CPHS Softball: Sandites fall to Edmond North at State Tournament, but win Academic State Title

(Shawnee) - The No. 4 offense in the state was too much for the Charles Page High School softball team (23-9), though they held their own for eight innings before falling 10-5 to Edmond North (28-3). The Lady Sandites were eliminated in the first round of the OSSAA Class 6A State Tournament, but won the Academic State Title with the best cumulative GPA of any of the State-qualifying teams.

The Lady Sandites took an early lead with a 2RBI double from Cameron Clemons in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Madelyn Blair and Felicity Horn, but Emily Demarus tied it up in the top of the third with a home run.

The Huskies jumped out front in the top of the fifth, loading the bases with a double and two walks. Kaitlyn Jones scored Kamri Heath on a single and Rachel Matthews walked in before Blair caught a pair of pop flies, throwing one to second for a double play.

Drew Hawkins scored on a single from Sabrina Usher in the fifth and caught a fly ball to strand loaded bases in the sixth. The Sandites stranded loaded bases in the bottom of the sixth, but got another shot in the seventh and made the most of it. Usher drew a walk, stole second, and scored on an error to force extra innings.

The Huskies stranded a walk in the eighth but went to town in the top of the ninth with six singles, a walk, and a double for the 10-4 lead.

Usher, Blair, and Jacie Taber retaliated with three-straight singles in the bottom of the inning, and Taber scored Usher for the final run of the game before the Huskies sealed the victory with a pair of fly outs.

Taber (6-1, 35-11) picked up her first loss of the season, throwing fourteen hits, five strikeouts, and seven walks in nine innings.

Edmond North will play the winner of Yukon (22-8) vs. Broken Arrow (32-5) Friday. Deer Creek (28-3) won 6-5 over Stillwater (21-11) and Westmoore (30-5) prevailed 5-3 against Owasso (25-10) on the north side of the bracket. Both semifinal games will be played at 1:30 p.m. The Championship game will be played at 6:30 p.m. The Tournament is held at the Ballfields at Firelake in Shawnee.

EDN 10 CPHS 5
Hits: EDN 14, CPHs 10.
Walks: EDN 7, CPHS 5.
Strikeouts: CPHS 3, EDN 5.
Stolen Bases: CPHS 2.
Errors: EDN 2, CPHS 2.
Double Plays: CPHS 1.
Left on Base: EDN 11, CPHS 11.