SPORTS
STORM CENTER: Phipps helps Aggies
Success seems to follow Nocona native Jaxon Phipps wherever he goes.
Phipps was recently a member of the Murray State College baseball team that participated in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Tournament at Enid, Okla.
“It was an experience I will never forget,” said Phipps, who was named a second-team all-state shortstop his senior year at Nocona.
The national championship game was set for Friday at David Allen Memorial Ballpark with Illinois-based Kankakee squaring off against Mercer County from New Jersey. Kankakee is favored, already with 53 wins this season.
Murray State, located in Tishomingo, Okla., has a longstanding tradition of good fortune in junior college baseball, and this year’s bunch of Aggies didn’t disappoint.
The Aggies went 49-12, and they were the No. 1 seed heading into nationals. However, that’s when things unraveled for Murray State.
Lansing (Mich.) defeated Murray State 11-9 in the opening round of the tournament, which relegated the Aggies to the loser’s bracket.
Then Phoenix eliminated the Aggies 12-7. In the elimination game, Phipps went 1-for-3 with a two-run double. He also walked one and struck out during another plate appearance.
“It was since Day One in August (2016) to win the World Series,” said Phipps. “Every practice we had, every swing I took and every weight I lifted was to get there. We just came up short.” Read more from this column in the June 3 Bowie News.
Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.
Former Nocona standout baseball player Jaxon Phipps produced a .267 batting average and .821 on-base-plus-slugging percentage for Murray State. He played primarily second base for the Aggies. (Courtesy photo from Murray State College, Tishomingo, Okla.)
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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