Owls sweep Scorpions, advance to area round

For the first time in four years, and the eighth time since 1998, the Joshua Owls will compete in the area round of the state playoffs after sweeping the Fort Worth South Hills Scorpions in a Class 5A DII bi-district series.

Joshua had little trouble with the Scorpions in game one Thursday night at Everman High School, cruising to an 11-1 win behind a couple of 10th graders. Sophomore righty Jaxson Philpot improved his record to 8-1 on the season by firing 6.0 dominant innings, allowing just an earned run on four hits. Philpot fanned ten Scorpions, his second double-digit strikeout effort of the season, and walked none. In his last six starts, Philpot has permitted just four walks in 35.0 innings pitched. 

Offensively, every Owls’ starter notched at least one base hit Thursday, led by sophomore Nate Chittum’s three knocks. Chittum finished 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and three runs scored in his first career playoff game. Senior Thomas Rodriguez and sophomore Kallin Whisenant also had multi-hit games for Joshua.

In game two Friday night in Joshua, the Owls scored seven runs in the 1st inning on the way to an 8-1 series-clinching victory. Senior Gavin Massey had a huge night at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with a homerun, two doubles, two runs scored, and a stolen base; he was also hit by a pitch. Massey’s two-run double in the first inning scored Chittum and junior Hank Berkner, and proved to be the game-winner. For the season, the Owls’ first baseman is now hitting .402 with 15 extra-base hits, 28 RBIs, and has a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 14-to-13. If hit-by-pitches are included, the ratio is 22-to-13, an absolutely absurd stat for a guy that’s also slugging .639. The Southern Arkansas University-signee is having an insane senior year, and it’s been a lot of fun to watch.

Junior righty Cody Rogers on Friday  improved his record to 7-0 by allowing one run on three hits in a complete game effort. Rogers struck out four, walked just one, and needed but 87 pitches to dispatch the Scorpions.

With the sweep, Joshua advances to the area round of the playoffs for the first time since 2021, when Joshua dropped a best-of-three series to the eventual State Tournament runner-up Hallsville Wildcats. Joshua will face the defending Class 5A state champion Grapevine Mustangs in a best-of-three series  beginning Thursday.

Class 5A DII Area Round

Joshua Owls (8-5A champion) vs. Grapevine Mustangs (6-5A champion)

Game One: Thursday, May 8th (7:30 PM)

Game Two: Friday, May 9th (7:30 PM)

*Game Three: Saturday, May 10th (1:00 PM)

All games scheduled to be played at Boswell High School