Official site of Tribune News serving Tomball, Magnolia and Waller

They told themselves all year they were supposed to do this.

Yet, after the final out was recorded and the Tomball Cougars were officially the Texas Class 4A state baseball champions, the emotions were still overwhelming. Pitcher Robert Dugger raised his hands in the air and let out a loud scream, while others rushed to mob him near the pitcher's mound.

Tomball defeated Wichita Falls Rider and Corpus Christi Moody in the state tournament last weekend to bring home Tomball's first championship trophy.
After starting the season on a 22-game winning streak, winning a district title and cruising through the playoffs with just one loss, the season culminated with a trip to Round Rock and the state tournament.

First up the Cougars faced an experienced Wichita Falls Rider team and coach Doug Rush went to his senior leader Nick Banks on the mound.

Starting for just the second time all season, Banks pitched all seven innings, while striking out 10 batters.

It didn't look good at the beginning for Banks, as Rider loaded the bases with just one out. A squeeze play by Rider backfired, as Banks fielded the bunt and tossed it to catcher Casey Smith for a force play, before ending the threat with a strikeout.

Banks then provided himself some offensive support, as he jacked a solo home run over the right field fence to give Tomball an early 1-0 lead.

Rider would fight back in the third inning; however, as they touched Banks for two runs and grabbed the lead.

The Cougars then did what they have done all year – put together the big inning. They plated four runners and grabbed a 5-2 lead.

From there it was a pitcher's duel, as neither team would plate another runner. Banks recorded the final out and Tomball was headed to the title game.

The Cougars faced Corpus Christi Moody in the championship and sent their ace, Robert Dugger, to the mound.

However, Dugger began his night on the base paths in electric fashion.

After the Cougars had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI single by Eric Dunbar, Dugger stepped to the plate. He laced a line drive right at the Moody left fielder, who tried to dive and make a play. The ball skipped past the fielder and rolled to the outfield fence. Dugger would race around the bases for an inside-the-park three-run homer, giving himself a 4-0 cushion before throwing a pitch.

Dugger would struggle a bit to open the bottom half of the inning, as he allowed back-to-back singles from Moody hitters. Dugger would stay low in the strike zone with his next pitch, however and induced a ground ball to third baseman Robbie Gillen, who started the inning ending double play.

Dugger would cruise through the middle innings, until Moody scored their only run in the bottom of the sixth.

Dugger headed to the mound in the bottom of the seventh, needing three outs to help the Cougars earn the title.

He started the frame with a walk, but immediately induced two groundouts, leaving one out for all the marbles.

In dramatic fashion Digger struck out the Moody batsman swinging for the final out and prepared for the forthcoming dog pile at the pitcher's mound.

At long last, the Cougars were state champs.

Finally.

Fizzy is the perfect name for this little boy – his personality is positively effervescent. This vivacious young guy will steal your heart in no time with his cute antics and puppy kisses. Fizzy loves to play with his toys and he has the cutest little dog shake ever. After a good play session he's ready to curl in your lap for some love and massage time. Fizzy is a sucker for that spot just over his tail. He is a wonderful young boy that will add joy, love and laughter to your day. If you would like to give Fizzy a loving home, email aar.dogs.cats @gmail.com. For information, call 281-290-0121 or visit www.aartomball.org.

You would think that after cutting off the end of my finger, my story would come to an end. But it didn't!
During the last few weeks I have been reminiscing about my lifelong bumps, bruises, cuts and scars I have received. Last week I shared the gruesome story about the loss of the end of my finger to a boat lift.
My son and I were visiting Uncle Ed and Aunt Brenda for a weekend of fishing at Cedar Creek Lake in East Texas. We were several hours from home and in a place we had never stayed. It was at this location that a part of me will always remain. (Literally, not figuratively)
When the accident occurred, people around me jumped into action. A good group of people always hang around marinas and these folks really came to my rescue. I was seated in a chair near a picnic table and the remainder of my finger was placed in a bag of ice. We began our trip to Athens in an ambulance, with my son at my side and Uncle Ed following behind.
As I arrived at the hospital, the doctor began the process of numbing my finger and I must say the shot process was more painful than the actual accident. Once numbed and bandaged up I was released from the hospital with a prescription for pain pills.
"How long do I have before the numbness wears off Doc", I asked.
"About four to six hours," was his answer – and with that my son and I climbed into Uncle Ed's truck for a ride back to the lake.
As we drove down the road, I began to contemplate my situation. I am a man who enjoys the comfort of my own possessions. My own bed with my own sheets,  my own pillow and my own shower. I guess you get my drift, but I knew that the pain would be hitting me in several hours and if I did not get home right away, I could be holed up in a fishing camp, sleeping in a travel trailer for two or three days.
I knew I would not want to make the trip home once the numbness wore off. Yes, I knew I had a pain prescription to take, but since my mind was clear and with no medicine in my system other than the multiple numbing shots in my finger, I made a firm decision to head home. I asked my son to go with me, as he gave me comfort knowing he could at least make a phone call if needed.
With my hand bandaged up, completely numb and a cell phone in hand, off we traveled from east Texas headed toward Hufsmith in my 1982 Chevy El Camino. It was supposed to be a three hour trip.
As we traveled down I-45 south my mind began to contemplate the next few days and then I started to realize how much my life may change.
I had never really looked at the injury and I thought at the time I had lost over half of my finger. I soon began to realize it may affect many aspects of my life from writing, typing, shooting, playing musical instruments, working with certain tools and all kinds of other things.
As my mind pondered on these things, the unexpected occurred again! A BLOW OUT! My right front tire suddenly gave up the ghost and there we sat on the southbound side of I-45 in one of those stretches where there wasn't a building in sight.
My son was about ten years old at the time and he was not experienced in mechanical issues, but as I sat there discussing with him what our task was about to be – the Good Lord is my witness – a large black thunder cloud developed within a few short minutes and dumped a massive amount of rain on us just as we were getting out of the car to start changing the flat!
I quickly wrapped my hand in a plastic bag and started giving my son step by step instructions on what to do.
I dared not strain myself or try to use my injured hand for fear of breaking the stitches open.
The story is still not over! More remains for next week!

- Clifford