Black Diamonds get to play first game on new turf
It took a while, but the Sallisaw Black Diamonds got to play a game on their new turf on March 25 when they entertained the District 4A-8 rival Idabel Warriors, who lost the first game on “The Turf of Dreams” by a score of 15-2.
It took a while, but the Sallisaw Black Diamonds got to play a game on their new turf on March 25 when they entertained the District 4A-8 rival Idabel Warriors, who lost the first game on “The Turf of Dreams” by a score of 15-2.
The field also will be used by the Sallisaw Lady Diamonds fast-pitch softball team this fall as a temporary fence will be placed around the outfield.
At last Wednesday afternoon’s Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce March Membership Meeting, Sallisaw Public Schools Superintendent Steve Barrett said the turf will allow many more ball games to take place than ever before.
“This field is a multi-use field,” Barrett said. “We’ll be able to play all the way from little league to fast-pitch (softball) to high school baseball. We’ll be able to play college baseball on this field. This is great progress for us. It was a long time coming. We’re planning on a ribbon-cutting night for it with a full event. We’ll do hot dogs and other fun stuff (on that night).”
Barrett said that the new turf will allow games to resume in about a half hour after a rain delay.
Last week marked the second time I got to be a part of an athletic christening.
When I was at The Daily Ardmoreite, I was honored to get to cover the first-ever regular-season football game at Noble Stadium, which was dubbed “The Field of Dreams,” between archrivals Ardmore and Ada. To not tear up the turf, the home preseason scrimmage that season was played at old Walker Stadium, located just east of the main Ardmore exit off Interstate 35. So, I got to see the finale at the old home and the first-ever game at the new home.
Noble Stadium also had numerous state track meets take place, of which I’m pretty sure some of you track athletes, past and present, have had the honor to run at for a state meet.
Needless to say, I got spoiled there, and I look to have the same feeling while covering games at the new baseball turf at Sallisaw High School.
ANOTHER WEEK OF TOURNAMENTS
It’s another week of tournaments for our local diamond teams.
The Sallisaw Black Diamonds will play in the Hillsdale-Fort Gibson Shootout, which takes place at both locations.
The first-ever Muldrow Bulldog Festival will take place Thursday and Friday, featuring the host Bulldogs, Roland and Central.
The Gore Pirates will be at the 40th annual Joe Fowler Gumbo Classic in Dewar.
All of these schedules/brackets can be found in today’s edition.
RIVERSIDE CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT MOVED TO NEXT WEEK
The 2025 Riverside Conference Slow-Pitch Softball Tournament, which was to have been played Thursday (junior high) through Friday (high school) in Stigler, was moved to the following weekend, April 10-11 with the junior high tournament on April 10 and the high school tournament on April 11.
The tournament will feature three local teams — the Gore Lady Pirates, the Gans Lady Grizzlies and the Webbers Falls Lady Warriors.
I’ll be sure to publish the schedule/ bracket in next Wednesday’s edition. Rolan
WEEK 4 PITCHING HIGHLIGHTS
On the first day of the Roland Wood Bat Tournament, Gore pitcher Tate Brooksher struck out 13 Roland Rangers.
In the game before, Brooksher’s teammate James Brasuell fanned 10 Keys batters.
In the final game of Day 1 at the Webbers Falls Baseball Tournament, Webbers Falls pitcher Brutus Robinson recorded 10 strikeouts in a losing effort against Porum.
Vian pitcher Chris Cheater threw a nohitter with three strikeouts in Friday’s road victory over Fort Gibson.
WEEK 4 HITTING HIGHLIGHTS
Sallisaw’s Dagan Grizzle had six hits, one of which was his third home run of the season, during three-day Tiger/ Zebra Classic, which took place Thursday through Saturday in both Pryor and Claremore.
Vian’s Riley Ellis hit a walk-off, one-out, two-run homer to lift the Wolverines past Warner 6-4 on March 25.
Webbers Falls Lady Warrior Kendra Kimble had six hits, while Vian Lady Wolverine Aubree Craighead and Gore Lady Pirate Hallie Brewer each had five hits in three games at last Thursday’s Webbers Falls Softball Festival.
Muldrow’s Danica Tune went 5-for-11 (.455 average) in three games last week.
Central’s Ayrland Jiles went 10-for-12 (.833 average) in four games at last week’s Porum Softball Festival.
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David Seeley is sports editor for Your TIMES. He can be reached by calling (918) 775-4433, Ext. 139 or by emailing him at davids@cookson.news.
