Dumas' Aaliyah Chairez, Clarendon's Harrison Howard are Happy State Bank Athletes of the Week
Aaliyah Chairez, Dumas, Softball
The Demonettes have had an impressive season, yet have not gotten the credit they deserve. To make the playoffs in a district of Pampa, Randall and Canyon is no easy task. That's evidenced by the fact that Dumas plays Randall this week with Canyon taking on Pampa in the Region I-4A quarterfinals.
The fact is, though, Dumas has been outstanding. The Demonettes have cruised through the playoffs thanks in large part to the challenging district they play in. It also helps that they have a competitor on their team like Aaliyah Chairez.
All the Demonettes deserve a shoutout for how they handled San Elizario in the area round, but Chairez was in a world of her own. She slammed a home run in the first game, a 12-2 Demonette victory, before going 3-for-4 with two triples in the second contest, a 21-0 win en route to the sweep.
"Aaliyah has been outstanding for this team both offensively and defensively," Dumas coach Carlyn Tolleson said of her catcher. "She's been phenomenal at the plate and is a key to our defensive success behind the plate."
Harrison Howard, Clarendon, Baseball
Clarendon is another team that also doesn't receive the credit it deserves for its excellent play. The Broncos overcame some struggles last Thursday against West Texas before dominating the second game to advance to the area round after a strong regular season.
Easton Frausto was critical in that first contest, while Wilson Ward was essential in the second. Harrison Howard was massive in both and turned in a stat sheet deserving of Athlete of the Week honors.
Howard, a catcher, was one of just two Broncos with multiple hits in the first game as he went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. In the second game, he was 3-for-4 with two runs and five RBI — while tossing five strikeouts and not allowing a hit in two innings on the mound.
"He played great this week," Clarendon coach Yancy Molloy said. "Locked in at the plate. Seeing the ball of of the hand and stepping up when we needed him too! Great player and an even better kid."
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Dumas' Aaliyah Chairez, Clarendon's Harrison Howard are Happy State Bank Athletes of the Week
