Senior Emma Gunnel goes out on a high note as Elkettes post 4-0 win over Lady Owls
Tyler Palmateer
Daily Elk Citian
Senior night. Enough said, really.
They are the most treasured nights of any high school or college athlete, and Elk City High School softball's lone senior, Emma Gunnel, got hers Tuesday evening, as the Elkettes downed Elgin 4-0.
Getting the win made it that much more special for Gunnel, who drew a walk in the bottom of the fifth inning and scored a run off Torei Morning's RBI single. The Elkettes scored their only runs of the game in that frame.
"It kind of makes me want to cry, but I won't," Gunnel said. "I think it was more excitement than any other game. I knew tonight was a big game for me being the only senior. I was really hoping for the win and we got it."
ECHS head coach Lindsey Mudgett said Gunnel ended on a high note.
"It's like a bittersweet type thing. It's exciting for Emma. She's had a really good senior year and she's going out the right way. That's really what she wanted. As little time as I've known her, she's a kid you would always want to ask for."
Both teams Tuesday struggled to hit for the first half of the game, as they combined for 17 strikeouts until Elk City's rally in the fifth inning.
Toni Stowe led off with a base hit to right field, then Gunnel drew a walk and Kailan Craig reached on an error, loading the bases for Randi Cheatham. A fielder's choice scored Stowe, then Morning's single scored Gunnel to make it a 2-0 Elkette lead.
Erika Odom hit an RBI groundout scoring Craig, then Mallory Lutrell singled and took second base on a throw home, scoring Cheatham to give Elk City a 4-0 lead.
"We played really good today, we made some good defensive plays..It was a very clean game I thought," Mudgett said. "We were coming along a little slow on offense, striking out too much. But we made adjustments, which is good."
When Elgin tried to answer Elk City's runs in the top of the sixth, Odom made a diving backhanded grab at a smoked ground ball, then made a clean throw to first base for the out. The Lady Owls managed just two base runners the rest of the game.
Morning pitched all seven innings and threw 12 strikeouts against the Lady Owls, just three K's shy of her career-high of 15 against which came against Clinton last week. Mudgett said she likes where her team is right now, flying under the radar and playing good defense.
"We've been strong on the mound, which is huge in the playoffs. We have a chance to go in there, if we're playing good ball to upset [Weatherford next Tuesday in districts]. "
The playoffs are next week, but Tuesday was all about the Elkettes' win and Gunnel's final game. The senior fought off some tears as she walked through a tunnel of softball bats her teamed had formed.
Gunnel said she hopes she's done her job well, being a leader for such a young team.
"I hope so," she said when asked if her team views her as a leader. "I mean we all get along. Yeah, they look at me to do things. When we do our warmup they're looking at me to start it. They're looking at me to set the example.."
Gunnel had been toggling back and forth about running track or playing slow-pitch softball in the spring. She announced Tuesday she made her decision.
"I'm going to [play softball]."
Elgin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 4 0
Elk City 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 — 4 4 3