Sports Briefs

March 20, 2025

By Clay Whittington

The Belton Journal

Lake Belton standout sprinter Kendrick Jones Jr. recently won the 400-meter run at the prestigious Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational.

With elite athletes from schools of all classifications in attendance, the junior — a two-time 200 state champion and defending long jump state champion — easily finished atop the 68-person field, completing the lap in 45.27 seconds.

His closest competitor was 1.33 slower.

Thanks to Jones’ showing, the Broncos finished in a tie for 32nd place with 10 points.

Complementing the outing, Julian Walker was 11th (22 feet, 5.29 inches) in the long jump, and Caleb Lopez was 27th (130-7.72) in the discus.

Additionally, Lake Belton was 19th (1:27.77) in the 800 relay, 39th (43.08) in the 400 relay and 40th (3:44.18) in the 1,600 relay.

A pair of Tigers were also in attendance.

Christian Porter was 16th (48.68) in the 400, and Logan Lamberte was 18th (13-3.78) in the pole vault.

In the girls division, Lake Belton’s Abigail Rydberg (12th, pole vault, 11-0.28), Dannika Kelley (31st, high jump, 4-11.84) and Chelsie Miller (54th, 400, 1:00.52) competed individually, while the Lady Broncos were 30th (48.32) in the 400 relay and 34th (1:43.30) in the 800 relay.

All four of Belton ISD’s programs will be back in action Thursday, when Lake Belton hosts the annual Bronco Relays.

Baseball

The Broncos and Tigers are just days away from opening their District 16-5A schedules against one another.

Lake Belton will host the first of two consecutive encounters between the squads Tuesday at 7 p.m. The teams will switch sites for the series finale on March 28. 

The Broncos (10-3-2) conclude their nondistrict schedule by traveling to College Station on Friday, while the Tigers enter district with a 6-7 overall record after going 2-3 at the Richardson Lake Highlands tournament.

In the opener, Belton defeated Denison 13-4 as Gage Flores went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, while Cole Haisler struck out four batters in five innings. 

The Tigers followed by falling 4-3 to Richardson and 5-1 to Richardson Berkner before beating Garland Naaman Forest 2-0 as Oakley Torres and Flores each finished with two hits. 

In the finale, Richardson Pearce earned a 6-5 victory to spoil two-hit showings from Austin Wood, Rayshaun Peoples and Torres. 

The Broncos split a pair of games against Austin Westlake during spring break, falling 3-1 to the Chaparrals on the road before beating them 11-10 at home. 

Eli Vaughn emerged as the winning pitcher at Lake Belton, and teammate Cameron Bartz went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Ty Green provided the game-winning hit in his lone at bat.

Golf

The Tigers and Broncos will host the annual Belton ISD tournament today at Killeen’s Stonetree Golf Course.

Then, on Tuesday, the Lady Tigers and Lady Broncos travel to the same site to begin the District 16-5A tournament. the final round will be played Wednesday.