Postseason Preview: Sandites Host Lawton Friday

Charles Page High School is four-for-four in qualifying for the playoffs in the Bobby Klinck era and under the new playoff expansion implemented in 2022, they’ll get to host a first-round game for the second season in a row.

6A-II No. 5 Sand Springs (7-3) is set to host Lawton (3-7) Friday in only their second meeting ever. The first and only meeting was a 5A semifinal playoff game that Lawton won 14-10 in 1987.

The Bracket

The winner of Sand Springs vs. Lawton will advance to play No. 3 Choctaw (7-2), who gets a first-round bye. On the same side of the bracket is No. 8 Tahlequah (3-7) at Putnam City (4-6), with the winner playing No. 1 Stillwater (8-2).

On the other side of the bracket is No. 10 Putnam City North (4-6) at No. 6 Bartlesville (4-6), with the winner playing No. 2 Edmond Deer Creek (8-2), and No. 9 Putnam City West (5-5) at No. 7 Ponca City (5-5), with the winner playing No. 4 Muskogee (8-2).

The Contenders

Stillwater is the defending State Champion, though they’ve spent most of the season at the No. 4 spot after a head coach change and the graduation of many starters resulted in an 0-2 start. Since then, the Pioneers are 8-0 with a statement 30-20 win over Muskogee in the district title game. Last year was their second championship overall and their third finals appearance in the past five years.

Deer Creek is looking for its first State title since 2000 when the Antlers were still 3A. They made the finals in 2021 but were outmatched 63-14 by juggernaut Bixby. Deer Creek started the season 1-2, playing up a division against a trio of 6A-I schools. They closed the season on a 7-0 streak with a signature 25-20 win against Choctaw in Week 6.

Choctaw finished the year with four wins in a row after the close loss at Deer Creek. The Yellowjackets have made the finals in two of the past three years but are still looking for their first title since a Class B championship in 1960. They outscored fellow playoff teams Lawton, Putnam City, and Ponca City by a combined 171 to 39 in the final three games.

Muskogee has returned to its blue blood form the past two years in pursuit of its first title since 1986 and fifth overall. The Roughers are 4-0 in championship games but 0-6 in the semis since their last gold ball and looking to take that next step forward after getting stopped in the semis last year.

Sand Springs is in pursuit of its first State title since 1966 and first finals appearance since 2015. The Sandites have been turned away in the semis twice since then. The Sandites’ only losses this season have come to 6A-I No. 1 Bixby, then-No. 1 Muskogee, and current No. 1 Stillwater.

The Dark Horse

Bartlesville is undoubtedly the best team in the playoffs with a losing record. In three consecutive losses to Stillwater, Muskogee, and Sand Springs, the combined score was only 64 to 54. There was also a season-opening one-point loss to 5A No. 6 Claremore (9-1). The Bruins got back in the win column with a 51-20 domination of Tahlequah to close the regular season.

The Bruins have never made it to a State finals game and they haven’t made it past the quarterfinals since 2015.

The Hopefuls

Ponca City won a first-round playoff game last year for the first time since 1986 and is looking to take another step forward this season. The Wildcats have never won the gold ball and last played for it in 1965.

Tahlequah has qualified for the playoffs in 10 consecutive seasons, but they haven’t gotten past the first round since 2020 when they were still 5A. They have never won a State title, falling in the 4A finals in 1989.

Putnam City West is making its first postseason appearance since 2016 and looking for its first win since 1994. The Patriots won their lone title in 1981 in Class 4A and haven’t made it to the finals since then.

Putnam City North won a playoff game as recently as 2020 but missed out on the postseason last year. The Panthers won their only gold ball in 1991 in Class 5A and made their last finals appearance in 2001 in 6A.

Putnam City is looking to win its first playoff game since 2007. The Pirates won three titles in four years from 1974 to 1977 but haven’t made the finals since that 4A run.

Lawton was an early 6A-II power, making finals appearances in 2014 and 2016 after the 6A split. They lost both of those games to Bixby. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2017, however. The Wolverines own two gold balls, last winning a 5A title in 1987.

Sandites End Season in Regional Finals, Fall 5-2 to Edmond Memorial

Kylie King drove in both Sandite runs with a double in the 5-2 loss.

Sand Springs matched up well against Edmond Memorial at the plate but third inning mistakes were the difference maker as the defending State Champions prevailed 5-2 to end the Sandites’ season Friday afternoon in the Regional tournament finals.

Memorial (26-9) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a home run from Beth Damon, but the Bulldogs did most of their damage in the third when two walks and two errors put the home team up 4-0.

Chenna Davidson scored her team’s fifth and final run on a sacrifice hit after reaching base on a hit-by-pitch.

Sand Springs averted the shutout in the sixth with a pair of singles from Lakelyn Harger and Ashlyn Clark and a two-run double from Kylie King.

Kelsi Hilton ended her high school career stranded at first base on a seventh-inning single.

King (2-3) got the loss in the circle, surrendering four hits, one earned run, and two walks in four innings. Addison Hughes (12-7) got the start and allowed three hits and two walks with one strikeout in two innings.

Lilly Stephens got the start for the Bulldogs, throwing three hits, three walks, and two strikeouts in 4.1 innings but Keegan Baker got the win with four hits, no walks, and two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

Charles Page High School wrapped up the season with a 19-15 mark. The girls will graduate four players this season: Morgan Rector, Hilton, Gracey Massey, and Natalia Delgado. The senior class of 2024 went 87-53 during its career.

Rector and Hilton will have compelling resumes for potential All-State accolades and Hilton is committed to playing at Southern Nazarene University next season.

Edmond Memorial will join Southmoore (21-11), Moore (31-3), Broken Arrow (30-3), Owasso (33-1), Edmond Deer Creek (25-6), Mustang (23-6), and Choctaw (22-10) at the 6A State Tournament on October 12th in Oklahoma City’s USA Hall of Fame Stadium Complex.

Hughes & Hilton Pitch Perfect Games on Senior Night - Sandites Shut Out Hornets

There’s no telling how many hundreds of players Shelli Brown has coached in her 27 years at Charles Page High School, but she still got teary-eyed when she reflected on her current class Thursday evening on Senior Night.

“Senior Night is a tough one,” said Brown, after her team won two perfect games in a double-header against Booker T. Washington (1-14, 0-11).

“They’re all special, all bring back memories. We had some former players come back tonight and that’s always special to me when I get to see my kids that have graduated come back.”

Sand Springs (15-8, 6-4) celebrated four seniors between games: Kelsi Hilton, Morgan Rector, Gracey Massey, and Natalia Delgado.

Before the ceremony, Addison Hughes (9-4) pitched her second perfect game of the season, tossing nine strikeouts in the 16-0 five-inning run-rule win.

After the ceremony, Hilton (4-2) threw 11 strikeouts in a 15-0 five-inning perfect game.

Morgan Rector was the hot hand at the plate, going 4-for-4 in the first game with one run and five RBIs. Kenzie King was 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI.

In the second game Hilton was 2-for-2 with a run and two RBIs while Massey was 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs.

As a team, the Sandites went 19-of-31 at the plate in game one and 7-of-15 with 18 walks in the nightcap.

Of Washington’s 30 at-bats on the night: 20 were retired at the plate, nine were put out in the infield, and the outfield only had to make one play on the whole night.

“We’ve been working with this group because we’re so young,” said Brown. “We’ve been doing a lot of teaching. This group - I feel like they’re kind of like sponges. Everything we tell them and talk to them about, they really absorb it, take it in, and try to do it out here.”

“Seeing a lot of positive things, and for them to come out here and stay focused, sometimes that’s hard to do.”

The games pushed the Sandites’ win streak to six as they enter the final two weeks of the regular season. The winning momentum is a nice change of pace after a tough 1-6 run in the middle of the season.

“What I tried to do is get a good mix of teams that we can compete with, and play a lot of the good teams,” said Brown.

“Whether we win or lose, they’re going to make you better down the road. And I think this group realizes that.”

The Sandites have been battled tested against the likes of Edmond Deer Creek (18-4), Southmoore (16-9), Owasso (23-0), Edmond Memorial (17-8), Moore (24-3), and Broken Arrow (23-3) - all of which are likely to be in the State Tournament this October.

Through many of their toughest games they were without Hilton in the circle due to a throwing arm injury that appears to be mostly behind her.

“It feels good to get Kelsi back,” laughed Brown. “She’s been a great player for us all four years she’s been a varsity player. She carries that well and she’s a great leader for the team.”

The girls will wrap up district action with another home double-header on Monday at 4:30 p.m. when they host Yukon for Youth Night. Students who come in their softball jerseys or summer camp shirts will get free admission to that game and will get to join the team on the field during the national anthem.

“Yukon is going to be tough,” said Brown. “They have a great program. So Monday, even though it’s a double-header, we just take it one game at a time.”

Sandites Split Games at BA Tourney, Addison Hughes Pitches One-Hitter

Less than 16 hours after dealing Bixby a 6-4 defeat, the Charles Page High School softball team (2-1) found itself back at Spartan Stadium for a rematch in the opening round of the Broken Arrow Tournament.

This time Bixby (2-1) prevailed 6-1 in a time-limited four-inning game. Shay Barbee surrendered 12 hits in Thursday’s season opener but redeemed herself with a four-hitter on Friday.

Kylie King made her pitching debut for the Sandites and tossed six 6 hits, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. Kelsi Hilton went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored the team’s lone run on a passed ball in the bottom of the first to go up 1-0.

Bixby responded with a four-hit, five-run third inning and added an insurance run in the fourth. The Sandites threatened a rally but stranded loaded bases on a flyout.

The Sandites got back in the win column in the second game with a 3-1 victory over perennial power Edmond Deer Creek (4-2).

Just a day after striking out 9 Spartans in her first win of the season, Addison Hughes tossed another gem with 7 strikeouts, 2 walks, and only 1 hit in five innings against the Antlers.

Kenzie King scored the opening run on a single from Lakelyn Harger, then Hilton scored on a fielder’s choice in the first inning. Hilton scored again on an RBI single from Kylie King in the third for the 3-0 lead.

Lauren Hugo averted the shutout in the fifth, hitting a triple before scoring on a sacrifice fly. Hughes caught the last batter swinging to seal the win.

Sand Springs will return to action Saturday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. game against Jones (0-2) and at 6:00 p.m. vs. Pocola (2-2), both at Bixby High School.

Addison Hughes Strikes Out 9 in Season Opening Win at Bixby

The Charles Page High School softball team (1-0) opened the season with a 6-4 non-district road trip to Bixby (0-1) Thursday evening after rain storms pushed back the season opener twice.

The girls’ Monday game against Sapulpa was rained out and the the Bixby game was supposed to be played Tuesday at home but was rescheduled and relocated due to field conditions. The Highway 97 Rivalry matchup has yet to be rescheduled.

On Thursday the Sandites fell behind twice early in the game but bounced back each time for their first season-opener win since 2020.

The Spartans took a 1-0 first-inning lead on Brynn Daniel’s solo homer but the Sandites responded with a three-run second inning.

Lakelyn Harger lead off the second with a double, advanced on a single from Kaylei Rake, and scored on Kelsi Hilton’s ground ball single to left field to tie it up.

Kylie King scored Rake with an RBI single and Hilton scored on a sacrifice fly from Ashlyn Clark.

Bixby had its own quick response in the bottom of the inning, however, scoring three runs on three hits and an error to go up 4-3.

Harger evened things up once again with an RBI single to bring in Kenzie King in the fifth, then Hilton hit a sacrifice fly to score Bella Wilson for the lead.

Wilson added an insurance run in the seventh off Hilton’s double to center field and Addison Hughes tossed two strikeouts in the bottom of the inning to secure the win.

Hughes pitched the complete game with 6 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, and 9 strikeouts. Shay Barbee got the loss for Bixby, tossing 12 hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts in 7 innings.

Rake went 3-of-4 at the plate while Wilson, Harger, and Hilton all went 2-of-3. Hilton was the team’s leading scorer with 3 RBIs and 1 run.

The Sandites will return to action Friday in Bixby as they look for their first tournament title since 2019.

Pool D of the Broken Arrow Tournament will be played at Bixby High School and will open with a Spartan-Sandite rematch at 10:00 a.m.

The Sandites will also play Edmond Deer Creek (3-1) at 2:30 p.m. and on Saturday will play Jones (0-2) at 3:00 p.m. and Pocola (2-0) at 6:00 p.m.

Sandite Baseball Splits With Broken Arrow

The hunt for the 6A-3 district title is still wide open as the Charles Page High School baseball team (11-5, 4-2) split a district series with Broken Arrow (13-3, 5-1) last week.

“One of our goals every year is always to finish in the top two and host a Regional,” says head coach Matt Brown.

“We’ve put that opportunity right in front of us. When we go and play how we’re supposed to play, we’re going to end up in a good place at the end of the year.”

The Sandites have now split series with two of the top three teams in the district, making next week’s games against district-leading Jenks (12-6, 6-0) crucial. Sand Springs will play the Trojans at home on Monday and Tuesday on the road.

“Jenks hasn’t lost a district game yet so obviously they’re good,” says Brown.”And we’re pretty good too, so it should be some fun baseball games.”

On Monday the Sandites fell 7-1 to Broken Arrow despite an eight-strikeout effort from Eli Buxton (1-3). Rhen Rutledge scored the lone run on an RBI single from Schlehuber in the bottom of the first.

Schlehuber (3-0) got the win in Tuesday’s rematch with Easton Webb recording the save in a shootout.

“We’re really deep on the mound,” says Brown. “We’ve got a lot of experience on the mound and I think that’s our strength. We’re really pretty well rounded.”

The teams combined for 23 hits as the Sandites scored the most runs of any Broken Arrow opponent this season.

After falling behind 2-0 in the first, the Sandites took the lead once and for all in the second on a two-run single from Wyatt Rutledge. Elliott and Rhen Rutledge added one-run singles to go up 5-2.

The Tigers cut it to 5-4 in the third but Rhen Rutledge added his second scoring hit in the fourth to bring in Brody Rutledge, who tripled. Dom Ornelas’s fifth homer of the year put the visiting Sandites up 8-4.

“Dom is obviously our leader offensively for sure and Rhen and Brody have pretty great years so far. We’ve worked really really hard in the weight room all year long and it’s nice to see that translate out on the field.”

Broken Arrow scored two more in the fifth but Rhen Rutledge added an insurance run in the sixth on a single from Ornelas.

The Sandites had a Thursday game against Lincoln Christian rained out before winning a 6-4 non-district battle against Muskogee (4-10) on Friday.

The Sandites stormed out to a 6-0 lead before a sixth-inning Rougher rally flipped the script from blowout to nail-bitter.

“In Oklahoma, everyone’s good,” says Brown. “Every time you show up, there’s someone in the other dugout who’s capable of beating you.”

“Everybody in 6A has good kids…You lose focus for even a second and mess around - you’ll get beat.”

Four walks, a sacrifice hit from Schlehuber, and a two-run single from Wyatt Rutledge put the home team up 4-0 in the bottom of the first.

Jackson Turney added an RBI double in the second and Brody Rutledge scored on a sacrifice fly from Ornelas after a leadoff triple in the fourth.

Gage Elliott (4-0) got the start and win on the mound, fanning four with one hit in three innings.

Jace Arnold (1-1) entered the game in the fourth and struck out five before getting in a bind in the top of the sixth. After loading the bases with two walks and a single he struck out a sixth before Doc Estes blasted a bases-clearing triple to get Muskogee on the board.

Arnold ended with seven strikeouts to three hits and two walks in three innings. Webb recorded his second save of the week to close out the game.

“I really like where our program is at,” says Brown. “I feel like we can compete with anybody. I know for sure our kids aren’t scared of anybody. We’re at a place right now where our kids show up and expect to win and it doesn’t matter who’s in the other dugout. They expect to win every single time.”

Sand Springs will host Glenpool (7-11) Thursday at 5:00 p.m. before traveling to Edmond Deer Creek (10-8) on Saturday.