Lady Sandite Softball takes second place at Tahlequah Tournament

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Photo: Scott Emigh

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (24-7) traveled to Northeastern State University this weekend for the Tahlequah Tournament and came in second place by a single run. After winning their first four games, the Lady Sandites met the Union Redskins (25-10) in the finals. Both teams came in runners-up in their districts this past week and both are looking to put their best foot forward in their upcoming Regional Tournaments.

SEE RELATED: Jacie Taber pitches no-hitter in 1-0 tournament win over Muskogee
SEE RELATED: Elizabeth Luttrell's three-run homer secures 4-0 shutout over Moore
SEE RELATED: Lady Sandite Softball hammers Jay 14-2 in three innings
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Union came through the larger of the two pools and had to win five games to get to the finals. The Redskins won 9-1 over Tahlequah (19-12), 9-1 over Fort Gibson (26-9), and 10-1 over Booker T Washington (8-23) in day one. On Saturday they topped Locust Grove (11-19) 16-0 and Berryhill (15-19) 7-2 to earn their way into the championship round. 

The Sandites did themselves in early in the top of the first, giving up three hits, an error, and a pair of passed balls. MacKenzie Addis hit a single to start the game. Sammy Ibison reached on an error and Lexy Dobson singled to load the bases. 

Sophomore pitcher Jacie Taber (9-5) struck out Sammy Dutton swinging, but Britton Clark singled to score Addis and reload the bases. Ibison and Dobson both scored on passed balls before Taber struck out Erika Reed and Toni Weese to bring the inning to a close.

The Sandites failed to get on base in the bottom of the inning and neither team reached in the second. 

The Redskins added their fourth run in the top of the third. Taber struck out Dutton and Clark, but gave up a single to Dobson and walked Ibison and Reed to load the bases. Ibison scored on a wild pitch, but further damage was averted as freshman catcher Sabrina Usher caught a foul ball from Weese to end the inning and strand the runners.

The Sandites had their big inning in the bottom of the third. Cameron Clemons reached on an error, Elizabeth Luttrell singled, and Felicity Horn hit a single to score Clemons. Jessica Collins hit a two run double to bring in Luttrell and Horn, but was left stranded as Taber and Sydney Pennington both sent balls to Dobson in center field.

Both teams got their defense in check in the fourth inning and neither team got on base again till the sixth. Reed was walked in the top of the inning but was left stranded and Pennington was stranded on second after hitting a double. 

Taber got the loss on the mound despite giving up only four hits, two earned runs, and three walks against eight strikeouts. 

The Lady Sandites have only two games left this season before the Regional Tournament. The girls will host Skiatook (11-13) Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. and will wrap up the regular season Thursday at Bartlesville (12-19). 

Jacie Taber pitches no-hitter in 1-0 tournament win over Muskogee

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Photo: Scott Emigh

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Sophomore pitcher Jacie Taber (9-4) pitched the first no-hitter of her career in a low-scoring 1-0 victory over Muskogee (7-15) Friday afternoon in Tahlequah. The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (21-6) traveled to the Northeastern State University high school tournament Friday and edged out the Lady Roughers with five hits and a single run.

SEE RELATED: Elizabeth Luttrell's three-run homer secures 4-0 shutout over Moore

SEE RELATED: Lady Sandite Softball hammers Jay 14-2 in three innings

Taber got off to a great start, striking out the first batter of the game. The Lady Sandites came in to bat and started off with a single from freshman Felicity Horn. Horn was put out on a fielder's choice that allowed Jessica Collins to reach base. Oklahoma State commit Sydney Pennington singled, but was left stranded with Taber, who reached on a fielder's choice that outed Collins, after Madelyn Blair flied out to left field.

Taber gave up a walk in the top of the second but struck out one batter and two others flied out. Muskogee pitcher Elexis Watson walked Sabrina Usher and Rachel Blair in the bottom of the inning, but struck out Cameron Clemons and Kimi Presnell and stranded the two runners as Horn grounded out to first base.

Kayleigh Phillips was hit by pitch in the top of the third and her courtesy runner was put out on a fielder's choice to reach Phynix Coleman who was ultimately left stranded. 

The Sandites finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third as Pennington, Taber, and Madelyn Blair all singled to load the bases. Usher lined out to center field and Pennington scored after tagging up. Blair was left stranded, however, as courtesy runner Makenna Skaggs was put out at third on a fielder's choice to end the inning with a 1-0 lead.

Rachel Blair walked in the bottom of the fourth, but she would be the only runner to get on base for the duration of the game and the Sandites secured the win as the tournament time limit expired in the bottom of the fifth.

Taber struck out four batters and only walked two in the first no-hitter of her career. She holds a 0.77 ERA having given up only nine earned runs this season in 82 innings pitched. Pennington was two-for-two at the plate with two singles and the lone run of the game. She continues to lead the Sandites in batting with a .521 batting average.