The Falcons put together a real team effort in repeating as the champions of the 12-team Diboll/Central Rock n' Fire Tournament in the Lufkin area. Lacking some of the individual highlights from last year's tourney, the Falcons combined good pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting to improve on last year's pool play record, going 3-1 on Thursday and Friday to capture the #1 seed going into Saturday's single-elimination bracket play.

In the first game on Saturday, junior Andrew Brockner took the mound and helped his own cause with a 2-run homer in the first inning to give the Falcons an early lead. However, the Central Bulldogs battled back with great hitting of their own and were only kept at bay by exceptional defensive plays by sophomores Chase Adams (3B) and William Watt (2B). As time expired, the score was 5-5, creating a tie-breaker scenario. Fortunately for the Falcons, they had advanced more runners to third base and got the nod going into the Championship game. (Hats off to Central for hanging in with excellent hitting against very good pitching).

In the Championship game, the Falcons found themselves in familiar territory, again facing host Diboll, a repeat matchup of the 2010 final. Senior side-armer Caleb Martin started on the mound for the Falcons and, with the defense once again providing the needed support, they were able to maintain a 1-1 tie going into the fifth-inning. In the top of the fifth, Martin got things started offensively with a clean single to right-center to open up a 6-run inning as the Falcons bats came alive. Martin went two for two in the inning, adding a 2-RBI double, as the Falcons took advantage of some costly errors to take a six-run lead. But the Lumberjacks were not ready to roll over and play dead. Diboll senior Carlos Medina (RF) took a full-count fastball from Falcon freshman Vance Moody over the left field fence to start a 4-run rally by the home team. It would not be enough as the Falcons added a run in the top of the 7th, and held on for the 8-5 win.

Congratulations to all the players, and especially to Falcons head coach Shelby Thomas for piecing together an effective tournament strategy and making consistently impressive (and difficult) calls throughout the three-day event. Special thanks to all of the teams that participated and particularly to Diboll head coach Edd Trotter for allowing us this opportunity and once again putting together a fun and exciting tournament. Thanks also to Central head coach David Hooten for again making his field available. Thank you, coaches!

The Falcons Junior High team continued their unbeaten streak on Tuesday, capturing both wins in a daytime double-header against homeschool rival MtB Mustangs.

In the opener, the Falcons strung together eight hits over four innings to outlast the Mustangs 8-6. The Falcons scored in every inning of the time-limited game, putting three runs on the board in the second. They scored two more in the top of the third to take a 6-2 lead into the break. In the bottom of the third, however, the Mustangs answered with three runs of their own, aided by first baseman Colt Metz, who took a 2-0 fastball over the left field fence (300+ feet) for the only homerun of the day. In the fourth inning, the Falcons took advantage of a hit batsman, followed by timely hits from pitcher Trevor Lang and first baseman Tyler Brockner to take a 3-run lead into the bottom of the fourth. The Mustangs would put one more on the board, but it wouldn't be enough as reliever Tom Brockner struck out the last two Mustangs batters to seal the win.

In the second game, the Mustangs took an early 2-0 lead as Tim Shell and Brandon Lout scored on a walk, a hit, and aggressive baserunning. The Falcons came back with two of their own in the bottom of the first with hits from Garrett Mullican and Tyler Brockner. The Falcons scored again in the second, third and fourth innings while giving up only one run to the Mustangs during that stretch. The Mustangs would put up four more runs in the fifth and the sixth, but never quite caught up with the Falcons bats, supported by solid pitching from Tyler Brockner, who went the distance for the 10-7 win. Brockner had eight strikeouts (including five in a row at one point), and helped his own cause with a single and a triple. Garrett Mullican went three-for-three at the plate, while the Falcons also benefited from hits by Tom Brockner, Treet Williams, Ian Shinn and Campbell Christian.

Great job, Falcons! Keep it up!

In a grueling 16-team tournament in Katy, the Northside Falcons Junior High team advanced further than any former Falcons team by continuing their unbeaten streak right up to the Championship Game on Saturday.

On Thursday, Campbell Christian pitched a complete game as the Falcons dominated the Village School 14-2 in the early game. The streak continued in the late game as Tyler Brockner pitched a complete game of his own to oust the 2009 champions St. Vincent de Paul in a 7-3 victory that was closer than the score might indicate.

On Saturday, The Falcons faced a newly strengthened team from The Woodlands Christian Academny to determine who would advance to the Championship Game. Tom Brockner and Garrett Mullican combined to hold off the Warriors in a 10-9 victory and set up a matchup against perennial powerhouse Ft. Bend Baptist Academy, who defeated Pasadena First Baptist in the lower bracket.

The game started well behind the solid pitching of Trevor Lang who held the bats of Ft. Bend at bay for several innings. The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a passed ball. But the Falcons came back with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to take a lead that would hold through the fourth inning. The Falcons added a run in the second (3-1), but the Eagles fought back to make it 3-2 in the top of the third. Brandon Walker scored on a passed ball to make it 4-2 before the Eagles brought in their ace, who held the Falcons scoreless the rest of the game. Meanwhile the Eagles edged back and went ahead 5-4 in a three run inning. They would add two more to take a 7-4 lead that would hold through the final out.

In the earlier game, First Baptist held off TWCA to take third place. Special thanks go out to Greg Koch and Faith West Academy for hosting this excellent tournament every year. Thanks also to all the other teams who participated. Again, this is the furthest any Falcons Junior High team has gone in this tournament and we are proud of all of you. Great game. Great tournament. Great season. Keep it up!

After going undefeated during the regular NHAL season, the Falcons entered the NHAL district tournament as the #1 seed and did not disappoint.

In the playoff game, the Falcons faced very stiff competition from the host Faith West Eagles (#4) and their ace pitcher Jackson Arnold. Despite difficulties at the plate, the Falcons managed to prevail with several timely hits, aggresive baserunning and solid pitching from Brandon Walker and Trevor Lang. The game would ultimately go three extra innings after time expired, with the Falcons pulling out a 7-6 victory.

That set up a contest against the #3 seed Northland Cougars, who had beat #2 seed Cypress Christian in the other playoff game. It would turn out to be no contest as the Falcons bats came alive, scattering multiple hits in multiple innings behind the shutout performance of pitcher Tyler Brockner. The final score (15-0) correctly illustrates the solid performance in all areas of the game (pitching, hitting, defense and baserunning).

Congrautlations Falcons on putting it all together in the final game of the season, bringing home the championship trophy, and ending with a Falcons-best 18-3 record (.857 winning percentage)! Way to go!