Sandite Baseball wins season-opener 10-2 against Tulsa Jaguars
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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (1-0) officially kicked off the season Thursday night with a 10-2 home victory over the defending Homeschool Division I National Champions, the Tulsa NOAH Jaguars (0-1). Cowley County Community College-signed senior Hunter Greathouse (1-0) got the start and the win on the mound, striking out six batters and giving up only one hit.
The visiting Jaguars struck first after a rocky start to the game. After the first batter flied out to Treyce Tolbert in center field, Nathaniel Moss drew a walk, advanced to third on an error, then scored on a wild pitch. The next batter grounded out to Mack Thompson at shortstop, then Greathouse picked up his first strike out of the season to bring his boys in to bat.
Cal Watkins singled in the first plate appearance of his varsity career, then scored on a line drive single from Greathouse to tie the game. The Sandites took the lead in the bottom of the third as Riley Rutledge ran courtesy for Greathouse and scored on an error at third base. Jaguar pitcher Kaden Alexander walked a pair of Sandites and Braden Askew scored on a single from Kameron Adock.
Greathouse gave up a single and a walk in the top of the fourth, but followed them up with a pair of strikeouts and Brooks Antle grounded out to Ben Banker at first. The Sandites added three more runs in the bottom of the inning as Askew walked on loaded bases to score Watkins, who also walked, and Ian Baker batted in Braden Cook and Ben Banker. Banker had been hit by pitch and Cook was walked as well.
NOAH got back on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Askew relieved Greathouse on the mound and struck out his first batter, but walked Evan Jacoby who scored on a sacrifice fly by Ben Replogle.
Sand Springs continued to wreak havoc in the bottom of the fifth as senior Mack Thompson doubled on a fly ball to left field, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Watkins. Tolbert followed it up with a single, stole second, then advanced home on a catcher's error. Braden Millican ran courtesy for Cook, who walked, stole second, then scored on a single from Askew. Baker was next at bat and sent a line drive single into center field to score Banker for the final run of the evening.
The Sandites are returning from a 21-14 season and graduated seven players and six regular starters. They will return to action Saturday at 2:00 p.m. with a Highway 97 Rivalry game in Sapulpa.
