Central Lady Tiger Shootout slated for Thursday, Saturday

First off, I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe Labor Day Weekend. I spent mine returning my 97-year-old mom home to Enid after she spent last week with me celebrating birthday No. 97 last Wednesday.

However, Labor Day week usually means one thing in the Sequoyah County softball world — the annual Central High School Lady Tiger Shootout, which will see games Thursday and Saturday at both Central High School and Roland.

Central coach Wes Green is hoping his team, and of course the other teams, can get not only get ready for the postseason but hitters seeing good pitching.

“It’s more just getting to play games under a time crunch,” Green said. “You’re going to get everybody’s best.”

Joining Central and Roland from the county are Vian and Muldrow. The non-county teams in the field include Whitesboro, Talihina, Keys (Park Hill), Warner and Hulbert.

“I think the heavy favorite is Whitesboro,” Green said.

Green said by using both fields, it helps gets more games played.

If you have two fields, it runs smoother,” he said. “That’s why we co-oped with Roland. Teams can play there and here — and everybody’s getting games.”

Green said the event taking Friday off for something called football is planned.

“You get everything going on a Thursday, then give Friday to football and go back to work on Saturday,” he said.

However, there could be a change or two coming in the 2024 version of the annual event.

“I’ve already gotten teams wanting in, so it could be a pool play on Thursday and Friday, and a (pool) cross on Saturday,” Green said. “Checotah is looking to get in next year. If we get to 10 teams, it will change a little bit. We would like to get to 12 teams. Then you would have two (six-team) pools, and you’ll have people you don’t even see.”

The casual fan might think Green “overloads” his schedule, especially in September, with a lot of games. While it’s sort of planned that way, he said that it helps in the long run.

“We’re two kids away from being in Class A,” Green said. “We play a (Class) 3A and 4A schedule. Our (Class 2A) district record is 3-2 and could easily be 5-0. Our regular-season record is a little bad, but our district record is a plus — and that’s what we want.”

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WEEK 4 INDIVIDUAL HITTING HIGHLIGHTS

• Three local players who hit home runs last week. Central’s Ayrland Jiles hit a solo home run Friday in a loss to Salina in the Oologah Tournament. Gore’s Emily Daily hit a solo homer in Thursday’s victory over Arkoma in the Riverside Conference Tournament. Vian’s LaKaila Drew homered Thursday against Morris.

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WEEK 4 INDIVIDUAL PITCHING HIGHLIGHTS

• Vian’s Kala Gibbins is continuing her pitching prowess as she struck out 20 batters in four games, including 10 coming in the first of a home doubleheader against Okmulgee on Aug. 29. In the nightcap of that twinbill, she had threw a no-hitter with five Ks.

• Central’s Ayrland Jiles struck out 12 batters last week, which included a four-strikeout game Aug. 29 against Wilburton.