Sandite of the Week: Jessica Schuler

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

This week Sandite Pride would like to recognize Charles Page High School senior Jessica Schuler for her consistent outstanding performances at all three slow pitch softball games last week. Schuler is the second-highest scorer on the team with 25 runs and 34 RBI this season and is the leading home-run hitter with 13 this season. She has the highest slugging average at 1.644 and is the only Lady Sandite to hit a grand slam this season.

This past week has been particularly notable for Schuler, who is signed to play for Northeastern State University this fall. In a Tuesday evening game against 2A No.3 ranked Barnsdall (23-4) the No.14 Lady Sandites (10-5) scored a 13-8 upset win with Schuler (6-2) on the mound. 

The Lady Panthers led 4-3 in the bottom of the third when Schuler scored a go-ahead 2RBI homer. Barnsdall had tied it back up at 8-8 in the top of the fifth, but once more it was Schuler to the rescue with a grand slam to make it 12-8. Schuler pitched all seven innings and gave up 12 hits, 1 walk, and 8 earned runs with 1 strike out while throwing 43% strikes. 

On Thursday evening the Sandites had a close double-header rivalry match-up at Sapulpa. In the first game Schuler only got off a single on four at-bats, but she was instrumental in the second game.

Once more Schuler was on the mound, giving up just two earned runs and twelve hits over eight innings while throwing 73% strikes. Schuler got a base hit in the top of the second and courtesy runner Jensen Arnold scored the go-ahead on a Jacie Taber sacrifice. The Chieftains retook the lead in the bottom of the third, but in the top of the fourth Schuler hit a home run to tie it back up. Sapulpa battled back to a 6-6 tie by the top of the fifth and it held through extra innings till Sydney Pennington scored Kimi Presnell, then came home on a single by Schuler to ice the cake. 

The Sandites have just two game-days left in the regular season and will play next at Bixby (5-14) on Tuesday.

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.

Lady Sandites prevail 8-7 over Sapulpa despite two late homers from Gloden

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

In classic Highway 97 Rivalry fashion, the Sand Springs vs Sapulpa slow pitch softball game wasn’t decided till the final pitch. No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School (9-5) visited their arch rival, the Sapulpa Lady Chieftains (5-12) for a double header Thursday evening and won the first game by a single run.

Mid-American Christian University-signee Stella Millican (4-3) earned herself a winning record on the mound, while Taylor Acree got the loss for Sapulpa.

The first inning was scoreless for both teams, but Jessica Collins scored the go-ahead run on a single from Millican in the top of the second. Rachel Blair batted in her sister, Madelyn, then Millican came home on a throw. Freshman Jacie Taber tripled to score the elder Blair, then Kennedy “Goose” Salyers singled to score Taber for the 5-0 advantage.

The Lady Sandites added to their lead as Jessica Collins and Sydney Pennington scored on an error in the top of the third to make it 7-0. The home team finally began to rally in the bottom of the third as Acree walked to load the bases and Rose State College-signee Analys Gloden singled in Feather Roberts and Jessica Hobbs.

Sand Springs increased the lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth, but Sapulpa exploded for four more runs in as Acree doubled to score Roberts and Gloden smacked a homer to score Acree and Hobbs.

Acree gave up only one single over the next two innings and it came down to the bottom of the seventh. Down by two, things began to look hopeful as Gloden hit yet another homer, but Kali Husman and Kristen Moore were both put out and Sand Springs held on for the win.

Jessica Schuler pitches 13-8 upset over No.3 Barnsdall and hits Grand Slam

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (8-5) dealt the 2A No. 3 Barnsdall Lady Panthers (23-4) only their fourth loss this season in a back-and-forth shootout that saw a combined nine home runs between the two teams, including a grand slam by Lady Sandite pitcher Jessica Schuler (5-2).

Schuler, a Northeastern State University signee, scored 6 RBI on two home runs while pitching 12 hits, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout for the win. Schuler leads her team in home runs this season, having scored 12 over 13 games, and is the only player to hit a grand slam.

The Lady Panthers boasted several impressive sluggers of their own, including Ciara McCabe who gave her team the first run of the game on a homer in the first inning. 

Junior Jessica Collins retaliated for the Lady Sandites, smacking a double to score Sydney Pennington and Kellie Johnson in the bottom of the first for a 2-1 lead.

Barnsdall reclaimed their lead in the top of the third on a home run from Maria Quesada, followed by a homer from Alyssa Babb that scored Courtney Berry for the 4-2 advantage.

Sand Springs had an explosive inning in the third, kicked off by a double from Pennington to score Presnell. Schuler hit her first homer of the evening to score Pennington, Cameron Clemons singled in Collins, and Jacie Taber doubled to score Rachel Blair. The Panthers stranded one in the fourth and Sand Springs came back in to make it 8-4 on a home run by Pennington.

In the top of the fifth, Babb batted in Bailey Walker and Cecilia Jones on loaded bases, then McCabe and Jasmine Shores hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth to tie the game up. 

The Lady Sandites put it away in the bottom of the inning, however, as Schuler sent one over the fence for a grand slam, scoring Taber, Salyers, and Pennington. Collins followed it up with a first pitch home run and Schuler pitched a no-hitter in the top of the seventh to secure the victory. 

Sand Springs has just three game days left before Regionals. This Thursday they'll play a double-header at Sapulpa (5-11) with the first game beginning at 4:30 pm. 

Lady Sandite Softball scorches Spartans 18-7 in just three and a half innings

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (7-5) racked up their third-straight run-rule victory at the Haskell Tournament Friday evening, exploding for a 6-0 lead in the first inning against the No. 19 Bixby Lady Spartans (5-13). 

Freshman Kimi Presnell scored Kennedy "Goose" Salyers on a home run. Jessica Collins singled to score Sydney Pennington, Stella Millican walked in Kellie Johnson, and Rachel Blair batted in Collins and Madelyn Blair before a single batter was put out.

East Central University signee Sierra Skaggs got the Lady Spartans on the board with a home run, then Lillie Lavendusky doubled in Karlee Doak. Skylor Holmes hit a single to score Cassie Pantalia to cut the gap to 6-3, but Teri Pogue flied out to leave the two runners stranded.

In the top of the second, Northeastern State University signee Jessica Schuler smacked a 3RBI home run to score Salyers and Presnell to make it 9-3.

Sierra Kreiling reached on an error and scored on yet another homer by Skaggs, then Lavendusky singled in two more runners to narrow the deficit to a close 9-7.

Sand Springs opened the floodgates in the third inning as freshman Jacie Taber hit a 3RBI homer, followed by a home run from Salyers, an RBI double by Pennington, and a 2RBI homer from Schuler. 

Mid American Christian University signee Stella Millican (3-3) walked one and gave up two singles in the bottom of the third, but a double play saved the inning to hold the Spartans scoreless. Jacie Taber hit her second home run not just of the game, but of the season, for the 18-7 run-rule victory. 

Sand Springs returns to action Tuesday at 5:00 pm in a home double-header against Barnsdall.

Lady Sandites score 6 home runs in dominating 18-5 victory over Beggs

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (7-5) dominated 5A No. 11 Beggs (14-12) Friday afternoon at the Haskell Tournament, batting .724 from the plate as a team for more than 20 base hits and 6 home runs.

Northeastern State University signee Jessica Schuler (4-2) got the win on the mound, giving up 10 hits, 1 walk, and only 5 runs. Schuler was also responsible for two home runs, along with Oklahoma State University commit Sydney Pennington, who also hit two.

Pennington kicked off the scoring frenzy in the first inning, sending one over the fence to score herself and Kimi Presnell, then Schuler scored her first home run right after for a 3-0 advantage. Beggs had no problem tying it up, however, scoring three runs on four hits that same inning.

Sand Springs left their opponents in the dust in the second inning, however. Cameron Clemons sacrificed to score Rachel Blair, Goose Salyers tripled to bring in Jacie Taber, and Presnell homered to make it 7-3. Schuler pitched a no hitter in the bottom of the inning and the Lady Sandites put extra cushion between themselves and the Lady Demons.

Salyers singled on loaded bases to score Madelyn Blair and Clemons, and Presnell singled to score Taber. Pennington and Schuler each cleared the fence once again for a 14-3 advantage. The Lady Demons attempted to rally with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, but Sand Springs added four in the top of the fourth to secure the victory via run-rule as Jacie Taber singled in Rachel Blair and Salyers scored Clemons and Taber on a home run.