The Dogwood Circle Power Rankings (Week 1)

Welcome everyone to our new venture, the Dogwood Circle Power Rankings. Every week we'll dive in to how we rank the Dogwood Circle's seven football teams based up their performances so far this season.

But first, some explanation. This is not a poll based on how we think teams would do matched up against one another. Obviously, with Palestine's sheer numbers they could best a lot of the teams in the area. On the other end of the spectrum, Oakwood doesn't even play 11-man football.

What this is is a poll to show how we think each team matches up against their own level of competition and their own schedule. Nothing more.

So with all that said, let's go.

Friday Night Preview: Zero Week

Well, it's finally here. As I said in my column in Thursday's Herald-Press, Friday nights are once again Friday nights.

With the return of football also brings the return of our Friday Night Preview blog post, where I'll break down each local game and give what I think will be the final score. I haven't taken the time to tally last year's totals, so I don't know how I did, but feel free to leave your thoughts down in the comment section.

So, without further adieu, here we go:

We're Back!

After a summer hiatus that — admittedly — started a little bit before summer, The Baseline is back in service. We'll bring you everything you need about game predictions on Friday nights, where your favorite teams rank in the numerous polls released each week and other little nuggets that we find interesting.

I'm happy to be back and happy that it's football season once again here in the Dogwood Circle, so check back here often, and follow the Herald-Press sports department on Twitter (@phpsports) for other updates, including in-game commentary from Palestine's game every week.

Dogwood Circle SuperFan Contest

We've found them, the three biggest football fans in the Dogwood Circle. now, it's up to you to tell us which one you think is the area's SuperFan. Check out their submissions below and then vote at the poll the right. Voting will end Friday at 5 p.m., and the winner will be featured in the upcoming Dogwood Circle football special section. Also, they'll earn the right to pick against the pros in the Herald-Press' weekly Fearless Forecasters football pick'em poll.

Softball state championship live blog

Moving Inside the Polls

Instead of it usual publication day of Tuesday's, the baseball/softball Inside the Polls blog post will now be posted on Thurs. to coincide with the Texas High School Baseball Coaches' Association (THSBCA) release of its weekly poll.

We're doing this not to favor baseball, but because the THSBCA poll release has been very regular, while the Texas Girls' Coaches Association (TGCA) softball poll is sometimes sporadic.

Inside the Polls (3-29)

Well we're only diving into one poll this week, because the Texas Girls' Coaches Association hasn't updated its softball poll yet.

What does that mean? It means there's only one local team to talk about, and it's the No. 2 Cayuga Wildcat baseball team. The Wildcats remain No. 2 in the latest Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) poll, behind Windthorst.

Now, at least on paper, Cayuga's resume is far stronger especially given the Wildcats' 11-0 record versus the 12-7 mark that Windthorst currently has. That being said, I don't know who Windthorst has played, where they played them, etc., etc.

So, only one team to talk about today. No other local or district rivals make any kind of appearance in the new poll. (For the full poll, click HERE)

Hopefully we'll have a new softball poll to include next week. Stay tuned.

Inside the Polls (3/21)

Well, it's back. Everyone's favorite breakdown of where the local teams stand in all the state polls.

Just as a refresher, we'll be using the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) for the softball polls and the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) for the baseball, obviously.

One final note, the THSBCA poll only displays the top-10, while the TGCA poll goes either top-20 or top-25, depending on the week.

So, without further adieu, let's do it.

Inside the polls will return soon

Now that basketball is over, we will no longer be diving headlong into the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) state polls each week here at The Baseline.

But, that doesn't mean we don't have state polls to digest all the same.

The Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) handles things on the baseball side of things, while we'll rely on the Texas Girls' Coaches Association (TGCA) takes care of things on the softball side.

We'll start that adventure next week, so look for a new edition of Inside the Polls every Tuesday from now until playoff time.

Final thoughts from Austin and moving forward

Well, the whirlwind past few weeks that have been the boys' and girls' state basketball playoffs are over, capping with another title for the Neches girls' basketball team and a stunning loss by Cayuga in the regional semifinals to upstart Tenaha.

My weekend in Austin was an eventful one, and one that will certainly live in my memory for a while. From talking Roddricka Patton with a handful of nationwide high school scouts to listening in on the press conference of Canyon head coach Joe Lombard after winning another state title, finishing a perfect season and winning his1,100 career game...all on his birthday, it was a great experience.

As I said in a column in the PHP today, I expect to go back next season as well, what with Neches returning all its players from this year's team.