Lady Sandite Softball falls 22-14 in shootout with No.3 Muskogee

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No.17 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (3-4) dropped a tough one to the No.3 Muskogee Lady Roughers (18-2) in the final game of the Jenks Festival Tuesday evening. The Sandites outhit their opponent 16 to 12, but lost it on the mound, giving up 16 walks.

Sand Springs dug themselves into a deep hole from the very beginning as Muskogee scored 11 in the top of the first. Jessica Schuler (2-1) got her first loss on the mound this season, walking two right off the bat. Aubrey Johnson singled on loaded bases to score Carlee Gann and Elexis Watson. Hattie Matthews singled in Dee Emarthle and Johnson. 

Phynix Coleman walked to load the bases and Amber Purdin went to bat with no outs. Finally the Sandites began to make plays, forcing out Bre Virgin at home. Brookelyn Gilmore walked in Dymin Purdin, but Kennedy Glass popped a fly to Sydney Pennington at shortstop. The Sandites had two outs now, but Muskogee wasn't done with their offensive yet and doubled down to add five more runs.

Gann singled Coleman and Watson tripled to score Amber Purdin, Gilmore, and Gann. Emarthle singled in Cassie Leinberger, Johnson reached on a Pennington error, and Matthews walked to reload the bases. Dymin Purdin walked in Emarthle for the 11th and final run before Coleman flied out to Kimi Presnell to bring the melee to an end.

Pennington tripled to score Kennedy Salyers and Presnell, and scored herself after tagging up on a fly by Schuler. Madelyn Blair and Stella Millican each singled, but were left stranded as Jessica Collins and Rachel Blair were put out.

Muskogee undid the gain Sand Springs had just made by scoring Gilmore, Gann, and Leinberger in the top of the second for a 14-3 advantage. The Sandites didn't let the double-digit lead dishearten them, however, and closed the gap to six runs by the end of the inning.

Salyers singled in Jacie Taber then came in on a Schuler triple that also scored Presnell and Pennington. Collins brought home Schuler to make it 14-8, but Madelyn Blair and Millican each flied out to end the inning.

Schuler walked two in the top of the third, but the field played well putting out two at first and catching a line to prevent any scoring. 

It didn't look good for Sand Springs to start the bottom as Rachel Blair and Cameron Clemons each grounded out to short, but finally Taber hit a single to get the ball rolling. She was joined on base by Salyers with a single, then brought home by a single from Presnall. Pennington reached on an error that scored Salyers to cut the deficit to 14-10.

Sand Springs was in good shape, or so it appeared, right up till they gave the double digit lead right back to the Roughers with seven walks to start the fourth. Millican (1-3) took over on the mound and only gave up one hit, no walks, and no runs, but the damage was done. 

Trailing 22-10, Sand Springs returned to the plate for a last-ditch effort. Rachel Blair, Clemons, and Taber all scored on an error and Presnell doubled to score Salyers but Pennington grounded out to bring the inning to a close at 22-14. The game had surpassed the 70-minute festival time-limit and Muskogee got the win.

Sand Springs returns to action Thursday at No.8 Jenks (14-6) in a double header beginning at 4:30. The Lady Trojans previously edged out the Sandites 26-22 in a shootout at Berryhill earlier this season.

No. 17 Lady Sandite softball run-rules No. 6 Jay 17-6 at Jenks Festival

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No.17 ranked Charles Page High School slow-pitch softball team (2-3) started in the hole against 5A No.6 Jay (18-3) Tuesday afternoon at the Jenks Festival, but took the lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back. The girls are far behind the rest of the state after an already late-starting season was further postponed due to several cancellations by opponents. The lack of slow-pitch experience caused them to drop a few upsets to start the season, but the dominating performance against the highly ranked Lady Bulldogs has demonstrated the true potential of this team. 

Senior Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler (2-0) got the win on the mound, giving up four hits and six walks, but striking out one and only allowing three earned runs.

The game was a slugging fest from the get-go. Haley Dry reached on an error to start and Marissa Lokey and Jade Creekkiller were walked to load the bases. Caitlin Taylor batted in Dry, Cayla Williams scored Lokey on an error, and Jade Frazier singled in Taylor for a 3-0 advantage to start.

The Lady Sandites retaliated in the bottom of the inning, however, as freshman Kimi Presnall tripled and came in on a single by Oklahoma State--commit Sydney Pennington. Schuler doubled in Pennington and Madelyn Blair doubled in Schuler to tie the game up. 

The Sandites fielded an impressive three-pitch three-out inning in the second and took the lead on a Rachel Blair sacrifice to score Cameron Clemons. 

In the bottom of the third they expanded on their lead as Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican hit a 3RBI triple to score Schuler, Jessica Collins, and Madelyn Blair, then scored on an error.

The Lady Bulldogs sought to get back on the board in the top of the fourth after Shanny Smith drew a walk, but Sandites outed her at second in a double play for another three-batter inning. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Pennington doubled and came in on a double by Schuler. Madelyn Blair singled in Schuler. Clemons singled in Collins and Blair, then came in on a single by Kennedy "Goose" Salyers for a 13-3 lead. 

The Lady Dogs fended off the fifth-inning run rule by scoring three. Dry tripled in Mataya Tanner. Lokey singled in Dry, then came home on a throw to make it 13-6. Sand Springs responded with back-to-back-to-back doubles by Schuler, Collins, and Madelyn Blair for a 15-6 advantage, then pitched a no-hitter in the top of the sixth. Jacie Taber and Salyers both singled in the bottom of the inning and Pennington smacked the 2RBI double to end the game. 

Pennington hits two homers in 16-5 run rule victory over Locust Grove

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

After a disappointing season debut Tuesday night, the No. 15 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (1-2) finally got in the win column with a 16-5 six-inning run-rule win over Locust Grove (3-7). Senior Northeastern State University signee Jessica Schuler (1-0) got the win on the mound and scored one home run and three runs. Junior Oklahoma State University commit Sydney Pennington led the team in scoring with two home runs, four RBI, and four runs. 

The Lady Sandites held 3-2 lead after the first. Kennedy "Goose" Salyers was walked and scored on Pennington's first home run, then Schuler hit her home run right after. In the bottom of the inning Dusty Rowland singled and scored on a Kaity Bendabout homer for the Lady Pirates. 

Neither team scored in the second but Jessica Collins got things back on track with a 2RBI single to score Salyers and Pennington. Maddelyn Blair sacrificed to score Schuler, then Stella Millican and Rachel Blair singled to load the bases. Cameron Clemons singled to bring in Collins for a 7-2 lead, but the three runners were stranded. In the bottom of the third Sophie Stone hit a homer to score Bendabout.

Kimi Presnall reached on a fielder's choice in the fourth and came home on Pennington's second home run to make it 9-4. 

In the top of the sixth the Lady Sandites exploded. Pennington and Schuler were walked. Maddelyn Blair doubled to score Pennington. Millican singled to score Schuler. Rachel Blair doubled to score her sister. Clemons singled to score Millican, and Jacie Taber singled on a fielder's choice to score Rachel Blair and put out Clemons.. Salyers doubled to score Taber, Presnall doubled to score Salyers, and Pennington rounded out the batting order and flied out to end the inning with a 16-4 lead. 

In the bottom of the sixth Sheradyn Houser doubled to score Stone, but that was the only run the Lady Pirates could muster and the Sandites secured the victory via run-rule. 

The Lady Sandites will next take on host 5A No.13 Berryhill (4-4) at the conclusion of the Berryhill vs Locust Grove game. 

Schuler, Blair hit two home runs each in 26-22 shootout loss to Jenks

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

The Charles Page High School slow-pitch softball team (0-2) had a rough start in the season opener Tuesday evening. Both Lady Sandite opponents had already played several games by the time the season started for Sand Springs and had a clear edge.

The girls dropped a 14-7 loss in the first game to No.8 Tahlequah (5-4). The Lady Sandites were undeterred by an early 5-0 deficit after the first inning and battled to tie things up 6-6 by the close of the fifth, but the Lady Tigers’ bats exploded for seven runs in the seventh inning for the win. Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington and Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler both hit home runs.

Tahlequah played No.10 Jenks next and fell 10-8, then it was the Sandites’ turn to face the Lady Trojans (8-2). The Sandites landed 24 hits on 39 at bats, including six doubles and five homeruns. Schuler and Maddelyn Blair each hit two home runs, and Pennington added the fifth. 

Jenks put three on base in the first, two by walk, one by single, but two were stranded and the third was put out on a fielder’s choice to bring in the Sandites to bat.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University-signee Kennedy “Goose” Salyers reached on an error, Kimi Presnall doubled, and Pennington was walked to load the bases. Schuler popped out to second, but Jessica Collins singled to left field to bring in Salyers and Presnall for an early 2-0 lead. Maddelyn Blair flied out to left field next, then Stella Millican singled to right to score Pennington. Millican was then caught off base to bring Jenks in to bat.

The next at-bats for each team were no hitters but the top of the third saw Jenks take the lead. Reagan Berkinshaw reached on an error, Ally Ryan doubled, and Catheryn Rodman was walked to load the bases. Kate Kouplen hit the centerfield fence for a 2RBI single, Bree Baker doubled on an error to score Rodman, Ayanna Upchurch sacrificed to score Kouplen, and Aubrey Lewellen sacrificed to score Baker for a 5-3 lead.

Pennington hit her second homerun of the evening to score Presnall, who singled, and tied things up 5-5, then Schuler hit her second homerun for the lead. Collins and Millican walked and Kalli Mallory singled to load the bases and Rachel Blair singled to bring in Collins and Millican. Blair was forced out at second on the next play and the home team had taken an 8-5 lead.

The Lady Trojans scored two in the top of the fourth as Baker singled to score Rodman and Memory Duncan walked in on loaded bases, but the Sandites retaliated quickly and effectively. Salyers singled, Presnall doubled, and Collins singled to score Saylers. Maddelyn Blair hit her second homer of the night to score Presnall and Collins. Millican doubled and came home on a Cameron Clemmons single for a 13-7 advantage.

Rodman smacked a triple to score Delaney Knorr and Ryan in the top of the fifth, then the Trojans pitched a no-hitter to come in for their glory inning. With winds gusting at over 20 MPH, Millican was having a hard time pitching anything but balls, and the Trojan batters refused to swing. Six straight batters were walked without swinging once. Then, Berkinshaw doubled to score loaded bases. Ryan walked after that and the Sandites changed pitchers to Schuler. The pitching change did little to alter the offensive slaughter, however, and the Jenks bats came alive.

Rodman singled to load the bases, Kouplen singled in Berkinshaw, and Baker singled in Ryan. Ayanna Upchurch singled in Rodman, Brenlyn McCoy singled in Kouplen and Baker, and Duncan singled to load the bases. Finkenstaedt walked in Upchurch, Knorr walked in McCoy, and Berkinshaw sacrificed to score Duncan and Finkenstaedt. Henderson sacrificed to score Knorr, then Rodman hit a homer for a 26-13 advantage before the streak finally came to an end as Kouplen was put out at first.

Down by 13 runs, there was little hope for the Sandites, but nobody told them that. Pennington singled and came in on yet another homerun by Schuler. Collins singled and came in on Maddy Blair’s third homerun of the game and the Sandites were down 26-17 by the end of the sixth.

Schuler gave up only two hits in the seventh and no runs. Jacie Taber singled to left field but was put out on a fielder’s choice off a Salyers hit. The Trojans tried for a double play but over threw first and Salyers was able to double. Presnall hit a flyball for a single on error, and Penington walked to load the bases. Schuler walked to score Salyers, then Collins doubled to score all three runners on base. Millican sacrificed to score Kellie Johnson, the courtesy runner for Collins. Clemons doubled but was ultimately left stranded as Rachel Blair flied out to center.

Millican, who is signed to play for Mid-American Christian University, got the loss for both games. The 26-22 loss was the highest scoring game in years for the Lady Sandites, who return to action Thursday at 5:00 pm against 5A No.13 Berryhill (4-4). 

Lady Sandite Softball drops season slow-pitch opener to Tahlequah

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

The No.15 ranked Charles Page High School varsity slow pitch softball team (0-1) got off to a rough start in the season opener, dropping a 14-7 home loss to No.8 Tahlequah (5-3).

Senior Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican got the start and loss on the mound.

The Lady Tigers took a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning and pitched a no hitter to come in and smack a homer in the second to make it 6-0. Jessica Collins was able to land a double in the bottom of the inning but was ultimately stranded on third. 

Neither team scored in the third inning, but the Sandites finally got on board in the bottom of the fourth as Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington doubled and came in on a single by Maddelyn Blair.

The Sandites held the Tigers scoreless in the fifth as well, and tied things up as Rachel Blair reached on a fielder's choice and came home on a Kennedy "Goose" Salyers triple. Salyers is signed to play for Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the fall. Freshman Kimi Presnall singled to bring in Salyers, Pennington doubled, and Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler batted both runners in on a 3RBI Homerun. Collins doubled, but was left stranded as the Tigers came in to bat tied up 6-6.

The Tigers scored one run in the top of the sixth and held the home team scoreless before exploding in the seventh. Four batters were walked, errors abounded, and the Tigers scored a 2RBI double and a 3RBI homerun for a 14-6 lead. The Sandites tried to rally as Pennington homered, Schuler was walked, and Collins singled, but the two on base were stranded as Tahlequah brought home the 14-7 victory.

2X Sandite of the Week: Sydney Pennington

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

The first Sandite to achieve this recognition twice since we began awarding it in November, Charles Page High School junior Sydney Pennington is your new Sandite of the Week for her outstanding accomplishments on the basketball court this past week. 

Tuesday night the #12 Lady Sandites took on the #2 Muskogee Roughers at home and battled within single digits before ultimately falling 50-38. During the game Pennington shot 57% on field goals for a team-leading 11 points. She was second on rebounds with 7, first in steals with 2, and added a block.

Most impressive was the career milestone she hit. Her 11 points were just enough to bring her to 1,000 career points, the most of any Sandite on either the boys' or girls' teams, by a wide margin. 

She followed up that performance Friday night at homecoming with a team-high 22 points, shooting 75% on field goals and 80% on free throws to lead her team to a 60-48 win over the Bixby Spartans. 

This season she has averaged 13 points per game and was named the All Tournament MVP of both the Bishop Kelley Invitational and the Coffeyville Interstate Classic and has scored six team-highs. 

In addition to being an outstanding basketball player, she was also a member of the 2015 6A State Runner-Up softball team and is committed to Oklahoma State University for softball. 

Sandite of the Week is a weekly recognition given to any one person with significant ties to the Sand Springs community who accomplishes remarkable achievements during the Sunday through Saturday week preceding the award. Prior achievements may be noted in the article, but do not bear direct influence on the selection committee which only considers prior week accomplishments. Candidates may be nominated by anyone by emailing SanditePrideNews@gmail.com. Bylaws prevent the giving of the award to anyone for two consecutive weeks, but any recipient may be nominated and awarded again in the future, so long as the weeks are not consecutive. Final selection is made by a majority vote of a three-person staff committee. 

Businesses or organizations seeking to sponsor the Sandite of the Week award may contact the above email for inquiries.