84R26706 WG-D

By: Herrero H.R. No. 2545

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Members of the 1965 baseball team from Solomon M. Coles High School in Corpus Christi are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their state championship victory in 2015; and

WHEREAS, The Coles High Green Hornets entered the 1965 season with high hopes after advancing all the way to the semifinals of the state tournament the previous year; the squad recovered from a mediocre 7-6 start, and as the regular season drew to a close, the Green Hornets were winning consistently and were well positioned to make a deep run in the Prairie View Interscholastic League state playoffs; and

WHEREAS, Bolstered by a talented pitching staff, Coles High began the postseason with a three-game series against district rival Brenham Pickard High School; the teams split the first two contests, but the Green Hornets proved their mettle in the deciding game, pulling off a 5-4 extra-innings victory to claim the District 8-3A championship; the team then defeated Cypress-Fairbanks Carverdale High School in a one-game playoff to secure its spot in the state tournament; and

WHEREAS, Matching up against Waco Carver High School in the semifinals, the Green Hornets were held scoreless in the first game but responded with a comeback victory in Game 2 to keep their season alive; the team ultimately fell to Carver in the final game of the series, but it was later determined that their opponent had competed with two ineligible players; Coles High was reinstated as a result, and with their hopes for a state championship resurrected, the players prepared for the PVIL 3A finale against Gilmer Valley View High School; competing at Cabaniss Field, the team jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 9-2 victory in the opening game of the series before clinching the state crown in a 4-1 victory in Game 2; in accomplishing this impressive feat, the Green Hornets became the first high school baseball team from Corpus Christi to capture a state championship; and

WHEREAS, The members of the 1965 team included Gates Hardeman, James Randle, Johnny Elias, Robert Floyd, Jimmy Hall, Preston Randle, Clarence Jefferson, Arnold Scott, Eddie Brooks, Clem Adams, Thomas Walker, and Thelton Roberts; the players were guided throughout the season by coach John Clay, who motivated them to perform to their full potential, and vital support was also provided by manager Jeff Lloyd; and

WHEREAS, In claiming the state title, the 1965 Coles Green Hornets became a source of great pride in the Corpus Christi community, and the 50th anniversary of that memorable season is indeed a milestone worthy of commemoration; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby congratulate the members of the 1965 Solomon M. Coles High School baseball team on the 50th anniversary of their state championship victory and commend them for their memorable achievement; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the team members as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.