a go in during an attempted clearance get a touch on the ball – but to no avail and the Lady Panthers the 23rd minute which pro- for an own-goal and a 2-0 lead. took a 1-0 lead on the sopho- duced a Wright save, but it was more’s team-leading 37th of only stemming the tide as the See LADIES, Page B6

SOFTBALL

The Lady Panthers played in the Leander ISD tournament last weekend and began with a pair of wins on Thursday. Katelyn Castleberry and Dylan Lewis each collected a pair of hits and senior shortstop Ashton Dirner provided the big blow with a two-out, two-run homer in the second, which was part of a four-run Lady Panthers outburst. However, the Rangers remained resilient in keeping the contest close, plating runs in every frame but the fourth, as the game stood at 8-5 in Liberty Hill’s favor after three innings. In the bottom half of the fourth, Desiree Garza drew a two-out walk, which was followed by a Castleberry single before Ashleigh Heiderscheit walked to load the bases for Lewis, who hit a grounder to third which was misplayed for an error, allowing Castleberry to score. Garza then scored on a wild pitch to make it a 10-5 game. Heiderscheit allowed a pair of solo homers in the top of the ﬁfth, but Hannah Kline closed the deal with a scoreless inning, securing the win for starter Kylie Kirk, who was credited with the win despite allowing three runs on two hits in two innings.

Katy Gibson, Taylor Sims, Perla Hernandez, Madison Knisley and Jena Pina all won medals at the Class 4A powerlifting regionals in Del Valle on March 14.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Sophia Knight (#3) went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored in the Lady Panthers’ 11-6 home win over Bowie in March 10. Liberty Hill 11, Robinson 1 Castleberry went 2-for-3 with a double and four runs batted in during an 11-1 win over Robinson on Thursday afternoon, as the Lady Panthers scored in every inning of the ﬁve-frame affair.

Liberty Hill wasted no time in jumping all over the Rockets in the ﬁrst inning, as Sophia Knight singled to lead off before Leanna Limon and Dirner were both hit by

See SOFTBALL, Page B6

POWERLIFTING

The Liberty Hill powerlifting team competed March 14 at regionals in Del Valle. Taylor Sims qualiﬁed for the state championships in Waco on March 20-21 with a second-place ﬁnish in the Class 4A 165-pound division. Sims had a squat of 345, a bench press of 180 and a dead

lift of 335, which were all new personal bests, for a total score of 860. Perla Hernandez (198 division) ﬁnished the season eighth in the region while setting personal bests in all three of her lifts - 320 (squat), 165 (bench) and 315 in dead lift for a score of 800. Jena Pina (114) medaled in ﬁfth place with 250-105-255.

Madison Knisley (132) medaled in third place, with new personal bests in all of her lifts - squat 265, bench 150 and dead lift 255 for a score of 670. Katy Gibson (105) medaled in third place, with personal bests in squat (235), bench (105) and dead lift (240) for a score of 580.

Page B4

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Switching it on and off

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Senior goes from hitting to pitching seamlessly

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor The first inning of the first game of his senior season didn’t go very well for Liberty Hill baseball player Ryan Flake. After all, the Panthers lefty allowed four runs on three hits and two bases-on-balls in his first start as Liberty Hill’s new number one starter. Off the mound and over to first base after throwing 31 pitches, only 15 of them for strikes, with the opposition leading by a score of 4-1. Six innings later, the Panthers had defeated Boerne, 9-4 and Flake had more than made up for his struggles on the mound with a masterclass at the plate – going 3-for-4 with five runs batted in. So, what was going through his mind as he stood at first after having been shelled on the mound? “I was thinking I didn’t have the best outing,” said Flake. “So, from there on I just tried to do my best. I think it was good to stay in the game just to get my mind off it.” All in a day’s work for Flake, who shifts back and forth from pitcher to first, seamlessly blending a mixture of stuff on the mound with smarts and power at the plate. According to Liberty Hill head Coach Steve Hutcherson, the fact Flake was able to maintain his composure is simply an example of how he always carries himself. “Ryan’s about as even-keeled as they come,” said Hutcherson. “He knew in that instance there was another phase of his game which he could contribute with.” Hutcherson added such a level-headed approach to what can be an extremely frustrating and humbling game is an excellent example for his teammates. “Everyone sees him as a leader,” he said. “Ryan makes it very easy for people to follow him.” Flake began playing the game

at age six – “As soon as I could throw a ball,” he said and was primarily a pitcher early on in his baseball existence, but soon discovered a passion at the plate. “Back then, I didn’t get the opportunity to swing much,” he said. “So, I’m really enjoying that aspect of the game.” Indeed. After the season’s first 13 games, Flake was hitting a robust .432 with two home runs and 22 RBI, along with a .500 on-base percentage, .784 slugging percentage and an impressive 1.284 on-base-plusslugging percentage. Both of Flake’s long balls this season are grand slams and both against the same opponent – Brownwood – over a six-day period, the result of a particular mindset, said Flake. “With the bases loaded, I have a different approach and thought process,” he said. “All I want to do at that point is get the guys in.” Both bases-full round-trippers came at the Panthers’ home field and were different in nature. “The first one the wind was blowing out to left,” said Flake, a left-handed hitter. “So, I was just trying to hit something deep, middle-away part of the plate. The second one was to right-center.” Hutcherson said Flake has matured as a hitter and the results have been excellent. “If you watch his at-bats, you can see the consistency he’s developed at the plate,” he said. Flake has his sights set on a junior college next season in order to continue his baseball career, but it remains to be seen if it will be as a pitcher, a first baseman – or possibly both. “Right now, I’m just really focusing on having a good senior season,” he said. “What position I’m going to play next year has been a big controversy for me – it’s a big decision I have to make or I might show up as a two-way guy.”

Hutcherson added Flake’s baseball destiny may be shaped by his coaches at the next level. “I think if Ryan’s hitting a ton when he gets there, he’ll be a hitter,” he said. “But, if he’s lights out on the mound, he could be a pitcher.” As far as his stuff on the mound is concerned, Flake admitted he’s not the kind of hurler who’s going to wow coaches and scouts with high radar-gun readings, but rather with an ability to locate all of his pitches with pinpoint accuracy. “I’m definitely not a velocity guy,” said Flake. “But, I’m crafty and can hit a spot at any time – it’s about knowing the situation, trusting your defense, hitting your spots and making pitches.” Flake has gained strength entering his senior season in Purple-and-Gold by putting himself through a rigorous off-season training program, which has provided for more pop at the plate, he said. “I had a great offseason,” said Flake, who stands 6-foot and tips the scale at 190 pounds. “I put on a lot of muscle mass, so now I can hit the ball hard if I need to – I have a lot more power.” However, it wasn’t simply gratuitous lifting when he hit the gym – he had a solid plan in place with some help from older brother and former Liberty Hill player Nathan, who graduated in 2017. “My older brother played college baseball and had a pretty good workout plan, so I used his,” said Flake. “It’s not just about putting up weights for the sake of it.” Using free weights as opposed to barbells has also been the way to go, as that method is better at isolating certain muscle groups which require more work than others, he said. “With baseball, you have different lifts you use,” said Flake. “You want more mobility to go with muscle mass.” On Mondays, Flake works

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Ryan Flake (#21) provides plenty of power at the plate with accurate pitching as one of the Panthers’ senior leaders. on chest and triceps, Tuesday is for back and biceps and Wednesday is legs, then the cycle repeats itself – but that’s not all, he said. “I also had a very strict eating program,” said Flake. “Along with going to the gym every day.” As a senior – and a leader – this season, Flake said he gets a better feel for the squad compared to last year and for a very specific reason, he said. “Last year, we had a bunch of guys who were college commits, so we depended on them a lot,” said Flake. “But, this season, we have more of a complete team – it’s the great-

District

est one I’ve ever played on.” Hutcherson agreed with Flake’s assessment. “Really, it’s the age-old question of if chemistry really matters,” he said. “All these guys are really reliant on one another. In the past, we’ve had some elite-talent guys and everyone else followed their lead – this season we don’t have any bigname guys, but we have 20 guys who are all leading and following each other. Good players understand working as a team and trusting each other.” As far as his quick-change from mound man to run producer in the middle of the Lib-

erty Hill lineup, Flake said it provides a view of the game from different perspectives – with one lending insight to the other. “I love it because it’s a great mixture of different elements of the game,” he said. “Going from the mound to first means I can’t let my mind stray for even a second – I think playing both ways helps keep me focused.” So, with that being the case, which would Flake rather do if he had to pick only one? “Getting starts on the mound is a blast,” he said. “But, I love swinging.”

Continued from Page B1

of the Liberty Hill net. Five minutes later in the 19th, Frye picked up a loose ball neat the center circle and proceeded to weave his way past first a Salado defender at full speed and then the goalkeeper before tapping home his second of the game for a 3-0 lead. Fellow striker Kegan Taggart had made a lung-busting run down the right side along with Frye, which opened up the defense and kept them at bay long enough for the Panthers’ leading scorer to work his considerable magic on the ball before scoring. Less than 60 seconds later, it was Taggart who was the beneficiary of a pinpoint pass from Garrison Clopton and scored his 13th of the season for a 4-0 lead. Only a minute after that, Frye once again got the ball near midfield and sprinted straight through four Eagles defenders, only to lay it off to Gerald Shoetan, who was initially denied by the keeper, but got a second bite at the cherry and found the back of the net after getting his own rebound. After the floodgates had finally closed, it was all but game over for the visitors with still over a half to play after having conceded three goals in two minutes. However, the Panthers remained hungry for more. In the 47th minute, wing back Zach Ellis sent an ambitious attempt at goal from

all the way out on the right sideline, which arced high in the air before bouncing off the crossbar and right down to Frye, who had a go at the spectacular himself with an overhead kick which failed to find the target. Moments later, Ersham flew one over the bar from distance before Clopton hammered a low, hard shot on frame which was saved by the goalkeeper right on the stroke of halftime. But, despite the commanding lead at the break, the Panthers continued their all-out assault on the Salado goal once the contest resumed. Frye had both a header saved and another effort cannon off the post inside 60 seconds in the 47th minute and one felt it was only a matter time before the home club once again cashed in on their relentlessness and it was junior center back and team captain Rhett Hofmann who typified the ruthless effort of he and his teammates. Hofmann crashed the Salado net in pursuit of a loose ball and sent a short-range shot on goal only for it to pinball off a couple different sets of legs before finding the ball at his feet once again at which point he bundled it over the line for his first goal of the season and a 6-0 lead. In the 60th minute, Ellis followed up his bodacious first-half effort with another range-finder – this one from wide out on the left wing,

which also once again caromed off the crossbar. The Panthers again struck the woodwork in the 75th minute when senior defender and captain Gabe Hernandez ventured forward into the attack and smashed a shot off the bar. After blasting four shots against the frame over the course of the game, it was a fitting end when Shoetan scored his second of the evening and sixth of the season to close out the scoring in the 79th minute for a 7-0 lead, which was how the contest ended. Frye, Shoetan, Taggart and Greg Miller picked up assists on a night when there was no doubt as to which team was the best in the district, as the Panthers secured their third consecutive title. So, job done for Munger and his squad as they look forward to the playoffs. “I’ve been really happy during district,” said Munger. “We’ve been able to close out games.” Liberty Hill 5, Burnet 0 On March 10, the Panthers defeated Burnet by a score of 5-0 in their final regular season road game of the year, scoring five first-half goals on the way to victory. Liberty Hill (16-6, 10-1) will next host Johnson on March 13 and Lampasas on March 17 to close the regular season.

SHANNON HOFMANN PHOTO

Brooke Wright gets some pointers from father and coach Lyle Wright during a Panthers track practice.

Vault

Continued from Page B2

Sometimes, pole vaulting can be in one’s DNA, as is the case with Wright, whose father competed in the event, along with older brother Garrett, a Liberty Hill alum, so one could say she’s simply carrying on a family tradition. However, she wasn’t always just a pole vaulter, she said. “I used to runs sprints,” said Wright. “But, after basketball season, my legs are tight, so I kept getting injured. After my sophomore year, I decided to concentrate on the vault.” Pole vaulting is very elemental in nature and its origins go all the way back to ancient Greece, but despite the fact it’s been around for centuries and the technology has changed, the bottom line is still getting

over the bar. As a result, an elite pole vaulter must properly ready him or herself before stepping into the crucible of competition, said Wright. “Before a meet, I need to have a good warm-up – it’s all about muscle memory,” she said. “When I have nerves and I get uptight, I just need to get through it.” Wright has won both meets she’s competed at so far this season, clearing 10-6 at Gatesville and matching the feat at the Cougar Relays in Pflugerville and is looking for a return to the state meet, which she qualified for last season, finishing ninth. “It was really cool – something I didn’t expect,” she said.

“I want to get back, but I need to be more consistent with my vaults.” According to Lyle Wright, the most important aspect of being a good pole vaulter is having the ability to compartmentalize one’s emotions through thick and thin. “You need a lot of determination because it’s a competitive sport,” said Wright. “You need to be confident and focused.” Brooke Wright said the steady upward curve of improvement which manifests itself in inches is a motivator for her. “I’ve already gotten so much better than when I started,” she said. “I’ve gotten a PR every year and I’m meeting the goals I set for myself.”

SCOTT AKANEWICH PHOTO

Players march onto the field during opening ceremonies for Liberty Hill Youth League at Foundation Park on March 7.

LHYL

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baton is passed from one group to another. “It’s a generational thing – especially in a small town,” he said. “It just keeps going on and on and does my heart good to see all these kids out

here.” Through it all, Riley has been one to not trumpet all his good deeds and has never sought the spotlight. “I tried to tell April (Thomas) I didn’t want to come

out here on the field in front of all these people,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll make this an annual award and people will be inspired.”

Thursday, March 12, 2020

THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

SALES

FOR LEASE

ESTATE SALE Trailers, Power Tools, Hand Tools and much, much, more. We have an estate sale on a 30 acre property off CR 279. The sale will be March 20-22. For more information contact us at 512-294-4602 or for pictures of items visit www.leftoversaustin.com. (3/19p)

PASTURE LEASE AVAILABLE for cattle grazing and production. 24 acres north of Liberty Hill, native grasses, water, perimeter fencing. Call or text (512) 507-5191. (3/12)

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCED DOG GROOMER needed in Liberty Hill. 50% commission including tips. Contact 512968-7316. (4/2p) CAREGIVER NEEDED three days per week. Will consider live-in. Meal preparation, driving, housekeeping. (737) 256-2530. (3/19)

SERVICES TRUSTED HOUSEKEEPING Housecleaning monthly, weekly, bi-weekly. Away with the cobwebs and dust bunnies. (512) 569-7587. Kim Glosson/ owner operator. Christian employees. 15 years experience. (3/26) SELL YOUR UNIQUE home made or grown items locally! The Market At Indian Mound Ranch is currently accepting Vendors for the 2020 Season. Saturday’s 9-3 weather permitting. $20 space fee. 12805 SH 29 W. Send email to imr1873@ gmail.com for details.

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND CALL FOR PROJECTS FOR WILLIAMSON COUNTY/HUD CDBG PROGRAM Williamson County will be awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) FY20 (October 1, 2020-September 30, 2021) funding allocation (1,596,257) to successfully support community development and affordable housing efforts in low and moderate income areas throughout the County. The County is requesting eligible potential projects to submit applications for consideration. Application packets can be obtained at http://www.wilco. org. A public hearing will be held by the Williamson County CDBG ofﬁce on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at 5pm at the Williamson County Courthouse located at 710 Main

Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 (Please use 8th Street entrance). The purpose of the hearing is to announce the CDBG award, receive public comments concerning the CDBG program, and to answer any questions regarding the application process. Comments and concerns will be considered in the development of the 2020 CDBG Action Plan which describes how funds will be utilized. AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA Y CONVOCATORIA DE PROYECTOS PARA LA PROGRAMA HUD CDBG / DEL CONDADO DE WILLIAMSON El Condado de Williamson se ha adjudicado una Beca de Bloque del Desarrollo de Comunidad (Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)) FY20 (1 octubre 2020 a 30 septiembre 2021) la asignación de fondos ($1,596,257) para apoyar con éxito el desarrollo de la comunidad y los esfuerzos de vivienda asequible

HOMES AROUND THE HILL COMING SOON! Bear Creek - 2.3 acres COMING SOON! Bent Tree Rock - Round Rock Bear Creek Ranch - 2.35 acres MH Survey - 25.9 acres Greatwood Estates - Leander Rolling Hills Unit 2 Stonewall Ranch Meadows at Bluebonnet Hill Santa Rita Ranch North Dove Meadows Woods of Fountainwood - Georgetown Whitewater Springs Greystone Ranch - Bertram

Houses For Sale 125 W Bear Creek 4B/2BA 2116 Red Oak Cir 3B/2BA 250 N Bear Creek Rd 2B/2BA + workshop 1616 CR 204 3B/3BA 2601 Greatwood Trl 4B/3BA/3 car garage + pool 103 Rolling Hills Rd 3B/3.5BA 149 Granite Path 3B/2BA 1953 CR 250 3B/2.5BA 209 Estima Ct 3B/2BA 429 Dove Trail 3B/2BA 126 Robert’s Circle 3B/3BA Lots For Sale South Creek Circle Greystone Ranch

Lot 150B Lot 14-B Pending Contract

Sundance Ranch William Hamilton - survey 17.7 acres Santa Rita Ranch Ph 1 Dove Meadows Bear Creek - 7.3 acres Berry Creek (Georgetown)

261 N Showhorse Dr 1200 County Road 284 200 Hedgerow Lane 433 Dove Trail 100 Hidden Bear 31451 Kingsway Rd

Rio Ancho – Cul-de-Sac Lot Stonewall Ranch Georgetown Jenks Branch Autumn Breeze Pruddy Estates Stonewall Ranch Downtown Liberty Hill - 2.88 acres! Liberty Hill – Riverfront

129 Quiet Oak Cove 204 Drystone Trail 5626 FM 3405 107 Matthews Circle 1160 CR 226 101 Pruddy Oaks 83 Prospector Lane 200 Stubbleﬁeld Lane 4155 Ranch Road 1869

3B/2.5BA 4B/4BA 4B/3.5BA 3B/2BA 3B/2BA 6B/4BA Sold! Lot 25 3B/2BA 2 Tracts 4B/2BA 3B/2BA 3B/2BA 5B/3BA 4B/2BA 3B/2BA

2130 sq ft 1806 sq ft 1360 sq ft 2608 sq ft 3060 sq ft 2560 sq ft 1379 sq ft 2909 sq ft 2258 sq ft 1787 sq ft 3473 sq ft

Cheryl Stephens Cheryl Stephens Adrienne Hughes Shane T. White Amy Gandy Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Cheryl Stephens Shane T. White Adrienne Hughes

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

TBD 285,000 269,900 858,000 610,000 396,000 218,000 559,000 315,000 258,900 475,000

$ $

26,000 1.610 acres 130,000 10.03 acres

Shane T. White Shane T. White

$ $ $ $ $ $

475,000 950,000 525,000 258,900 499,900 390,000

2620 sq ft 3550 sq ft 3250 sq ft 1786 sq ft 2037 sq ft 3884 sq ft

Cheryl Stephens Amy Gandy Shane T. White Shane T. White Cheryl Stephens Cheryl Stephens

$ 94,900 1.51 acres $ 1,695 1785 sq ft $ 868,000 31 acres $ 259,900 1838 sq ft $ 199,950 1484 sq ft $ 325,000 1577 sq ft $ 2,550/month 2854 sq ft $ 325,000 2326 sq ft $ 1,950/month 2112 sq ft

Adrienne Hughes Adrienne Hughes Adrienne Hughes Shane T. White Shane T. White Shane T. White Adrienne Hughes Adrienne Hughes Adrienne Hughes

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CLASSIFIED ADS $10/week for Minimum 30 Words Additional Words $0.20 Deadline Tuesday At Noon

(512) 778-5577 or NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.COM en áreas de bajos y moderados ingresos en todo el Condado. El Condado está solicitando posibles proyectos elegibles para presentar las solicitudes para su consideración. Los paquetes de solicitud pueden obtenerse en http://www.wilco.org. Una audiencia pública se llevará a cabo por la oﬁcina del Condado de Williamson CDBG el martes, 17 de marzo 2020 a las 5pm en el Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Williamson ubicado en 710 Main Street, Georgetown, TX 78626 (Utilice la entrada de la calle ocho). El propósito de la audiencia es para anunciar el premio CDBG, recibir

comentarios del público sobre el programa CDBG, y para responder a cualquier pregunta relacionada con el proceso de solicitud. Comentarios y preocupaciones serán consideradas en el desarrollo del Plan de Acción CDBG 2020 que describe cómo se utilizarán los fondos. Bill Gravell, Juez del Condado (3/12)

SUBSCRIBE 512.778.5577

ADVERTISE YOUR AGENCY! Feature Your Listings CALL 512.778.5577

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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Panthers win pair in Liberty Hill Invitational

By SCOTT AKANEWICH Sports Editor The Panthers opened play in the Liberty Hill Invitational March 5 with a pair of games. On Thursday morning, the Purple-and-Gold hosted China Spring and came away with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over the Cougars. Senior left-hander Ryan Flake allowed only one run on one hit in five innings, while chalking up four strikeouts for the win, with Garrett Shull coming on and closing the contest with two scoreless innings of relief, striking out two in the process. The Panthers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Dillon Pogue singled on a 3-and-2 pitch before Andon Thomas doubled to right, which left runners on second and third as Kash Durkin strode to the plate and lashed an RBI single to right for the game’s first run. Thomas then crossed the plate on a China Spring error during a Panthers double-steal and Liberty Hill took a 2-0 advantage. There was no further scoring until the Cougars pulled back a run in the fifth as a pair of Panthers errors gifted the visitors to make it a 2-1 game. However, the home side got an insurance marker in the sixth, when Jackson Knox led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on an error before scoring on a Ryan Leary sacrifice fly, which provided the final margin of victory. Liberty Hill 9, Brownwood 1 Flake went 2-for-3 with a double and his second grand slam of the young season in a 9-1 Liberty Hill win over Brownwood on Thursday afternoon. In fact, Flake’s third-inning blast over the right-field fence was his second bases-full round-tripper against the Lions

Ladies

in six days after having turned the trick in the Panthers’ 9-0 home win on Feb. 29. A pair of RBI singles by Leary and Pogue opened the scoring in the bottom of the first for an early 2-0 lead and the home club didn’t look back. Rowen Guerra tripled home a run in the fourth and scored on a Knox single and Durkin brought Thomas home with a base hit in the fifth before the game ended on a tournament time limit. Along with Flake’s offensive outburst, Thomas went 3-for-3 as every player in the Liberty Hill lineup got at least one hit in the game. As effective as the Panthers were at the plate, starter Ryan Rhoden was just as good on the mound, throwing 59 pitches over five innings while allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. Liberty Hill 6, Aubrey 0 Guerra pitched a shutout for the Panthers in a 6-0 victory against Aubrey on Friday morning, hurling seven scoreless innings and allowing only one hit while striking out nine on 93 pitches. Liberty Hill scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth in support of Guerra, as Kash Durkin sent a one-out double to center, which plated Knox and Pogue to open the scoring, before Guerra provided some run support for himself with an RBI infield single to score Durkin. Gabe Diaz then scored on a Shull bunt for a 4-0 Panthers lead. Liberty Hill added single runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings on a Flake RBI single and a Durkin sacrifice fly. Knox and Pogue both went 2-for-3 on the game, while Durkin drove in three runs in the victory. Liberty Hill 7, Cooper 0 On Friday night, the Panthers easily downed Cooper by a

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Only a minute later in the 25th, Lee sent another corner goalward, which was slotted home by Contreras for her third of the campaign after Wright failed to punch the ball clear on the initial attempt and it was 3-0, which was where the game stood at halftime. It seemed as if each Liberty Hill shot from outside the Salado box kept getting father and farther away from goal and in the 59th minute, Russo mim-

Softball

icked Stephens’ earlier effort, only from 35 yards out for her 19th of the season to increase the advantage to a comfortable 4-0, which was the final margin. According to Liberty Hill head Coach Darren Bauer, the slow start to the contest was attributed to his club’s willingness and ability to weather Salado’s early storm and then capitalize when chances came their way.

ALEX RUBIO PHOTO

Rowen Guerra (#3) is congratulated by teammates Jackson Knox (#8), Dillon Pogue (#15) and Garrett Shull (#6) after scoring a run during the Panthers’ 5-3 home loss to Hutto on March 10. of the game, it was difficult to On March 10, the Panthers pitch to tie the contest at 3-3. score of 7-0 after scoring three runs in the first inning on their hosted Class 5A Hutto and But, Hutto scored a pair of get into any kind of offensive way to victory. came away with only their runs in the top of the sixth to rhythm, said Hutcherson. “We really can’t be ourselves Cole Jefferson, Shull, Leary second loss of the season in a take a lead they never relinand be aggressive when we’re and Flake combined for the 5-3 defeat at the hands of the quished. Liberty Hill loaded the bases behind, especially with two shutout, scattering four hits Hippos. A pair of errors on bad throws in the bottom of the seventh outs because you don’t want to over seven innings. Flake drove in a pair of runs by the home side opened the when Diaz walked to lead off, run yourself into the third out floodgates for the visitors, who Shull was hit by a pitch and of an inning,” he said. “You for the Panthers. LHHS 8, Austin Waves 0 scored three unearned runs off Leary drew a base-on-balls, just have to hope to get hits to but were all stranded when score runs.” On Saturday night, the Pan- starter Shull for an early lead. Both of the Panthers’ losses However, the Panthers came Knox grounded out to the thers closed out the tournathis season have been to highment with another shutout, back in the home half of the pitcher to end the game. Liberty Hill head Coach er-classification clubs in Class beating the Austin Waves, 8-0. third when Leary lifted a sacriLiberty Hill plated single runs fice fly to right to score Guer- Steve Hutcherson could only 6A Odessa and 5A Hutto, but in each of the first, second, ra, followed by Flake single to rue his club’s sloppy defense Hutcherson wasn’t about to third and fifth innings before score Ty Caswell, reducing the in the second, when Hutto ini- make excuses. “We kept ourselves in the tially took the lead. scoring four in the bottom of deficit to 3-2. “We gave them five outs that game and had our chances,” Guerra doubled to center the sixth. Knox got the win with four leading off the bottom of the inning,” he said. “But, credit he said. “So, it stings in the scoreless innings while strik- fifth, then moved over to third to them for capitalizing – we end, but we made too many mistakes.” ing out nine. on a successful sacrifice by can’t make unforced errors.” With his team trailing most Shull before scoring on a wild Hutto 5, Liberty Hill 3

“We knew they were going to come out and high-press us all over the field and try to get an early goal to shock us, then just sit back,” said Bauer. “But, we did a good job of sucking up the pressure.” Bauer credited the Eagles’ defense, but also acknowledged the fact the margin of victory could’ve been greater. “Salado’s defense is very organized,” he said. “But, I don’t worry about whether or not the

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pitches to load the bases. Castleberry then doubled to center on a two-out, 3-and-2 pitch, emptying the bases in the process for a 3-0 lead. Dirner added a two-run double in the fourth and Castleberry hit her second of the game in the , driving home Garza to further add to the Liberty Hill lead. Heiderscheit pitched a complete game, allowing one unearned run on five hits with six strikeouts in five innings of work. Belton 7, Liberty Hill 5 On Saturday, the Lady Panthers faced a triple-header and

came away with two wins in three games. First up was a morning contest against Belton, which Liberty Hill dropped by a score of 7-5. Liberty Hill led by a score of 2-0 after two innings after Garza singled to lead off the bottom of the second and Castleberry also reached with a base hit, then came home on a Cochran double with two outs. However, Belton responded with a pair of runs in each of the next two innings before adding three more in the seventh. Dirner and Garza both drove

in runs with a double and single, respectively, in the home half of the fifth, but it wasn’t enough. Limon was 3-for-4, while Dirner, Garza and Castleberry each had a pair of hits for the Lady Panthers. Kline got the loss on the mound after allowing two runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. Liberty Hill 5, Vandegrift 0 Knight went 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBI in a 5-0 Lady Panthers victory against Vandergrift, as Kirk got the win with four scoreless innings of work before Floyd closed out the contest with an

score should’ve been more or less – our game plan isn’t to score 20, it’s to kill the game off early.” Liberty Hill’s bench boss was also pleased Contreras was able to once again contribute on the score sheet in a big moment. “Kassidy scored an important goal for us earlier in the season,” said Bauer, of Contreras’ strike in a 1-0 victory over Smithson Valley at the Griz-

zly Classic in Leander on Jan. 11. “She’s been working really hard.” With the district title in hand, it’s on to the next stage in the Lady Panthers’ quest for state glory, but with two district games left before the playoffs begin, Bauer said he’s not worried about his team taking its foot off the accelerator. “Not with this group of girls,” he said. “They all know exactly what they need to do.”

Liberty Hill 13, Burnet 0 The Lady Panthers defeated Burnet by a score of 13-0 in a road contest on March 10, with six goals in the first half followed by seven in the second. Liberty Hill (18-1-3, 11-0) will next close out the regular season at home against Lampasas on March 17.

inning of scoreless relief. Liberty Hill led only 2-0 after three frames, but struck for three markers in the fifth. Liberty Hill 8, Rouse 7 In the last game of the day, the Lady Panthers held on for a 8-7 victory against Rouse after taking an 8-0 lead, only to allow the visitors to plate seven runs in the bottom of the third.Knight was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Dirner, Smith and Castleberry each had a pair of hits. Floyd picked up the victory with three scoreless innings of work.

Liberty Hill 11, Bowie 6 On March 10, the Lady Panthers hosted Bowie and prevailed by a score of 11-6. After Liberty Hill starter Cheyenne Floyd allowed the visitors four first-inning runs without recording an out on 25 pitches, Heiderscheit relieved and pitched a complete game for the victory. Bowie scored another run in the top of the second for a 5-0 lead, but the Lady Panthers came roaring back with five in the bottom of the second, which included a Tannis Brewer base hit to drive in two and a Limon sacrifice fly.

After a scoreless third, the teams traded runs in their respective halves of the fourth to make it a 6-6 game before the home side plated a pair in the fifth when Brewer doubled in Brooke Armstrong and Knight with the go-ahead runs. The Lady Panthers piled on three more runs in the sixth to provide the final margin. Brewer was 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI, while Knight, Smith and Lewis each ad a pair of hits in the victory.

TRACK

LAURA COLEMAN PHOTO

Senior Lauren Crow finished third in mixed doubles with Ethan Warrington at the Brwnwood tournament on March 5.

TENNIS

Varsity at Brownwood on March 5 1st and 2nd place girls’ doubles - Sophie Sherman/Mackenzie Coleman will play Ava Ortega/Cassidy Sudekum 3rd place mixed doubles - Ethan Warrington/Lauren Crow 1st place consolation mixed doubles - Patrick Fay/Ava Enstrom 1st place consolation boys’ doubles - Zach Kizer/Ethan

Wukasch JV at Llano on March 5 1st place mixed doubles Colin Garner/Eliza Homorodi 2nd place mixed doubles Analysa Caskey/Will Gray 1st place girls’ doubles - Sophie Stafford/Abby Gates 2nd place girls’ doubles - Olivia House/Kylie Harlow 1st place consolation boys’ doubles - Presten Lane/ Hayden Lane 4th place girls’ singles Emma Neeley

The Liberty Hill track team competed March 5 at the Cougar Relays hosted by Pflugerville Connally. On the girls’ side, Ayanna Donwerth won the 1600 meters in a time of 5:22, while teammates Zaila Smith (5:29) and Madison Sears (5:53) finished second and fourth, respectively. Smith won the 3200 in 11:45, with Donwerth second (11:57) and Sears third (13:30). In the field events, Lady Panthers teammates Kenzy Wise and Lauren Hagerman tied for the high jump title with efforts of 4-10 and Brooke Wright won the pole vault with a 11-0. For the boys, the Panthers finished 1-2-3 in the 800 meters, as Gabe Diaz won in 2:02.37, followed by Ryan Davis (second, 2:07.56) and Jacob Russell (third, 2:11.46). Kevin Berber won the 1600 in 4:34, with Diaz third (4:46). The 4x400 relay team of Christopher Palomo, Berber,

Kevin Berber won the 1600 meters in 4:34 at the Cougar Relays in Pflugerville on March 5. (Photo Courtesy Luedecke Photography) Diaz and Austin Bourgeois won in 3:35. In the field events, Grayson Ramey won the long jump

(20-5.5) and triple jump (437), while Walker Baty won both the shot put (49-0) and the discus (107-10.5), while

Gavin Bailey won the pole vault (12-0).