Lady Sandite Softball hammers Jay 14-2 in three innings

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Photo: Scott Emigh

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (23-6) dropped the hammer on Jay (16-15) Saturday afternoon at the Northeastern State University high school tournament and needed only three innings to secure a 14-2 victory. Madelyn Blair (10-2) got the start and win on the mound with one hit, two runs, and three walks in one inning. Makenna Skaggs (0-0) made her varsity pitching debut and threw two strikeouts with one hit in two innings at the mound.

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

Jay took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first after Marissa Lokey and Jessie Summerfield both drew walks. Jade Creekkiller reached on a fielder's choice to out courtesy runner McKenzie Buzzard at third, and Caitlin Taylor walked to load the bases. Haley Dry sent a double into left field to score Summerfield and Creekkiller for the brief lead, but it wouldn't last long.

Dry went to the mound in the bottom of the first and gave up a walk to Felicity Horn who scored on a triple from Oklahoma State commit Sydney Pennington. Jacie Taber walked and Blair reached on a failed fielder's choice to load the bases. Skaggs went in to run for Blair. Sabrina Usher reached on a failed fielder's choice to score Pennington, Cameron Clemons walked to score Taber, and Kimi Presnell reached on an error to score Skaggs and Usher. Elizabeth Luttrell singled to score Clemons for the 6-2 advantage, but was put out advancing on the play and Jessica Collins grounded out to third to bring the scoring melee to an end.

Skaggs took the mound in the top of the second and struck out Jade Frazier swinging. Lokey popped an infield fly to Presnell at second base, and Kyla Rogers was put out at first on a dropped third strike.

The Sandites tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the second. Pennington and Taber were both put out to start the inning, but the girls got on track as Blair reached on an error and Usher hit a single. Skaggs ran courtesy for Blair and scored on a single from Clemons. Usher came home on a single from Presnell, and Luttrell singled to score Clemons. Horn put the exclamation mark on the inning with a two-run triple to score Presnell and Luttrell, but was put out at home to bring the inning to a close at 11-2. 

Creekkiller hit a double in the top of the third but was left stranded to bring in the Sandites for the duration.

Collins drew a walk to start things off and was joined on base by Pennington and Taber who hit singles. Collins scored on a passed ball and Usher hit a two-run single to bring in Pennington and Taber as time expired and the girls won 14-2. 

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

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (22-6) traveled to Tahlequah Friday for the Northeastern State University high school tournament and secured a pair of wins behind pitchers Jacie Taber (9-4) and Madelyn Blair (9-2). Elizabeth Luttrell hit her first career home-run in a 4-0 shutout of District One Runner-Up Moore (23-5) to score three runs. 

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

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

The two teams were knotted up for the most of the game and it was anyone's game till Luttrell put it away in the bottom of the fourth. 

Blair hit two batters in the top of the first, but both were left stranded as the other three grounded out. Jessica Collins landed the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first with a single to short, but was left stranded. Neither team got on base in the second inning.

In the top of the third Kennedy Jackson singled and was joined on base by Kamrie Harrison, but both were stranded. Kimi Presnell put the Sandites ahead in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff double to left field and scored on a single from freshman Felicity Horn. Horn was put out at second, but Collins and Pennington singled and Taber was walked to load the bases. Moore saved the inning, however, as Madelyn Blair flied out to second base.

The Lions threatened in the top of the fourth as Carlee Geissler singled and Taylor McKittrick was hit by pitch. They were both replaced by courtesy runners who were both put out on fielders' choices in the corresponding plays to prevent a run.

In the bottom of the fourth Presnell and Sabrina Usher both singled and came home on Luttrell's home run for the 4-0 advantage. 

Amanda Moreno hit a double in the top of the fifth and Pennington was walked in the bottom, but neither scored and the game came to a close with the Sandites' twelfth shutout win of the season. It was the first time this year that the Lions had been shut out and brought an end to their six-straight winning streak. 

Blair got the win on the mound with three hits, zero runs, one strikeout, and four walks. Presnell was two-for-two at the plate with two runs, a single, and a double.

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.

Lady Sandite Softball takes second in district after 5-2 loss to Yukon

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Photo: Scott Emigh

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

For the second year in a row, the Yukon Millers (23-5, 13-1) spoiled the Sandites' run at a District Championship. The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (20-6, 11-3) hosted Yukon Thursday evening with an 11-2 district record to the Millers' 12-1. The Lady Sandites had already defeated the Millers on their home turf earlier this season, so a win at home to tie their records would have given the Sandites their first and only district title since 2012.

Last year the Sandites came into their final district game against Yukon undefeated at 13-0, having beaten the Millers 4-3 earlier in the season. That time Yukon was 12-1 and defeated the Sandites 4-0. The two teams split the district title, but Yukon claimed the number one seed on run differential. 

Sand Springs drew first blood in the 5-2 loss with a single from junior Madelyn Blair to score Makenna Skaggs in the bottom of the third. Skaggs was running courtesy for sophomore pitcher Jacie Taber who doubled. Freshman Sabrina Usher hit a single to follow and advanced Blair to third, but the two were left stranded to end the inning 1-0.

In the top of the fifth, Mady Taylor was hit by pitch for a free base, and advanced to second on an error that allowed Jewell Lee to reach first. Taylor tied the game up as Rylee Uhr reached on an error, and Lee scored soon after on a single from Aleyah Holman. Cheyenne Factor was hit by pitch to load the bases, and all three runners scored on a double from Breley Webb. The Sandites gave up a double to Hannah Franklin and walked Janie Abrams to reload the bases, but pulled out the inning with a double play from Kimi Presnell at second to Blair at first.

The Sandite freshmen stepped up in the bottom of the sixth as Usher hit a double and scored on a double from Felicity Horn, but that would be the last run of the game. Senior Rachel Blair also hit a single in the inning, but was put out on a fielder's choice to bring the visitors in to bat. The Millers didn't land any hits in the seventh, but didn't need to. Madelyn Blair singled in the bottom of the inning, but was left stranded to end the game 5-2. 

Taber (8-4) got the loss on the mound with four walks and four hits against two strikeouts and zero earned runs. Webb picked up the win with one strikeout, two earned runs, nine hits, and two walks. 

After coming in second in the district, the Sandites will get to host their own Regional tournament beginning October 6th. Though official brackets won't be released by the OSSAA until the 28th, current district standings would have the girls playing Claremore (10-18) in the preliminary round. The tournament is double elimination, so the girls will play either or both Stillwater (19-12) and Sapulpa (7-18). Those pairings aren't final, however, as some teams still have district games left to play. Ponca City (16-14) still has three district games left and could surpass Sapulpa in the standings which would send either Ponca themselves, or Norman (13-7) to Sand Springs.

The girls will get plenty of practice in before Regionals, however, as they travel to the Northeastern State University Tournament in Tahlequah Friday and Saturday. They will take on Muskogee (7-12)  at 2:00 p.m. and Moore (20-4) at 4:45 p.m. Friday. On Saturday they will play Jay (14-13) at 2:15 p.m. and Muldrow (13-13) at 3:45 p.m., followed by bracket play. 

Lady Sandite Softball defeats Bixby 13-1 and will play District Championship Thursday

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Photo: Scott Emigh

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (20-5, 11-2) played a district double-header against the Bixby Lady Spartans (15-13, 10-4) Tuesday at home and split the games. After winning the first game 13-1, the Sandites couldn't bring in a run in the second game and lost 1-0. Fortunately, they only needed one win to stay alive in the race for a district title. 

The Sandites jumped on the Spartans quick and early as Oklahoma State commit Sydney Pennington drew a walk in the top of the first, reached third on a sacrifice from Jessica Collins, and scored after tagging up on a fly out by Elizabeth Luttrell. Soon after, Cameron Clemons singled to score Collins and Makenna Skaggs for the 3-0 advantage. Felicity Horn scored on a failed fielder's choice, and Sabrina Usher reached on an error to score Clemons and Kimi Presnell to cap off the inning 6-0 after being put out at second.

Sophomore Jacie Taber doubled in the top of the second inning to score Pennington, then came home with Skaggs on a single from Horn. She batted in another pair of runs in the top of the third, scoring Pennington and Usher on a single for the 11-0 lead.

Usher hit a double to start off the fifth inning and scored on a home run from Pennington, her ninth this season.

The Spartans hit their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, a double from Adrianna Forbus, to score Mia Gates. It would be their only run of the game, however, and the Sandites won it 13-1 after a five-inning run-rule.

Junior pitcher Madelyn Blair (8-2) picked up her sixth straight win on the mound with only one hit and two walks against four strikeouts and one run. She also hit two singles in the game.

The second leg of the double-header was an anomaly as the Sandites were shutout for only the third time this season, despite landing five base-hits and putting ten runners on base over the course of the game. 

In the first inning, Horn reached on an error and was joined by Pennington, who walked. Both were left stranded.

The Spartans scored their first and only run of the game in the top of the second with a home run from Meredith Iden. Bixby loaded the bases from there as Forbus was hit by the pitch, Brooklyn Lemon hit a single, and Kyndal Pirtle walked to load the bases. Sophomore pitcher Jacie Taber was able to save the inning, however, striking out Teri Pogue swinging. 

Presnell was stranded on a single in the bottom of the second. Sarah Tyree was stranded after a triple in the top of the third. Blair and Taber both singled in the bottom of the fourth, but Blair was caught in a double play and Taber was stranded. Horn reached on error once again in the bottom of the fifth, and Pennington walked in the sixth.

The Sandites threatened again in the bottom of the seventh. After Clemons grounded out and Jensen Arnold struck out looking, Usher drew a walk and Horn singled. Collins was next to the plate and also singled, but Usher was caught advancing on the play and the game was brought to an end.

Taber (8-3) pitched a career-best eleven strikeouts while giving up only four hits and two walks. She averages less than one run per game with five shutouts this season. This is her third double-digit strikeout game this season.

The Sandites' 11-2 district record is surpassed only by Yukon at 12-1. However, the Sandites and Millers will play the final district match for both teams Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at the Sandite Softball Complex. Sand Springs has already defeated Yukon once this season, 9-1 at the Miller's home turf. If the girls can pull off the repeat, they will match the Millers' record and win the district on head-to-head results. 

Sandite of the Week: Brett Freeman is invaluable in 29-24 defeat of Putnam Patriots

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By: Sandite Pride Editorial Board

Charles Page High School senior Brett Freeman was a key player in the Sandites' first win of the season, forcing two turnovers that resulted in touchdowns.

The 6'2" 175 pound defensive back made his first play of the night in an assisted tackle to stop a five-yard run early in the first quarter. 

With three minutes left in the first half, the Sandites had just taken a 14-7 lead and sent the kick high into the stadium lights. As the ball bounced off O'Neal Cotton, the Sandites exploded on the Patriots and Freeman was able to scoop up the ball to bring the offense right back onto the field at the Patriots' 26 yard line. The Sandites would score on the very next play.

On the corresponding Patriot drive, Freeman registered a pass break-up on second and nine that could have been dangerous.

Four minutes into the second half, Freeman once more cut the Patriots off early, intercepting their very first pass of the drive to land the Sandite offense at the Putnam West 18-yard line. The Sandites scored seven plays later.

Shortly before the end of the third quarter he registered a solo tackle to hold a quarterback-keeper to five yards. 

Other notable Sandite achievements last week:

Cheyenne Walden, Senior XC runner. Took 1st Place at Holland Hall XC against several State Qualifiers with a 5K time of 18:12.1, leading the second place runner by 39 seconds and the third place runner by 1:12. This is her sixth-straight first place finish.

Jacie Taber, sophomore pitcher. Went 1-1 on the mound this week, giving up four hits, 2 walks, and one run, but no earned runs and 3 strikeouts against Jenks. She was one of only two Lady Sandites to land a base hit in that game. She pitched an 18-0 shutout win against Enid, giving up only 1 hit and 3 walks against 2 strikeouts and no runs in 5 innings. She scored 2 runs on 2 singles in that game. In the second game of the Enid doubleheader she scored two runs and one hit on two at-bats, hitting a 2RBI home run.

Sydney Pennington, senior shortstop. Was intentionally walked 3 times against Jenks and never had an at-bat. She was in on a double play in that game. In the first game against Enid she was 3 of 4 with a single, double, and home run for 2RBI and 3 runs. She was .750 against Enid in game two as well with a single and two doubles for 5RBI and 2 runs.

Holly Kersgieter, sophomore volleyballer. Scored 15 kills in 5 sets against Bixby with 2 assists, 15 digs, and 2 aces. Scored 9 kills, 1 assist, 5 digs, 1 ace in 3 sets against Booker T.

Gloria Mutiri, senior volleyballer. Scored 30 kills, 1 assist, 4 solo blocks, 2 block assists, 9 digs, 2 aces in 5 sets against Bixby. Scored 12 kills, 1 assist, 7 digs, 2 aces in 3 sets against Booker T. Also committed to Ohio State University this week.

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 emailingSanditePrideNews@gmail.com. The award is not given to anyone in 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 the Sandite Pride Editorial Board.

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