CPHS Softball: Cameron Clemons homers in 6-1 victory at Ponca City

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (2-1 overall, 1-0 district) is off to a solid start in the fall fast-pitch season, winning two of their first three games, including a district battle with Ponca City.

The Lady Sandites traveled to the Claremore festival last Tuesday for back-to-back games against Claremore (3-1) and Oologah-Talala (2-2). They won their first game 3-2 over Oologah, but fell 4-3 to the host team.

University of Northern Iowa commit Jacie Taber (2-0 season, 15-7 career) got the win on the mound against Oologah, starting the game off strong with two strikeouts in the first inning. Felicity Horn landed the first hit of the game, but was left stranded on second in the bottom of the first.

Kenzie Chacon got the Mustangs on the board in the top of the second, but Cameron Clemons doubled in the bottom of the inning to score Sabrina Usher and tie the game. The scoreboard was quiet till the top of the sixth when Oologah scored a solo homer, and the game came down to the wire for Sand Springs.

In the bottom of the seventh Kimi Presnell singled and reached third on an error that sent Clemons to first. Presnell tied it up on a wild throw and Luttrell scored the walk off victory with a double to center field.

Taber finished the game with nine strikeouts against four walks, while the Sandites out hit their foes seven to two. 

Madelyn Blair (0-1, 13-3) handled the pitching in the loss to Claremore, giving up seven hits and three walks against four strikeouts. Sand Springs jumped out to an early lead, but a late surge from the host team was too much to defend against.

Taber scored on a double from Blair in the first inning, Luttrell scored on an error in the fifth, and Madison Lee came home on a single from Luttrell in the sixth for the 3-0 lead.

Things fell apart in the bottom of the seventh, however, thanks to an error, a passed ball, and a hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Kailea Wheatley scored a run with a single and Kayla Shisler cleared the bases with a double for the Zebra victory.

After the Broken Arrow tournament was rained out this past weekend, the Sandites got a full week off between games and returned to the win column with their district debut at Ponca City Tuesday evening.

Sand Springs out-pitched, out-fielded, and out-hit their opponents for a solid 6-1 victory. Taber remained undefeated on the mound, pitching eight strikeouts with five walks and three hits.

Horn drew first blood in the top of the first, taking a walk, reaching third on an error, and scoring on a groundball from Blair. Clemons scored the first Sandite home run of the season in the second inning.

Ponca made their way onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth as Kaylee Meyer scored on an error, but Sand Springs buried the home team over the next two innings.

Clemons recorded another RBI with a single to score Usher and showed off her speed by making third on throws before the play ended. She crossed home plate soon after on a sacrifice fly from Jensen Arnold.

Kaylie Murry singled in the bottom of the sixth, but any hope at a comeback was thwarted as Mady Angle struck out and Horn hooked a line drive to to Luttrell at first base to put out courtesy runner Camryn Suggs for the double play.

In the top of the seventh Horn drew another walk and scored on a double from Makenna Skaggs. Skaggs tagged up on a fly ball from Taber to notch the final run of the game.

Meyer took one more base for Ponca in the bottom of the seventh, but was outed on a fielders choice between two strikeouts for the Sandite victory.

The Lady Sandites will return to action this Friday at the Rogers State Festival in Claremore.