Baseball

Sports weren’t integrated in 1931 but that didn’t stop a local team, the Ennis Colored Eagles, from establishing a stellar reputation. The team’s games were often featured in the Ennis Daily News as well as in Dallas papers. Coached by C.C. Stevenson, a Christmas Day battle with the Terrell Colored Tigers gave the so-called “Negro Eleven” a pounding 54-7 win. The Eagles’ star at the time was a player with the last name of Steed, a 230- lb fullback who made a 90-yard run, three 50-yard runs and a 40-yard jaunt during the game.

Senior catcher Nate Aguinaga (5’10, 205), already named All-District in football and basketball, added another piece of hardware when he garnered a share of the Offensive MVP honors. He hit .303 and paced the Jackets with 23 hits and 15 RBI. The jock-of-all-trades topped the club in at bats (87) and in extra-base hits (10), one of them a jack.

Sophomore Dylan Clark (.307, 23 hits), a talented pitcher (3-1, 3.12), was voted the district’s co-Newcomer of the Year.

HC Joe West and the Stingers, who were 13-13 overall, finished 7-5 and second in District

It didn’t go as planned for an Ennis baseball team who had won back-to-back Game Threes in the state playoffs. Plus, they had senior pitcher Nick Novy, who was unbeaten all season, starting on the hill. He had won both of the decisive third games against North Forney and Texas High.

Last Saturday’s 1-1 series with District 14-5A rival Corsicana, played in Duncanville, began in the haze of a falling mist. Though it lasted just a half inning, when it lifted the Lions were behind 4-0 and Novy was no longer on the mound.