High school confidential

Joshua even area series with Western Hills

Joshua’s Austin Neal hit a two-run single past a draw-in infield to break a 3-3 fourth inning tie and the Owls tacked on three more runs in the fifth to win Game 2 of the Class 4A best-of-three series with Fort Woth Western Hills, 9-3. The series is tied at 1-1. Game 3 will be played at 4 p.m. at North Crowley on Saturday. The winner of this best-of-three series will face Fort Worth Southwest or Birdville in the regional quarterfinals. Colton Turner (7-2) struck out eight in a complete-game five-hitter. “He composed himself well and did a great job today,” Owls coach Jason Bourgeois said. Stuck gave up four hits and walked five in 3 1/3 innings. Three errors from his defense didn’t help. Joshua’s Colton Joshua improved to 26-7 while Western Hills fell to 20-15. Jordan Allen was was 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, one RBI and two runs scored for the Owls.
- William Wilkerson

Batts leads Western Hills past Joshua 3-0 in Game 1 of 4A area round series

Matt Batts threw a complete-game three hitter and also had two timely hits to lead Western Hills to a 3-0 road win over Joshua on Thursday at Glen Holley Memorial Park.
Batts doubled off the right field wall in the fourth inning before Kyle Privette pinch ran for him. Privette, who moved to third on a single from Warren Schroeder, scored after Todd Harlan missed a squeeze bunt. Privette was caught in a hot-box and when he slid into third an errant throw went into left field that allowed him to score. The leftfielder slipped trying to get the ball and Schroeder came all the way around to make it 2-0. Ryan Stuck hit a ground ball through the legs of Joshua’s second baseman and right fielder in the sixth. He scored from second on Batts single. Austin Neal stuck out 12, including the first five of the game, for Joshua. Stuck will get the start for Western Hills in Game 2, which is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Western Hills (20-14). If needed, Game 3 will be played at 4 p.m. at North Crowley High on Saturday. The winner of this best-of-three series will face either Fort Worth Southwest or North Richland Hills Birdville in the regional quarterfinals on May 17.
- William Wilkerson

Joshua gets two in the seventh to beat Crowley, 3-2

Kayci Wilson allowed one hit and struck out 12 and Joshua scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday to defeat Crowley 3-2 at Glen Holley Memorial Park.
Pinch hitter Shalania Richardson’s grounder to shortstop allowed Ashley Clifton to touch home. When she did, she collided with catcher Lauryn Smith, who tried to make a tag, which caused the ball to come loose and allowed pinch runner Britini Roberts to score the winning run from second base. Joshua (21-5-1) moves to 9-3 in District 8-4A, which is good enough for second place behind Aledo (11-0). Crowley (11-11) dropped to 7-5.
Crowley faces Cleburne (8-3) and Everman (0-11) to end the regular season. Crowley beat Cleburne 2-0 on March 21 to jumpstart a three-game win streak that has kept the Lady Eagles in contention. The Lady Owls will face Stephenville and Alvarado to round out district and have a non-district game against Burkburnett on April 19.
- William Wilkerson

Final: Cleburne 1, Joshua 0

Joshua's attempt to steal a run in the final inning failed as Cleburne held on for a 1-0 softball victory Tuesday to improve to 3-0 in District 8-4A and 9-8 overall. Catcher Kiley Beard, who led the Lady Jackets with two hits, tagged out Ashley Clifton as she tried to steal home for the game's final out. Katie Cowan (8-5) struck out six, walked none and scattered four hits to earn the win. Joshua, which got two hits and a stolen base from Candice Gauntt, dropped to 10-2 overall and 1-2 in district play. For a complete game story, see www.star-telegram.com/highschools.

-- Lori Dann

Ladycats wrap up playoff spot

Aledo's lone senior starter turned in perhaps her best game of the season at the perfect time, helping the Ladycats defeat Joshua 62-52 Friday night to wrap up second place in District 8-4A. Leslie Harris hit five of Aledo's seven 3-pointers and finished with 19 points in the victory. She hit three 3-pointers in the first half to help the Ladycats (24-5, 10-3) open a 12-point lead, but her biggest shot may have come in the third period after Joshua took a 41-40 lead. Harris quickly answered with a 3-pointer to start a 17-2 run as Aledo pulled away. The Ladycats, who were 9-for-10 from the free-throw line down the stretch, also got 15 points from Logan Mittie and 14 each from Hannah Christian and Taylor Hays. Brady Sanders led Joshua with 14 points, followed by Elizabeth Dominguez with 13 and Katlyn Mary with 11. The Lady Owls (21-10, 8-5) only need to defeat Alvarado, which is winless in district play, on Tuesday to secure a playoff spot as the third seed.

-- Lori Dann

New and old

Joshua football coach Phil Shaffer spent much of Friday morning meeting the new football coaches in his district.

The new eight-team District 8-4A includes Arlington Seguin, Crowley, Everman, Granbury, Mansfield Legacy, Mansfield Timberview and Stephenville.

Shaffer met the new coaches at Seguin, Granbury and Legacy but Timberview coach Terry Cron is already a familiar face to Shaffer. In 1989, Shaffer was the football coach at Leander Junior High -- the same year Cron was working at Leander High School. Joshua also played Timberview in a nondistrict game four years ago. It was Timberview’s first varsity season.

``I’ve known Cron for years,” Shaffer said. ``I think our district is going to be very competitive from top to bottom.”

--  Kelly Morris

Final: Aledo girls 59, Joshua 51

Aledo finished strong, outscoring Joshua 19-9 in the fourth period on its way to a 59-51 home win in a key District 8-4A game Tuesday night. The victory was the Ladycats' seventh in a row, allowing them to remain tied with Crowley atop the District 8-4A standings with a 5-1 mark. Hannah Christian led all scorers with 25 points, including all nine of Aledo's first-period points. Taylor Hays added 19 points and a team-high 12 rebounds for the Ladycats (23-2), including five points and a key offensive rebound in the final two minutes. Elizabeth Dominguez and Katlyn Mary paced Joshua (17-7, 4-2) with 13 points each. The Lady Owls led by four points late in the third period, but they committed five costly turnovers in the opening five minutes of the final period which Aledo converted into a six-point lead.

-- Lori Dann