Lady Sandite Softball falls 22-14 in shootout with No.3 Muskogee

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No.17 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (3-4) dropped a tough one to the No.3 Muskogee Lady Roughers (18-2) in the final game of the Jenks Festival Tuesday evening. The Sandites outhit their opponent 16 to 12, but lost it on the mound, giving up 16 walks.

Sand Springs dug themselves into a deep hole from the very beginning as Muskogee scored 11 in the top of the first. Jessica Schuler (2-1) got her first loss on the mound this season, walking two right off the bat. Aubrey Johnson singled on loaded bases to score Carlee Gann and Elexis Watson. Hattie Matthews singled in Dee Emarthle and Johnson. 

Phynix Coleman walked to load the bases and Amber Purdin went to bat with no outs. Finally the Sandites began to make plays, forcing out Bre Virgin at home. Brookelyn Gilmore walked in Dymin Purdin, but Kennedy Glass popped a fly to Sydney Pennington at shortstop. The Sandites had two outs now, but Muskogee wasn't done with their offensive yet and doubled down to add five more runs.

Gann singled Coleman and Watson tripled to score Amber Purdin, Gilmore, and Gann. Emarthle singled in Cassie Leinberger, Johnson reached on a Pennington error, and Matthews walked to reload the bases. Dymin Purdin walked in Emarthle for the 11th and final run before Coleman flied out to Kimi Presnell to bring the melee to an end.

Pennington tripled to score Kennedy Salyers and Presnell, and scored herself after tagging up on a fly by Schuler. Madelyn Blair and Stella Millican each singled, but were left stranded as Jessica Collins and Rachel Blair were put out.

Muskogee undid the gain Sand Springs had just made by scoring Gilmore, Gann, and Leinberger in the top of the second for a 14-3 advantage. The Sandites didn't let the double-digit lead dishearten them, however, and closed the gap to six runs by the end of the inning.

Salyers singled in Jacie Taber then came in on a Schuler triple that also scored Presnell and Pennington. Collins brought home Schuler to make it 14-8, but Madelyn Blair and Millican each flied out to end the inning.

Schuler walked two in the top of the third, but the field played well putting out two at first and catching a line to prevent any scoring. 

It didn't look good for Sand Springs to start the bottom as Rachel Blair and Cameron Clemons each grounded out to short, but finally Taber hit a single to get the ball rolling. She was joined on base by Salyers with a single, then brought home by a single from Presnall. Pennington reached on an error that scored Salyers to cut the deficit to 14-10.

Sand Springs was in good shape, or so it appeared, right up till they gave the double digit lead right back to the Roughers with seven walks to start the fourth. Millican (1-3) took over on the mound and only gave up one hit, no walks, and no runs, but the damage was done. 

Trailing 22-10, Sand Springs returned to the plate for a last-ditch effort. Rachel Blair, Clemons, and Taber all scored on an error and Presnell doubled to score Salyers but Pennington grounded out to bring the inning to a close at 22-14. The game had surpassed the 70-minute festival time-limit and Muskogee got the win.

Sand Springs returns to action Thursday at No.8 Jenks (14-6) in a double header beginning at 4:30. The Lady Trojans previously edged out the Sandites 26-22 in a shootout at Berryhill earlier this season.

Stella Millican and Lady Sandite Softball hammers Booker T with 18-5 run-rule victory

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Charles Page High School slow-pitch softball team (3-3) got off to a slow start against the Booker T Washington Lady Hornets (4-8) Tuesday afternoon, but found their feet in the top of the third and never looked back.

Senior Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican (1-3) picked up her first win on the mound for the season and batted in a team-high six runs on two singles and a triple. Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington connected for three hits as well, including a home run, and scored four runs and 2RBI. Freshman Kimi Presnall scored 3RBI and three runs with two singles and a homer.

The game started slow as there were already two outs on the board before the Sandites got on base. But they didn't stay on base for long, as the very first hit was the homer by Pennington. The Lady Hornets tied things up in the bottom of the first as Abbey Taylor singled in Jacinta Harris, but Sand Springs jumped right back ahead in the second as Madelyn Blair tripled and came in on a sacrifice fly by Millican.

In the top of the third Blair batted in Presnall, then Millican hit a 3RBI triple to score Pennington, Jessica Schuler, and Blair. Millican pitched a no-hitter in the bottom of the inning, then the Sandites doubled their score in the top of the fourth.

Kennedy "Goose" Salyers singled in Rachel Blair and Presnall batted a 3RBI homer to score Jacie Taber and Salyers. Pennington doubled and came in on a Schuler double. Madelyn Blair singled in Schuler and Cameron Clemons sacrificed to score Jessica Collins for a 13-1 advantage. 

Booker T finally found their bats in the bottom of the fourth as Kerri Alexander scored a runner with a double, then came in on a single by Taylor Carey who in turn scored on a single by Anna Powell. 

In the top of the fifth the Sandites put on the finishing touches. Pennington singled in Salyers, Madelyn Blair walked in Presnall, and Millican hit a single to score Pennington and Schuler. Clemons sacrificed to score Madelyn Blair for an 18-4 lead. Booker T scored one in the bottom of the inning and fell by run-rule.

Berryhill Maidens edge out Lady Sandite Softball in extra innings

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

The Charles Page High School slow-pitch softball team (1-3) is well behind where they should be for the season after starting several weeks behind the rest of the state. The first several games were cancelled due to the other teams not having enough players, leaving the young Lady Sandites lacking in adequate slow pitch experience. Offensively the Sandites are consistently hitting to the fence, but fielding has been plagued with errors for unearned hits and runs. 

After dropping losses to Jenks and Tahlequah on Tuesday, the girls finally got in the win column Thursday evening at Berryhill against the Locust Grove Lady Pirates (3-7). Junior Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington hit two home-runs and batted in four in the 16-5 six-inning run-rule victory. Senior Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler (1-0) got the win on the mound and also hit a homer.

The 5A No.13 Berryhill Maidens (6-4) would be a far tougher opponent, however.

Pennington doubled in the first to score Kennedy "Goose" Salyers, then came home on a Jessica Collins sacrifice. Madelyn Blair tripled to score Schuler, who was intentionally walked, and was stranded as the Maidens came in trailing 3-0.

Alyson Cramer doubled for Berryhill and came in on a Kaelee Escoe homer in the bottom of the first. The Lady Sandites responded quickly as Cameron Clemons singled, Jacie Taber doubled, and Salyers sacrificed to score Clemons. Kimi Presnall batted in Taber with a double, Pennington batted in Presnall with a double, and the Sandites furthered their lead to 6-2. 

The home team tied things up in the bottom of the third as Escoe singled and came in on a Cramer homer, then Kennedy Zimmerman singled to score Cooper Lawley and Ashlynn Inhofe. 

Both teams scattered hits throughout the next four innings, but neither managed a run and the game went into extra innings.

The Lady Sandites and Maidens each stranded one in the eighth, but in the top of the ninth Prenall homered in Rachel Blair and Salyers for the 9-6 advantage.

Jaeden Rosenquist hit a leadoff single for the Maidens, Escoe reached on a Presnall error, and Taylor Vaughan singled to load the bases with a single out. Rosenquist and Escoe came in on a double, then Shelby Harger singled to score Vaughan to tie it up. Baylie LaBarge was intentionally walked to load the bases and Kylie Crockett singled for the win.

Senior Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican (0-3) got the loss on the mound for the Lady Sandites while LaBarge got the win for the Maidens. Sand Springs will return to action Monday at the Jenks festival.

Pennington hits two homers in 16-5 run rule victory over Locust Grove

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

After a disappointing season debut Tuesday night, the No. 15 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (1-2) finally got in the win column with a 16-5 six-inning run-rule win over Locust Grove (3-7). Senior Northeastern State University signee Jessica Schuler (1-0) got the win on the mound and scored one home run and three runs. Junior Oklahoma State University commit Sydney Pennington led the team in scoring with two home runs, four RBI, and four runs. 

The Lady Sandites held 3-2 lead after the first. Kennedy "Goose" Salyers was walked and scored on Pennington's first home run, then Schuler hit her home run right after. In the bottom of the inning Dusty Rowland singled and scored on a Kaity Bendabout homer for the Lady Pirates. 

Neither team scored in the second but Jessica Collins got things back on track with a 2RBI single to score Salyers and Pennington. Maddelyn Blair sacrificed to score Schuler, then Stella Millican and Rachel Blair singled to load the bases. Cameron Clemons singled to bring in Collins for a 7-2 lead, but the three runners were stranded. In the bottom of the third Sophie Stone hit a homer to score Bendabout.

Kimi Presnall reached on a fielder's choice in the fourth and came home on Pennington's second home run to make it 9-4. 

In the top of the sixth the Lady Sandites exploded. Pennington and Schuler were walked. Maddelyn Blair doubled to score Pennington. Millican singled to score Schuler. Rachel Blair doubled to score her sister. Clemons singled to score Millican, and Jacie Taber singled on a fielder's choice to score Rachel Blair and put out Clemons.. Salyers doubled to score Taber, Presnall doubled to score Salyers, and Pennington rounded out the batting order and flied out to end the inning with a 16-4 lead. 

In the bottom of the sixth Sheradyn Houser doubled to score Stone, but that was the only run the Lady Pirates could muster and the Sandites secured the victory via run-rule. 

The Lady Sandites will next take on host 5A No.13 Berryhill (4-4) at the conclusion of the Berryhill vs Locust Grove game. 

Schuler, Blair hit two home runs each in 26-22 shootout loss to Jenks

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

The Charles Page High School slow-pitch softball team (0-2) had a rough start in the season opener Tuesday evening. Both Lady Sandite opponents had already played several games by the time the season started for Sand Springs and had a clear edge.

The girls dropped a 14-7 loss in the first game to No.8 Tahlequah (5-4). The Lady Sandites were undeterred by an early 5-0 deficit after the first inning and battled to tie things up 6-6 by the close of the fifth, but the Lady Tigers’ bats exploded for seven runs in the seventh inning for the win. Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington and Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler both hit home runs.

Tahlequah played No.10 Jenks next and fell 10-8, then it was the Sandites’ turn to face the Lady Trojans (8-2). The Sandites landed 24 hits on 39 at bats, including six doubles and five homeruns. Schuler and Maddelyn Blair each hit two home runs, and Pennington added the fifth. 

Jenks put three on base in the first, two by walk, one by single, but two were stranded and the third was put out on a fielder’s choice to bring in the Sandites to bat.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University-signee Kennedy “Goose” Salyers reached on an error, Kimi Presnall doubled, and Pennington was walked to load the bases. Schuler popped out to second, but Jessica Collins singled to left field to bring in Salyers and Presnall for an early 2-0 lead. Maddelyn Blair flied out to left field next, then Stella Millican singled to right to score Pennington. Millican was then caught off base to bring Jenks in to bat.

The next at-bats for each team were no hitters but the top of the third saw Jenks take the lead. Reagan Berkinshaw reached on an error, Ally Ryan doubled, and Catheryn Rodman was walked to load the bases. Kate Kouplen hit the centerfield fence for a 2RBI single, Bree Baker doubled on an error to score Rodman, Ayanna Upchurch sacrificed to score Kouplen, and Aubrey Lewellen sacrificed to score Baker for a 5-3 lead.

Pennington hit her second homerun of the evening to score Presnall, who singled, and tied things up 5-5, then Schuler hit her second homerun for the lead. Collins and Millican walked and Kalli Mallory singled to load the bases and Rachel Blair singled to bring in Collins and Millican. Blair was forced out at second on the next play and the home team had taken an 8-5 lead.

The Lady Trojans scored two in the top of the fourth as Baker singled to score Rodman and Memory Duncan walked in on loaded bases, but the Sandites retaliated quickly and effectively. Salyers singled, Presnall doubled, and Collins singled to score Saylers. Maddelyn Blair hit her second homer of the night to score Presnall and Collins. Millican doubled and came home on a Cameron Clemmons single for a 13-7 advantage.

Rodman smacked a triple to score Delaney Knorr and Ryan in the top of the fifth, then the Trojans pitched a no-hitter to come in for their glory inning. With winds gusting at over 20 MPH, Millican was having a hard time pitching anything but balls, and the Trojan batters refused to swing. Six straight batters were walked without swinging once. Then, Berkinshaw doubled to score loaded bases. Ryan walked after that and the Sandites changed pitchers to Schuler. The pitching change did little to alter the offensive slaughter, however, and the Jenks bats came alive.

Rodman singled to load the bases, Kouplen singled in Berkinshaw, and Baker singled in Ryan. Ayanna Upchurch singled in Rodman, Brenlyn McCoy singled in Kouplen and Baker, and Duncan singled to load the bases. Finkenstaedt walked in Upchurch, Knorr walked in McCoy, and Berkinshaw sacrificed to score Duncan and Finkenstaedt. Henderson sacrificed to score Knorr, then Rodman hit a homer for a 26-13 advantage before the streak finally came to an end as Kouplen was put out at first.

Down by 13 runs, there was little hope for the Sandites, but nobody told them that. Pennington singled and came in on yet another homerun by Schuler. Collins singled and came in on Maddy Blair’s third homerun of the game and the Sandites were down 26-17 by the end of the sixth.

Schuler gave up only two hits in the seventh and no runs. Jacie Taber singled to left field but was put out on a fielder’s choice off a Salyers hit. The Trojans tried for a double play but over threw first and Salyers was able to double. Presnall hit a flyball for a single on error, and Penington walked to load the bases. Schuler walked to score Salyers, then Collins doubled to score all three runners on base. Millican sacrificed to score Kellie Johnson, the courtesy runner for Collins. Clemons doubled but was ultimately left stranded as Rachel Blair flied out to center.

Millican, who is signed to play for Mid-American Christian University, got the loss for both games. The 26-22 loss was the highest scoring game in years for the Lady Sandites, who return to action Thursday at 5:00 pm against 5A No.13 Berryhill (4-4). 

Lady Sandite Softball drops season slow-pitch opener to Tahlequah

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

The No.15 ranked Charles Page High School varsity slow pitch softball team (0-1) got off to a rough start in the season opener, dropping a 14-7 home loss to No.8 Tahlequah (5-3).

Senior Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican got the start and loss on the mound.

The Lady Tigers took a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning and pitched a no hitter to come in and smack a homer in the second to make it 6-0. Jessica Collins was able to land a double in the bottom of the inning but was ultimately stranded on third. 

Neither team scored in the third inning, but the Sandites finally got on board in the bottom of the fourth as Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington doubled and came in on a single by Maddelyn Blair.

The Sandites held the Tigers scoreless in the fifth as well, and tied things up as Rachel Blair reached on a fielder's choice and came home on a Kennedy "Goose" Salyers triple. Salyers is signed to play for Southeastern Oklahoma State University in the fall. Freshman Kimi Presnall singled to bring in Salyers, Pennington doubled, and Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler batted both runners in on a 3RBI Homerun. Collins doubled, but was left stranded as the Tigers came in to bat tied up 6-6.

The Tigers scored one run in the top of the sixth and held the home team scoreless before exploding in the seventh. Four batters were walked, errors abounded, and the Tigers scored a 2RBI double and a 3RBI homerun for a 14-6 lead. The Sandites tried to rally as Pennington homered, Schuler was walked, and Collins singled, but the two on base were stranded as Tahlequah brought home the 14-7 victory.