Bixby comes from behind for 8-3 victory over Sandite Baseball

/ Bixby High School/

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

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (13-4) met with the Bixby Spartans (13-3) for the fourth time in a week and this time their rival got the win, splitting the series 2-2. During the Bixby Tournament pool play the Spartans won 4-1, but the Sandites spoiled things for the hosts with a 10-6 championship victory the next evening. Monday night the Spartans traveled to Sand Springs for a district game that the home team won 8-7, but when the Sandites traveled to Bixby Tuesday the Spartans exploded in the sixth inning for a come-from-behind 8-3 victory.

Junior University of Oklahoma-commit Jake Terry (4-1) got his first loss on the mound of the season, giving up seven hits, eight walks, and six earned runs with two unearned runs and eight strikeouts. Fellow junior University of Oklahoma-commit Cade Cavalli got the win for the Spartans. As their record indicates, both teams are very close in talent with the Spartans leading the series scoring 25 runs to 22.

Both teams landed a single hit in the first inning and both runners were put out in double plays. Sand Springs did the same in the top of the second, but Bixby got in a run as Cavalli walked and came in on a Matthew Henderson single to strike first blood.

The Sandites weren’t content to play from behind, however, and scored two in the top of the third. Tyler McCallie and Mack Thompson were walked and McCallie scored on a fielding error off a Treyce Tolbert single. Sandite of the Week Rhett Rutledge sacrificed a grounder to short to score Thompson for the 2-1 lead.

Bixby stranded two walks in the bottom of the third but got another go at bat after Cavalli struck out the side in order to top the fourth. This time they landed a single by Jeremy Goodwin and Cole Parker was hit by pitch. Pinch runner Levi Harper scored on an error by Joey Montgomery to tie things up, but Terry struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

McCallie led off with a double to left field for the top of the fifth and scored on a Thompson bunt and error by Goodwin at third. Bixby stranded two in the fifth, pitched a no hitter in the top of the sixth, and finally reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Goodwin singled to right field and was replaced by courtesy runner Kyler Herron. Parker reached on error but was caught stealing second. Braden Hackler reached on a fielder’s choice that failed to put out Herron and instead scored him. Gavin Staton singled to score Hackler, Breydon Daniel walked, then Staton scored on a Tanner Griffin single. Cavalli hit another double to score Daniel and the Sandites sent Josh Cordell (0-1) to the mound. Nic Swanson singled to score Griffin and Cavalli but the next two batters were put out. By the time the frenzy was over the Sandites were in an 8-3 hole.

Griffin went to the mound for the Spartans and pitched a no-hitter to secure the win in the top of the seventh.

The Sandites will return to action Friday at 4:00pm in a home game against Highway 97 rival Sapulpa (1-9), whom they already defeated 7-2 in the second game of the season.

 

Sandites come from behind for 8-7 victory over Spartans, McCallie and Mongtomery hit homers

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sandites (15-3) and Spartans (12-3) went head to head for the third time in under a week in a district match up at Sand Springs Tuesday night. The Charles Page High School baseball team trailed for most of the game, frequently tying it up, but didn't take the lead till the final pitch of the game. 

In the Bixby Tournament Friday night the Spartans defeated the Sandites 4-1 but Sand Springs retaliated with a 10-6 victory for the tournament championship Saturday night to end the Spartans' ten-game win streak. 

In Monday night's home game the Sandites gave up a 2-0 lead to the Spartans in the first and had to fight from bottom for the duration of the game. Jake Ward got the start on the mound and hit the first two batters with the pitch to walk them. Tanner Griffin sacrificed to bring home Gavin Staton and Cade Cavalli sacrificed to score Breydon Daniel before the Sandites fielded a third out.

The Sandites returned the favor in the bottom of the inning as Sandite of the Week Rhett Rutledge reached on a fielder's choice and Hunter Greathouse singled to bring him home. Then, Greathouse came home on a passed ball to even the score.

The second inning was a no-hitter for both teams, but Bixby reclaimed their lead in the third as Staton doubled on an error and came home on a Daniel single. Once more the Sandites weren't content to leave an inning in the hole and Rutledge doubled before coming in on a wild pitch. 

In the top of the fourth AJ Parker and Braden Hackler both singled and Staton walked to load the bases. Daniel struck out but Griffin singled to score Parker for the 4-3 lead. Ward struck out Cavalli and Nic Swanson as well. 

Tyler McCallie hit his first home-run of the season in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game back up but once more the Spartans reclaimed the lead as Jeremy Goodwin stole home in the next inning. This time the Sandites would fail to land a hit and remained in the hole going into the sixth.

Daniel lined out to Rutledge at short to start the sixth and Griffin grounded out to Rutledge. Then, Cade Cavalli went to bat and drew a walk. He survived three pickoff attempts before coming in on a double by Swanson, who in turn came in on a single by Matthew Henderson for a 7-4 lead.

The Sandites had their most impressive inning yet in the bottom of the sixth and Trevor Tolbert singled and came in on a Joey Montgomery home run. Mack Thompson singled and took second on a passed ball. Rutledge and Ward were both hit by pitch to load the bases. Thompson came home on a balk with Greathouse at bat to tie things up 7-7 but Greathouse flied out to right field to strand the runners. 

Brock Youngblood relieved Ward on the mound and pitched a no-hitter and it came down to the bottom of the seventh. Taber was walked, Trevor Tolbert flied out, Montgomery singled, McCallie grounded out, and Thompson walked to load the bases with two outs. Treyce Tolbert came to bat and was walked to score Taber for the win.

The Sandites return to action tomorrow evening, once more at Bixby. 

Sandite of the Week: Rhett Rutledge

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

This week Sandite Pride recognizes Charles Page High School senior Rhett Rutledge as Sandite of the Week for his outstanding performance at the Bixby Tournament this past weekend. 

Rutledge averaged .267 batting, .467 slugging, with a .368 OBP, and made his season pitching debut with a Championship round victory over the host team. 

The Sandites (12-3) won their fifth straight in the tournament opener 8-5 against Hilldale (6-9). Rutledge landed the first hit of the game with a triple and came in on the next play with a sacrifice fly from Jake Ward for the first run. He was walked on his next plate appearance and scored once more on a Hunter Greathouse double. He reached first on an error in the bottom of the sixth and scored his third run of the game on a Greathouse single. 

Their sixth straight victory was a come-from-behind extra-inning win over Union. Rutledge landed one hit in the top of the fifth and stole second on a passed ball, but was left stranded. The Sandites won that one 7-6 in eight innings. 

He failed to land a hit in the next two games (a 4-1 loss to Bixby and an 8-0 run-rule shut out of Life Prep Academy), but batted .667 in the finale and won the game on the mound. He struck out one in the first and gave up an unearned double. He grounded out on a sacrifice to score Jake Terry for a 4-0 lead in the top of the second. 

He scooped a grounder to put out a batter at first in the bottom of the second and struck out another for a no-hitter. He sacrificed again to score Treyce Tolbert in the top of the third, but gave up a run in the bottom of the inning. 

He pitched a no-hitter in the fifth, striking out one and putting out another at first on a grounder. He hit a leadoff line drive single in the top of the sixth and was batted in by Josh Taber. By the bottom of the sixth the Spartans were pushing hard for a rally and loaded the bases. Rutledge gave up one single, two runs, one earned run, and two walks before being relieved by Brock Youngblood. The Sandites went on to win the game 10-6 for the tournament championship.

Moore scores 10 runs in bottom of the sixth, but Sandites hold on for 11-10 victory

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

If Monday night's 7-6 victory over Moore was the Hollywood classic, Tuesday night's rematch was the action-packed reboot: same story, just far more explosions.

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (8-2) won their fourth-straight game Tuesday night at Moore (2-6), and their second straight against the Lions. Jake Ward (4-0) got the win on the mound and remains undefeated for the season. 

Treyce Tolbert hit a single on a hard ground ball to start the game, but was put out at second on a fielder's choice as Rhett Rutledge took first. Ward flied out to short, but Sandite of the Week Hunter Greathouse and Josh Taber were walked to load the bases. Trevor Tolbert singled to score Rutledge and Joey Montgomery sacrificed to bring in Greathouse for a 2-0 lead. 

Josh Detweiler singled for the Lions but was put out on a double play as Drew White grounded to Ward. Ty Fain was hit by pitch to top the second inning and Tyler McCallie singled. Fain was put out on the next play, however, as Treyce Tolbert reached on a fielder's choice. Rutledge sacrificed to bring in McCallie, but Ward grounded out to short and the Sandites went to field with a 3-0 advantage. They would come right back in soon after, however, as Ward only gave up one walk and no hits in the bottom of the second. 

The slow-rolling Sandite offense added yet another run in the top of the third. Greathouse singled but was put out on a fielder's choice that singled Taber. Trevor Tolbert advanced Taber to third on a sacrifice, and Montgomery doubled to bring the runner home. The bottom of the third fared no better for the host team as Conner Chapman and Masters were put out at first on dropped third strikes and Andrew Brewer flied out to Treyce Tolbert in center field.

In the fourth inning, Treyce Tolbert was walked, Rutledge doubled, and Ward brought Tolbert in on a sacrifice. Rutledge was left stranded. Detweiler singled for the Lions but was put out on a fielder's choice that put White on base. Joe Balak walked and Cooper reached on an error to load the bases. Two would be left stranded, however, as Matt Reeves and Cooper were outed on a double play.

Taber was hit by pitch to start the fifth, Trevor Tolbert struck out swinging, and Montgomery singled and was replaced by Cody Motes on base. Fain sacrificed to score Taber and the Sandites brought a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the inning. Logan Wint was walked, but Chapman and Masters both struck out swinging and Greathouse caught a Brewer fly in foul territory.

Both teams had their biggest offensive outputs in the sixth. McCallie, Treyce Tolbert, and Rutledge all singled to load the bases with no outs. Ward singled to score McCallie, Greathouse doubled to score Tolbert and Rutledge, and Taber singled to score Mack Thompson who was courtesy running for Ward. Trevor Tolbert flied out, Greathouse was put out at home on a fielder's choice as Montgomery reached first, but Taber scored on a passed ball for the 11th and final run of the evening for the Sandites. It would appear the game was all wrapped up and the Sandites had it in the bag.

That's when Moore exploded.

Detweiler doubled and White hit a homerun over the left field fence. Balak doubled and Greathouse relieved Ward on the mound. Cooper walked, Reeves reached first on catcher's interference, and the bases were loaded. Wint was walked to score Balak, Cooper scored on a Chapman single. Masters was walked, Brewer singled to score Alvarado (courtesy running for Reeves), Detweiler singled to score Chapman and Masters, and finally the Sandites found another out as White was struck out looking. The Lions weren't done yet, however. Balak hit yet another double, scoring Brewer. Detweiler and Balak came home on a throw as Cooper reached on error, and just like that it was 11-10 and the home team was putting up the most impressive rally attempt the Sandites had seen this season. 

In the top of the seventh, Jake Terry grounded out, Treyce Tolbert flied out, and Rutledge struck out looking. The Lions needed only two runs to win and they had just scored ten in a single inning. Greathouse saved the game striking out the side in order to hold the Lion rally fruitless for the second night in a row. 

The Sandites will return to action Thursday morning at 11:00 when they take on Hilldale (4-6) in the first round of the Bixby tournament.

 

 

 

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.