Elkettes drop game one 2-0 to Weatherford, will resume game two Wednesday trailing 3-2 after weather delay
Tyler Palmateer
Daily Elk Citian
Tuesday night, the district tournament between Elk City and Weatherford High Schools was shaping up to be a doozy.
Competition was so tight, in fact, mother nature felt the games should extend an extra day. Due to imminent weather, game two was postponed and will resume at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
WHS won the first game against ECHS 2-0 on two unearned runs, and led just 3-2 in the top of the fourth of game two, when the looming lighting delay occurred.
"We just have to come out and have that mentality that we've already played four innings today," ECHS head coach Lindsey Mudgett said of playing a shortened game Wednesday. "We can't afford to watch pitches a lot and get used to the pitcher. We have to be ready for her."
Elk City's Torei Morning struck out eight WHS batters and didn't allow a hit in the first contest, using a tricky change-up that kept the Lady Eagles guessing.
"It's vital," Mudgett said of the pitch. "Anytime you can have a pitcher who can change speeds, you're in the batters' heads."
Aside from a glaring four errors, the ECHS defense was mostly solid from the field. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Weatherford threatened to open the game up but two solid catches by ECHS' shifty center fielder, Kailan Craig, held the Lady Eagles at two runs for the game.
Scoring runs proved to be the Elkettes' achilles heel in the first game. They threatened to plate scores on several occasions, but could never quite get over the hump.
Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, Mallory Luttrell and Tori Schones hit back-to-back singles, but they were ultimately left stranded.
What was most clear Tuesday, was that the Elkettes are playing their best ball of the season at exactly the right time. ECHS never played intimidated and competed in a loose, carefree manner. Mudgett was encouraged by the way her young team responded to playing 4A No. 14 Weatherford in a playoff environment.
"It's nice to see that they respond. I think [the ECHS players] are seeing that they're good. I think they're surprised that they can come out and compete with [Weatherford]."
In game two, Elk City finally got their bats going, taking an early 2-1 lead off an RBI-single from Madison Hughes, who was scored by a right-field double ripped by Karli Droke.
So called "x-factor" players like Droke are going to be key if ECHS is to pull off the upset against Weatherford in Wednesday's play.
"In the postseason, you can't live off your pitcher. You can't live off your four-hole. We put Karli in there to see what she could bring to the table and she put the ball in play both times and is going after it, which is awesome."
A three-hit bottom of the second gave Weatherford a 3-2 lead, which will be the score when game two picks up tomorrow. Elk City will begin in the top of the fourth inning, with a runner on third base, two outs, and Droke at the plate.
Regardless of what happens, Mudgett hopes her team continues to play with no pressure.
"Ever since [last] Friday, I've been preaching to the girls to compete. You have nothing to lose… Just fight and make [Weatherford] earn their win. [In game one] even though their two runs were on errors and bases on balls, they still had to really fight for it and you could tell they were really uncomfortable.
"If we're doing that to them, because they're a good team and ranked in our class, that means we're doing our jobs."
Game 1
Weatherford 2, Elk City 0
ECHS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 3 4
WHS 0 1 1 0 0 0 x — 2 0 0
Randi Cheatham: 0/3
Erika Odom: 0/3
Torei Morning: 0/3
Mallory Luttrell: 1/3 (single)
Tori Schones: 1/3 (single)
Toni Stowe: 0/3
Madison Hughes: 1/3 (single)
Karli Droke: 0/2
Kailan Craig: 0/2
Game 2
Weatherford 3, Elk City 2 (Top 4)
(Game will resume in top of fourth inning Wednesday at 2 p.m. due to weather)
ECHS 0 2 0 x x x x
WHS 1 2 0 x x x x