CPHS Baseball: Josh Cordell pitches 7 strikeouts in 3-0 playoff victory

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School baseball team (17-19) split games in the first day of the Regional Tournament at Jenks, falling 7-5 in a shootout with the host team (21-12), but winning a 3-0 shutout against Enid (22-13) to stay alive in the post-season. 

The Sandites will return to action Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. against Highway 97 rival, the Sapulpa Chieftains (14-21). The Sandites have split wins with Sapulpa this year, falling 1-0 in the season opener, but winning 6-5 in March. Sapulpa topped Enid 6-3 in the first round of Regionals before falling 9-0 to the Trojans.

If the Sandites top their rivals, they'll have to beat Jenks at 6:30 and again Saturday at 1:00 p.m. to earn their way to State.

Jenks 7 CPHS 5

(Hits: Jenks 11, CPHS 8. Errors: Jenks 1, CPHS 1. LOB: Jenks 8, CPHS 7.)

The Sandites had yet to meet the Trojans this season, but they knew going in that it would be a tough one. While Sand Springs finished district play second to last, the Trojans were the runners-up in their district. 

The home team wasted no time jumping out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning. Kyler Copeland batted in Cale Savage with a double in the second inning, but Jenks added two more runs for a 5-1 lead

Sand Springs wouldn't go down without a fight, landing four hits for three runs in the top of the third to cut it to a one-run deficit. Mack Thompson started things off with a double, stole third, then scored on a single from Braden Askew. Askew came in on a double from Savage, who scored his second run of the game on a double from Ty Steelman.

Thompson doubled once again in the top of the fourth, bringing in Garrett McCallie to tie the game.

The Trojans reclaimed their lead in the bottom of the fifth, however, and held on for the win.

Brock Youngblood (2-5) got the start on the mound, giving up six hits, five runs, and three earned runs with one strikeout. Braden Millican (2-0) relieved him midway through the second inning and pitched through the fifth. He recorded one strikeout against two hits, three walks, and no runs. Steelman (0-1) came in with the game tied and was stuck with the loss, giving up three hits, two runs, and two walks against two strikeouts. 

CPHS 3 Enid 0

(Hits: CPHS 3, Enid 1. Errors: CPHS 2, Enid 1. LOB: CPHS 6, Enid 3.)

In the consolation bracket the Sandites were pitted against a team that had already beaten them twice this season, both times by four runs. But they didn't let that intimidate them.

Senior pitcher Josh Cordell (6-3) led the way on the mound with seven strikeouts in seven innings, giving up only one hit and two walks for the shutout win. 

Sand Springs loaded the bases in the bottom of the second and Askew scored on a passed ball to get the Sandites on the board.

In the fifth inning Josh Taber singled, Treyce Tolbert walked, and both scored on an error. Cordell struck out all three batters in the top of the sixth, then the outfield did their job in the seventh to secure the win.