CPHS Softball: Rachael Jones hits walkoff homer for 11-1 playoff win over Sapulpa
/The Charles Page High School fast pitch softball team (21-12) got off to a good start at the Regional Playoffs Wednesday with an 11-1 run-rule victory over Sapulpa (9-19) to extend their season by a game. Rachael Jones hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to secure the walk-off win.
Jones dedicated the hit to her father, who is undergoing cancer treatment, saying “that was for you” before running the bases.
Jones also scored the first run of the game on an error in the bottom of the first and Sabrina Usher scored on an RBI single from Jaden Jordan. Makenna Skaggs scored on an error in the second for the 3-0 lead.
Sapulpa walked three Sandites in the third inning. Felicity Horn stole home and Reagan Rector hit a 2RBI single to score Skaggs and Drew Hawkins.
The Chieftains averted the shutout on the top of the fourth thanks to a walk, a double from Ally Zanca, and a sacrifice hit from Morgan DeGraffenreid to score Lexi Cahwee. They threatened again in the fifth but stranded loaded bases, and the Sandites came in for a final offensive push.
Skaggs kicked off the fifth inning onslaught with an RBI double to score Avery Tanner, then scored on an error. Rector was hit by pitch and Madison Lee reached on an error, setting up Jones for the game-winning dinger.
Mackenzie Bechtold (8-3, 12-3) got the win in the pitcher’s circle with four hits, one strikeout, and three walks. Zanca took the loss, throwing eight hits, one strikeout, and five walks.
The win positioned the Sandites for a rematch with Choctaw, who won 4-2 last night. A loss will eliminate the Sandites from contention, while a win will force a tie-breaker game at 6:00 p.m.