Sydney Pennington scores 2 runs, 6 RBI, and a homer in 9-3 playoff victory over Union

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (12-5) traveled to Union Intermediate High School Thursday for the Regional Championship and won their first game 9-2 over No. 10 Elk City (23-14), then dominated the host team 9-3. Senior Northeastern State University signee Jessica Schuler (7-3) pitched both wins, giving up seven hits and five walks in the win over Union.

The No. 4 Redskins (22-6) started off with a 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Sammy Ibison reached base on an error at short stop to start the game, but Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington made up for it on the next play, outing the runner at second in a double play to clear the bases. Mackenzie Addis reached base on balls and was batted in on a double by Aaliyah Villalobos, who in turn scored on a single by Paige Boyle.

Sand Springs evened things up in the bottom of the inning as Kennedy "Goose" Salyers singled and came in on a home run by Pennington, her tenth this season. Union reclaimed the lead in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly by Jackie Self to score Toni Weese, and held it till the bottom of the fifth when the Sandites put the game in the bag.

Freshman Jacie Taber reached on an error, Salyers and Kimi Presnell singled to load the bases, and Pennington brought the lot home with a three-run go-ahead single. Madelyn Blair scored Pennington on a double to make it 6-3.

The Lady Sandites iced the cake in the bottom of the sixth as Rachel Blair doubled in Kellie Johnson and scored on a sacrifice by Taber. Salyers hit a single and scored on yet another single from Pennington for the 9-3 lead.

The Sand Springs vs Union photo gallery can be found at https://sanditepride.smugmug.com/2016-Slow-Pitch-Softball/42816-Sand-Springs-vs-Union/

Lady Sandite Softball advances in playoffs with 9-2 victory over Elk City

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (11-5) breezed through its first opponent at the Regional playoff Thursday morning, handily defeating No. 10 Elk City (23-14) behind the steady arm of senior pitcher Jessica Schuler (7-2), who also hit the go-ahead first inning home run.

Schuler, who is signed to play for Northeastern State University in the fall, only gave up two runs and a handful of hits in the dominating performance that was all wrapped up in the first inning.

The Elkettes scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but from there it was the Sandites’ game. Schuler’s homer, her fourteenth of the season, scored Kennedy “Goose” Salyers and Sydney Pennington for the 3-2 lead and the girls only continued to rack up the runs from there.

In the bottom of the fourth Schuler singled and courtesy runner Kellie Johnson scored a run on an error. Jessica Collins doubled and came home on a fielder’s choice. The biggest offensive output came in the bottom of the fifth as Collins singled in Jacie Taber and Kimi Presnell. Madelyn Blair singled in Johnson and Stella Millican singled in Collins for the final run of the game. 

The Lady Sandites will get a brief break while Elk City battles the No. 4 Union Redskins (21-5), then Sand Springs will play take on the host team. 

The photo gallery from the first game can be found at https://sanditepride.smugmug.com/2016-Slow-Pitch-Softball/42816-Sand-Springs-vs-Elk-City