Tyler Palmateer
Daily Elk Citian
OKLAHOMA CITY — A late rally from Class A No. 2 Leedey High School wasn’t enough to overcome No. 1 Red Oak’s early run-fest, as the Lady Bison fell 8-6 in Wednesday’s slow-pitch state championship game.
Red Oak started the game with aggression at the plate, finding every possible gap in the field in building an early seven-run lead, but Leedey scored the title game’s final five runs, producing a furious finish.
“I just kept telling my team to stay the course,” Leedey head coach Cory Wilson said. “Defensively, we made enough plays, but we just didn’t do enough at the plate [to win].”
Red Oak used 13 hits in the first three innings to jump out to an 8-1 lead, and Leedey looked to be in trouble, with just one hit of their own in that time span.
However, Red Oak’s ferocity at the plate slowed, as they would not score again. The Lady Bison finally found their groove, when Taya Haney and Jenna Trissel kicked off a seven-hit, four-run sixth inning for Leedey with back-to-back singles, igniting the Lady Bison rally, and bringing them within two runs.
The Lady Bison held off a Red Oak threat in the top of the seventh, and had the game-tying run on base,but were not able to drive it in.
HAMMON FALLS TO BENNINGTON EARLY
The No. 3 Hammon Lady Warriors were stunned 12-8 by No. 8 Bennington, in the state tournament’s first round.
Plagued by scoreless innings in the third, fourth and fifth, Hammon struggled at the plate when it really counted, as Bennington scored six runs in that time span.
For more, pick up a copy of the Thursday, May 3 edition of The Daily Elk Citian.