By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (19-8) took a third-straight loss Monday night at Union High School as the Redskins (14-9) took advantage of solid pitching from Senior Braden Merrill and the Sandites' third-poorest hitting record this season.

University of Oklahoma-commit Jake Terry (5-2) got the loss on the mound, despite a statistically solid pitching effort. He gave up five hits and four walks for only two earned runs. Merrill got the win for the Redskins giving up only four hits and one walk.

The game was a slow starter as neither team landed a base hit till Union's Zach Ponio connected for a single in the bottom of the third. Terry walked two in that inning to load the bases, but a force at home and a line out to Rhett Rutledge saved the inning. Rutledge reached on an error in the top of the fourth to be the first Sandite on base, but Jake Ward, Josh Taber, and Joey Montgomery all flied out to leave him stranded.

The Redskins finally drew first blood in the bottom of the fourth as Grady Davenport singled and Zack Doak reached on an error. Devin Layton doubled in Davenport and Kyle Simms singled in Doak and Layton for a 3-0 lead. A pair of errors in the top of the fifth allowed the Sandites to put two on base, but neither got the opportunity to score before Union was headed back in to do more damage.

Landen Wood singled, Merrill was hit by pitch, and Davenport reached on an error by Rutledge to score Wood. Ryan Farrell reached on a fielder's choice that outed Davenport at second but allowed Merrill to score for a 5-0 advantage.

Sand Springs finally began to rally in the top of the sixth as Terry and Taber singled and Montgomery doubled to score the both of them. Treyce Tolbert batted in courtesy runner Malachi Walton on a single to make it 5-3, but Tyler McCallie struck out to bring the offense to a close with two left on base.

Terry struck out Layton and Trent Robertson in the bottom of the sixth and Simms grounded out to Trevor Tolbert to give the Sandites one last shot in the top of the seventh. Union sent Robertson to the mound for the save. Trevor Tolbert flied out but Terry reached base on balls and Taber was hit by pitch. Rutledge flied out next but Ward walked to load the bases. Unfortunately for the Sandites, Montgomery struck out swinging to end the rally attempt.

Sand Springs will get their chance for payback Tuesday evening at 6:00 pm at home.