No. 14 CPHS Softball goes 2-2 at Haskell Tournament, six ladies hit homers

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School Softball team (7-7) recently competed at the Haskell Slow Pitch tournament and split four games with two wins and two losses. 

CPHS 4 Oktaha 3

The Lady Sandites topped 4A No. 6 Oktaha (26-7) by a single run in the opening round of the tournament. Madelyn Blair, Sabrina Usher, and Makenna Skaggs batted in Kimi Presnell, Jacie Taber, and CJ Norton in the top of the first inning.

The Lady Tigers had an equally effective hitting spree in the bottom of the fifth with runs from Chyann Fairchild, Mya Allen, and Mazie Richards. The tie ball game continued into an eighth inning where Felicity Horn singled and scored the go-ahead run on a double from Taber. Hannah Highfill got on base with a single for Oktaha, but was left stranded for the Sandite victory.

Haskell 8 CPHS 7

The girls got off to a good start in the second round, taking a 7-4 lead into the sixth inning before the 4A No. 18 Haskell Haymakers (17-12) came from behind with a pair of runs in the sixth inning. 

Presnell and Taber, and Jensen Arnold all hit home runs, and Taber also scored a 3RBI double.

CPHS 12 Sapulpa 10

The Lady Sandites took on their Highway 97 rivals from Sapulpa (6-19) in the third round and continued their sweep of the rivalry with their third win this season against the Lady Chieftains. Usher, Cameron Clemons, and Blair each hit home runs.

Oktaha 11 CPHS 3

In the final round the Lady Sandites met Oktaha in a rematch and were unable to replicate their earlier success, despite scattering eleven hits over the course of the game. Presnell, Taber, and Clemons scored runs off hits from Arnold, Blair, and Presnell. 

No. 14 CPHS Softball tops No. 13 Cushing 3-2; Taber and Usher hit homers

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School Slow Pitch Softball team (5-2) won a low-scoring battle with No. 13 Cushing (15-8) Thursday night in Berryhill, coming out on top of a close 3-2 walk off RBI single from Rachel Jones.

It was a relatively slow game for slow pitch as the Lady Sandites recorded only eight hits against the Tigers' seven. The Sandites have averaged nearly thirteen hits per game this season, even against top-five opponents. 

Both of Cushing's runs came in the top of the fourth as Kennedy Holderread scored Kaitlyn Oliver with a home run. 

Jacie Taber hit her fourth home run of the season to score in the bottom of the fourth, then Sabrina Usher hit her third homer of the season in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game up. Makenna Skaggs reached on an error soon after, advanced to third on a single from Mackenzie Bechtold, then scored on Jones's single for the win.

CPHS Softball: Taber and Arnold hit two home runs apiece in double-header at Broken Arrow

Jacie Taber, Jensen Arnold, and Sabrina Usher each hit home runs in a double header at Broken Arrow. 

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 10 ranked Charles Page High School Slow-Pitch Softball team (4-2) saw their undefeated start to the season come to an end at the hands of undefeated No. 3 Broken Arrow High School (10-0) in a double-header last Thursday.

Both losses were close with solid batting performances and five home runs for the Sandites. Broken Arrow won the first game 14-13 and the second game 14-9.

The Lady Sandites took an early lead in game one with a solo home run from Jensen Arnold in the top of the second, followed by back-to-back doubles from Madelyn Blair and Sabrina Usher. Makenna Skaggs brought in Usher with a single for the 3-0 lead.

The home team hit a pair of home runs in the bottom of the inning and recorded four hits for a 5-3 lead. Blair took the lead right back in the top of the third with a double to score Felicity Horn, Kimi Presnell, and Jacie Taber.

The back and forth affair continued with the Lady Sandites working up a 13-11 lead before the home team took the edge in the bottom of the sixth. Arnold and Blair singled in the top of the seventh, but the next three batters were put out and the Tigers secured the win.

In the second game the Lady Sandites were once again the driving force for most of the game before the home team pulled it out in the end.

Horn singled, Presnell doubled, and Taber brought them home with a home run. Brook Mason scored two in the bottom of the inning with a triple to center field.

Taber's next at bat resulted in a single, and this time it was Arnold with her second home run of the evening. Usher had the next dinger and the Sandites led 6-2.

The home team took their first lead in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. Lauren Feeler singled in Brooklyn Reeves and Kailee Reese, McKenzie Carney singled in Makayla Schmidt, and Mary Collins hit a homer to score Feeler and Carney for the 8-6 lead.

Taber knocked another ball out of the park to start the fifth inning, then Usher sacrificed to score CJ Norton. Blair scored the go-ahead run on a fly ball from Skaggs. It would be the last run of the game for the Sandites, however.

Three Lady Tigers walked in the bottom of the sixth to load the bases. Abby Parks singled in Carney, Mason singled in Grace Jarvis, and Reeves hit a grand slam for the final runs of the game.

Arnold (4-2) pitched both games and was credited with the losses. 

CPHS Senior Sydney Pennington named to All-State Basketball team

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Charles Page High School has produced a smattering of All Star and All State honors this school year. A dozen Sandites have received All-Star recognition by their sport's official governing body, and five were named to the All-State teams. 

Oklahoma State University-signed senior Sydney Pennington has made her way into the history books as one of the most talented athletes in school history, having been named to All-State teams in two separate sports.

Pennington was named to the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association (OGBCA) Large East All State team and the OCA Large East All State Team. She was also named to the Oklahoma Fast Pitch Coaches Association Large East All State team.

Pennington averaged 10.77 points per game this season, but could easily have had far more had she not had to share the ball with such an all-around talented team. She averaged 15.66 as a freshman, 17.16 as a sophomore, and 12.61 as a junior. She scored a career-high 32 as a sophomore, and holds 1386 career points. And basketball isn't even her best sport. 

Pennington is signed to play softball for OSU and has been to three State Championship tournaments with the Lady Sandites. They were defeated in the quarterfinals her freshman and seniors years but made it to the finals her junior year and lost by a single run. This past year she finished with an astounding .543 batting average with 45 runs, 57 hits, 38 RBI, and 10 home runs. She also pitched nearly 40 innings and finished with a 1.41 ERA and undefeated 6-0 record with two no-hitters and one shutout. 

To add to her impressive careers in basketball and softball, she was also the quarterback for the Senior Powderpuff Football team that won the school championship the past two years. One could easily compare her to Major League Baseball player Jerry Adair who made All-State in baseball, football, and basketball when he played for Sand Springs. 

Kyle Keener was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association (OCA) Large East 6A All Star team, averaging 16.5 points per game this season. Keener is signed to play for the University of Central Oklahoma next season. Keener and junior Colt Savage were both named to the Coffeyville Interstate Classic All-Tournament team this year.

Savage was named to the Oklahoma Basketball Coaches Association (OBCA) Region Seven All Star team. Savage averaged 22.48 points per game this year and scored a career-high 34. He was the second-highest scoring player in the entire Frontier Valley Conference and is only a junior.

Kierra McGee was named as an alternate on the OGBCA Large East All State team. She averaged 8.69 points per game this season and was the All-Tournament MVP at the Coffeyville Interstate Classic.

Delvin Jordan, Kasey Bales, and Lincoln Adams were named to the OCA East All Star team. Jordan also made the OCA All State East team. Jordan recorded 69 tackles this season, 15 for a loss of 91 yards, and 8 sacks for a loss of 64 yards. He also forced three fumbles and recovered one for a 32-yard touchdown return. Bales had 68 receptions for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns this season and averaged 42 yards per punt. Offensive linemen don't really have any stats to track, but Adams was one of the most proficient in the state and was a major player in opening up the prolific Sandite run game. Jordan is signed with Pittsburg State University and Adams is signed with Oklahoma Baptist University.

Daton Fix and Jack Karstetter were both named to the OCA Large East All State Wrestling team. Fix is a four-time undefeated State Champion with a 168-0 career record and is signed with Oklahoma State University. Karstetter won his first State Championship this season, was Runner-Up last year, and finished with a 105-16 record.

Cheyenne Walden and Alexis Davis were both named to the Oklahoma Track Coaches Association Cross Country Senior All-Star team. Walden is a four-time State Champion and four-time Gatorade Runner of the Year. She finished her career with personal records of 5:21 on the one-mile, 11:19.5 on the two-mile, and 17:32 in 5K. Davis is a four-time State Qualifier and finished 21st this year. She has PRs of 6:11 in the one-mile, 12:54 in the two-mile, and 19:53 for a 5K. Walden is signed with Oklahoma State University and Davis is signed with Southwestern Oklahoma State University. 

Jessica Collins was named to the All-State Large East Softball team and finished her senior year with a .316 batting average with 39 runs, 36 hits, and 22 RBI. 

No. 10 CPHS Softball dominates previously undefeated 5A No. 3 Kellyville 9-1

By: Virgil Noah, Staff Writer

The No. 10 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (4-0) ruined 5A No. 3 Kellyville High School's (9-1) perfect record with a 9-1 victory at home on Tuesday. 

Kellyville got on the board first with a double off the wall in the third inning, scoring what would be the only run of the game against Lady Sandite pitcher Jensen Arnold (4-0).

The Lady Sandite offense made up the ground lost in their half of the third. Cameron Clemons walked followed by Felicity Horn reaching on an error. Kimi Presnell then hit a ground ball to third and Clemons beat the play to the plate to score the equalizing run. Horn scored the second run of the inning on a dropped popup to give Sand Springs a lead they wouldn't relinquish.  

The Lady Sandite offense wasn't finished yet though. Madelyn Blair and Sabrina Usher both singled to start the fifth, and both came around to score on a throwing error. Mackenzie Bechtold singled and scored on an RBI single from Clemons, Horn singled home Rachel Jones, and Presnell doubled to score Clemons for a five run inning. 

The sixth inning saw the last of the scoring. Makenna Skaggs doubled to lead off and scored on an RBI double by Jones. Jones scored the final run of the game after Clemons singled to left.   

Clemons finished the game perfect from the plate going 2-2 with 2 singles, 2 RBI, a walk, and 2 runs scored. 

The Lady Sandites will return to action Thursday afternoon at No. 3 Broken Arrow (8-0).

Four Lady Sandites hit homers in 14-3 run-rule victory over Barnsdall

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Left to right: Mackenzie Bechtold, Kimi Presnell, Jacie Taber, and Jensen Arnold all hit home runs in a 14-3 victory over Barnsdall. (Photos: Scott Emigh).

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The undefeated Charles Page High School Slow Pitch Softball team (3-0) hosted the Barnsdall Lady Panthers (8-3) in their home debut Thursday evening and rolled to a quick and easy 14-3 victory in only five innings. 

The Lady Sandites left little doubt as to the direction the game was going, taking a devastating lead in the very first inning. The Panthers landed a single hit in the top of the inning, but Sand Springs managed six hits for eight runs.

Jacie Taber hit the first home run of the night to score Kimi Presnell. Madelyn Blair singled to score Jensen Arnold, then Sabrina Usher singled and Makenna Skaggs reached on error to load the bases. Rachel Jones walked to score Blair, then Usher and Skaggs both scored on an error. Elizabeth Luttrell singled to score Jones and Cameron Clemons for an 8-0 lead.

Barnsdall loaded the bases with a trio of singles in the second inning, but all three were left stranded and the Sandites came in to make it a double-digit deficit. Presnell singled and scored on an error that landed Arnold on base. Arnold came home on the next play on a double from Blair.

All three of Barnsdall's runs came in the third inning, and all three came on a single hit as Jasmine Shores sent one over the fence to score Mariah Hatfield and Alli Price. Mackenzie Bechtold scored her first home run of the season in the bottom of the inning to score Skaggs for a 12-3 lead.

Presnell and Arnold both hit home runs in the bottom of the fourth for the final scores of the game. 

Arnold (3-0) got the win on the mound, giving up only eight hits and three earned runs with no walks and one strikeout.

The Lady Sandites will return to action Tuesday with a home game against undefeated Kellyville (9-0).