CPHS Softball Season Preview: Q&A with Head Coach Shelli Brown

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team kicked off the 2019 Fast Pitch season with a convincing 5-0 shutout of Tahlequah Monday evening and will play their first district game Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in Ponca City.

The Sandites are coming off a 23-9 season and State Tournament appearance. They have won over 70% of their games for four-straight seasons and have won four-straight Regional Championships.

Several upperclassmen will be returning with extensive hitting and fielding experience. Felicity Horn (.345), Makenna Skaggs (.353), and Sabrina Usher (.458) will lead the offensive. The three combined for 94 hits, 80 runs, and 79 RBI last season, with Usher hitting 9 home runs. Aliyah Taff (5-6) will lead the bullpen as the lone returning pitcher.

Head Coach Shelli Brown is in her 23rd year at the helm and owns a 551-303 record at Sand Springs.

Which players do you expect to be leaders this season?

“My senior group has been doing a great job of leading this team. They have made it to the State Tournament now 3 years in a row and they use part of that to help motivate this team. The team chemistry is coming together and they’re doing a great job with incorporating new players into our program.”

Which newcomers do you expect to make a difference?

“I hope all of our players will make a difference. We have some young players that are getting that next level of experience and some of our returners are filling some big shoes left from our senior class last season.”

Team strengths and weaknesses going into the season?

“Team strengths will be chemistry and working together. They want to accomplish their team goals and they have the work ethic to make that happen.

“Hopefully we can turn a weakness into our strengths. I think the more this team gets to play together the stronger they will become as a unit and hopefully we will accomplish the goals we set for ourselves.”

Do you have any particular teams circled on the schedule?

“Every game is important to us. We take one day at a time and one game at a time. Our strength of our schedule will hopefully help us compete throughout the season.”

Do you have a particular coaching style/philosophy? How has it developed over your career?

“I believe in our kids and my coaches. Our community gives us great support. Our alumni have built this program and have helped us set our expectations high. We have established a tradition of success and it takes a great coaching staff and great kids.”

Who are some of your coaching influences?

“My parents. My past coaches, who I still have conversations with throughout the year. I had the opportunity to coach with Sheri Coale (University of Oklahoma Women’s Basketball) early in my coaching career which was also a great influence. My coaching staff present and past has given me great opportunities to have great relationships and have memories that will always stay with me.”

What is your life like outside of coaching/teaching? Hobbies, interests, family?

“I have a great family. We are very close. We love to go to the lake and fish. I love to work in my yard. It’s relaxing to me. I like to travel when I have the time, which isn’t as often as I like.”

Coaching Staff

Head Coach - Shelli Brown
Assistant Coach - Brooke Smart
Assistant Coach - Jenny Owen
Assistant Coach - Brad Ehmke
JV Coach - Patty Keho
JV Coach - Courtney Harbaugh

Roster
1 - Avery Tanner (Sophomore) C/2B/OF
2 - Drew Hawkins (Junior) 2B/OF
5 - Jolee McNally (Sophomore) 2B/SS/OF
6 - Aliyah Taff (Junior) P/OF
10 - Makenna Skaggs (Senior) C/3B/OF
11 - Rachael Jones (Senior) OF/Utility
12 - Madison Lee (Junior) SS/2B
13 - Nataley Crawford (Freshman) P/SS
14 - Jordyn Pearson (Senior) P/OF
15 - Raegan Rector (Sophomore) P/1B/OF
18 - Felicity Horn (Senior) C/2B/OF
19 - Lauren Hammock (Sophomore) 1B/OF
21 - Sabrina Usher (Senior) C
25 - Mackenzie Bechtold (Senior) P/1B
27 - Olivia Alexander (Freshman) C
28 - Jaden Jordan (Freshman) 1B

Varsity Schedule
8.12 Tahlequah (H) - 6:30 p.m.
8.13 Ponca City (A) - 4:30 p.m.
8.15 Bartlesville (H) - 5:30 p.m.
8.16 Tahlequah (Broken Arrow) - 10:00 a.m.
8.16 Westmoore (Broken Arrow) - 11:00 a.m.
8.16 Tahlequah Sequoyah (Broken Arrow) - 5:00 p.m.
8.17 Yukon (Broken Arrow) - 9:00 a.m.
8.17 Broken Arrow (A) - 12:30 p.m.
8.17 TBA (Broken Arrow) - 4:00 p.m. or 5:30 p.m.
8.20 Sapulpa (H) - 5:00 p.m.
8.22 Claremore (RSU) - 10:00 a.m.
8.22 Coweta (RSU) - 11:30 a.m.
8.23 Newcastle (Stillwater) - 10:00 a.m.
8.23 Elk City (Stillwater) - 1:15 p.m.
8.26 Jenks (A) - 5:00 p.m.
8.27 Muskogee (H) - 5:00 p.m.
8.29 Shawnee (A) - 5:00 p.m.
9.5 Sapulpa (H) - 5:00 p.m.
9.6 - 9.7 Choctaw Tournament
9.10 Ponca City (H) - 5:00 p.m.
9.12 Owasso (A) - 7:00 p.m.
9.17 Muskogee (A) - 5:00 p.m.
9.19 Shawnee (H) - 5:00 p.m.
9.24 Owasso (H) - 5:30 p.m.
9.26 Jenks (H) - 5:00 p.m.
9.27 - 9.28 NSU Tournament
10.1 Collinsville (H) - 5:00 p.m.
10.3 Oologah (A) - 5:00 p.m.