Muskogee can't get away from Sand Springs, dropping three straight by a combined 43-1
/By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The Muskogee Roughers (2-18) are probably wishing they were in a different district by this point. The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (18-5) warmed up Monday night at home with a 3-0 shutout of Muskogee, completely annihilated them 32-1 Tuesday night in Muskogee, then finished off the series with an 8-0 shutout Thursday afternoon at the Sand Springs/Broken Arrow Wooden Bat Tournament.
Sophomore Conner Dennis (1-0) made his first trip to the mound this season and made an excellent debut, throwing 67% strikes and giving up just a single hit, one walk, and four strikeouts. Josh Taber led the offense for the Sandites, scoring three runs on four plate appearances.
The lone hit of the night for Muskogee came on the second pitch of the game. Muskogee pitcher Ke'shawn Ballard, who got the loss on the mound, connected for a single into left field, but was ultimately stranded on second.
Taber connected for a lead off single in the bottom of the first and scored on a passed ball along with Rhett Rutledge. Treyce Tolbert sacrificed to score Jake Ward and Malachi Walton scored on an error for a 4-0 lead.
Dennis struck out Corey Landrum in the second, Landrum and Karrington Ashley in the fifth, and Mathis Givens in the sixth. The lone walk was Riley Foster who was hit by pitch in the sixth.
Malachi Walton ran courtesy for Joey Montgomery in the bottom of the third, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a balk. Mack Thompson singled in the fourth, advanced to second on a passed ball, moved to third on a sacrifice by Rhett Rutledge, and scored on a passed ball with Ward at bat. Ward reached on an error to score Taber, who walked.
Finally, in the bottom of the sixth, Taber walked yet again. He stole second, took third on a passed ball, and scored on a hit by Ward for the game-wining run-rule. This marked the fourth straight win for Sand Springs.
