Union wins two of three in Regional Series against Sand Springs

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (12-7) scored a pair of upsets at 9-2 and 9-3 over No. 10 Elk City (23-15) and No. 4 Union (24-6) respectively, before falling 1-0 in their second game against the Redskins. The Thursday afternoon Regional playoff was a double-elimination bracket, and Union rebounded from their first loss to the Sandites with a low-scoring game that saw only five total hits from the two teams. 

Game two against Union was far different from the first game which had twenty hits between the two teams. Senior Northeastern State University-signee Jessica Schuler (8-4) got the loss on the mound, despite giving up zero earned runs, and only two hits and two walks. 

The lone run of the game came on a sacrifice fly from Mackenzie Addis to score Jackie Self, who reached on an error in left field. The Lady Sandites stranded a total of four runners over the course of the game in their only shutout loss of the season. 

With each team holding a 2-1 tournament record, the Redskins avenged their earlier loss with a 16-2 payback for the Regional Title and a ticket to State. 

The host team took a quick 4-0 lead in the top of the first as Sammy Ibison and Lexy Dobson each singled, then scored on an error in left field that allowed Addis to reach second. Another error on the same play, this time at third base, allowed Addis to reach third. She soon after came home on a throw. Toni Weese doubled to bring in Paige Boyle, who also doubled.

Sydney Pennington hit her second homer of the day to get the Sandites on the board, but it would be the last run the girls scored till the bottom of the fourth.

Union added two more in the top of the fifth as Britton Clark doubled in Dobson and Brylee Dickinson sacrificed to bring in Addis. 

The top of the fourth is where the Redskins effectively put the win out of reach for the Sandites, racking up another six runs with four coming on errors. Kimi Presnell drew a walk for the Sandites and came in on a double by Madelyn Blair, but Union caked on three more runs in the top of the fifth. The Lady Sandites failed to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth and Union won it by mercy rule to end the season for the Sandites. 

Schuler got the loss on the mound in game two, with Stella Millican (4-3) pitching the final inning.

Photo galleries from Regionals and the rest of the season can be found at https://sanditepride.smugmug.com/2016-Slow-Pitch-Softball

Sydney Pennington scores 2 runs, 6 RBI, and a homer in 9-3 playoff victory over Union

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (12-5) traveled to Union Intermediate High School Thursday for the Regional Championship and won their first game 9-2 over No. 10 Elk City (23-14), then dominated the host team 9-3. Senior Northeastern State University signee Jessica Schuler (7-3) pitched both wins, giving up seven hits and five walks in the win over Union.

The No. 4 Redskins (22-6) started off with a 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Sammy Ibison reached base on an error at short stop to start the game, but Oklahoma State University-commit Sydney Pennington made up for it on the next play, outing the runner at second in a double play to clear the bases. Mackenzie Addis reached base on balls and was batted in on a double by Aaliyah Villalobos, who in turn scored on a single by Paige Boyle.

Sand Springs evened things up in the bottom of the inning as Kennedy "Goose" Salyers singled and came in on a home run by Pennington, her tenth this season. Union reclaimed the lead in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly by Jackie Self to score Toni Weese, and held it till the bottom of the fifth when the Sandites put the game in the bag.

Freshman Jacie Taber reached on an error, Salyers and Kimi Presnell singled to load the bases, and Pennington brought the lot home with a three-run go-ahead single. Madelyn Blair scored Pennington on a double to make it 6-3.

The Lady Sandites iced the cake in the bottom of the sixth as Rachel Blair doubled in Kellie Johnson and scored on a sacrifice by Taber. Salyers hit a single and scored on yet another single from Pennington for the 9-3 lead.

The Sand Springs vs Union photo gallery can be found at https://sanditepride.smugmug.com/2016-Slow-Pitch-Softball/42816-Sand-Springs-vs-Union/

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 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. 

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.