Celebrating an exceptionally successful youth baseball season, the Clifton Youth Sports Association qualified three teams to participate in the Texas Teenage Baseball Association State Tournaments last week. And certainly, all three teams in the 12U, 8U and 6U divisions became winners in their own right simply by advancing to the state championship tournaments.

Achieving a mark of success unexpected from the young up-and-coming Meridian 8U baseball team, the underaged but determined Jackets held their own at the Texas Teenage Baseball Association’s (TTAB) District Tournament held June 26-29 at the Posey-Spitzer Athletic Complex in Clifton. Playing in the double-elimination TTAB District Championship, Meridian opened with an exciting 12-7 victory over Blum Monday night before losing to Covington in the second round.

With Clifton Youth Sports Association baseball teams riding the wave of success during the heat of the summer, the young Cubs have three teams participating in the Texas Teenage Baseball Association State Tournaments this week. Remaining undefeated on the season, the Clifton Cub 12U squad coached by Chris Evans, Jeff Harris and Dayton Isaacs swept through the winner’s bracket in the TTAB 12U District Championship held June 2628 in Whitney.

After competing in the North Bosque Baseball & Softball Leagues with teams from Bosqueville, China Spring, Clifton and Valley Mills, Meridian youth baseball only advanced one team to the Texas Teenage Baseball Association’s (TTAB) District Tournaments. But the young Yellowjackets are making the most of their opportunity.

After enjoying success in a number of sports during the 2022-23 school year, the Meridian boys and girls athletes have been braving the consistent 100-plus degree temperatures to work hard toward building up to higher ground. For all Meridian ISD incoming seventh-12th graders, Summer Strength, Conditioning & Skills Camp began June 12 with athletes reporting to the Yellowjacket Gymnasium at 9 a.m.

After beginning the season with a tradition Opening Day event, the Clifton Youth Sports Association has enjoyed its most success baseball and softball season in years. Clifton advanced four youth baseball teams to the Texas Teenage Baseball Association’s (TTAB) District Tournaments, while Clifton sent four youth softball teams to the Texas Teenage Softball Association District Tournament.

Refusing to be hampered by the persistent temperatures topping the century mark, Clifton junior high and high school athletes have been showing up in force to participate in the Summer Speed and Power Camp 2023.

Despite dipping daily attendance numbers, the Meridian Yellowjackets opted to play up to remain in 11-man football rather than accept their place among the six-man football ranks following the 2022-24 University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment last February. But interestingly, all other Meridian sports – volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, golf and track – competed at the Class 1A level as assigned during the 2022-23 school year.

Although the Clifton High School baseball program came up short in their quest to return to the Class 3A postseason tournament for the first time in four seasons, the Cubs took steps in the right direction. Rewarded for their efforts, the Cubs drew all-District 17-3A accolades with senior outfielder Carter Tunnell and junior infielder Clay Kennedy being named to the second team, while senior infielder Trent Guinn and senior pitcher Samuel Cecil received honorable mention nods.

Although enthusiasm soared after winning their second game of the season, the Meridian Lady Jacket softball team remained a work in progress throughout the 2023 Texas high school softball season. Fielding a young team with a mix of experience, the Lady Jackets showed signs of being diamonds in the rough while battling in District 12 comprised of both 2A and 1A teams.