SPORTS
Saint Jo baseball beats Vernon Northside in playoffs
The Saint Jo Panthers won their bi-district playoff series against Vernon Northside on Friday, finishing up what they only briefly started the day before until storms came in to delay the game.
The Panthers won both games with authority 9-0 and 12-0 against the Indians.
Originally both games were scheduled for Thursday. Saint Jo had just scored the first run in game one in the top of the third inning when Trevor O’Neal put a ball in play to the shortstop which resulted in an error that allowed Blake Penaluna scoring.
With the Panthers up 1-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, at first there was a lighting delay. Then a torrential downpour came after an hour which also brought with it a tornado warning that delayed the game until the next day.
When play was resumed, Saint Jo’s defense was led by pitcher Brice Durham picking up where he left off by striking out many Northside hitters.
The Panther bats continued to struggle until the top of the sixth inning. Sam Martin drove in a run with a single. Two batters later Kile Thurman’s hit to the shortstop resulted in an error that drove in one more run to extend Saint Jo’s lead to 3-0.
The Panthers pulled away in the top of the seventh. Cooper Harris drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Martin drove in a run with a double and later scored on a balk. With the bases later loaded, O’Neal drew a walk to score a run.
Mathew Everson and Collin Thomas were then hit by pitches in back-to-back sequences to score two more runs before out three, putting Saint Jo up 9-0 heading into the Indians final three outs.
Durham did not let them get anything going, striking out two of them and retiring the other one on a ground out to third base.
Saint Jo won 9-0.
O’Neal and Martin led the team with two RBIs each. The Panthers only had six hits in the game, but drew five walks, were hit by six pitches and took advantage of four fielding errors from Northside to score runs.
On the mound, Durham pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out 12 batters. The Panther defense committed only one fielding error behind him.
Saint Jo did not have long to celebrate as game two started 30 minutes later.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
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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