Rain plays big part of opening week of season
While most of the opening-week games involving our local high school softball teams got played, some did not — and others had alterations made to them — due to last week’s rain showers.
While most of the opening-week games involving our local high school softball teams got played, some did not — and others had alterations made to them — due to last week’s rain showers.
Both Gore (vs. Mounds) and Roland (vs. Heavener) tried not once but twice last week to get their home openers played, only to be denied twice by Mother Nature. The Heavener-Roland game will be played at 4 p.m. Aug. 23 in Roland, while Gore first-year coach Michael Randolph is still trying for a second time to reschedule his team’s home game vs. Mounds.
If that wasn’t bad enough for the Lady Pirates, they had to move their annual tournament to Oktaha due to wet fields at their facility.
That is the drawback with playing outdoor events — Mother Nature can end up being the big winner.
Another Week, More Tournaments, Festivals
We’re in Week 2 of the 2023 fastpitch softball season, and we have some more tournaments and festivals featuring our teams.
Gore will be in the Okmulgee Tournament, which begins its three-day run on Thursday — however, the Lady Pirates won’t see action until Friday.
Gans will be in the Westville Festival on Thursday, playing twice.
Week 1 Individual Hitting Highlights
• Vian’s Hanna Mattingly had quite a Big 8 Conference Tournament, which took place Thursday and Friday at Northeastern Oklahoma State University in Tahlequah. The Lady Wolverine sophomore went 9-for-12 with two triples, a solo home run and nine runs batted in.
• Also in the Big 8 Conference Tournament, Central’s Ayrland Jiles was one of the Lady Tigers’ best hitters for the two-day event. The Central junior went 4-for-9 with two doubles, a triple and six RBIs.
• If you want a flare for the dramatic, look no further than Muldrow’s Raya Keenan. She hit a two-out, two-run, walk-off home run in the eighth inning of the season opener Aug. 7 to help the Lady Bulldogs down Stilwell 3-1 after the Lady Indians had tied the game at 1 in the seventh inning.
Week 1 Individual Pitching Highlights
• Muldrow pitcher Jaydin Dean had 16 strikeouts for the week, including getting eight Ks in the eight-inning, season-opening win over Stilwell.
• Vian pitcher Kala Gibbins had 14 strikeouts during opening week, including a game-high five Ks in the Big 8 Conference Tournament victory over county rival Central.
• Roland’s pitching duo of Emily Daws and KyLeigh Knapp no hit Webbers Falls in Gore tournament fifth place game.
David Seeley is sports editor for Your TIMES. He can be reached by calling (918) 775-4433 or by email at davids@cookson.news.
