BELTON — Three Garland Sachse pitchers limited Belton to one hit, and the Mustangs took advantage of four errors in handing the Tigers a 7-2 loss Thursday night in Game 1 of a Class 6A area-round series.

AUSTIN — Temple recorded its best time of the year but didn’t reach the podium, finishing sixth at Mike A. Myers Stadium on a Saturday night when the top three teams were separated by 17 hundredths of a second.

BELTON — When the bats are brought along to accompany Belton’s bread and butter — pitching and defense — the Tigers tend to have success.

Take Friday night at Tiger Field as an example.

Right-hander TJ Johnson provided the pitching, the defensive plays were made when needed and a five-run third inning and three-run sixth were plenty of offense as Belton opened its Class 6A best-of-three bi-district series against Duncanville with an 8-0 triumph.

BELTON — There’s something refreshing about Noah Newman, who is as pleasantly surprised as anybody that he’ll compete tonight in the Class 6A 300-meter hurdles at the UIL Track and Field State Championships.

Today

BELTON — The best part for Belton about the muggy, cloudy and damp Thursday night is that it’s over — a piece of the past. Mansfield hopes it was a glimpse into its playoff future.

HEWITT — There was the performance of a technician (Academy’s Chris Preddie), some perseverance that paid big dividends (Temple Wildcats), two freshman phenoms (Cameron Yoe’s Yierra Flemings and Troy’s Josie Peters), and the emergence of a rising standout who surprised even himself (Belton’s…