Sandite Softball Goes 1-1 at Bixby Festival, Ends Regular Season 18-13

LAkelyn Harger was 3-for-3 at the plate in the win over Pryor.

The Charles Page High School softball team (18-13) wrapped up yet another winning regular season Friday morning at the Bixby Festival, going 1-1 against a pair of 5A district champions.

Addison Hughes (11-7) pitched a gem against Pryor (14-19), striking out nine while allowing only two hits and two walks in the 2-0 win.

Sand Springs struggled to bring runners home, stranding two in the first and three in the second before a two-run triple from Ashlyn Clark put the Sandites on the board in the third inning.

They stranded two more to close the third and three in the fifth. The game ended on a time limit in the top of the sixth.

Lakelyn Harger was 3-for-3 at the plate with one run and Kenzie King was 1-of-2 with a run.

In the next game the girls fell 5-1 to Piedmont (30-3), the sixteenth consecutive win for the back-to-back defending State Champions.

Bella Wilson was the only Sandite to manage a hit against the Wildcats, going 2-for-3 at the plate and scoring the lone run on a wild pitch in the top of the fourth.

Kelsi Hilton (5-3) was credited with the loss, throwing six hits no walks, and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Kylie King also spent time in the circle, tossing five hits, one walk, and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.

Sand Springs will return to action at Edmond Memorial for the Regional Championship next week.

Hughes & Hilton Pitch No-Hitter Against Bartlesville

Addison Hughes could have gone the distance for a solo no-hitter against Bartlesville (10-20), but in the seventh inning she gave up the circle so Kelsi Hilton could close out her final game on the home field.

The senior didn’t drop the ball, tossing two strikeouts to secure the 4-0 victory Tuesday on Teacher Night.

Hughes struck out ten for her tenth win of the season with what was nearly her third perfect game of the year. The only blemish was a fourth-inning hit-by-pitch. That runner was put out on the next at-bat with a 5-2 double-play by Lakelyn Harger.

The Sandites stranded five runners over the first three innings before Kenzie King scored on a passed ball. Hilton padded the lead with a solo homer in the fifth.

Kaylei Rake hit an RBI double in the sixth to bring home Savannah Ramsey, then scored the final run of the game on a single from Hilton.

Hilton and Kenzie King both went 3-of-4 at the plate while Kylie King was 2-of-3.

On Thursday the girls fell 2-1 to Collinsville (11-15) on the road.

Bailey Copeland tagged up to score the lone run on a line out by Harger in the top of the first, but the girls stranded two runners to end the inning.

A two-run homer from Brie Smith gave Collinsville the lead in the third inning and the Sandites were unable to even the score.

Ashlyn Clark and Hilton both went 2-of-3 at the plate as the Sandites tallied seven hits.

Hughes (10-7) took the loss, surrendering five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Hilton closed out the game and struck out six with one hit and no walks.

Sand Springs will wrap up the regular season Friday morning at the Bixby festival with back-to-back games against Pryor (14-18) and Piedmont (28-3) starting at 9:00 a.m.

Sand Springs also received its Regional Tournament assignment Thursday and will be taking to the road for a three-team playoff in Edmond.

The Sandites will play Stillwater (18-13) and Edmond Memorial (22-8) in a double-elimination round-robin tentatively scheduled for October 5-6th.

OSSAA Announces New Districts for Baseball, Basketball, Football

The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association has announced new district assignments for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.

Football

The football districts are still pending OSSAA board approval on September 6th.

The Sandites will remain in Class 6A-II, playing in District 2 with Stillwater, Bartlesville, Capitol Hill, Muskogee, Northwest Classen, Piedmont, and Ponca City.

Capitol Hill, Northwest Classen, Piedmont, and Ponca City will all be newcomers while Tahlequah, Putnam City West, and U.S. Grant will drop from the Sandites’ schedule.

Sand Springs has never played Capitol Hill, Northwest Classen, or Piedmont. The two Oklahoma City schools are currently in 6A-II but play in the opposite district, while Piedmont will be moving up from 5A.

Ponca City is a longstanding rival of the Sandites, with the two teams having met every year since 1978, even in non-district years.

Baseball

Sand Springs will play alongside Bartlesville, Jenks, Moore, Muskogee, Norman North, Owasso, and Stillwater in District 6A-3.

The Sandites are currently in a district with Jenks and Owasso, but Bartlesville, Moore, Muskogee, Norman North, and Stillwater will all be new foes.

Sand Springs played Bartlesville and Muskogee last year in non-district action but haven’t played Moore since 2017. The Sandites and Norman North last played in 2021.

The Stillwater and Sand Springs meetings will be particularly exciting after the Pioneers sabotaged the Sandites’ home regional this past year.

Basketball

Sandite fans will see a big change in basketball scheduling as the OSSAA implements districts for the first time, effectively ending the conference era.

Sand Springs will retain longtime Frontier Valley foes Owasso, Union, and Bartlesville while forging new rivalries with a slate of west-side schools in Edmond Memorial, Enid, U.S. Grant, and Putnam City.

CPHS Basketball: Girls place sixth at loaded Bixby Tournament

View fullsize

In a tournament so loaded that the defending 5A State Champions only finished in seventh place, the Charles Page High School girls’ basketball team settled for sixth after going 1-2 this past weekend. Their two losses came to perennial Edmond powerhouses, and they won a consolation semifinal game against 5A No. 2 Piedmont.

On Thursday the girls were victimized by unfortunate seeding as they had to take on 6A No. 3 Edmond North (6-0), the defending tournament champions. Journey Armstead scored 14 points in the 47-29 loss, but was the only Lady Sandite in double digits. Laci Steele scored 20 for the Huskies, who won the battle at the boards and came away with more turnovers.

In consolation Sand Springs won 46-37 against the defending 5A champions from Piedmont (1-3) behind a 21-point effort from Armstead, and Darrian Jordan added another 11. The Sandites led 10-3 after the first quarter and 22-20 at the half. Armstead and Hailey Jackson had seven-rebounds apiece and Armstead added a team-best four assists.

On Saturday the girls came back from a 10-6 deficit in the first quarter to lead 21-15 at halftime and 30-28 late in the third against No. 16 Edmond Memorial (3-3). Lexi Hensley tied it up late in the third and Baylor Franz went three-for-three at the charity stripe after taking a foul on the buzzer-shot.

The Sandites never reclaimed the lead but were competitive throughout the final stanza and fell 46-41. Franz led all scorers with 21 points, and was the only Bulldog in double digits. Armstead led Sand Springs once again, this time with 15 points. 6’2” starter Layne Kirkendoll was unavailable for the tournament and the Bulldogs used their height advantage to out-rebound the Sandites 30 to 16.

The Lady Sandites (3-2) dropped from 9th to 12th in the Class 6A coaches’ poll on Monday. They are 1-0 in Frontier Valley Conference play and will look to remain undefeated when they travel to unranked Muskogee (1-3, 0-1) Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for their last game of 2020. The girls have won six-straight meetings with the Roughers, dating back to 2016.

The varsity boys will not travel with the Lady Sandites on Tuesday due to quarantine protocols following a positive COVID-19 test within the team.

Tournament Results
QF: Bixby 87-27 OKC Storm
QF: Sapulpa 43-28 Edmond Memorial
QF: Putnam City 44-29 Piedmont
QF: Edmond North 47-29
SF: Sapulpa 63-55 Bixby
SF: Edmond North 56-25 Putnam City
Finals: Edmond North 60-54 Sapulpa
3rd Place: Bixby 62-45 Putnam City
Consolation: Edmond Memorial 51-43 OKC Storm.
Consolation: Sand Springs 47-37 Piedmont.
5th Place: Edmond Memorial 46-41 Sand Springs.
7th Place: Piedmont 68-33 OKC Storm.

Edmond North 47-29 CPHS
1Q: EDN 18-5.
2Q: EDN 7-5.
3Q: EDN 9-7.
4Q: EDN 13-12.
Free Throws: EDN 9-of-11, CPHS 8-of-9.
Field Goals: EDN 18-of-51, CPHS 9-of-39.
Offensive Rebounds: EDN 9, CPHS 4.
Defensive Rebounds: EDN 22, CPHS 19.
Total Rebounds: EDN 31, CPHS 23.
Steals: EDN 7, CPHS 4.
Blocks: EDN 2, CPHS 1.
Fouls: EDN 13, CPHS 13.

(Sand Springs)
Scoring: Armstead 14, Wilson 3, Cheney 3, Jordan 3, Tanner 3, Hampton 2, Jackson 1.
Offensive Rebounds: Jackson 2, Armstead 1, Wilson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Cheney 5, Jordan 4, Armstead 4, Wilson 3, Jackson 2, Hampton 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 5, Cheney 5, Wilson 4, Jackson 4, Jordan 4, Hampton 1.
Steals: Wilson 4.
Assists: Wilson 1, Jackson 1.
Blocks: Jackson 1.
Fouls: Armstead 4, Wilson 3, Jackson 3, Jordan 2, Cheney 1.

(Edmond North)
Scoring: Steele 20, E. Papahronis 11, Melton 5, Casaus 3, Heathcock 3, T. Papahronis 3, Robinson 2.
Fouls: E. Papahronis 4, Casaus 2, T. Papahronis 2, Steele 2, Melton 1, Robinson 1, Heathcock 1.

CPHS 46-37 Piedmont
1Q: CPHS 10-3.
2Q: Piedmont 17-12.
3Q: CPHS 15-12.
4Q: CPHS 9-5.
Free Throws: CPHS 16-of-24, Piedmont 6-of-9.
Field Goals: CPHS 13-of-41, Piedmont 13-of-39.
Offensive Rebounds: CPHS 7, Piedmont 8.
Defensive Rebounds: CPHS 19, Piedmont 16.
Total Rebounds: CPHS 26, Piedmont 24.
Blocks: CPHS 1.
Fouls: CPHS 11, Piedmont 20.

(Sand Springs)
Scoring: Armstead 21, Jordan 11, Wilson 9, Jackson 5.
Offensive Rebounds: Wilson 2, Jackson 2, Cheney 1, Jordan 1, Hampton 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Armstead 7, Jackson 5, Jordan 3, Wilson 3, Cheney 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 7, Jackson 7, Wilson 5, Jordan 5, Cheney 2, Hampton 1.
Steals: Wilson 3, Armstead 1, Jackson 1, Jordan 1. Hampton 1.
Assists: Armstead 4, Jackson 2, Wilson 1.
Blocks: Jackson 1.
Fouls: Armstead 4, Jordan 4, Wilson 1, Cheney 1, Hampton 1.

Edmond Memorial 46-41 CPHS
1Q: EDM 10-8.
2Q: CPHS 13-5.
3Q: EDM 18-9.
4Q: EDM 13-11.
Free Throws: EDM 14-of-19, CPHS 13-of-21.
Field Goals: EDM 15-of-40, CPHS 12-of-34.
Offensive Rebounds: EDM 11, CPHS 4.
Defensive Rebounds: EDM 19, CPHS 12.
Total Rebounds: EDM 30, CPHS 16.
Steals: EDM 7, CPHS 7.
Fouls: EDM 16, CPHS 14.

(Sand Springs)
Scoring: Armstead 15, Jackson 7, Hampton 6, Jordan 5, Cheney 3, Tanner 3, Wilson 2.
Offensive Rebounds: Wilson 3, Jackson 1.
Defensive Rebounds: Armstead 4, Jackson 3, Cheney 2, Jordan 2, Tanner 1.
Total Rebounds: Armstead 4, Jackson 4, Wilson 3, Cheney 2, Jordan 2, Tanner 1.
Steals: Jackson 4, Armstead 2, Cheney 1.
Assists: Jackson 1.
Fouls: Jordan 5, Wilson 4, Armstead 2, Cheney 1, Hampton 1, Tanner 1.

(Edmond Memorial)
Scoring: Franz 21, Johnson 8, Langenberg 6, Hensley 6, Hjelmstad 2, Hall 2, Hamlin 1.
Fouls: Franz 4, Hensley 3, Langenberg 3, Hall 3, Johnson 2, Hamlin 1.

Sand Springs hosts All-State wrestling, West wins both duals

Click here to view full photo gallery.

Charles Page High School in Sand Springs hosted the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Duals Wednesday night at the Ed Dubie Field House, and the Western squads defeated the East in both Large and Small classifications.

Sand Springs had one senior wrestler receive an All State commendation, but he was unable to compete due to a shoulder injury. Baker University-commit Scott Patton won thirty straight matches his senior year, finishing with a 31-2 record and 2nd Place medal at the State Tournament. Broken Arrow’s Diego Maturino filled in for Patton in the 160 pounds spot.

Overall, western athletes won fifteen matches, the east won nine, and two matches resulted in ties. The Large West squad coached by Duncan’s Bobby Cook won its dual 36-21 over the Eastern unit coached by Durant’s Jim Taylor.

The dual started with a 2-2 tie after a scoreless overtime period between David Boucher and Dominic Derr. Cameron Picklo got a payback win at 138 pounds with a 4-2 decision over State Champion Spencer Schickram, who he was pinned by at the State Tournament. Two-time State Champion Kobi Gomez won a 4-2 overtime decision against three-time State Finalist Gage Hight to tie the dual at 12-12.

The West won seven straight matches and Carson Savage clinched the dual with a fall at 195. The East evened things up a little bit with a decision at 220 and an upset at heavyweight. 6A State Runner-Up Caleb Orr pinned two-time 5A State Champion Josh Heindselman to wrap the night up.

The Small West company coached by Anadarko’s Craig Pruitt rolled to a 30-9 advantage before the East began to battle back. Wagoner coach Micco Charboneau rallied his boys to win their final four matches for a close 30-27 defeat.

The Small West won their first two matches and never trailed in the dual. Thaddeus Long and Logan Farrell battled to a 4-4 tie in a rematch of 4A State Finals. Wesley Scott picked up a fall for the East, then viewers were treated to yet another Finals rematch. Kobe Kizarr repeated his State Championship win with a 3-0 decision against Price Perrier to kick off a five-match win streak.

Alec McDoulett won 11-4 in a battle of State Runners-Up against Abel Perez and 3A State Runner-Up Tyler Lavey knocked off State Champion Luke Ahrberg 6-4. Nathan Ulmer kicked off the Eastern rally attempt by pinning Denver Dahlenburg. Teaguen Wilson had the chance to tie the dual with a pin in the final match, but had to settle for a 4-1 decision.

Prior to the dual, awards were presented to the coaches and wrestlers of the year in each classification.

Oklahoma Wrestling Coaches Association Awards
Region 1 Coach of the Year - Brian Picklo (Mustang)
Region 2 Coach of the Year - Laddie Rupp (Cushing)
Region 3 Coach of the Year - Micco Charboneau (Wagoner)
Region 4 Coach of the Year - Michael Miller (Lawton MacArthur)
Region 5 Coach of the Year - Andy Howington (Marlow)
Region 6 Coach of the Year - Josh Cunningham (McAlester)
Region 7 Coach of the Year - Shawn Jones (Broken Arrow)
Region 8 Coach of the Year - J. Wesley Ruth (Del City)
3A Head Coach of the Year - Andy Howington (Marlow)
3A Assistant Coach of the Year - Keith Kizarr (Marlow)
4A Head Coach of the Year - Laddie Rupp (Cushing)
4A Assistant Coach of the Year - Bobby Williams (Tuttle)
5A Head Coach of the Year - Erik Ford (Piedmont)
5A Assistant Coach of the Year - Luke Brummett (Skiatook)
6A Head Coach of the Year - Shawn Jones (Broken Arrow)
6A Assistant Coach of the Year - Rod Jones (Broken Arrow)
Junior High Coach of the Year - Casy Rowell (Comanche)
Official of the Year - Danny Blackshear
3A Wrestler of the Year - Drake Barbee (Blackwell)
4A Wrestler of the Year - Thaddeus Long (McLain)
5A Wrestler of the Year - Josh Heindselman (Piedmont)
6A Wrestler of the Year - Zane Coleman (Choctaw)
Wrestler of the Year (All Classes) - Josh Heindselman (Piedmont)

Small West 30 Small East 27
113: Remington White (Walters) FALL Kaleb Harris (Sallisaw), 6-0.
120: Jaxon Miller (Comanche) 5-3 Luke Montgomery (Bristow), 9-0.
126: Logan Farrell (Tuttle) 4-4 Thaddeus Long (McLain), 12-3.
132: Wesley Scott (Pawnee) FALL Nikolas Gers (Blanchard), 12-9.
138: Kobey Kizarr (Marlow) 3-0 Price Perrier (Pawhuska), 15-9.
145: Stone Snodgrass (Kingfisher) 1-0 Alec Capehart (Sallisaw), 18-9.
152: Alec McDoulett (Little Axe) 11-4 Abel Perez (Catoosa), 21-9.
160: Tyler Lavey (Marlow) 6-4 Jacob Ahrberg (Cushing), 24-9.
170: Ethon Hamrick (Comanche) FALL Tyler Bingham (Tecumseh), 30-9.
182: Nathan Ulmer (Poteau) FALL Denver Dahlenburg (Hinton), 30-15.
195: Eriq Simpson (Cushing) FALL John Mark Holten (Anadarko), 30-21.
220: Drake Barbee (Blackwell) 7-4 Cameron Gregg (Pauls Valley), 30-24.
285: Teaguen Wilson (Perry) 4-1 Chase Merkey (Geary), 30-27.

Large West 36 Large East 21
113: David Boucher (Bartlesville) 2-2 Dominic Derr (Westmoore), 3-3.
120: Laif Jones (Bartlesville) 11-2 Jayston Cato (Carl Albert), 3-7.
126: Mitchell Lance (Piedmont) 4-0 Ty Nohelty (McAlester), 6-7.
132: Reece Witcraft (Broken Arrow) TECH Kylon Burgert (Yukon), 6-12.
138: Cameron Picklo (Mustang) 4-2 Spencer Schickram (Ponca City), 9-12.
145: Kobi Gomez (Altus) 5-2 SV Gage Hight (Glenpool), 12-12.
152: Kyle Knowles (Edmond Memorial) FALL Ja’len Hernandez (Union), 18-12.
160: Hunter Jump (Duncan) 4-2 Diego Maturino (Broken Arrow), 21-12.
170: Zane Coleman (Choctaw) FALL Mason Seth (Muskogee), 27-12.
182: Christian Maldonado (Lawton MacArthur) DECISION Abram Arechiga (Ponca City), 30-12.
195: Carson Savage (Deer Creek) FALL Braxton Kearns (Glenpool), 36-12.
220: Tony Opichka (Choctaw) DECISION Matt Woods (Lawton MacArthur), 36-15.
285: Caleb Orr (Jenks) FALL Josh Heindselman (Piedmont), 36-21.

Oklahoma dominates Georgia 68-2 in Dual Nationals round one

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Team Oklahoma got off to a fast start against Team Georgia Blue in the first round of the Junior Greco-Roman Dual Nationals Wednesday morning, building up a massive lead before the wrestling even started.

Jet Taylor, Jacob Butler, and Jaxen Gilmore received forfeits for 126 to 138. Tuttle's Brik Filippo wasted no time in putting points on the board with a 10-0 tech fall over Khyree Alexander, then Sand Springs's Payton Scott took down Dustin Berry 10-0 in thirty seconds flat. Ezequiel Rubio pinned Cole White in a quick twenty then Nick Mahan teched Chandler Miele 13-2.

Bear Hughes continued the winning streak with an 11-0 tech over Devyn Villafane. Zach Marcheselli received a forfeit, Tanner Hawkins picked up a 16-6 tech fall over Richard Walker, then Trenton Lieutance, Alex Fields, and Wyatt Adams all received forfeits.  Alec McDoulett teched Brandon Foster 11-0 and Westmoore's Dalton Duffield wrapped things up with a 12-0 tech of Alex Cain for a final score of 68-2 with no matches lost.

Up next for Oklahoma is Team Pennsylvania who solidly defeated Team Kansas Red 49-12 in round one.