[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E140-E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE WOODVILLE FIGHTING EAGLES 2A BASEBALL TEXAS STATE 
                               CHAMPIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEVIN BRADY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2006

  Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Woodville 
High School Fighting Eagles on their 2005 2A Texas State Baseball 
Championship. Woodville, Texas, is a wonderful community in Tyler 
County and a proud part of the Eighth Congressional District. For any 
community in America a state championship is quite an accomplishment 
and one worth honoring.
  While the young men and their coaches worked their way through each 
level of competition, everyone in the community rallied behind the team 
driving all over the state to cheer them on to a State Championship 
victory.
  Team starting pitcher Casey Beck was named most valuable player at 
the State Championship Game. The team clinched the championship with a 
victory over Holliday High School located near Wichita Falls, Texas, by 
a score of 2 to 1. In a story that belongs in a climatic Hollywood 
sports movie, Beck, after throwing 134 pitches in his team's semifinal 
victory the day before was called in as a relief pitcher in the last 
two innings of the championship game.
  The Austin American Statesman quoted Beck as saying ``My arm was 
really weak. When I was warming up between innings, I had nothing. 
Coach came over and asked me if I had one inning left, and I told them 
I'd give it my all. Then that became two innings.''
  Mr. Speaker, there is something else that makes the people of Tyler 
County and the City of Woodville stand out. These families and

[[Page E141]]

businesses first opened their homes to Hurricane Katrina victims, then 
to Rita evacuees from other areas of the state. Following their awesome 
display of compassion and generosity, Hurricane Rita with 150 mph 
winds, unexpectedly made Woodville a direct target.
  In light of the recent Gulf Coast hurricane season, and specifically 
Hurricane Rita that devastated Tyler County and its surrounding 
communities, the team's victory has helped keep this tight knit 
community even stronger.
  Casey Beck's performance in the championship game represents the 
attitude and ``get it done'' spirit of the people of Tyler County. 
Regardless of how tired they are they are going to give it one or two 
more innings down the stretch, face down one hurricane and then 
another.
  The team was coached on to victory by Head Coach Neil Hennigan and 
Varsity Assistant Coaches Joe Wilroy, Beau Burnett and Reggie Williams. 
The members of the championship team included: Casey Beck, Braeden 
Riley, Reese Winters, Jordan O'Neal, Zack Rigby, Daniel Spivey, Jess 
Conner, Trevor Rainey, Aaron Hicks, Evan Fortenberry, Logan Alec, 
Justin Kirkpatrick, Allen Mitchum, Jacoby Williams, Josh Kirkpatrick, 
Chad Prince, Joel Gentz, Brian MacGinnis, Paul Price, Cullen Williams, 
and Jack Hickman.
  These young men and their coaches have together accomplished so much 
and made a community and region so proud. Mr. Speaker, I hope the House 
of Representatives will join me in honoring the Fighting Eagles and the 
community they represent.

                          ____________________