Lady Sandite Softball takes second place at Tahlequah Tournament
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Photo: Scott Emigh
By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (24-7) traveled to Northeastern State University this weekend for the Tahlequah Tournament and came in second place by a single run. After winning their first four games, the Lady Sandites met the Union Redskins (25-10) in the finals. Both teams came in runners-up in their districts this past week and both are looking to put their best foot forward in their upcoming Regional Tournaments.
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Union came through the larger of the two pools and had to win five games to get to the finals. The Redskins won 9-1 over Tahlequah (19-12), 9-1 over Fort Gibson (26-9), and 10-1 over Booker T Washington (8-23) in day one. On Saturday they topped Locust Grove (11-19) 16-0 and Berryhill (15-19) 7-2 to earn their way into the championship round.
The Sandites did themselves in early in the top of the first, giving up three hits, an error, and a pair of passed balls. MacKenzie Addis hit a single to start the game. Sammy Ibison reached on an error and Lexy Dobson singled to load the bases.
Sophomore pitcher Jacie Taber (9-5) struck out Sammy Dutton swinging, but Britton Clark singled to score Addis and reload the bases. Ibison and Dobson both scored on passed balls before Taber struck out Erika Reed and Toni Weese to bring the inning to a close.
The Sandites failed to get on base in the bottom of the inning and neither team reached in the second.
The Redskins added their fourth run in the top of the third. Taber struck out Dutton and Clark, but gave up a single to Dobson and walked Ibison and Reed to load the bases. Ibison scored on a wild pitch, but further damage was averted as freshman catcher Sabrina Usher caught a foul ball from Weese to end the inning and strand the runners.
The Sandites had their big inning in the bottom of the third. Cameron Clemons reached on an error, Elizabeth Luttrell singled, and Felicity Horn hit a single to score Clemons. Jessica Collins hit a two run double to bring in Luttrell and Horn, but was left stranded as Taber and Sydney Pennington both sent balls to Dobson in center field.
Both teams got their defense in check in the fourth inning and neither team got on base again till the sixth. Reed was walked in the top of the inning but was left stranded and Pennington was stranded on second after hitting a double.
Taber got the loss on the mound despite giving up only four hits, two earned runs, and three walks against eight strikeouts.
The Lady Sandites have only two games left this season before the Regional Tournament. The girls will host Skiatook (11-13) Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. and will wrap up the regular season Thursday at Bartlesville (12-19).
