The Charles Page High School softball team is back in action. The girls had their spring slow pitch season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but, for now, it looks like the fall fast pitch season will be played. Sand Springs is in pursuit of its sixth-consecutive Regional title, and that journey started Monday evening in Tahlequah with a dominant 10-1 victory.
The team has several big pairs of cleats to fill, having graduated Makenna Skaggs, Rachael Jones, Jordyn Pearson, Felicity Horn, Sabrina Usher, and Mackenzie Bechtold. Last year’s senior class accounted for nearly half of the team’s scoring.
Fortunately, the Sandites have plenty of talented underclassmen to fill the ranks. “A lot of kids were able to get some game time in last year, so I’m hoping that helps this year,” says Head Coach Shelli Brown. “We have some new faces in some positions and some players that played some last year could become starters so hopefully the experiences will help in game situations.”
“I’m looking forward to see how my seniors take on the leadership role this year. They’re a small group but they work hard and they’re great kids. They’ve had two previous senior groups that hopefully they have learned from in the last two years. I think my junior class will also provide some leadership also. Those two groups will provide experience on the field and that will help our younger players.”
Throughout the preseason the team has followed strict protocols to reduce potential spread of COVID-19. All practices have been held outside when weather cooperated. When practices are held indoors, they have been done in small groups.
"I think having the time off made them even more excited to be back,” says Brown. “We have good chemistry and we are just working through the changes with COVID and they’ve been doing a great job.”
Sand Springs is in its 24th year under Brown, who holds a 574-316 record in fast pitch. Her expectations for the season are to get better with each game, to bond as a team, to stay healthy and injury-free, and to focus on each game, one day at a time.
In Monday’s season-opening win, the team combined for 15 hits and a .694 slugging average with six doubles and two triples. Senior pitcher Aliyah Taff (1-0, 18-14) threw two hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts in six innings for the win. Sophomore Nataley Crawford (3-2) tossed one strikeout and one walk in one inning of relief.
Crawford hit a triple to kick off the top of the third, then scored the opening run on a ground out from Raegan Rector. Makenzie Burks scored on a double from Brooklyn Harper in the fourth, then the girls ran away with it in the fifth inning. Jaden Jordan, Taff, and Drew Hawkins hit three-straight RBI doubles for the 5-0 lead.
Tahlequah averted the shutout with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-1, but the visitors put together their best inning in the seventh. Hawkins and Crawford hit doubles and freshman Kelsi Hilton hit a two-run triple for the final score.
The Sandites also won all four of their pre-season scrimmages this past week, by a combined score of 42-2.
Last Monday they took on their Berryhill neighbors and shut out the Maidens 6-0. Taff and Rector combined for five strikeouts and gave up only one hit in the pitcher’s circle, while the offense combined for seven hits, including a double from JoLee McNally.
On Tuesday they dominated Skiatook 15-1, with seven runs in the bottom of the seventh. Rector, Taff, Crawford, and Hilton allowed eight hits against six strikeouts and three walks. Skiatook scored their only run in the top of the first and led till the bottom of the fourth. Sand Springs amassed 15 hits, including four doubles and a triple from Rector.
They beat Skiatook again on Wednesday, this time 18-0, once again with a seven-run seventh inning. The same four pitchers tossed seven strikeouts this time while only allowing four hits. Offensively the team totaled 22 hits. Rector and Jordan hit two doubles apiece, Madison Lee scored four runs, and Hilton scored four RBI.
Thursday was a much closer win, but it came against the 4A State Semifinalists from Oologah, 3-1. Both teams recorded only five hits, but the Sandites had three doubles, while the Mustangs were limited to singles.
Sandite softball will play its home opener Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. against Ponca City in their first district battle of the year. Fans will be required to wear masks while attending the game.
