Sandite baseball wins season opener with 6-0 shutout

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Rhett Rutledge rounds first base. 

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

The Charles Page High School baseball team got off to a slow start in their season-opener against Tulsa NOAH Homeschool Thursday night before a pair of fifth inning triples propelled them to a 6-0 shutout.

Jake Ward got the start on the mound and pitched the first four innings before Hunter Greathouse relieved him to start the fifth.

Ward struck out the side to start the game. Rhett Rutledge and Gunnar Phillips each drew walks in the first inning and stole their way completely around the bases for the first two runs and it looked like the game would be a breeze.

The next three innings proved fruitless for both teams, however. Ward gave up two walks and a single in the second and offensively the Sandites didn’t get off a single hit.

The Sandites tried to get back in it at the third as Ward pitched a no-hitter. Phillips drew a walk and Ward followed it up with a single but both were left stranded as Joey Montgomery was put out at first.

Ward struck out two in the fourth and walked Keaton McDaniel, but then caught him stealing at second. The bottom of the fourth was another no-hitter, but the Sandites made up for it big in the fifth as Rutledge and Greathouse each hit two-RBI triples to score Ward, Montgomery, Treyce Tolbert, and Ty Fain.

Greathouse pitched three no-hitter innings with six strikeouts and the Sandites brought home their first win of the season. The boys will return to action Saturday at 2:00 for some Highway 97 Rivalry at Sapulpa. 

Trevor Tolbert signs letter of intent

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

 Charles Page High School senior Trevor Tolbert became the twelfth of his class to sign a college letter of intent. Tolbert signed to play baseball for Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Tolbert is the middle child of Jason and Deena Tolbert. His older sister Jacie is an athletic trainer for the Oklahoma Sooners and can often be seen on television during the football games. 

SWCU is a private Pentecostal junior college that competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCAA) and is part of the Sooner Athletic Conference. 

The SWCU Eagles have spent the last few years completely reinvigorating their baseball program after a dismal 8-45 record in 2014. Last year they finished the season 26-26 and they're slated for even more improvement this year as they're off to an 8-1 start and are undefeated at home. 

Tolbert plans to study Criminal Justice with the goal of becoming a game warden.  

Charles Page has also seen four football players, three softball players, and four soccer players sign this year.