Sandite Softball Drops Key District Double-Header With Yukon

Kylie King went 3-for-3 in game two of the double-header against Yukon.

Twice on Monday the Sandite softball team found itself down close to Yukon with momentum late in the game, but each time the girls were unable to close the gap.

Charles Page High School (15-10, 6-6) fell 11-8 and 3-2 to Yukon (13-13, 6-5) on Youth Night to drop to fifth place in the district standings.

In the first game the Sandites took a 5-3 lead into the fourth inning with a home run from Lakelyn Harger before surrendering six runs to the Millers.

Rayann Moore led off the fourth inning with a single and Chasidy Conner drew a walk before the Sandites switched from Addison Hughes to Kelsi Hilton in the circle.

The change didn’t slow the Yukon tide, however, as the next three Millers singled. Adleigh Martinez walked to load the bases and two runners scored on an error. Maddie Ogle brought in another run with a sacrifice hit to make it 9-5.

The home team clawed their way back into it in the sixth inning with a walk, two errors, and a two-run single from Morgan Rector to make it 9-8, but Yukon got back to scoring in the seventh with a two-run homer from Victoria Hughes.

Bella Wilson reached on an error in the bottom of the seventh but was left stranded to end the game.

Addison Hughes (9-5) took the loss, throwing nine hits, two walks, and four strikeouts with five earned runs in 5.2 innings. She reentered the game midway through the fifth to close out.

Hilton (4-2) threw 1.1 innings with three hits, one walk, one strikeout, and one earned run.

Rector had a team-best batting performance, going 3-of-4 with four RBIs in the game, while Harger was 2-of-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

Aubrey Busby got the win for Yukon, surrendering nine hits, five walks, and one strikeout in six innings.

Yukon out-hit the Sandites 12 to 9 in the first game, but the Sandites actually had an 11 to 10 advantage in game two.

Despite seeing zero drop-off at the plate in game two, both teams struggled to bring runners home.

Sand Springs stranded two singles in the first inning and Yukon took the lead with an RBI single from Ogle.

Wilson hit a triple in the fifth and tied it up on a ground out from Bailey Copeland, and the Sandites briefly took the lead in the sixth on an RBI double from Kylie King.

Yukon had a response, however, with two hits to lead off the bottom of the inning. Ariah Mitchell singled and tied it up on a ground out by Moore, then Conner hit an RBI single to bring in Ogle for the lead.

Sand Springs got out of a jam with a throw home from King to stop a run and Harger got a strikeout to strand loaded bases, but Hilton was the lone base runner in the seventh for Sand Springs, left stranded after a double.

King (2-3) got the start and the loss, throwing nine hits, no walks, and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Harger closed out the game, tossing one hit, one walk, and one strikeout in two-thirds of an inning.

King went 3-for-3 at the plate with one RBI while Hilton was 3-of-4.

The Sandites were scheduled to host Muskogee (13-14) Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. for Teacher Night but the game was cancelled due to wet fields.

Sand Springs has won 13 in a row against the Roughers in a streak dating back to 2015. They already beat Muskogee once this year, 5-3 at the Bixby tournament.

Hughes & Hilton Pitch Perfect Games on Senior Night - Sandites Shut Out Hornets

There’s no telling how many hundreds of players Shelli Brown has coached in her 27 years at Charles Page High School, but she still got teary-eyed when she reflected on her current class Thursday evening on Senior Night.

“Senior Night is a tough one,” said Brown, after her team won two perfect games in a double-header against Booker T. Washington (1-14, 0-11).

“They’re all special, all bring back memories. We had some former players come back tonight and that’s always special to me when I get to see my kids that have graduated come back.”

Sand Springs (15-8, 6-4) celebrated four seniors between games: Kelsi Hilton, Morgan Rector, Gracey Massey, and Natalia Delgado.

Before the ceremony, Addison Hughes (9-4) pitched her second perfect game of the season, tossing nine strikeouts in the 16-0 five-inning run-rule win.

After the ceremony, Hilton (4-2) threw 11 strikeouts in a 15-0 five-inning perfect game.

Morgan Rector was the hot hand at the plate, going 4-for-4 in the first game with one run and five RBIs. Kenzie King was 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI.

In the second game Hilton was 2-for-2 with a run and two RBIs while Massey was 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs.

As a team, the Sandites went 19-of-31 at the plate in game one and 7-of-15 with 18 walks in the nightcap.

Of Washington’s 30 at-bats on the night: 20 were retired at the plate, nine were put out in the infield, and the outfield only had to make one play on the whole night.

“We’ve been working with this group because we’re so young,” said Brown. “We’ve been doing a lot of teaching. This group - I feel like they’re kind of like sponges. Everything we tell them and talk to them about, they really absorb it, take it in, and try to do it out here.”

“Seeing a lot of positive things, and for them to come out here and stay focused, sometimes that’s hard to do.”

The games pushed the Sandites’ win streak to six as they enter the final two weeks of the regular season. The winning momentum is a nice change of pace after a tough 1-6 run in the middle of the season.

“What I tried to do is get a good mix of teams that we can compete with, and play a lot of the good teams,” said Brown.

“Whether we win or lose, they’re going to make you better down the road. And I think this group realizes that.”

The Sandites have been battled tested against the likes of Edmond Deer Creek (18-4), Southmoore (16-9), Owasso (23-0), Edmond Memorial (17-8), Moore (24-3), and Broken Arrow (23-3) - all of which are likely to be in the State Tournament this October.

Through many of their toughest games they were without Hilton in the circle due to a throwing arm injury that appears to be mostly behind her.

“It feels good to get Kelsi back,” laughed Brown. “She’s been a great player for us all four years she’s been a varsity player. She carries that well and she’s a great leader for the team.”

The girls will wrap up district action with another home double-header on Monday at 4:30 p.m. when they host Yukon for Youth Night. Students who come in their softball jerseys or summer camp shirts will get free admission to that game and will get to join the team on the field during the national anthem.

“Yukon is going to be tough,” said Brown. “They have a great program. So Monday, even though it’s a double-header, we just take it one game at a time.”

Sandites Sweep District Double-Header Against Putnam North

Sandwiched between two storms, the Charles Page High School softball team (13-8, 4-4) managed to win a key district double-header against Putnam City North (6-13, 2-7) on Monday afternoon.

The games were originally scheduled to be played Tuesday, September 5th at Putnam City, but after the long drive to Warr Acres, the Lady Sandites had to turn around and come back after just one inning due to lightning.

The games moved to the Sandites’ home field instead and play resumed right where it left off, with the home team trailing 1-0.

The Panthers held that narrow margin till the top of the fifth, despite loading the bases in the second.

Sand Springs stranded two singles in the third but wouldn’t get on the scoreboard till Kelsi Hilton came home on an error in the fifth. They stranded two more in that inning and Putnam threatened to get back on top with a pair of singles in the sixth.

But, Hilton caught a line drive at short to come in for a final at-bat and hit a full-count double to rally the troops. Lakelyn Harger and Kaylei Rake walked to load the bases.

Hilton scored the go-ahead on a passed ball and Kylie King plated an insurance run with a sacrifice fly before the Panthers found out number three.

Hilton, Bailey Copeland, and Rake collected ground balls to strand one runner in the bottom of the seventh to wrap up game one.

Addison Hughes (8-4) got the win in the pitcher’s circle with three strikeouts against six hits and two walks in six innings. Hilton (3-2) closed the game out with no hits and no walks in the seventh.

Hilton resumed pitching in the second game of the day, tossing eight strikeouts, four hits, and one walk in a 9-3 victory.

The Panthers once again took a first-inning lead on two singles, though this time the Sandites tied it up immediately on an RBI double from Harger after Bella Wilson reached on an error.

The Sandites stranded two in the third and Putnam North reclaimed the lead with an RBI double of their own in the fourth - but once again the Sandites had an answer.

This time it was Rake with the tying run on Kylie King’s ground ball fielder’s choice to second. Wilson hit an RBI single on loaded bases to bring in Kenzie King for the lead, Kylie King scored on an error, Harger hit a two-run single, and Morgan Rector scored on another error to make it 7-2 before the inning came to a close.

Monica Coats added one more run for the Panthers in the top of the sixth but Wilson responded with a triple and scored on a ground out by Rector - then Hilton hit a solo blast to left field for the final run of the game.

Just in time - the games ended not long before torrential downpours arrived in Sand Springs to threaten the rest of the week’s plans.

Sand Springs also has home double-headers scheduled against Yukon (11-11, 3-3) on Tuesday and Booker T. Washington (1-11, 0-9) on Thursday. Whether the fields will be dry enough to play remains to be seen.

Tuesday will be a Youth Night event at 4:30 p.m. Youth softball players can wear their team jersey or softball camp shirt to get free entry into the game and will also be allowed on the field to join the high school team for the anthem.

Thursday will be Senior Night, weather permitting.

Monday’s wins restored the Sandites to fourth place in the district standings, though they are in line to finish third if they can win out this week.

Sandites Wrap Up Bixby Tournament With Wins Over Muskogee, Coweta

Addison Hughes improved to 7-4 on the season with a 5-strikeout performance against Muskogee.

After going 1-1 on the first day of the Bixby Tournament, the Sandite softball team (11-8) wrapped things up with a pair of 5-3 wins over Muskogee and Coweta on Saturday.

Lakelyn Harger went 3-for-3 at the plate to spark the Sandites to their 13th consecutive victory over the Roughers (11-12), a streak dating back to 2015.

Bailey Copeland got the party started in the top of the second, reaching on an error before scoring on a ground out from Addison Hughes. Kylie King hit a single and scored on another error to make it 2-0 and the Sandites would never trail.

Harger hit her second single of the game in the top of the third and scored on another Rougher error to go up 3-0.

Jaliyah Simmons walked in the bottom of the third and Jaye Barnoski reached on a dropped third strike to set up Jamiah Maxwell for a two-run single to avert the shutout, but the Sandites got right back to scoring in the fourth.

Harger hit an RBI double to bring in Bella Wilson before scoring on an error to make it 5-2, but Muskogee would score one more run in before the game was over - an RBI single from Lariah Stewart to plate Simmons, who tripled.

Hughes (7-4) got the start and the win in the circle, tossing four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts in four innings. Harger threw the final inning, surrendering two hits with one strikeout.

Kelsi Hilton (2-2) got the win in game two, tossing four hits, no walks, and two strikeouts in four innings against Coweta (7-15), taking over in the second inning for Kylie King (2-2), who surrendered four hits.

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead against the Sandites on four hits in the bottom of the first, but Harger tied it up in the third with a two-run single to score Wilson and Morgan Rector.

Sierra Soto scored on a single from Zaidyn Denton in the fourth to put Coweta back on top, but Kaylei Rake repaid the favor with a two-run single in the fifth to bring in Wilson and Hilton. Rake added an insurance run on a hit from Copeland for the final 5-3 score.

Hilton and Rake both went 2-for-3 at the plate in that game. Hilton had a team-high two runs, while Harger and Rake had two RBIs apiece.

The Sandites are poised for a busy week in district play as they prepare for a trio of double-headers.

On Monday they will travel to Putnam City North (6-11, 2-5) at noon for a pair of makeup games that were originally scheduled for last Tuesday. Sand Springs trailed 1-0 in the top of the second when inclement weather postponed it.

Sand Springs will host Yukon (11-11, 3-3) at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Booker T. Washington (1-11, 0-9) at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Volleyball Places Second at Sandite Invitational, Evyn Morrow Named All-Tournament

View fullsize

The Charles Page High School volleyball team (5-3) failed to defend its home tournament for a third consecutive year, but it did take second place at the Sandite Invitational with a 4-2 record.

“I feel like we’re doing pretty good,” said senior libero Evyn Morrow, who was named to the All-Tournament team. “I think our team chemistry is pretty great this year and I feel like we’re off to a great start.”

Morrow was also named to the All-Camp team at the Licking Summer Camp in Branson where the girls went 8-2 for second place.

“She’s All-Tournament team for good reason,” said second-year head coach Skylar Jackson. “She’s the heart and soul into volleyball and into this team. She’s just a great leader. She’s a ball of energy. It’s just one of those things that comes naturally to her and she’s never going to give you less than 110-percent.”

“We graduated four starters last year that were pretty big for us and the eight seniors that we have this year are really filling in those shoes,” said Jackson.

“They’re each willing to shoulder their part of the load and they’re committed.”

Sand Springs opened the season with a trip to Bartlesville where they won a 3-0 sweep of Enid (0-8) in sets of 25-7, 25-16, and 25-20. But in the second match they lost 3-0 to the home team (2-0) in conference action, falling 25-6, 25-23, and 25-23.

In the Sandite Invitational the girls won 2-0 in a rematch with Enid and 2-1 against Yukon (3-4) before falling 2-1 to Choctaw (3-4) on Friday. After winning the first set 25-17 they lost a pair of close ones 25-23 and 25-23 to end day one.

“The match we lost was a hard-fought match,” said Jackson. “Both teams played really great volleyball and the scores were all close. I told the girls ‘there’s nothing to hang your head about. We played good ball and they played good ball. They just got us this time.’”

On Saturday they lost 2-0 to tournament newcomer Mustang (7-0), who went undefeated to win the title.

The first set was neck and neck with the Sandites leading as late as 17-16 before the Broncos pulled away to win 25-20. Mustang won the second set 25-14.

“We played a good Mustang team and didn’t play as well as we would’ve like to but I think that they rebounded well,” said Jackson.

Jayden Smith let the team offensively with 5 kills while Adelynn Ray, Alia DeBerry, Claire Day, and Averi Tippit scored 3 apiece. Ray also had 7 assists and Morrow recorded 8 digs in the loss.

They bounced back in the final match with a 2-0 sweep of Ponca City (2-5), however, winning 25-16 and 25-17.

The Sandites maintained complete control over the first set and also stormed out to 14-5 lead in the second before the Wildcats rallied to make it as close as 14-12 with a seven-point streak.

Then senior blocker Patience Pearce tipped the tide with a crucial block to kick off a four-point run for the home team and from there the girls never let off the gas.

“It was huge, especially for a kid who’s never played varsity middle,” said Jackson. “She played right side for us last year some and this year she’s in the middle. She’s still learning and asking questions all the time and getting better. She’s got that natural athleticism.”

Smith and Tippit led the attack with 6 kills apiece while Hannah McKelvey recorded 8 assists and Morrow made 9 digs. Tippit, Morrow, and Smith also served up 2 aces apiece.

“I think that we’re going to keep growing through the season and we’ll be pretty great,” said Morrow.

Sand Springs has now placed within the top three all five years of the tournament’s history.

The Sandites will return to action Tuesday at home with a 6:30 p.m. conference match against Booker T. Washington (0-0) in a rematch of last year’s Regional elimination game, which the Hornets won.

“We are really working on being aggressive regardless of who’s across the net from us, because that’s how we’re going to win” said Jackson. “We’re going to be aggressive from the serving line, we’re going to attack big, we’re going to play big defense. So we’re excited to see them Tuesday.”

Full Tournament Results

Matches

Mustang 2-0 Sand Springs (25-20, 25-14)
Mustang 2-0 Enid (25-18, 25-17)
Mustang 2-0 Choctaw (25-20, 25-14)
Mustang 2-0 Ponca City (25-10, 25-13)
Mustang 2-0 Yukon (25-12, 25-16)
Mustang 2-1 Southmoore (25-19, 16-25, 25-17)
Sand Springs 2-0 Enid (25-21, 25-14)
Sand Springs 2-0 Southmoore (25-19, 25-23)
Sand Springs 2-1 Yukon (23-25, 25-22, 25-23)
Sand Springs 2-0 Ponca City (25-16, 25-17)
Southmoore 2-0 Choctaw (25-10, 27-25)
Southmoore 2-1 Yukon (25-13, 22-25, 25-20)
Southmoore 2-1 Enid (18-25, 25-20, 28-26)
Yukon 2-0 Ponca City (25-15, 25-14)
Yukon 2-0 Choctaw (25-22, 25-23)
Yukon 2-1 Enid (23-25, 25-22, 25-23)
Choctaw 2-1 Sand Springs (17-25, 25-23, 25-23)
Choctaw 2-0 Enid (25-22, 25-20)
Choctaw 2-0 Ponca City (25-12, 25-17)
Ponca City 2-1 Enid (30-28, 23-25, 25-16)
Ponca City 2-0 Southmoore (25-19, 25-22)

Standings

6-0 Mustang
4-2 Sand Springs
3-3 Southmoore
3-3 Yukon
3-3 Choctaw
2-4 Ponca City
0-6 Enid

Sandite Weekly Sports Roundup: Baseball Opens Season With Run-Rule Wins

The Charles Page High School baseball team won its first two games of the season by 12-3 run rule against Shawnee on Friday and Yukon on Saturday.

The Sandites capitalized on a disastrous error-filled second inning from the Wolves to take a 6-1 lead and Northern Oklahoma College signee Dom Ornelas blasted a third-inning grand slam to put his team in run-rule territory.

Kayden Campbell got the win against Shawnee with nine strikeouts, four walks, and two hits in four innings.

Gage Elliott got the win against Yukon with three strikeouts, no walks, and five hits in four innings.

Brody Rutledge, Rhen Rutledge, and Jackson Turney totaled three hits apiece and Rhen Rutledge capped the scoring off with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth to secure the run rule.

Sand Springs wrapped up the preseason with a 6-2-1 record, beating Pryor 3-1 on Monday before falling 4-2 to Union on Tuesday.

Oklahoma State-committed freshman Easton Webb tossed eight strikeouts in three innings with only two hits against the Tigers.

Ornelas hit a solo homer against the RedHawks and Eli Buxton struck out eight in four innings.

The Sandites will kick off district play Monday at defending State Champion Owasso (2-0), before hosting the Rams Tuesday and Victory Christian (1-1) on Thursday.

Girls Powerlifting

The CPHS girls powerlifting team took third place at the OGPCA North Regional Tuesday in Miami, qualifying seven for the State Championship.

Senior heavyweight Jaden Jordan won her second Regional title and fourth meet of the year, benching 165 for first place, deadlifting 405 for first, and squatting 370 for second.

Also qualifying for State are Madison Thompson, Melanie Skelly, Gracie Worthington, Olivia Alexander, Kelsi Hilton, and Kiyah Dover.

Worthington placed third at 136, Thompson placed fourth at 220, Alexander placed sixth at heavyweight, Dover placed seventh at heavyweight, Hilton placed seventh at 136, Skelly placed ninth at 150, and Thompson placed 11th at 108.

The State meet will be held Monday, March 6th, at the Choctaw Event Center in Durant.

Dance

The Sandite dance team advanced to the finals in both Pom and Hip Hop at the NDA High School Nationals in Orlando, placing third in Hip Hop and fifth in Pom.