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.

Waller High School graduated more than 300 students in the Class of 2013. More than 80 percent of the graduates will be pursuing a post high school level education, in either a college, trade school or technical school.

Nearly 700 seniors took part in the Tomball High School Commencement Ceremony at Reed Arena. Pictured are (from left) Katri Sofjan, Mason Lanch, Andrew Ellison, Gabriella Ertl, Sarah McDaniel and Kaili Birkner (background) Collectively, Tomball High School's Class of 2013 received $4.9 million in scholarship money from various foundations, organizations, colleges, and universities.

BAKER - Harry Lloyd Baker, 97, of Tomball, passed away June 2, 2013. Graveside funeral services were held at Klein Memorial Park Cemetery-Pinehurst.

BARBRE - Johan Parker Barbre, 51, of Houston, passed away June 3, 2013. Visitation was held and funeral services were conducted at Klein Funeral Home.

BOLLFRASS - Charles Andrew “Buddy” Bollfrass, 76, of Spring, passed away June 5, 2013. Visitation was held and funeral services were conducted at Trinity Episcopal Church. Interment followed at Houston National Cemetery.

BORNEMAN - William James Borneman, 66, of Houston, passed away June 7, 2013. Memorial services were held at Klein Funeral Home Chapel Cy-Fair.

BROUSSARD - Maria Claudia Broussard, 57, of Houston, passed away June 3, 2013. Visitation was held and services were conducted at Klein Funeral Home. Interment followed at Klein Memorial Park.

CARTER - Olive Carter, 95, of Magnolia, passed away June 6, 2013. Visitation was held and funeral services were conducted at Magnolia Funeral Home. Interment followed at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

CAVE - George Thomas “Tom” Cave, 87, of Houston, passed away June 1, 2013. Visitation was held at Klein Funeral Home. A celebration service was conducted at Champion Forest Baptist Church. Interment followed at Wilson Chapel Cemetery in Kaufman County, Texas.

HAMILTON - William Walker “Chip” Hamilton, 55, of Houston, passed away June 3, 2013. Funeral services were held at Klein Funeral Home.

HARGRAVE - Jeanette Gloria Hargrave, 86, of Cypress, passed away June 7, 2013. Visitation was held at Klein Funeral Home-Tomball. Funeral services were conducted at St. John Lutheran Church. Interment followed at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery in Houston.

HORTON - Hardy Lester Horton, 95, of Houston, passed away June 7, 2013. Funeral services were held at Klein Funeral Home-Tomball with Rev. Lucian Stohler officiating. Interment followed at Salem Lutheran Cemetery.

PECHT - Sidney Pecht, 86, of Tomball, passed away June 8, 2013. Arrangements were entrusted to Addison Funeral Home.

PEREZ – MAJUL - Jeannette G. Perez-Majul, 68, of Houston, passed away June 3, 2013. Visitation was held at Klein Funeral Home Cy-Fair. Funeral services were conducted at Copperfield Baptist Church with Rev. Larry Womack officiating.

ROBEN - Mae C. Roben, 87, of Magnolia, passed away June 7, 2013. Arrangements were entrusted to Magnolia Funeral Home.

TOWNSEND - Karen DiGravio Townsend, 68, of Spring, passed away May 30, 2013. Memorial services were held at John Wesley United Methodist Church in Houston.

VANDERGRIFF - Marilyn “Mimi” Celeste Vandergriff, 72, of Magnolia, passed away June 2, 2013. Visitation was held at Klein Funeral Home. Memorial services were conducted at Cypress Creek Christian Church. A private graveside service followed in Austin.

WILSON - David “Mike” Wilson, 58, of Spring, passed away May 31, 2013. A memorial service was held at Klein Funeral Home Chapel.

ONGOING EVENTS:

MONDAYS:
Games, Tomball Com-munity Center, 221 Market St., 10 a.m.
Walking Inside/Outside, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Road, 7:30 a.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
Line Dance, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 10 a.m. Sign up by calling, 936-931-5030.
Canasta, Hockley Com-munity Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., noon. For details, call 936-931-5030.
TUESDAYS:
Open Craft Night, Graceview Baptist Church Education Center, 25510 Tomball Parkway, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bring a craft to work on. For more information, call 832-216-5093.
Depression Bipolar support group, Tomball United Methodist Church, 1603 Baker Dr., in Tomball, 7 p.m. For more information, call 281-259-5901.
Rotary Club of Magnolia, Celeste Graves Education Support Center, 31141 Nichols Sawmill Rd., noon. For more information, call 281-380-0332.
Quilting Group, Hockley Community Center, 1 p.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
WEDNESDAYS:
Canasta, Hockley Com-munity Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., noon. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
'88' Dominoes, Hockley Community Center, 1 p.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
Children's Movie Time, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. Call 936-931-5030 for details. 
THURSDAYS:
Water Color Class, Tomball Community Center, 221 Market Street, 10 a.m. to noon. For more information and to sign up call 281-255-6221.
Dancercise, Tomball Com-munity Center, 221 Market St., 1 p.m. Call 281-255-6221 for details.
Walking Inside/Outside, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 7:30 a.m.
Zumba, Tomball Com-munity Center, 221 Market St., 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 281-255-6221.
FRIDAYS: 
Hand-n-foot, Tomball Community Center, 221 Market St., 12:30 p.m. Call 281-255-6221 for details.
Senior Covered Dish luncheon and games, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, call 936-931-5030.


LOCAL EVENTS:
June 17, 24 Macedonia Cemetery Association Annual Barbeque, June 29, Macedonia Methodist Church, 23311 Macedonia Rd., in Hockley, next to Oil Ranch. Food, games, silent auction and door prizes. For details, visit macedoniacemetery.com.
June 18 Non-Fiction Book Club, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 3 to 5 p.m. Group will review "Stiff: the curious life of human cadavers," by Mary Roach. For more information, call 832-559-4200.
June 18 Senior Citizen Bus Trip to San Antonio to tour  the Toyota Manufacturing Plant, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washing-ton Rd. Call 936-931-5030 for details.
June 18 Room Art: Painting, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, Teens and tweens ages 10-18. Call 832-559-4200 for details.
June 18, 19 Santikos Free Summer Movies, Silverado Imax, 24720 Tomball Parkway, 10 a.m. Featured movie is "Rise of the Guardians." Arrive early for best seating.
June 19 Waller ISD to Hold District Site-Based Decision Making Committee meeting, Administration Building's Board Room, 2214 Waller St., 4 p.m. For more information, call 936-931-3685.
June 19 Tomball Community Center Trip to The Texas Relay Station for lunch and on to Bernhardt Winery for a tour and tasting. For more information, call 281-255-6221.
June 20 Diabetes Support Group, Gateway Church, 25314 Zube Rd. in Hockley, 6:30 p.m. 45 minute low impact exercise. For more information, call 281-924-1256
June 20 Superhero Movie Marathon, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 1:30 to 9 p.m. For more information and the movie titles, call 832-559-4200.
June 22 Walk Tomball, 201 Elm St., 8 a.m. Breakfast stop at El Emperador, 601 W. Main with $1.50 breakfast tacos and $1.50 drinks.
June 22 Tomball Farmers Market at the corner of FM 2920 and Cherry Street in Historic Downtown Tomball, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
June 23 Just for Today AA group, First United Methodist Church in Waller, 7 p.m. For more information, call 713-870-1010. 
June 24 Yarnmania Arts and Crafts Sessions, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
June 24 After Austen Book Club, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 7 p.m. Group will discuss "The Missing Manuscript of Jane Austen," by Syrie James. For more information, call 832-559-4200.
June 24 Jungle Jim's Wild Encounters, Lone Star College Tomball Community Library, 3 to 4 p.m. Learn about bugs, spiders, retiles and more. All ages welcome. For more information, call 832-559-4235.

MONTHLY EVENTS:
June 20 Word Origin Explorers, Hockley Com-munity Center, 28515 Old Washington Rd., 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 936-931-5030.
June 24 Monthly Support Group, Hockley Community Center, 28515 Old Washing-ton Road, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Call 936-931-5030 for more information.

GET OUTTA TOWN!:
"OLD RINGERS" Houston: Now - June 29 Theatre Suburbia, 4106 Way Out West Dr. For more information, visit theatresuburbia.org.
SALEM SAINTS OPEN 2013 - Spring: June 18 Augusta Pines Golf Club, 18 Augusta Pines Drive. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. For more information, visit salemlutheran.com.
HOUSTON SUMMER BOAT SHOW - Houston: June 19-23 Reliant Center. For more information, visit reliantpark.com.
SYMPHONY STRINGS PRESENTS PATRIOTISM - The Woodlands: June 22 The George and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Library, 8125 Ashlane Way, 2 to 3 p.m. Enjoy a free, family-oriented concert performed by members of the Conroe Symphony Orchestra. For more information, visit countylibrary.org or call 936-442-7728.