Usher impresses in Varsity debut; Sandites win season opener 13-0

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (1-1) kicked off the season with a bang at the Claremore Festival Tuesday afternoon. The first game of the season lasted only four innings before the Lady Sandites secured the shutout victory via run rule over the Mannford Lady Pirates (0-2).

Madelyn Blair (1-0) got the start and win on the mound, pitching a no hitter with five strikeouts and only one walk. Freshman Sabrina Usher made an outstanding varsity debut with three runs and four RBI, including the first home run of the season for the Sandites.

It didn't take the Sandites long to establish themselves as a threat as Madelyn Blair batted in freshman Felicity Horn on a single early in the first inning. Senior Oklahoma State-commit Sydney Pennington tagged up to score with two outs. Rachel Blair singled in Jacie Taber. Cameron Clemons doubled and came in on Usher's first hit of the game. Usher scored on a double by Horn for a 7-0 advantage before the bottom of the first.

Madelyn Blair struck out two in the first inning to bring in the Sandites for another run. Pennington struck a double and reached home on a fielder's choice, followed by Taber who scored on an error. 

Madelyn Blair added another pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the second and Usher connected on her first pitch for an out of the park homer to score Clemons in the top of the third.

In the top of the fourth Usher reached on an error to score Jessica Collins, then came home on a single by Horn for the final run of the game.

In game two of the festival the Sandites met their match in a shutout loss to Coweta (2-0). The girls managed four hits with Pennington, Presnell, and Taber hitting singles and Pennington adding a double. 

Sophomore Jacie Taber (0-1) got the loss on the mound, despite only giving up three earned runs. Taber struck out five, walked five, and gave up five hits. The game came immediately after the victory over Mannford and both teams were lethargic under the 100 degree sun. 

Coweta defeated Mannford 3-0 in the first round of the festival.

The Lady Sandites will return to action Friday at the Broken Arrow Tournament with games against Owasso at 10:00 a.m., Choctaw at 11:30 a.m., and Putnam City North at 5:00 p.m.

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. 

Sandites take sixth place at Edison Green and White Tournament

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Story and photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School boys (2-7) settled for a sixth place finish at the Edison Green and White Tournament Saturday afternoon, falling 2-0 to the host team for a 1-2 tournament record. 

The Eagles (5-3) got off to a heavy offensive early on and the bulk of the first half was spent in Sandite territory, with shots ringing out left and right. Steven Astin got off one shot that was completely undefended and miraculously caught the goal post for the save.

Sophomore Blake Faulkner was all over the ball but took a while to get sighted in. His first shot deflected off a Sandite defender, two minutes later he sent one wide left, and two minutes after that he sent one high through the football goal posts. Finally he found his mark in the 12th minute and found an opening under triple coverage to fire a shot right to the center of the goal. 

Edison didn't stop their press there. Cameron Chamberlin took a shot just two minutes later, then Eddie Vargas bounced one off a Sandite's back a few minutes later. 

Sand Springs finally began to make some offensive moves in the 21st minute as Ethan Baxter, who just recorded a hat trick in Friday's victory over Regent Prep, made a close run at goal but was tripped up by the Eagle goalie who made a dive at the ball. 

Austin Morrison had a very close shot as he bounced a header off the ground in front of the goal and it just narrowly flew high. Alex Hernandez sent in a corner kick soon after and Kaleb Brooks sent a header high and wide. 

From there, however, the Eagles returned to the offense for the duration of the half. Vargas and Angel Torres each took long shots that sailed high. In the final minute Sand Springs tried to rally as Hernandez took a wide shot with 45 seconds left and Cade Loomin made a run at goal in the final seconds, but regulation expired with the Sandites in a 1-0 hole.

The second half was a lot slower, but Edison furthered their lead to 2-0 with a goal in the 11th minute by Jack Coon. Hernandez got off another pair of shots for the Sandites, sending one high and one wide, and Morrison got another close call as he tipped one off the post with 2:40 remaining. Unfortunately the boys were unable to rally and ran out of steam.

The Sandites will return to action Tuesday night at Union (6-0).

9 Sandites remain at State, only slightly behind Broken Arrow and Choctaw

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The remaining Sandites have about an hour long break before the next round begins at the 6A State Championship in Oklahoma City. 

Charles Page wrestling qualified eleven for the tournament with seven Regional Champions, more than either Broken Arrow or the Dual State Champions from Choctaw. Unfortunately 220 pound junior and Regional Champion Delvin Jordan was unable to participate dropping the number to nine. 

106 freshman Riley Weir (20-12) came in third at Regionals and was pitted against Choctaw's Colt Newton (40-3) in the first round and was pinned in 0:41. From there he was majored 14-4 by Yukon's Braden Fowler and eliminated. 

113 Regional Champion Michael Ritchey (22-16) was defeated in round one by Westmoore's Wes Hardin (31-11) by a narrow 5-2 decision but managed to hold the lead in the next match for a 5-3 victory over Spencer Schickram (14-9) of Ponca City. 

120 Regional Champion Blake Sargent (36-10) went into overtime with Zackery Bibb (24-5) of Capitol Hill and lost 4-2 in the tie breaker round. He fell in an early hole to Justin Gundlach (29-11) of Moore and trailed 3-2 going into the final period, but rallied for a takedown and pin at 5:14 to stay alive in the consolation bracket. 

126 two-time undefeated State Champion Daton Fix (44-0) pinned Bobby Robinson (30-13) of Deer Creek in 1:37.

132 Regional Champion Jack Karstetter (38-7) breezed through his first match with a 17-2 tech fall over Norman's Jeffrey Adams (23-12) in 5:42.  

138 Regional Champion Beau Bratcher (40-6) pinned Choctaw's Jeff Speer (23-10) in 4:48. 

145 Regional Champion Payton Scott (18-4) pinned Westmoore's Trey Painter (32-10) in 3:52.  

160 Regional Runner-Up Zane Basma (32-11) scored an 8-3 decision over Sam Hensley (31-13) of Edmond Memorial.  

170 Trace Fleischman (10-4) placed fourth at Regionals but rebounded big time at State with a 3-1 upset of West Regional Champion Jacob Schimmels (23-6) of Edmond. 

The top three teams are as close now as they have been all season with Broken Arrow at 25.5, Choctaw at 25, and Sand Springs at 23.5.  

The semi finals will begin at 7:15.  

Beau Bratcher places first at Bobby Lyons Invitational

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Despite sitting out several key starters, the Charles Page High School wrestling squad was still more than capable of finishing third at their home tournament behind the #1 teams in 6A and 5A. After upsetting the #1 Broken Arrow Tigers Thursday night, the most important thing for the Sandites to do now is remain healthy for Regionals, State, and Dual State. #8 Riley Weir, John Jiminez, #2 Trace Fleischman, #7 Lane Lettich, and Delvin Jordan all set out the tournament to rest and recover, and several backups got to see their first varsity action of the season. 

(Part Four of Five...)

#2 Beau Bratcher (26-4) was the victor of 138, pinning Cascia Hall's Miles Waller in 2:37 and Ponca City's Nenebah Biggoose in 1:05. Broken Arrow's Blake Mattioda gave Bratcher the closest run for his money, only giving up a 4-1 decision, but Bratcher prevailed against both him and #4 Brody Perciful (Ponca City) in the finals with a 5-0 decision for his first championship of the season.

Gavin Garcia (0-2) made his varsity debut wrestling unattached at 145, but had to take on #8 Gabe Evans, a state qualifier from Union in the first round and was teched 16-1 in 4:58. The next battle was much closer, but Jimi Cerre of Ponca got the 5-0 decision for the win.

145 #10 Cody Mathis (8-7) had one of the highest-scoring matches of the night, running up a 17-14 decision over Barnsdall's Colten Allen, then pinned Cerre in 4:53. In the next round, however, he was defeated 5-0 by 5A State Runner-Up Justin Walker of Collinsville and bumped to the consolation bracket. Saturday morning Mathis had to take on Evans and was overcame 9-2, but he rebounded with a narrow 3-2 victory over Jacob Waits (Sperry) for a 5th Place finish. 

At 152 #2 Payton Scott (11-3) defeated Wesley Yarber (Barnsdall) 9-3 and pinned James Ott of Grapevine, TX in 1:31. Union's #5 Christian Mayhue battled valiantly before falling 5-3 to land Scott a spot in the finals against Elijah Tanner of Collinsville. Unfortunately, Scott aggravated an injury and forfeited his last match to settle for second place. Earlier this season Scott defeated Tanner 7-6 and Tanner defeated Scott 3-1 at Geary. 

See Related:

http://www.sanditepride.com/wrestling/160117sargentsstourney

http://www.sanditepride.com/wrestling/160117karstettersstourney

http://www.sanditepride.com/wrestling/160117fixsstourney

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