8 Run 1st Inning Propels Denton Calgary to 17-4 Rout over Covenant Classical

TAPPS DIVISION 4 STATE SEMI-FINAL

Denton Calvary banged out 18 hits and scored 17 runs in a 17-4 rout over Convenant Classical in the 2nd TAPPS Division 4 State Semifinal Game. Denton Calvary will now face Alpha Omega tomorrow at 10 am for the Division 4 State Championship.

Denton Calvary erupted for 8 runs on just 5 hits in the top of the 1st. Leadoff hitter Jayce Hawkins had 2 hits, scored twice and had an RBI single in the inning. Josh Jones, Kam Bielss, Jadon Sammons and Dominic Roberts also added RBI singles. 2 errors and 2 walks contributed to the big inning.

Covenant Classical cut the lead in half by scoring 4 runs in bottom half of the 1st. Andrew Steed singled with bases loaded to score the first 2 runs in the inning . In the next at bat, Luke Pettke and Steed scored on a throwing error.

But Denton Calvary wasn’t finished scoring. They picked up a run in the 2nd inning on a Jones’ RBI single and 2 more runs in the 4th on a Hawkins’ 2-RBI single, increasing the lead to 11-4. A 6-run 6th inning increased the lead to 17-4. Roberts, Garrett Outlaw, Hawkins and Jones had RBI singles in the inning and Deacon Junk had a Sacrifice Fly.

Josh Jones came in to pitch for Denton Calvary in the first inning with one out and the bases loaded and finished the game for the Lions. He pitched 5.2 innings, gave up 2 hits, 1 unearned run and struck out 3 batters with no walks. He was also 3-5 at the plate with 3 RBIs. He was named the THSB MVP for the game.

“I came in and just thought about one batter at a time,” Jones explained. “We were up by 8 so I knew if a couple got through it wouldn’t be the end of the world. My slider and sinker were working well and I was able to get a lot of soft contact. It’s my senior year. I’ve been working for this for 4 years. I can’t wait to play tomorrow.”

Head Coach Aaron Junk commented on the game: “Covenant had beaten us twice this year and we had a hunger today to prove we could do this against a worthy opponent. I believe our guys were in the right place mentally today. I didn’t expect that every batter in the lineup would get a hit. But they did well. I can’t say enough about Josh Jones, coming in a tough spot and shutting down a good hitting team. Then he went 3-5 at the plate. He was really effective today.”