Ward hits homerun as Sandites hold off 7th inning rally for 7-6 victory over Moore, third-straight win

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Treyce Tolbert bats in Ty Fain with a sacrifice fly.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (7-2) started the season hot with four-straight wins before dropping two at the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix last week. A Monday-night victory over the Moore Lions (2-5) puts them back on track for a new streak, however, marking their third-straight win. 

Offensively the boys batted excellently with sixteen hits including a Mack Thompson double and a Jake Ward homerun, the first of the season for the Sandites. The team struggled on the field, however, giving up eleven walks, four errors, and three passed balls causing four unearned runs. 

Jake Terry is undefeated from the mound this season.

The Lions took an early lead as University of Oklahoma-commit Jake Terry (3-0) walked the first three batters before finally finding his rhythm and striking out two. Andrew Brewer came home on a Joe Balak sacrifice for the first run of the game.

The Sandites tied it back up in the bottom of the first as Josh Taber was walked onto loaded bases, bringing home Treyce Tolbert who was also walked.

In the top of the third the Lions reclaimed the advantage as Josh Detweiler singled to left field, advanced to second as Drew White was hit-by-pitch, and stole third on a passed ball. Casey Cooper hit a sacrifice to Sandite-of-the-Week shortstop Hunter Greathouse who collided with Thompson and allowed Detweiler to take home. Matt Reeves walked soon after, but he and White were stranded as Blake Perry struck out swinging. 

That's when Jake Ward stepped up to bat and sent a homerun over the fence to tie things up again. Greathouse and Taber singled that inning but both were stranded. The top of the fourth ended with no runs, no hits, no errors, and one strikeout and Sand Springs came in for their biggest offensive-output of the game.

Joey Montgomery hit a leadoff single to center field and was replaced on base by Ty Fain. Thompson hit a double, Fain came home on a sacrifice fly by Treyce Tolbert, and Thompson scored on a passed ball. It looked like the inning might come to a close as Rhett Rutledge flew out in foul territory and Ward went to the plate for two strikes. The slugger wasn't done yet, however, and singled to keep the game alive. Greathouse singled on an error, Taber batted in Ward on a right field line and Trevor Tolbert was walked to load the bases. Terry was hit-by-pitch to score Greathouse and Reeves was replaced on the mound by Logan Wint who struck Montgomery with the pitch to score Taber for a 7-2 advantage. Thompson flew out to end the inning with three stranded, but the Sandites had all the runs they needed to hold on to the win.

Jake Ward crosses home plate after hitting the first Sandite homerun of the season.

Detweiler doubled on a Ward fielding error to top the fifth, and came home on a Grayson Kuehl double to the left field fence. Ward, who was four-for-four at the plate, singled in the fifth but was put out at second on a fielder's choice as Greathouse grounded to short.

Terry walked two more in the top of the sixth, struck out one, and gave up two singles that were stranded. Taber, who also had a perfect OBP, singled and stole second, but was caught in a pickle between second and third as Gunnar Phillips singled on a fielder's choice. Trevor Tolbert struck out, Montgomery hit a single, but Thompson flew out to first to bring in the top of the seventh where the Lions would try their best to rally.

Josh Cordell (0-1) relieved Terry on the mound and gave up a single to Balak, walked Cooper and Wint, and struck out Reeves and AJ Moore. Balak came home on a passed ball, Keuhl (running for Cooper) was batted in by Conner Chapman who singled on a Greathouse fielding error, and Tom Alvarado (running for Wint) came in on a Brewer single.

The Lions were down by one with two outs and two on base when Detweiler flew out to Taber in right field and the Sandites secured the win. Sand Springs will travel to Moore for a rematch Tuesday night at 6:00. 

Sandites come from behind for 8-3 victory over Coconino at Best of the West Tournament

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School baseball team (6-2) finished their run at the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix with an 8-3 come from behind victory over Coconino (2-11). The Flagstaff, Arizona team lead 3-1 going into the bottom of the fourth, but the Sandites' bats exploded in the fifth and sixth for three runs in each.

Hunter Greathouse (1-0) got his first win on the mound this season, pitching nine strikeouts and only giving up three hits. 

Coconino took an early lead with a run from Turner Gasperone, who was walked by Greathouse and batted in on a sacrifice by Rylee Snopek in the first inning. Greathouse struck out Marcus Romo and Cristo Tabares, stranding Trevor Bong, who singled.

The Sandites retaliated quickly as Treyce Tolbert and Rhett Rutledge singled and were joined on base by Jake Ward who was struck by the pitch. Joey Montgomery scored Tolbert, but was outed with Ward in a double play groundball scoop from Gasperone at short to Damien Kern at second to Snopek at first. Greathouse grounded out to second and the Panthers came in to bat tied up at 1-1.

Coconino grounded out two and Greathouse struck out Luke Nelson to bring the Sandites back in with no hits, no runs, and no errors, but they were unable to capitalize on a Josh Taber single as he was caught stealing second. Trevor Tolbert struck out looking and Jake Terry grounded out to third to bring the inning to a close.

Gasperone singled again for the Panthers, but was left stranded on second as Greathouse struck out the final two batters. The Sandites then stranded Rhett Rutledge (single) and Ward (hit by pitch).

Greathouse hit Snopek and gave up a single to Tabares to start the fourth and the runners advanced on a sacrifice by Braydon Wong. Todd Furr reached first on a fielder's choice as Trevor Tolbert put out Snopek at home. Cristian Casados replaced Todd Furr, Ty Furr replaced Tabares, and the bases were loaded as Nelson was walked. Greathouse walked Wes Garner and Gasperone to score Ty Furr and Casados and the Panthers were up 3-1. Romo reached on a dropped third strike, but Nelson was put out at home to end the Panther offense.

Greathouse singled in the bottom of the fourth and was replaced on base by Tyler McCallie. McCallie made it to third on a Josh Taber single, then came home on a Trevor Tolbert sacrifice. Terry singled with a groundball to short, but was caught stealing second. Taber was stranded as Ty Fain lined out to short. 

Coconino's next three batters grounded out and the Sandites finally found the momentum they needed in the bottom of the fifth. Treyce Tolbert flied out to start, but Rutledge hit a hard groundball to left field for a single. Ward was hit by pitch for the third time (OUCH!) and Montgomery was struck out. Greathouse singled to load the bases with two outs. Mack Thompson replaced Ward, McCallie replaced Greathouse, and Rutledge walked in as Taber was hit by pitch. The Panthers replaced Nelson on the mound with Romo, to little avail, as Trevor Tolbert singled to score Thompson and McCallie. Taber was stranded as Terry grounded out to short, but the Sandites had a 5-3 lead.

Greathouse struck out the side in the top of the sixth. Fain was walked, Treyce Tolbert reached on an error, Rutledge singled to score Fain, then Ward singled to score Tolbert. Mongomery was hit by pitch to load the bases and was replaced by Cody Motes. The Panthers changed pitchers again, this time to Snopek. Greathouse sacrificed to score Rutledge for a final score of 8-3. The game ended with the bases loaded as Trevor Tolbert was walked, but Terry grounded out.

The Sandites went 3-2 in the spring break tournament with losses of 7-0 and 2-1 to Sunrise Mountain and Chaparral High, respectively, and wins of 3-1 and 14-2 over Greenway High and Notre Dame Prep. 

Sandite Baseball run-rules Notre Dame Prep 14-2 in 5 innings

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Jake Ward is undefeated from the mound this season.

Story by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School (5-2) varsity baseball team got off to a rough start in the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix, Arizona, this week, dropping two of their first three games to bring their undefeated streak to an end. They seem to be back on track, however, after dominating Notre Dame Prep (6-8) with ten runs in the first three innings Tuesday evening. 

The Scottsdale, Arizona team came into the game 1-2 for the tournament, the same as Sand Springs, with losses to Westmoore and Edmond Santa Fe, and a 15-5 win over Yukon. 

Jake Ward (3-0) remains undefeated on the mound after pitching 67% strikes for six strikeouts,  four hits, one walk, and zero earned runs.

Treyce Tolbert was walked to start the first. Rhett Rutledge flied out to centerfield and Tolbert stole second while Ward struck out swinging. Joey Montgomery reached on an error and scored Tolbert and was replaced on base by Cody Motes. Hunter Greathouse doubled and Motes reached third, then Josh Taber singled to score Motes. Greathouse stole home with Trevor Tolbert at bat, then Tolbert doubled to score Taber. He was caught stealing third with Jake Terry at bat, however, and the Saints came in trailing 4-0.

Luke Patty and Nathan Pierce singled for the Saints, but both were left stranded to end the inning. 

Terry, a University of Oklahoma commit, was hit by a pitch to start the second inning, followed by Mack Thompson with a walk. Treyce Tolbert singled to score Terry, Rutledge sacrificed to advance the runners on base, then Ward batted in Tolbert with a single. Ty Fain replaced Ward on base and advanced to second off a Montgomery single. Montgomery was replaced by Motes. Fain scored on a Greathouse single, then both Motes and Greathouse scored on a center field double from Trevor Tolbert. 

The Saints stranded two in the second inning and didn't get another hit till the bottom of the fifth. Sand Springs stranded Rutledge in the top of the third, but came out for another explosive inning in the fourth.

Riley Rutledge singled, Kameron Adcock walked, and Trevor Tolbert (a Southwestern Christian University signee) brought in Rutledge with a line drive single to center field. Terry tripled to center field scoring Adcock and Tolbert, then was batted in on a sacrifice from Fain for a 14-0 advantage.

The Sandites stranded Tyler McCallie (running for Ward, who walked) in the top of the fifth. Notre Dame finally reached base on a Riley Rutledge error and Orrie Tawes came home on a Jarrett Pille double for the first run of the game for the Saints. Pille came in on a sacrifice, but the inning would come to a close soon after and the Sandites were back in the win column with their biggest victory of the season thus far. 

Chaparral Firebirds edge out Sandite Baseball 2-1 at Best of the West

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Story by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (4-2) gave up their second loss of the season 2-1 to Chaparral High (11-2) at the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix, Arizona Tuesday. 

Josh Cordell (0-1) got the loss on the mound for the Sandites in his first time pitching this season. He gave up six hits, two walks, and two runs, but struck out three and threw 65% strikes. 

Neither team got off a hit in the first inning. Tyler Stokes was walked for the Firebirds, but was picked off at first base. Joey Montgomery reached first on an error to start the second, then stole second on another error with Hunter Greathouse at bat and advanced to third on a sacrifice fly, but was ultimately left stranded as both Josh Taber and Jake Terry were put out on right field flies. 

Chaparral stranded one in the second and Page stranded Treyce Tolbert in the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning Ian McMillan singled to left field, stole second with Stokes at bat, and was batted home on a Jacob Gonzalez single. Gonzalez and Stokes, who was walked, were both left stranded by Harrison Jones, but the Firebirds had a 1-0 lead going into the fourth.

Jake Ward singled to start the fourth, but Montgomery, Greathouse, and Taber all flied out to bring in Chaparral for another successful offensive performance.

Alex Segal hit a lead-off double, followed by Hampton with a bunt single. Gianni Tomasi batted in Segal on a sacrifice fly to right field for the second run of the game, and that was all the Firebirds would need.

Tyler McCallie doubled with a hard grounder to left field and was batted in on a line drive double by Treyce Tolbert. By that point the Sandites had two outs and Tolbert was stranded on a fly by Rhett Rutledge.

The Sandites fielded three outs to end the inning and came in for a big rally attempt. Ward struck out swinging, but Montgomery doubled to right field and courtesy runner Mack Thompson reached third on a grounder from Greathouse. Kameron Adcock replaced Greathouse and Taber was walked to load the bases with one out. Thompson was caught stealing, however, and Jake Terry struck out swinging to strand the Sandite rally attempt along with two runners. 

Cordell struck out two in the bottom of the sixth, but none of the Sandites landed on base to start the seventh and the Firebirds walked away with their third win of the tournament.



Sandite of the Week: Trevor Tolbert

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

This week Sandite Pride would like to recognize Charles Page High School senior Trevor Tolbert as Sandite of the Week for his outstanding performance against Booker T Washington last week at OneOK field.

Tolbert is signed with Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, Oklahoma, and is the son of Jason and Deena Tolbert. His cousin, Treyce, also plays for Sandite baseball.

Tolbert, who currently owns a .250 batting average for the season, batted two-for-two last Monday for two RBIs off a single and a triple and scored one run. He sits at a .500 slugging average and a .454 OBP with five putouts and five assists for the season.

The Sandites have won their first four games by a combined score of 22-5, including a 3-1 upset of Greenway High who run-ruled them twice in a double-header last season. 

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.

Sandite Baseball wins fourth-straight at Best of the West opener

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (4-0) won their first game at the Best of the West tournament in Phoenix, Arizona 3-1 over the Greenway High Demons (6-1). University of Oklahoma commit Jake Terry (2-0) got the win on the mound with five strikeouts, three walks, and nine hits.

The game came down to the very last pitch. Neither team got on the scoreboard till Josh Taber singled in the top of the third, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Terry, and scored on a catcher's error.

The Demons found their first run in the bottom of the fourth. Bryce Mackey singled and advanced to second on a walk by Justin Freeman. With two outs on the board, Jesus Macias grounded to short for a single and loaded the bases. Mackey took home on a Terry balk, but the others would be left stranded as James Gamble was struck out looking. 

The game remained tied up till the seventh inning. Jake Ward reached second on an error and Kameron Adcock subbed in to pinch run. Joey Montgomery grounded out to third, Hunter Greathouse was walked, and Ty Fain was struck out swinging. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, then Taber batted them both in with a line drive single to right field. Terry grounded out to bring in the Demons.

Cristian Platero flied out to Taber in right field and McDonald was struck out swinging, but Riley Miller singled, Kona Quiggle doubled, and Mackey was walked to load the bases. It came down to Freeman to bring them home for the win, but he was put out on a caught line drive to Treyce Tolbert in center field for the Sandites' fourth straight win of the season.