Lady Sandite Softball drops season slow-pitch opener to Tahlequah
/Story and photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The No.15 ranked Charles Page High School varsity slow pitch softball team (0-1) got off to a rough start in the season opener, dropping a 14-7 home loss to No.8 Tahlequah (5-3).
Senior Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican got the start and loss on the mound.
The Lady Tigers took a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning and pitched a no hitter to come in and smack a homer in the second to make it 6-0. Jessica Collins was able to land a double in the bottom of the inning but was ultimately stranded on third.
Neither team scored in the third inning, but the Sandites finally got on board in the bottom of the fourth as Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington doubled and came in on a single by Maddelyn Blair.
The Sandites held the Tigers scoreless in the fifth as well, and tied things up as Rachel Blair reached on a fielder's choice and came home on a Kennedy "Goose" Salyers triple. Salyers is signed to play for Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the fall. Freshman Kimi Presnall singled to bring in Salyers, Pennington doubled, and Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler batted both runners in on a 3RBI Homerun. Collins doubled, but was left stranded as the Tigers came in to bat tied up 6-6.
The Tigers scored one run in the top of the sixth and held the home team scoreless before exploding in the seventh. Four batters were walked, errors abounded, and the Tigers scored a 2RBI double and a 3RBI homerun for a 14-6 lead. The Sandites tried to rally as Pennington homered, Schuler was walked, and Collins singled, but the two on base were stranded as Tahlequah brought home the 14-7 victory.
