Lady Sandite Softball advances in playoffs with 9-2 victory over Elk City

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The No. 14 ranked Charles Page High School slow pitch softball team (11-5) breezed through its first opponent at the Regional playoff Thursday morning, handily defeating No. 10 Elk City (23-14) behind the steady arm of senior pitcher Jessica Schuler (7-2), who also hit the go-ahead first inning home run.

Schuler, who is signed to play for Northeastern State University in the fall, only gave up two runs and a handful of hits in the dominating performance that was all wrapped up in the first inning.

The Elkettes scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but from there it was the Sandites’ game. Schuler’s homer, her fourteenth of the season, scored Kennedy “Goose” Salyers and Sydney Pennington for the 3-2 lead and the girls only continued to rack up the runs from there.

In the bottom of the fourth Schuler singled and courtesy runner Kellie Johnson scored a run on an error. Jessica Collins doubled and came home on a fielder’s choice. The biggest offensive output came in the bottom of the fifth as Collins singled in Jacie Taber and Kimi Presnell. Madelyn Blair singled in Johnson and Stella Millican singled in Collins for the final run of the game. 

The Lady Sandites will get a brief break while Elk City battles the No. 4 Union Redskins (21-5), then Sand Springs will play take on the host team. 

The photo gallery from the first game can be found at https://sanditepride.smugmug.com/2016-Slow-Pitch-Softball/42816-Sand-Springs-vs-Elk-City