Fernando Saldana sparks Sandites in district soccer opener

A version of this story was originally published in the Sand Springs Leader.

Baseball

Sandite Baseball picked up a key 7-3 district win at Broken Arrow Monday, March 29th. The team recorded 11 hits with four doubles, and got it done on the mound as well. Jabe Schlehuber tossed five strikeouts for the win, and Eli Buxton recorded the save. Broken Arrow won the rematch on Tuesday, 8-7. Dom Ornelas hit a three-run homer for the 6-3 lead in the third, but the Tigers rallied with four runs in the fifth.

The Sandites headed to Jenks Friday for a non-district game and lost 2-1 on a walkoff error. They returned to form Saturday, however, with a 13-1 run-rule victory against Midwest City. Keaton Campbell went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, two runs, and four RBI, while Kayden Campbell got the win on the mound with six strikeouts and only one hit.

Sand Springs is 10-10 overall and 4-4 in district play. They will play Friday at Bixby at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at Union. 

Soccer

The Sand Springs boys’ soccer team (5-4) kicked off district play with a 3-2 win against Edmond Memorial Friday night. Fernando Saldana scored two goals, Jack Bratcher added one, and Xander Quiroga made five saves. Bratcher leads the team with nine goals this season, followed by Saldana with eight.

Lady Sandite Soccer (6-2) suffered a 1-0 loss in their district debut, snapping a four-match win streak. Both teams will travel to Union Friday for a district match. Girls will play at 6:00 p.m., followed by boys at 8:00 p.m.

Slow Pitch Softball

The Sand Springs slow pitch softball team (6-5) won a rivalry double-header against Sapulpa in dominant fashion, Monday, March 29th, beating the Chieftains 28-5 and 23-0, but hit a rough patch later in the week.

Raegan Rector hit two home runs in the first game, scoring three runs and six RBI. Lauren Hammock got the win, only giving up two hits with one strikeout in the three-inning game. 

Rector hit a triple in game two, and scored two runs and five RBI. Kaden Barnes pitched the three inning shutout, tossing one hit, one strikeout, and no walks.

On Tuesday Rector hit two more homers, scoring six RBI in a 21-13 loss to Berryhill. Taylor Skipper also had a homer and was 3-for-3 at the plate. They also fell 20-3 to Broken Arrow, with yet another homer from Rector. 

On Thursday they went 2-3 at the Haskell Tournament, beating Fort Gibson 9-4 and Bristow 9-1, but they fell 17-5 to Haskell, 13-2 to Oktaha, and 7-6 to Bixby.

Sandite Softball will travel to Jenks Thursday at 5:00 p.m. to play the Trojans and Owasso.

Track and Field

The Sand Springs boys and girls track teams both placed sixth at the Broken Arrow Track Classic Saturday. Joseph Mattison was the star of the show, running the 200-meter dash in 22.18 seconds for third place. He also jumped 20’06.5” for third place in the long jump.

Wrestling

The Keystone Kids hosted an OK USA tournament Saturday at Clyde Boyd Middle School and seven Sand Springs wrestlers won their brackets. Colton Lambert, Kason Wolfe, Ethan Norton, and Parker Ingram placed first in freestyle, Jesse Moore won in Greco, and Samuel Moore won his bracket in both styles. 

Sandite Athletics Weekly Roundup

A version of this story was originally published in the Sand Springs Leader.

Boys Soccer

The Sand Springs boys’ soccer team (4-4) fell 2-1 in non-district play at Enid, Tuesday, March 23rd, with Brian Boyles scoring the lone goal. They placed fourth at the Holland Hall tournament last week, beating Oklahoma Christian School 6-0 on Thursday before falling 2-1 to Holland Hall Friday and 7-3 to Owasso on Saturday. 

Fernando Saldana scored a hat trick against OCS and Jack Bratcher had a brace. Cameron Summerton added the sixth goal, his first of the season. Saldana scored one goal against Holland Hall and another against Owasso. Bratcher and Mason Ritter also had goals against Owasso. 

The boys were short handed in their placement match, playing without NSU-bound David Fancher and goalkeeper Xander Quiroga, among others. Junior backup Shawn Hayes made ten saves in the loss.

Baseball

Sandite Baseball went 3-2 last week and is 8-8 overall. Jabe Schlehuber got the win and Eli Buxton recorded a save in a 4-2 district game at Bartlesville, Tuesday, March 23rd. Bartlesville won the rematch 6-4 on Wednesday.

The Sandites returned to Bartlesville on Thursday and Friday for a festival. Gage Elliott went the distance in a 10-2 win over Ponca City Thursday, only giving up three hits, then Kayden Campbell recorded a 7-4 rivalry win against Sapulpa with another save from Buxton. Schlehuber and Ty Pennington both hit triples in the win. Bishop Kelley scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh for an 8-7 walk-off on Friday.

Rhen Rutledge paced the offense, going 7-of-15 at the plate last week with seven runs, two RBI, a double, and a triple. Cason Savage also hit a triple in the Wednesday loss to Bartlesville.

Sand Springs will travel to Jenks Friday for a non-district game, and will host Midwest City Saturday at noon.

Slow Pitch Softball

Sandite Slow Pitch started the season with a pair of wins Tuesday, March 23rd at Union High School. They beat Berryhill 13-1 in a three-inning run rule and survived a 12-11 shootout with the host team. 

Lauren Hammock got the win against Berryhill, only giving up one hit. Jaden Jordan hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give her team the lead, and Kelsi Hilton and Kaden Barnes both hit RBI triples. Hilton added a grand slam in the second inning, then Hammock threw a bases-loaded strikeout for the win. 

Barnes got the win against Union and Hammock recorded a save. Jordan went a perfect three-for-three at the plate with two home runs and six RBI. 

Sand Springs Softball will compete at the Haskell Tournament on Thursday, where they are the defending tournament champions.

Track and Field

The Sand Springs boys placed sixth and the girls took fifth Friday at the Muskogee Track Classic. Two Lady Sandites brought home three gold medals from the event. 

Jazmin Lopez won the 800-meter run in 2:29.87. Layne Kirkendoll won the high jump with a mark of 5’04.00” and the long jump with a distance of 17’06.00.” Jayda Rowe placed second in the discus throw with a mark of 105’07.00”, ranking her second in Sand Springs history in the event. 

Alejandro Lopez placed second in the 800-meter run in 2:04.95, less than half a second behind the winner. Joseph Mattison placed third in the 100-meter dash in 11.27, third in the 200 in 23.15, and third in the long jump at 19’07.00”.

The girls 4x100 relay team placed third in 52.04 seconds, the 4x400 placed fourth in 4:29.49, and the 4x200 placed fifth in 1:56.22. 

The boys 4x800 relay team placed fourth in 8:48.62, the 4x400 placed fourth in 3:41.33, and the 4x200 placed fifth in 1:38.57. 

Sandite Track will next compete at the Broken Arrow Track Classic Saturday at 10:00 a.m.

Sandites' Layne Kirkendoll, Joseph Mattison claim gold at Broken Arrow Relays

A version of this story was originally published in the Sand Springs Leader.

Track and Field

Layne Kirkendoll and Joseph Mattison were leaps and bounds ahead of their competition Friday at the Broken Arrow Relays, and both took home first place medals in the long jump. 

Kirkendoll has already secured her position as the second-best long jumper in Sand Springs history behind two-time State Champion Shawn Gilton, and she just keeps getting better. Her 17’08.5” leap marked a career-high and her second win of the season. She also won the high jump with a career mark of 5’06.00”.

Mattison earned his first varsity gold with a career distance of 20’02.5” in his first jumping event of the season. 

There were no individual running events in the dual-style meet, which pitted the Sand Springs relay teams against Broken Arrow’s varsity and JV squads. The Sandite runners didn’t win any events, but the girls’ 1600 team lost by less than a second.

Baseball

Sandite Baseball (5-6) went 0-4 at the Edmond Festival, but their Saturday double-header featured a pair of close shootouts. On Thursday they lost 5-1 to Norman North and 7-4 to Mustang.

On Saturday they lost 10-9 to both Edmond North and Edmond Santa Fe. In the first game against Edmond North they were down 4-0 to start the sixth and scored eight runs to take the lead, including a 2RBI triple from Rhen Rutledge and a 3RBI double from Jacob Shields. 

The Huskies tied it 8-8 with an RBI double in the seventh to force an extra inning. Shields reclaimed the lead on a ground out by Rutledge, but Toby Simpson hit a 2RBI single to win the game. 

Santa Fe took a 3-0 lead into the fourth in the next game, but Pennington tied it up with a 2RBI triple and Kaden Young scored in the fifth for the lead. The Wolves used four walks and a hit to make it 6-4, but Sand Springs wouldn’t stay down for long.

Keaton Campbell and Jabe Schlehuber hit a pair of solo home runs, then the Wolves walked four Sandites in a row to tie it in the seventh. Cason Savage and Rutledge tagged up on a pair of pop flies to make it 9-7, but Jase White hit a two-run double to tie it and Caleb Moore was walked on loaded bases for the win. 

Sand Springs Baseball will return to action Thursday and Friday at the Bartlesville Bruin Classic, which will feature a Highway 97 Rivalry game against Sapulpa Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

Slow Pitch Softball will host Owasso Thursday at 4:30 p.m., Boys’ Soccer will play in the Holland Hall Invitational Thursday, Track and Field will compete at Muskogee Friday at 4:00 p.m., and the Fishing teams will take to the waters at Ft. Gibson Saturday and Sunday.

Fourth Annual Monster Ball raises $1174 for Sandite Special Olympics

The Fourth Annual Monster Ball softball game was very nearly canceled for the second straight year, but after a week-long weather delay, the event was finally held Wednesday, November 4th at the Sandite Softball Complex. The event looked a lot different from past years, but was still a major success, raising $1,174 for Sandite Special Olympics.

In past years the costumed slow pitch game pitted the Sandite Softball and Baseball teams against each other, with the boys batting with their non-dominant hand. The Lady Sandites won the first and third events, but the boys will have to wait till next year to try and tie the series. Due to COVID-related quarantines, the softball team was shorthanded and both teams had mixed rosters this year.

Sully, from Monsters Inc., hit a leadoff homer over the right field fence to start the game, and his team would go on to win the game 6-2. He hit another home run in the fifth inning, and Rocky Balboa also had a dinger.

A dizzy bat race was held after three innings, and anyone in the crowd could pay $3 to enter someone else into the race. Todd Stewart and Morgan Powell won their heats and Stewart won the finals race.

Click here to view our full photo gallery from the event.

CPHS Softball: Lee, Taff, Hawkins named to All-State team

Three members of the Charles Page High School fast pitch softball team were named to the Oklahoma Fast Pitch Coaches Association All-State Large East team on Monday. Seniors Madison Lee, Aliyah Taff, and Drew Hawkins all received All-District, All-Region, and All-State honors this season.

Madison Lee was named All-District Co-Offensive Player of the Year, All-Region Middle Infielder, and All-State Middle Infielder and Utility player. She batted a team-best .532 this season with 58 hits, 13 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, 46 runs, 19 RBI, and 20 stolen bases with a .734 slugging average and .580 on-base percentage.

Aliyah Taff was named All-District, All-Region, and All-State Pitcher. She finished her career 34-20 and was 17-6 this season with a 1.82 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 148 strikeouts. She was .363 batting and .510 slugging with 7 runs, 23 RBI, 37 hits, 7 doubles, and 4 triples. She also committed zero errors this season.

Drew Hawkins was an All-District Utility player, and made All-Region and All-State Outfielder. She was .409 batting and .656 slugging with 38 hits, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 32 runs, and 17 RBI.

Jaden Jordan, Raegan Rector, Avery Tanner, Jolee McNally, and Nataley Crawford all received All-District honors recently. The Sandites finished the season 25-7 overall for their highest win total since 2016, and were 10-2 for second place in District 6A-3.

The three latest additions bring the Sandites’ all time All-State total to 46. Past recipients are: Sabrina Usher (2019), Kimi Presnell (2018), Jacie Taber (2018), Madelyn Blair (2018), Sydney Pennington (2016), Jessica Collins (2016), Kennedy Salyers (2015), Jessica Schuler (2015), Mallory Collins (2013), Hailey Andrews (2013), Kasey Burgess (2013), Taylor Perdue (2012), Madison Thompson (2010), Darrian Williams (2010), Joely Rogers (2010), Ashlynn Kelley (2008), Alyssa Poole (2006), Melanie Skinner (2004), Amanda Hale (2003), Sara Dyer (2003), Erin Bouse (2002), Patty Keho (2001), Jessica Clark (2001), Danielle Blackwell (2001), Lindsey Dyer (2000), Brandi Horn (2000), Shawna Wright (1999), Tauni Kennemer (1997), Angie Smalley (1997), Jennifer Bottoms (1996), Tiffany Redding (1995), Jenny Kennemer (1995), Debra Collins (1994), Rachel Phillips (1994), Jamie Pennington (1993), Kendra Williams (1993), Danielle Miller (1990), Marsha Rogers (1990), Cori Jones (1988), Andi Sallee (1987), Tricia Spencer (1987), Tina Smalley (1986), Ashley Burgess (1986).

CPHS Softball: Eight Sandites receive All-District accolades

Madison Lee was named co-Offensive Player of the Year for District 6A-3.

The Charles Page High School fast pitch softball team finished 10-2 in District 6A-3 for second place this season, and the team was rewarded with six All-District appointments and two Honorable Mentions. Overall, the girls went 25-7 for their highest win total since 2016.

Senior standout Madison Lee will share the Offensive Player of the Year award with Shawnee’s Oklahoma State University commit Tatum Sparks. Lee batted an incredible .532 this season with 58 hits, 13 doubles, 3 triples, one home run, 46 runs, 19 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. She had a .734 slugging average and .580 on-base percentage.

Senior Aliyah Taff was named All-District Pitcher. Taff finished the season with a 17-6 record and was 34-20 in her career. She maintained a 1.82 ERA and 1.13 WHIP this year with 148 strikeouts. She was also solid at the plate with a .363 batting average and .510 slugging average, scoring 7 runs and 23 RBI on 37 hits, including 7 doubles and 4 triples. She also committed zero errors on the season.

Sophomore Jaden Jordan got the nod at All-District First Base, recording a team-best 16 double plays this season. She also had a .436 batting average, .500 OBP, and team-best .734 slugging average with 44 hits, 13 doubles, 2 triples, a team-best 4 home runs, 1 grand slam, 29 runs, and 40 RBI.

Junior Raegan Rector was named to the All-District Outfield. Rector batted .448 this season with a .714 slugging average and .517 OBP. She scored 35 runs and a team-best 75 RBI on 47 hits, with 20 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 home runs. She also went 1-0 in the pitcher’s circle with a 3.66 ERA, and committed no errors this year.

Junior Avery Tanner was named an All-District Utility Player with a .440 batting average and .549 slugging average, scoring 23 runs and 19 RBI on 40 hits, including 8 doubles and a triple. She also had 10 stolen bases and a team-best 10 sacrifices.

Senior Drew Hawkins also got a Utility Player nod with a .409 batting average and .656 slugging average. She scored 32 runs and 17 RBI on 38 hits, with 9 doubles, 4 triples, and 2 home runs.

Junior Jolee McNally received an Honorable Mention. She batted .414 and was .603 slugging with 24 hits, 5 doubles, 3 triples, 16 runs, and 15 RBI.

Sophomore pitcher Nataley Crawford also received an Honorable Mention. She batted .388 and was .575 slugging with 31 hits, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 13 runs, and 19 RBI. The heir apparent at lead pitcher, she was 7-1 this season with a 3.22 ERA and 1.42 WHIP, tossing 31 strikeouts.

Player of the Year: Lily Shaw (Owasso).
Pitcher of the Year: Anneca Anderson (Shawnee).
Offensive Player of the Year: Madison Lee (Sand Springs) and Tatum Sparks (Shawnee).
Defensive Player of the Year: Jessica Watson (Jenks).
Pitcher: Aliyah Taff (Sand Springs).
Pitcher: Avery Tallman (Owasso).
Pitcher: Emma Lang (Jenks).
Catcher: Emma Vickrey (Jenks).
Catcher: Carly Torbett (Shawnee).
1st Base: Jaden Jordan (Sand Springs).
2nd Base: Faith Russell (Jenks).
3rd Base: Brookley Foster (Owasso).
Shortstop: Sarah Campbell (Owasso).
Outfield: Raegan Rector (Sand Springs).
Outfield: Emily Green (Owasso).
Outfield: Hallie Wilson (Shawnee).
Utility: Avery Tanner (Sand Springs).
Utility: Kayla Adams (Jenks).
Utility: Laynie Rimer (Shawnee).
Utility: Sierra Hughes (Sapulpa).
Utility: Margaret Blackstar (Ponca City).
Utility: Drew Hawkins (Sand Springs).
Coach of the Year: Dan Rolette (Shawnee).

Honorable Mentions
Jenks: Kylie Hill, Sarah Dye, Lauren Allen, Dacia Sexton, Avery Brewer, Natalie Rodman, McKenzi Cothran.
Muskogee: Karsyn York, Jaliyah Simmons.
Ponca City: Libby Clark, Tori Freeman.
Owasso: Lauren St. John, Allie VanAtta, Madi Norton, Hallie Hance.
Shawnee: Stormee Reed, Baylie Enright, Kali Kasterke.
Sapulpa: Lexi Cahwee, Morgan Degraffenreid, Hailey Dye, Daniah Blation, Takyah Jamerson, Kylissa Williams, Makayla Littlebear.
Sand Springs: Jolee McNally, Nataley Crawford.

Sand Springs Final Season Stats

Batting
.532 Lee
.448 R. Rector
.440 Tanner
.436 Jordan
.414 McNally
.409 Hawkins
.388 Crawford
.383 Alexander
.375 Burks
.363 Taff
.273 Harper
.182 Hammock
.174 Hilton

Slugging
.743 Jordan
.734 Lee
.714 R. Rector
.656 Hawkins
.603 McNally
.575 Crawford
.549 Tanner
.510 Taff
.483 Alexander
.375 Burks
.333 Harper
.304 Hilton
.182 Hammock

On Base Percentage
.580 Lee
.517 R. Rector
.500 Jordan
.500 Barnes
.440 Tanner
.432 Crawford
.429 Hawkins
.426 Alexander
.415 McNally
.375 Burks
.375 Hammock
.368 Taff
.270 Harper
.173 Hilton

Runs
46 Lee
35 R. Rector
32 Hawkins
29 Jordan
23 Tanner
16 McNally
13 Crawford
12 Harper
12 Hilton
8 Hammock
7 Taff
6 M. Rector
5 Burks

RBI
75 R. Rector
40 Jordan
23 Taff
19 Lee
19 Tanner
19 Crawford
17 Hawkins
15 McNally
14 Alexander
13 Hilton
5 Harper
2 Burks

Hits
58 Lee
47 R. Rector
44 Jordan
40 Tanner
38 Hawkins
37 Taff
31 Crawford
24 McNally
23 Alexander
9 Harper
8 Hilton
3 Burks
2 Hammock

Singles
41 Lee
31 Tanner
27 Jordan
26 Taff
24 R. Rector
23 Hawkins
19 Crawford
17 Alexander
16 McNally
7 Harper
5 Hilton
3 Burks
2 Hammock

Doubles
20 R. Rector
13 Lee
13 Jordan
9 Hawkins
9 Crawford
8 Tanner
7 Taff
6 Alexander
5 McNally
2 Harper
1 Hilton

Triples
4 Hawkins
4 Taff
3 Lee
3 McNally
2 Jordan
1 R. Rector
1 Tanner
1 Hilton

Home Runs
4 Jordan
2 Hawkins
2 R. Rector
1 Lee
1 Hilton

Grand Slams
1 Jordan

Sacrifice Hits
10 Tanner
9 Hawkins
5 Hilton
4 Lee
4 McNally
3 Harper
2 Taff
2 Alexander
1 Crawford
1 Hammock

Steals
20 Lee
10 Tanner
7 Hawkins
7 Crawford
6 McNally
5 R. Rector
4 Hilton
4 Hammock
3 Jordan
2 Taff
2 Burks
2 M. Rector
1 Harper

Double Plays
16 Jordan
11 Lee
9 Tanner
2 Crawford
2 R. Rector
1 Hawkins
1 McNally
1 Hilton
1 Alexander

ERA
1.82 Taff
3.22 Crawford
3.66 R. Rector

WHIP
1.13 Taff
1.42 Crawford
2.48 R. Rector

Strikeouts
148 Taff
31 Crawford
5 R. Rector

Record
17-6 Taff
7-1 Crawford
1-0 R. Rector