SPORTS
Saint Jo baseball loses at Chico
The Saint Jo Panthers played their final regular season game on Friday in Chico.
While the rematch against the Dragons did not go the Panthers way in the 4-1 loss, it was a much more competitive game.
Saint Jo had trouble most of the game getting a handle on Chico’s pitching, but thanks to a good start on the mound from Payton Harris and the best defensive performance of the season, the Panthers were able to hang around.
Saint Jo had no luck getting anyone on base in the first inning. The Panthers did the same against the Dragons on defense as Harris struck out one batter and forced two groundouts.
The Panthers had some good luck in the second inning as Brice Durham was able to get on base thanks to an error at third base. Unfortunately, the other three batters were struck out.
The game stayed scoreless as Harris forced a pop out to right field and a ground out before striking out the next batter for out three.
The third inning was more of the same for Saint Jo with the bats. After the first two batters struck out swinging, ball hit well into the outfield went right into the glove of the center fielder.
The Dragons got a bit of help going offensively in the third inning. With one out, a hit batter and a walk put two runners on base. A single followed, but a quick throw from outfielder Jordan Reeves did not allow a run to come. It did load the bases though.
Another single followed to drive in the first run of the game. A sacrifice fly to center field allowed another run to score.
As if the inning could not get any worse, the next batter hit a two RBI double to make the score 4-0.
It seemed like Chico was rolling at this point. The next batter hit a line drive to left field. The base runner was waved home for what would be the fifth run of the inning. Fortunately, the rally home was fast as catcher Chance Bennett had a beat of a second to prepare to make the tag at home for out number three to end the inning.
The Panthers needed to answer or the lack of anything good happening could fester over to other defensive innings.
Collin Thomas led off the fourth inning by drawing the first walk. Jase Johnson followed by grounding into a fielder’s choice for the first out. Payton Harris then got some revenge with his bat as his single broke up the no-hitter up to that point.
Durham grounded into a fielder’s choice at second base for out two, putting runners at the corners. Durham went to steal second base. Chico tried to throw him out, but an error allowed not only Durham to be safe at second, but allowed Johnson to advance home.
The lead was cut to 4-1 before a strike out ended the scoring chance.
Harris struck out the first two batters, but the next batter hit a single to left field. The base runner was able to steal second base and threatened to score on another base hit. Fortunately Harris struck out the next batter, though it was a dropped third strike so catcher Bennett had to throw the batter out.
Trevor Conner led off the fifth inning by getting hit by a pitch. A sacrifice bunt moved Conner to second base. David Moreno then was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base.
Following a line out to right field, Thomas hit a single to left field, but the rally home prevented any runners from scoring.
With the bases loaded and two outs, this was the best chance the Panthers would end up having in trying to cut into the three-run lead. Unfortunately, the next batters struck out.
Harris was able to retire the first two batters with little issue as the defense continued to make the routine plays.
The Dragons next batter tried to spark the offense with a double into the gap. Harris bounced back by striking out the next batter to end the fifth inning.
With too many strike outs up to that point, the Panther hitters tried to get a bat on the ball early in the count. It backfired in the sixth inning as all three batters hit balls right to infielders. Three outs were had after only five pitches.
Durham came in to pitch for Saint Jo. He retired the first two batters with balls hit right to short stop Tyler Cook. A single followed as Chico again tried to get a two-out rally going to try and extend its lead.
The base runner successfully stole second base to be put in scoring position. Durham bounced back by striking out the next batter, though the dropped third strike mean the runner was thrown out at first.
The Panthers had only one more chance in the seventh inning to make up three runs. The two innings they had had success in either scoring or loading the bases had been sparked by being gifted a free base.
That did not come. The three Saint Jo batters were retired with little drama as Chico won 4-1.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Lady Panthers again made a come back win against Perrin-Whitt in a high scoring affair that ended early.
The Lady Panthers won 20-10 against the Lady Pirates, winning after six innings due to run-rule.
Saint Jo’s last game had been 12 days earlier against the same Perrin-Whitt team it had also beaten in a high-scoring game 35-20. Another win would secure the Lady Panthers district title.
Saint Jo started off the game well, scoring five runs in the first inning and one more in the top of the second inning to go up 6-0. The Lady Pirates then reeled off nine runs in the bottom of the second inning which usually would change the whole momentum of the game with them up 9-6.
Perrin-Whitt added one more run in the third inning after holding Saint Jo scoreless, which is another rare feat in the team’s history of playing the other. The Lady Pirates led 10-6 and had momentum.
Then the Lady Panthers scored six runs in the fourth inning to take the lead back. Saint Jo’s pitching and defense tightened up to not allow any more runs in the final three innings while the Lady Panthers added four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings.
It was enough to end the game early by one inning, with Saint Jo winning 20-10.
Symbri Evans and Reagan Wilson each had four RBIs to lead the team while Mercedes Diaz was second with three RBIs. The team finished with 20 hits while drawing nine walks.
Defensively, Saint Jo allowed only seven walks, a good improvement from a lot of games where the total in the double-digits while the Lady Panther defense committed four fielding errors and allowed 15 hits.
The win wrapped up a district title for the team. For the girl’s program, it is the fourth team district title this season, having already secured one in volleyball, basketball and track.
Nocona
The Nocona Lady Indians ended their regular season on a sour note against one of the top teams in the district last week.
The Lady Indians lost to Lindsay 12-2, with the game ending after five innings due to run-rule.
Nocona was coming off of securing its first playoff appearance the previous week, but knew it would be tested against a Lady Knights team they had previously lost to handily in late March. The Lady Indians hoped they could competed better and try to treat the game like a playoff game.
Lindsay led after the first inning 1-0. Nocona came back in the second inning with two runs scored by RBI singles from Ashlynn Brown and Gwyndelyn Forsyth to take the lead 2-1. The Lady Knights tied the game with one run in the same inning to make it 2-2.
Unfortunately, the next three innings belonged to Lindsay. The Lady Knights scored six runs in the third inning to grab momentum. Lindsay then scored three runs in the fourth inning and one more in the fifth inning to end the game early due to run-rule.
The Lady Knights won 12-2.
Nocona ended with four hits while drawing six walks in the game. Lindsay finished with 11 hits and the Lady Indians committed four fielding errors.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
Nocona
The Nocona Indians picked up wins against Era last week to secure their second straight playoff appearance with one more game to play.
The Indians beat the Hornets 12-5 and by run-rule 10-0 after four and half innings.
Nocona was coming off of a tough series against Muenster, losing both games, playing well in one but not the other.
The Indians knew they had a good chance to beat Era if they played up to their potential and they showed it from the first inning in game one.
Nocona rallied off seven runs in the first inning before the Hornets had even bat to put itself in a good situation to possibly end the game early.
The only downside was the Indians were not able to offensively keep up the pressure. Nocona added one run in the seventh inning, two in the sixth and two more in the seventh inning.
Era scored four of its five runs in the final inning to put a bit of a sour note on an Indians win that could have finished stronger as Nocona won 12-5.
Miller Jentry led the team with four RBIs while Walker Murphey and Jayce Lehde each drove in two runs. The team had 16 total hits and drew five walks.
On the mound, RJ Walker pitched three innings and allowed no runs on two hits while striking out seven. The defense committed three fielding errors.
While letting the Hornets off the hook in the first game, Nocona made up for it in game two.
The Indians scored seven runs in one inning again, this time it coming in the second inning. Nocona added three runs the next two innings and shut out Era to secure the win by run-rule after four and half innings. The Indians won 10-0.
Brody Langford and Murphey each drove in two runs each to lead the team. Nocona finished with 10 hits, with four going for extra base hits while Era committed three fielding errors.
On the mound, Walker pitched all five innings and allowed no runs on two hits while striking out eight and walking two. The defense committed two fielding errors.
Saint Jo
The Saint Jo Panthers lost a tough game at Perrin-Whitt last week, with most of the damage coming in the sixth and final inning.
The Pirates scored eight runs in the sixth inning to win the game one inning early due to run-rule 16-6.
The Panthers were coming off an uplifting win against Bellevue that saw them come back several times the previous week on the road. Saint Jo had played Perrin-Whitt in late March and had lost both games in close fashion so the Panthers hoped this time would be a different outcome for them.
The Pirates scored four runs in the first two innings before Saint Jo answered with three runs scored in the third inning. Perrin-Whitt added one run in the same inning and three in the fourth inning.
The Panthers cut the lead down to two runs after scoring three more runs in the fifth inning, making the score 8-6 heading into the sixth inning.
Unfortunately, Saint Jo had an inning from hell, allowing eight runs on five singles, a triple, two walks and a hit batter. The final run scored ended the game early.
Perrin-Whitt won 16-6.
Charlie Barclay led the team with two RBIs while Devin Stewart, Trent Gaston, Charlie Evans and Rylan Forrester each drove in one run. Saint Jo finished with eight hits and drew seven walks.
Unfortunately, the Panthers gave up 12 hits and walked seven batters while committing two fielding errors.
Bellevue
The Bellevue Eagles only played one game last week due to weather concerns later in the week and lost to Perrin-Whitt.
The Pirates won 15-0 after four innings, winning by run-rule in a game the Eagles hopes to forget.
Bellevue had one from Brycen Bancroft and River Trail drew the only walk in a game where not much went right. Eight fielding errors from the Eagles, eight walks issues and six hits added up really fast.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekly edition of the Bowie News.
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