Taylor Softball Coach Melvin Jenkins and his Lady Ducks softball squad bowed out of the 2009 UIL playoffs 1-0, in a nine inning nail-biter with the Huffman-Hargrave Lady Falcons Tuesday night at Bryan High School. 

    Taylor pitcher Karyn Roznovak went the distance toeing the rubber for the Ducks scattering
six hits on the evening and tallying 3 strikeouts. The senior led a Lady Ducks defense that left Falcon runners on base and scoreless for eight innings, including a bases loaded challenge in the first.

     The Ducks were stymied at the plate all night by 17 strikeouts from Huffman pitcher Wiggins. The
Ducks did rally with two outs in the 9th, but the continuation of an error filled play off the bat of senior Jillian McQuillen saw lead runner Brianna Yanez thrown out at home to end the game. There was an overthrow at 3rd base, but a speedy backup by their LF and her throw home proved to be the difference.

    The Lady Ducks ended a great season in the regional quarterfinals at 20-11 and finished with a District 24-AAA runner-up finish at 8-4.

    THS Assistant Band Director David Motl has just announced that his non-varsity band earned "sweepstakes" at the recent UIL Concert and Sight-Reading contest held in Caldwell last Tuesday.

    Please congratulate these students on their hard work and the prestigious award they have earned.  The sweepstakes winners include: Damian Alayon, Felicia Alderete, Francisco Araujo, Ashley Bengtson, Josie Booms, Kristina Bourdeau, Arthur Boussart, Deyanira Castillo, Augustine Cervantez, Mark Chaidez, Daniel Duran, Alyssa Garza, Laura Gonzales, Mary Griffin, Seth Harvey, Ana Hernandez, Anthony Hernandez, Jonathan Holman, Nathan Jones, Chelsea Kemp, Zach Lindsay, Abigail Luna, Abraham Oranday, and Conner Vanecek.

    Coach Vicki Hall's Taylor tennis squad set a new standard advancing to State this year as both girls doubles team competed in Austin Monday. Taylor seniors Brianna Yanez and Karyn Roznovak won 1st place at Regionals but despite winning their opening set Monday, lost their quarterfinal match to Argyle's Andrea Breathard and Lacy Blake by a count of 7-6 (7-5), 3-6,3-6.

    Teammates Jessica Hilscher (senior) and Kristen Cuba (sophomore) set the new THS standard by placing 2nd at Regionals and earning their state tournament berth.  Playing the #1 seed proved to be a tough challenge for the Lady Duck upstarts as they lost their quarterfinal match 2-6, 4-6 to Kaufman's Katie Mitchell and Vibi Patel.

    Hall was proud of both teams, despite the losses.  "When you advance to State and you are one of the final eight pairs playing, you have feel successful."