Warren’s Eric Gosset leads a pack of runners around the turn during the boys’ varsity 800-meter run at the Judson Rocket Relays. Gosset won the race with a time of 1:56:69. Photo by John Albright

By Pat Turner
Contributing Writer

Several players and teams had big weeks in soccer, track, baseball and softball this past week.

Clark highlighted District 28-5A boys and girls’ soccer.

The Lady Cougars clinched a playoff this past week with victories over league-leader Marshall (1-0) and Warren (3-1), while the Cougars are within striking distance of a league title.

It was especially big for the Lady Cougars. Prior to this past week, playoff hopes were up in the fair. Clark received a boost with a win over O’Connor. Then, things really got better with a victory over Marshall.

Clark used a free kick from Sarah Klenke and stout defensive work from goalkeeper Christina Oswalt, plus Brianna Tammaro, Clarissa Colen, Megan Stoffel and Amanda Mello to seal the victory.

Clark then used two goals from Taira Hernandez and Klenke for a 3-1 win over Warren.

“We knew after we beat Marshall we needed one win to get into the playoffs,” Clark coach Walter Rule said. “Until you get that win, it’s hard to relax. We wanted to get it as soon as we could. “A week ago we were just hoping to get into the playoffs. The, we go and beat O’Connor and Marshall. That was a great moment for us. It opened the door and set the table for us to finish one, two, three or four.”

Although the Lady Rams suffered their second league loss in 29 matches, they are still closing in on a title.

Marshall bounced back from the Clark setback with a 5-1 win over Holmes.

Clark’s boys started the week by tying Marshall (1-1), but the Cougars followed with a 1-0 victory over Warren.

The Cougars, who got their lone goal from Michael McCarroll, go into this week needing to win two of its final three matches.

The Cougars played Del Rio earlier in the week and close out the season against Taft and Jay.

“We’re playing well,” Clark coach Eddie Ashley said. “The win over Warren was big for us. Our defense did a job of holding Warren. We made some big plays.”

O’Connor, which is also in the playoff hunt, had a big week. The Panthers pulled out a 1-0 victory over Holmes and used hat tricks from Jacob Rodriguez and Matt Flores to claim an 8-0 win over Stevens.

In softball, Taft has made a full recovery from its 28-5A opening loss with two straight league victories, including this past week’s 13-0 thumping of Warren.

Marshall pitcher Brianna Sanchez helped the Lady Rams bounce back from a loss to Taft with victories over Jay (7-0) and Clark (9-2).

Sanchez struck out all nine batters she faced against Jay and limited Clark to four hits.

Pitching was also the name of the game in this past week’s baseball action.

The highlight came from Stevens pitcher Jonathan Perez, who tossed a no-hitter and struck out 11 batters in a 2-0 win over Clark.

Ory Kalenkosy sparked Marshall with a three-hitter in a 2-1 win over Del Rio.

As far as hitting goes, O’Connor was the hot team in registering victories over Taft (13-6) and Taft (10-2).

Will Gonzalez and Mike McGraw led the victory against Taft with two-run home runs.

In track, Marshall runner Joey Roberts turned in the area’s best 400-meter time of the season with a 48.23 at Judson’s Rocket Relays.

O’Connor’s Brantley Vaughn continues to shine. She started the Harlandale Relays by winning the long jump with a leap of 16-3.

After helping O’Connor to a gold medal in the 400-meter relay, she followed with gold medals in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles, before running a leg on the Panthers; winning 1,600-meter relay.