Sandites Win First Regional Championship Since 2011

For the first time since 2011, the Charles Page High School baseball team is headed back to State after knocking off Union 2-0 Wednesday afternoon in the Regional finals.

Sand Springs (27-11) went 3-0 in the tournament, eliminating the host RedHawks (22-16) who had to battle back from the losers’ bracket to get to Wednesday’s game.

“It feels amazing,” said senior pitcher Kayden Campbell, who earned the win on the mound. “I’m still shocked.”

Campbell pitched a complete game, surrendering only five hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

“Kayden has been so good for us for so many years that there’s nobody else that we wanted to have the ball here besides him,” said fifth-year head coach Matt Brown. “He threw exactly like I thought he would. He’s been great all year.”

Campbell (6-2) had already defeated the RedHawks once, a 7-4 non-district meeting in March. A familiar opponent and the Sandites’ suffocating defense helped him keep his nerves down in the big game.

“I just knew I had my brothers behind my back,” said Campbell. “I knew they were making defensive plays and I just had to throw it in the strike zone. That’s all I was really worried about - just throwing it in the strike zone and let the big things come.”

Sand Springs turned three double plays over the course of the game and committed zero errors, only allowing the RedHawks into scoring position once.

“We’ve got really good athletes out there and they play great in the biggest moments,” said Brown.

Easton Webb was hit by pitch to lead off the third inning, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Gatlin Gunn and third on a passed ball before scoring on a fly out by Jace Arnold.

Union had a chance to tie it with a runner at third in the bottom of the fourth, but Alex Dudley turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning, his second double play of the game, and followed it up with a leadoff line-drive triple to right field.

The Sandites were unable to capitalize on their fifth-inning opportunities though, as Dudley was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice. Webb and Gunn drew walks to load the bases, but Arnold grounded into a double play.

Boston Kissee tagged up on a fly out by Miller Tavaglione to pad the lead in the top of the sixth. Union put one runner on base in the bottom of the inning but Arnold turned the Sandites’ third double play of the game, tagging the runner on his way to second before making the throw to first.

After two pop-outs in the seventh, Dylan Baldridge gave the RedHawks hope with a single, but was left stranded to end their season when Arnold snagged a line drive at second.

Sand Springs hosted Regionals the past two years and was a game away from the State tournament each time, but came up two runs short each time.

Last year the Sandites snagged their first district title in school history and this year they snagged their first Regional title in over a decade.

“It’s all about the kids,” said Brown. “The kids win and lose the games. The kids have turned this program into what it is now and I’m just so proud of them. The guys before them paved the road, and these guys got it done.”

The Minutemen have never won a gold ball, settling for runner-up in their only finals appearance in 1978. The boys in black and gold will be looking to make history next weekend.

Undefeated Sandite Freshmen Win Frontier Valley Conference, Beat Sapulpa 42-24

For the third time in the past four years, the Sand Springs Class of 2027 football team has laid claim to a conference championship after wrapping up a 9-0 freshman campaign.

The Sandites ended their junior high careers with a 42-24 rout of Sapulpa in a Highway 97 Rivalry game Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium to secure the Frontier Valley Conference National West League Championship for the second straight year.

“What we’re trying to build here at Sand Springs is a winning culture,” said head coach Thomas Parks.

“With these kids winning these conference championships and the team before them winning the conference championship - when they get into high school, all they’re going to be used to is winning, and that’s a good thing for the varsity Sandites.”

This class of Sandites also won the Indian Nations Football Conference AA Division during their sixth grade year.

“Sixth grade we went all the way undefeated,” said kicker Kaidyn Cowan. “That was a sight to see.”

But in seventh grade the Sandites were split into two separate teams and neither was able to make the postseason after dividing their top players.

“Eighth grade we came back, we were still trying to get used to each other again,” said Cowan. “There wasn’t that much teamwork in it, but we got it done.”

The Sandites went 7-1 last year, losing only to Carver Middle School, with whom they split games and shared the conference title.

This time around, however, they finished alone atop the throne after winning 20-0 against Muskogee, 12-6 at Bartlesville, 14-6 against Booker T. Washington, 26-8 at Sapulpa, 30-6 against Union, 44-22 at Muskogee, 28-0 against Bartlesville, 26-14 at Booker T. Washington, and 42-24 against Sapulpa.

“They’re tough and they’re resilient,” said Parks. “There’s been times where things didn’t go our way but we never got too down, we always came back, we always had an answer.”

“We weren’t going to back down from anybody, no matter who we played. We always showed up and played Sandite football. If we play good Sandite football, it’s good enough to beat anybody we come across.”

In the season finale against Sapulpa the Sandites took an 8-0 lead to open the second quarter on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Dom Forbes to Boston Kissee and a two-point run by Kendell Page.

After Kaden Pope recovered an onside kick for the Sandites, Gabe Harris cashed in a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0, but Sapulpa would soon respond.

After putting together a six-play, 74-yard scoring drive, the Chieftains forced a quick turnover on downs and were driving downfield again with the potential to tie things up. But Gabe Harris had other plans, intercepting Sapulpa for a 74-yard pick six.

“Gabe’s been a really good player for us,” said Parks. “Early in the year he faced a little adversity but he kept showing up, kept working hard, and became a dynamite running back and a dynamite player in our secondary. I love Gabe Harris and everything about him.”

Page converted a two-point run and the Sandites averted the momentum shift, taking a 22-6 lead into the half.

The Sandites opened the second half with an onside kick recovery and cashed in immediately. From an empty backfield with a five-receiver set, Forbes shocked the Sapulpa defense with a 60-yard touchdown draw on the first play from scrimmage.

Sapulpa responded with a 56-yard scoring run of its own on the very next play, but Dawson Jamison stuffed the quarterback draw to prevent the two-point play.

Joseph Farmer returned the ensuing kick 73 yards to set up a two-yard touchdown dive by Page and once again the momentum stayed with the Sandites.

“This year is (Farmer)’s first year in Sand Springs,” said Parks. “He’s been an absolutely amazing addition to this team. He can play offense, he can play defense, return kicks, cover kicks - he does everything. He’s a coach’s dream as a player.”

Page added another two-point run to make it 36-12.

“Kendell didn’t get as many carries as he would probably like,” said Parks, “but whenever he was in there he did his job, he did it right, he ran the ball hard, and there are definitely more carries coming that kid’s way if he keeps showing up and doing what he’s supposed to do and producing the way he did for us.”

The Sandite defense came up big on the ensuing possession with Nikyllien Crisp and Hunter Fields getting a tackle for loss, followed by a tackle for loss and a sack from Grady Harris to back the Chieftains up to fourth-and-23.

“Grady’s the type of kid that shows up every day, does what’s right, does his job,” said Parks. “He’s not looking for the accolades, he’s not looking to get noticed, he just wants to do right by the team. He’s the ultimate team player.”

The Sandites shifted Kissee to quarterback and brought Christian Headley into the backfield late in the third and the two methodically worked their way downfield for a two-yard touchdown run by Headley for the final Sandite points of the game.

Sapulpa added a 45-yard touchdown pass on their next drive but Charles Palmer sacked the Chieftain quarterback on the two-point attempt. The Chieftains ended the game with a 73-yard hook-and-ladder for a touchdown as time expired.

Forbes ended the game 2-of-5 passing for 62 yards and had five carries for 78 yards and two total touchdowns.

Pope had two receptions for 45 yards, Gabe Harris had four carries for 62 yards, and Kissee had four carries for 62 yards to go with his 56 receiving yards.

“Boston Kissee is another one of those players that’s a coach’s dream,” said Forbes. “He can play offense, he can play defense, he plays on both of our special teams, he comes to every meeting, he shows up and works hard. I never have to worry if Boston Kissee is doing the right thing. When he gets in at quarterback I have complete trust that our offense is not going to take a step back at all.”

Defensively the Sandites were led by Grady Harris with seven tackles while Caiden Ruhland and Crisp had three apiece.

After the game Cowan gave one last postgame speech to his team reminding them of the bond they forged over the past several years.

“We’re closer than brothers, closer than best friends, closer than anything,” said Cowan, who expects big things from his teammates in the coming years.

“I just hope it’s going to be great and we can get some more championships.”

Sandite Freshmen Move to 8-0 with 26-14 Win at Booker T. Washington

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Thomas Parks, pictured in a varsity game, is in his first year as head freshman coach after leading back-to-back 8th grade teams to FVC titles. (Photo: Charity Emigh).

The Sandite freshman football team is in the driver’s seat for a second consecutive Frontier Valley Conference Championship after a 26-14 win over Booker T. Washington Tuesday evening.

The Class of 2027 went 7-1 during its eighth grade season and shared the FVC title with Carver Middle School, the feeder program for Washington. This time around the Sandites are 8-0 and looking to finish unbeaten next Tuesday against Sapulpa.

“It was good to come out and execute the way we did early,” said head coach Thomas Parks, who is pursuing his third consecutive conference title. “We got a little sluggish in the second half but we got the job done.”

The visiting Sandites jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead and scored the opening touchdown of the third quarter before letting the Hornets on the board.

“This is a good group (of kids) and playing Booker T. Washington is always a good test,” said Parks. “I’m happy with the way they came out and played.”

Sand Springs set the tone early with a trick play for a touchdown on the first play of the game. Boston Kissee pitched a reverse to quarterback Dom Forbes who aired out a downfield pass to Kaden Pope for the opening score. Ornelas kept for a two-point conversion just 34 seconds into the game.

"Dom Forbes is a really good player for us,” said Parks. “He’s going to be a really good player at the high school. I’m excited to see what he accomplishes here.”

Pope picked off a fourth-down pass attempt on the Hornets’ ensuing possession, cutting inside on a 50/50 ball and wrestling it away from the receiver.

The Sandites took a more methodical approach to their next drive, marching 65 yards before fumbling the ball away in the Hornet red zone.

The defense forced a quick three-and-out, however, and this time the offense went back to its single-play approach, scoring on a 42-yard keeper by Forbes.

“We really just let Dom do his thing,” said Parks. “He’ll throw it, he’ll run it. He can do everything we ask him to do. He’s also a great leader and a great teammate. He’s just the perfect player to have on your team. I love everything about Forbes.”

Kissee broke up a fourth-down deep ball on Washington’s next drive to set up a three-play drive capped by a 42-yard touchdown pass from Forbes to Sutton Cook to go up 20-0.

Kissee also had the last play of the half, forcing out the Hornet quarterback at the 8-yard line to preserve the first-half shutout.

“Sutton Cook’s been a great player for us, Kaden Pope’s always making plays, Boston Kissee’s really good. It’s a total team effort,” said Parks.

Washington got the ball to open the second half and advanced as far as the Sandite 38-yard line before a fumbled handoff resulted in a 52-yard scoop-and-score from Grady Harris for the final Sandite touchdown.

Washington scored on a seven-yard run to end the third quarter and on a four-yard run with 2:08 left in the game, but Cook successfully fielded an onside kick attempt and the Sandites ended the game in victory formation.

Forbes ended the game 7-of-8 passing for 159 yards and two touchdowns plus five carries for 60 yards and a score. Pope had two receptions for 83 yards and Cook had four catches for 51 yards.

Defensively the Sandites were led by Nikyllien Crisp and Kasen McAffrey with six tackles apiece. Joseph Farmer, who also had an interception in the varsity game last week, had four tackles and two pass deflections.

“Joseph Farmer - I gave him the task of covering the best player in my opinion on Booker T.’s team,” said Parks. “He showed up, showed out, and did a great job.”

Sand Springs will look to finish the season undefeated when it hosts Sapulpa Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

"The kids know how important it is to win that one,” said Parks. “We’re just going to show up, have a good week of practice and get after it next Tuesday.”