CPHS Softball: Lady Sandites run-rule Stillwater 16-4 in district road game

Kimi Presnell hit a home run in last week's loss to Broken Arrow, then went 3-for-3 against Stillwater with three runs. 

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (17-3 overall, 8-1 district) suffered their first district loss of the year Thursday as Broken Arrow (30-3, 9-0) run-ruled the Lady Sandites 20-6 in less than five innings. The Sandites saw their nine-game win streak come to a close, but got back on track Tuesday in Stillwater with a 16-4 six-inning beat-down against the Pioneers (11-10, 6-4).

University of Northern Iowa-commit Jacie Taber (12-1 season, 25-8 career) suffered her first loss of the year at the hands of Broken Arrow, giving up nine walks and fourteen hits with no strikeouts.

Anyone who believes in signs might have their doubts after watching Kimi Presnell hit a solo home run to start the game in the Sandites' favor. That good omen proved meaningless as the home team piled on seven runs of their own in the same inning. 

Sand Springs let two on base with a walk and an error. Both McKenzie Carney and Grace Jarvis scored on a double from Mary Collins, who later scored on a passed ball. Raegan Edwards was hit by pitch, McKayla Carney reached base on balls, and both came in on a single from Maci Cole. Cole scored on an error for the final run of the inning. 

The Sandites got to cut into the deficit right away as Felicity Horn drew a walk and scored on a double from Jensen Arnold. Cameron Clemons singled and came in on a sacrifice fly from Taber, then Kinsey Skaggs scored on an error while running courtesy for Arnold.

Broken Arrow managed just a single single in the second and the Sandites did more damage in the top of the third. Elizabeth Luttrell walked, Horn reached on an error, and Clemons singled to load the bases. Arnold sent a ground ball to short, Carney found Jarvis at second, who hit Edwards at first for a double play, but not before Luttrell found home plate in all the ruckus. Horn got to come home just one pitch later on a single from Taber to cut the score to 7-6.

All that work was undone in the bottom of the inning, however. Five walks and five hits gave the Tigers nine runs for the 16-6 advantage. Four hits, one walk, and an error in the fourth gave Broken Arrow four more runs, and the Sandite offense was held fruitless in the top of the fifth, securing the Tiger victory by run-rule. 

Tuesday's game against Stillwater was a complete reversal of Thursday's mishap, and this time it was the Sandites who hit their way to an early victory. Taber didn't have her best night on the mound, but she got the job done with four strikeouts against five hits and two walks. 

Sand Springs jumped out to a quick lead with singles from Presnell and Makenna Skaggs and a walk from Sabrina Usher. Presnell took advantage of an unguarded home plate for the first run of the game, then Usher came in on a single from Luttrell soon after. Luttrell made it a 3-0 lead, scoring on a double from Horn. 

Julia Cottrill hit a home run for the first Pioneer plate appearance of the game, but the visitors went right back to work in the second inning. Arnold and Taber hit singles, courtesy runner Kinsey Skaggs scored on a sacrifice fly from Makenna Skaggs, then courtesy runner Drew Hawkins scored on a single from Usher. Usher scored on an error by the catcher, then Madelyn Blair singled and scored on a single from Horn to make it 7-1.

In the top of the third Taber walked and was replaced on base by Hawkins, then Presnell doubled. Both scored on a double from Makenna Skaggs, who in turn scored on a single from Blair. Cottrill sent another dinger out of the park in the bottom of the third, and once again it was the lone run of the inning for the home team. Horn added another run for Sand Springs in the top of the fourth, scoring on a single from Taber.

Cottrill went three-for-three at the plate, but went with a ground ball rather than a rocket in the bottom of the fifth. She still got to cross home plate for a third time, however, as Alexis Hoang got her turn clearing the fence. 

The Sandites put the game away in the top of the sixth with a walk and five hits for a 16-4 advantage. Presnell, Usher, Luttrell, and Horn singled, Blair doubled, and Clemons hit a sacrifice fly. Stillwater put two on base in the bottom of the inning thanks to an error and a walk, but both were stranded and the visitors secured the victory. 

The Lady Sandites will return to action Wednesday with a 4:00 p.m. rematch against Broken Arrow at the Sandite Sports Complex.