Sandite Baseball tops Fossil Ridge 10-6 at Best of the West Tournament

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (4-5) took on the Fossil Ridge Sabercats (2-4) in the final round of the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix, Arizona and slugged their way to a 10-6 victory in their best batting performance of the season. 

While the Sandites were .548 at the plate with seventeen hits and only three strikeouts, they struggled defensively, giving up ten hits and two walks against five strikeouts. They also committed three errors. Ben Banker (1-0) got the start and the win with two other pitchers picking up valuable experience. 

Sand Springs jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Josh Taber singled and was joined on base by Mack Thompson with a walk. Both advanced on a bunt from Treyce Tolbert, and Taber scored on a dropped third strike to draw first blood. Thompson wasn't far behind him, scoring on a single from Braden Askew who in turn scored on an error at the mound.

The Sabercats cut into their deficit in the top of the third as Justin Durnill singled and scored on a triple from Tanner Hoke, who in turn crossed home on a single from Calvin Marley. Marley was left stranded after a strikeout of Alex Paul, and the Sandites came in to cushion their lead.

Thompson doubled and scored on a Tolbert single. Tolbert was caught trying for home on a Greathouse single, but Greathouse scored on a Cale Savage single to make it 5-2. 

Askew (0-2) took over on the mound in the top of the fourth and pitched one strikeout and one walk. The Sandites landed two hits in the bottom of the inning-- a single from Taber and a double from Thompson-- but both were left stranded. 

Fossil Ridge made another comeback attempt in the fifth as Nic Gidley reached on error and scored on a double by Hoke. Hoke crossed home on a single from Marley, but once again Marley was left stranded and the Sabercats trailed by one. 

Sand Springs put the game away once and for all in the bottom of the sixth as Braden Cook walked, Taber was hit by pitch, and Thompson singled to lead the bases. Tolbert hit a ground ball to left field to score Taber and courtesy runner Kameron Adcock, then Greathouse scored courtesy runner Braden Millican on a sacrifice fly to center field. Tolbert came in on a double from Askew, who in turn scored on a single from Savage.

Thompson (0-0) took over the mound for the seventh inning and gave up three hits, including a double from Bridger Keally to score Marley. Gidley also crossed home on an error, but Thompson struck out Everette Barnes to strand two and bring the game to a close.

The Sandites will return to action next Monday with a district road game at Moore High School (1-3, 0-2).

Sandite Baseball falls 17-8 in shootout with Sunrise Mountain

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (3-5) had their best game of the season at the plate against Sunrise Mountain (7-3), but couldn't get it done on the mound and fell 17-8 in the fourth round of the Best of the West Tournament.

The Sandites broke .400 for the first time this year with nine hits, but gave up nineteen hits and went through four pitchers before settling on Braden Millican (0-0) in his varsity debut on the mound.

Senior Josh Taber hit a lead-off single for Sand Springs and was joined on the very next pitch by Mack Thompson. Taber was put out at home on a fielder's choice, but Thompson scored on a single from Braden Askew. Hunter Greathouse stole home soon after, and the Sandites took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the first.

It would be their only lead of the game, however. 

Askew (0-2) got the start and the loss on the mound and gave up a double to Tyler Pruitt, then walked Troy Balko. EJ Sua singled to score Pruitt, Caleb Thomason singled to load the bases, then Jacob Hamrick doubled to score all three runners. Hamrick came home soon after on a single from Alec Myers. The Mustangs took a 5-2 lead and Brock Youngblood (0-2) took over on the mound to finish out the inning.

Sunrise deepened the divide in the second inning with five hits for four runs. Sua doubled and scored on a triple from Thomason. Thomason scored on a triple from Hamrick, Hamrick scored on a double from Caden Albertson, and Albertson scored on a double from Myers for a 9-2 advantage. 

Riley Rutledge (0-0) gave up the run to Albertson before closing out the second. 

Sand Springs made a valiant effort at a comeback in the top of the third and came close to tying it up. Taber singled and scored on single from Greathouse. Treyce Tolbert was hit by pitch and Rutledge singled to load the bases with one out. 

Cale Savage was walked to score Tolbert, Kylar Copeland walked to score Greathouse, and Cal Watkins singled to score courtesy runner Lucas Adcock. Ty Steelman bunted to score courtesy runner Kameron Adcock, but was left stranded on the next play as Taber flied out leaving Sunrise Mountain still in the lead at 9-8.

The Mustangs cushioned their lead in the bottom of the inning as Daniel Partida singled, stole second, then scored on a catcher's error. Connor Dennis (0-0) made his season-debut on the mound after Rutledge walked Pruitt. Pruitt then scored on a double by Sua, who in turn scored on a single by Thomason to make it 12-8.

Millican went to the mound in the bottom of the fourth. Ethan Snodgrass scored on a single from Partida and Sua doubled to score Partida and Austin Sturgeon to make it 15-8. Joey Agate and Roman Carrillo scored on a single from Kody Decker for the final score of 17-8.

Millican spent two full innings on the mound, struck out two batters, walked one, and gave up four hits and only one earned run.

The Sandites will return to action Wednesday in the first round of bracket play.

Sandites notch two-straight wins at Best of the West Tournament, Greathouse homers

Nationally-ranked Chaparall deals Sandites 12-2 loss at Best of the West tournament

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (3-4) got off to a rough start in the first round of the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix, Arizona, but rebounded from a 12-2 loss to Chaparall High School (10-1-1) with back-to-back wins.

The Scottsdale, Arizona-based team jumped on the Sandites hard and fast with ten runs in the first two innings Saturday, taking an insurmountable lead and holding on for a 12-2 victory. The Firebirds are ranked 24th in the nation by MaxPreps.

Brock Youngblood (0-2) got the start and the loss, giving up seven hits and seven earned runs in his time on the mound. Jacob Gonzalez hit a 2RBI home run for the Firebirds in the bottom of the first, scoring Gianni Tomasi who singled. Griffin Hampton also singled, but was left stranded after Drew Wayland struck out.

Cowley County Community College-signed senior Hunter Greathouse was first on base for the Sandites with a lead-off double to center field. He took third on a passed ball and tagged up on a fly out to center field to put Sand Springs on the scoreboard. 

Chaparral brought the rain in the bottom of the second with eight runs. Kenny Littlefair doubled and scored on a single from Karsten Householder. Householder scored on a triple from Will Fuenning who in turn scored on a fly out by Ian McMillan. Tomasi walked and came in on yet another homer by Gonzalez. 

Ty Steelman (0-0) relieved Youngblood on the mound for his pitching debut and walked Blake Paugh. He gave up a single to Hampton and both runners scored on a single from Wayland. Steelman recorded his first strikeout against Littlefair, but Householder singled and Fenning was hit by pitch to load the bases. Steelman walked McMillan to score Wayland, but Tomasi flied out to Braden Askew in left field to strand loaded bases.

Kameron Adcock singled in the third, Treyce Tolbert doubled in the fourth, and Braden Cook walked, but all three were left stranded. 

Riley Rutledge (0-0) took over pitching in the bottom of the fourth for his career-debut on the mound.

The Sandites got off to a good start in the fifth inning as Askew singled and Adcock and Mack Thompson drew walks to load the bases. Askew scored on a fielder's choice to cut the lead to 10-2, but Cal Watkins struck out and Greathouse flied out to center field to strand loaded bases.

Chaparral added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to clench the game by run rule.

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Hunter Greathouse scores 2 RBI, strikes out 6 in win over Sunnyslope

The Sandites took on Sunnyslope High School (2-10) in the second round of the Best of the West Tournament and handily trumped the Phoenix, Arizona-based team 6-2 behind the versatile arm of Cowley County Community-College signed senior Hunter Greathouse (2-1).

Greathouse got the start and the win on the mound, pitching six strikeouts over five innings against four walks and three hits. 

Sunnyslope was first on the scoreboard as Casey Markham scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first. Kyler Copeland tied it up in the top of the third, however, on a single from senior Josh Taber. The Vikings reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the inning as Manny Ramirez singled, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Markham, and stole home with Matt Schrader at the plate.

It was Treyce Tolbert's turn to tie things up in the fourth inning, scoring on a bunt by Greathouse. Mack Thompson gave the Sandites the lead in the fifth inning, singling to score Taber and Cale Savage, who also singled. 

Lucas Adcock added another run in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Copeland, then Greathouse singled in the top of the seventh to score Tolbert for the final 6-2 lead.

Thompson (0-0) relieved Greathouse on the mound for the final two innings and recorded a save, giving up only one hit against three strikeouts.

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Hunter Greathouse scores five RBI, one home run in win against Liberty

The Sandites picked up their second-straight win against the Liberty Lions (9-4) out of Peoria, Arizona, thanks in part to salty slugging from Cowley County Community College-signed senior Hunter Greathouse. 

Greathouse hit the first home run of the season for the Sandites and accompanied it with a triple for two runs and five RBI in the 8-5 victory. Senior pitcher Josh Cordell (1-0) got the start and the win on the mound, while senior Mack Thompson (0-0) pitched the final two innings and recorded his second save of the season.

It was a slow starter, with neither team getting on base till Braden Millican singled in the top of the third. He was put out two plays later, however, advancing to home on a sacrifice bunt by Kameron Adcock. 

Liberty took their first crack at getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as Derek Legeza was hit by pitch and Nick Hamilton singled, but Legeza was caught stealing home and Hamilton was left stranded.

Sand Springs finally took the lead in the top of the fifth as Millican reached on a fielder's choice, took second and third on a single passed ball, then scored on a fly out by Cal Watkins. 

The Sandites lit it up in the top of the sixth as Greathouse homered to score Thompson and Treyce Tolbert. Braden Askew doubled, Cale Savage singled, and Millican singled to bring in Askew for the 5-0 lead.

The Lions finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth after Legeza walked and Tyler Hajjar doubled. Thompson relieved Cordell on the mound and gave up a line drive 2RBI double to Hamilton. 

Greathouse had another big at-bat in the top of the seventh, scoring Tolbert and Riley Rutledge on a triple. He scored two plays later on a sacrifice fly from Savage. 

Liberty tried to make a comeback in the final stretch as Trevor Felan, Brady Welch, and Kai Tuita all singled to load the bases. All three advanced on a passed ball, then courtesy runner Dallin Montez scored on a groundball by Legeza. Tuita cut the lead to 8-5 on a groundball from Hajjar, but the game came to a close with a fly ball to Tolbert.