Lady Sandites sweep Sapulpa rivals in double-header victories

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

A new chapter of the Highway 97 Rivalry was written Thursday night at Chieftain Softball Stadium as the Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (10-5) dealt their nemesis back-to-back losses. In the first battle, Sand Springs led for the entirety of the game. Sapulpa rallied from an 8-2 deficit thanks to a pair of home runs by Analys Gloden, who is signed to Rose State College. Ultimately Sand Springs held on for the 8-7 win behind pitcher and Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican (4-3).

In game two it was Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler (6-2) with the win on the mound, giving up just two earned runs and twelve hits over eight innings. The Lady Sandites committed more than half a dozen errors over the course of the game, many resulting in runs. Ally Skaggs got the loss for Sapulpa.

Sand Springs wasted no time in getting on base, landing two hits on two pitches as Southwestern Oklahoma State University-signee Kennedy "Goose" Salyers hit a leadoff single, followed by a first-pitch double from Kimi Presnell. Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington doubled to score both runners for the 2-0 advantage.

Sapulpa wasn't content to trail this time and promptly tied things up in the same inning. Taylor Acree, who pitched the loss in the first game, scored on a single by Kristen Moore. Next was Gloden who scored the equalizer on a single by Coffeyville Community College-signee Raini Deeringwater.

Jensen Arnold reclaimed the lead for Sand Springs in the top of the second on a Jacie Taber sacrifice, but the Chieftains took their first lead of the game as Feather Roberts and Adrianna Butler scored on an error by Salyers. 

The back-and-forth scoring continued as Schuler hit a home run and Rachel Blair singled in Jessica Collins to make it 5-4. In the bottom of the fourth, Jessica Hobbs hit a single and picked up two more bases to score Azelea Fogleman on an error at first. Acree batted in Hobbs and Sapulpa had the 6-5 edge.

Rachel Blair singled in Collins in the top of the fifth to tie things up, and the score would hold at 6-6 till the top of the eighth. With two outs and two strikes, Presnell resurrected the Sandite offense on a do-or-die double into the left field fence. Pennington followed it up with a double of her own for the go-ahead run, then was batted in on a single by Schuler.

Sand Springs gave up a single to Blakely Alden, but Skaggs, Adriana Banks, and Roberts were each put out by Pennington for the victory. 

The Sandites return to action next Tuesday on a road game at Bixby (5-14). Sapulpa plays Memorial (4-16) next Tuesday, then the Highway 97 foes will get a rematch in yet another double-header next Thursday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Zicker scores lone goal as Jenks dominates Lady Sandite Soccer 6-1

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By: Virgil Noah, Marketing Director
Photo by: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Losing is rare for the Charles Page High School girls soccer team (9-3), and they haven't made a habit of it as they have yet to lose back-to-back games this season. The Jenks High School girls soccer team (6-3) proved to be a very difficult adversary. The three losses for the Lady Trojans were all heart-breakers, each coming by one goal in extra time. 

University of Arkansas-commit Nayeli Perez wasted no time getting Jenks on the board. In the 4th minute, Perez turned on a throw-in and netted a goal past diving Sand Springs keeper Abigail Banks. In the 21' Perez would notch her second goal of the game on a penalty kick, again just past the hands of Banks. The Lady Sandites' usually prolific offense was shut down in the first half, failing to get off a shot on goal.  

Early in the second half the momentum took a brief change in direction though, as Lady Trojan Hannah Roth was presented her second yellow card and Jenks would be forced to play the rest of the match down one player.  

It didn't take long for Sand Springs to capitalize on the advantage. In the 58' Melina Flores passed the ball in to Kyndal Zicker who put the Sandite girls on the board with a left footed goal. Just moments later Megan Deshazo, who scored six goals in her last game, had a chance to equalize the game but her attempt to chip the keeper went wide. 

After Deshazo's miss, momentum swung back in the undermanned Lady Trojans' favor, as Megan Huth and Taylor Pugh scored a pair of goals each and Perez picked up two assists to lock the game up for Jenks. 

The Sand Springs squads return to action with home games Friday evening against Westmoore High School. The girls kick off at 6 pm. and the boys at 8 pm.  

Lady Sandite Soccer wins sixth straight for Edison Tournament Championship

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

The Charles Page High School girls soccer team (8-1) isn't showing any signs of slowing down. The ladies have outscored their opponents by a combined 33-4 so far this season, including six shutouts. The Edison Eagles (3-5) fell 2-0 in the championship round of their Green and White Tournament Saturday night. Previously the Sandites defeated Tulsa Memorial (4-4) by 4-0 and Booker T Washington (6-2) by a close 3-2. The Sandites are the only team to defeat the Lady Hornets this season, also defeating them 2-0 earlier this week. 

The Lady Sandites wasted no time in firing off shots as Kyndal Zicker sent one a tad wide less than a minute in. Edison's Alex Hopkins retaliated with a pair of shots in the 14th minute; one snuck a tad wide, and the other was saved by Sandite keeper Abigail Banks.

Zicker drew first blood in the 19th minute, bouncing a shot off of Evann Couch, then set up Kylie Taylor for the two-goal lead just two minutes later.

Brooklyn Eardley made a great low and hard shot in the 22nd minute but Raegan Richins was equally impressive with a diving save. The two teams spend the next several minutes midfield before the Sandites made another offensive push that culminated in Emma Peak sending one wide.

The Eagles returned the ball to Sand Springs's territory a few minutes later and Jade Belauste sent a slow roller towards Banks that she easily scooped up. Zicker set up Breanna Campbell for a header with 8 minutes to go but Richins was ready with the save. 

The second half was a lot slower and had far fewer close calls. Banks saved a close one 19 minutes in, but most of the game was spent midfield. Lauren Tavaglione sent a hard shot into Richins with fourteen minutes left and DeShazo sent one just a hair high with eleven left.

Banks made yet another impressive save with two minutes to play, diving for a penalty kick by Couch, and it would be the last real shot of the game as the girls prevailed 2-0.

The Lady Sandites will return to action Tuesday night at Union who is still undefeated 7-0. 

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.

Brooklyn Eardley leads Lady Sandite Soccer to Edison Tournament finals

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Story and photo by: Virgil Noah, Marketing Director

The Charles Page High School Girls soccer team (7-1) continued their winning ways in exciting fashion on day one of the Edison Green and White Tournament. The Sandite Girls defeated the Tulsa Memorial High School Lady Chargers 4-0 to get the ball rolling. Senior midfielder Brooklyn Eardley led the way for Sand Springs with a pair of goals and an assist, with juniors Kyndal Zicker and Megan Deshazo accounting for the other scores. 

As a result of the Sandites win and the Booker T. Washington High School Lady Hornets victory over the Regent Preparatory School Lady Rams, the two teams met for the second time in three days. BTW came in seeking to avenge the 2-0 loss they were dealt on Sand Springs's home turf. 

After a scoreless first half, things got going early in the second. Two minutes in, Lady Hornet midfielder Jae Harris crossed in a corner to Lauren Cousins whose shot deflected off of a Sand Springs defender and scored. Booker T. would hold the lead for a very short time though, as Eardley would spin around a defender and place a pass perfectly in stride to Deshazo who tapped the ball just past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Lauren Ketchum. The Sandite girls would dominate possession for the rest of the half, but were unable to come up with another goal despite a few solid opportunities. Charles Page keeper Abigail Banks would stop the only shot that came her way in the second half, sending the game to penalty kicks tied 1-1. 

BTW led things off with a successful penalty kick and Zicker quickly tied it at 1 apiece. The second Lady Hornet PK hit the crossbar and Deshazo put the Sandites on top. A diving save by Banks put Sand Springs in prime position to seal things but a save on Jae Anthony-Wilson's penalty and a miss by Marissa Doll opened things back up for Washington who tied things up at 2 heading into the final round. The final kick for BTW was saved by Banks though, and Eardley sealed things for CPHS by calmly netting her shot for the win. 

The Lady Sandites will get a one-day break while the boys' tournament goes on, then will confront Edison, the host team, Saturday evening at 6:30 pm. The Lady Eagles are 3-4 for the season after defeating Pryor and Cascia Hall each 1-0 in the early rounds of the tournament.

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.