CPHS Softball season ends in 17-14 loss to No. 3 Westmoore despite grand slams from Arnold and Luttrell

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The 2017 Slow Pitch Softball season came to an end for the No. 17 ranked Charles Page High School Lady Sandites (11-13) Tuesday evening at the Regional Tournament in Moore. The Lady Sandites won their opening game in an 18-16 shootout with No. 18 Chickasha (11-12), but fell 20-10 to the No. 3 Westmoore (24-7) host team. In the consolation bracket they repeated with a 12-1 victory over Chickasha, but fell 17-14 in a rematch with the Jaguars. 

The two teams exchanged two-run homers in the first inning with Kimi Presnell scoring Sabrina Usher to tie it at 2-2. Sydnee Ramsey had the homer for Westmoore. Jacie Taber singled and scored on a hit from Mackenzie Bechtold for the one-run lead.

Next to clear the fence was Elizabeth Luttrell, bringing in Rachel Jones for the 5-2 second-inning advantage.

Westmoore came from behind in the top of the third. Kailey Gamble hit a 2RBI double for the Jags, then Kenzie Monroe emptied the bases with a grand slam for the 8-5 advantage. Gamble batted in two more runs in the fourth inning, then walked in on loaded bases to make it 11-5. 

Jones, Makenna Skaggs, and Felicity Horn all scored on a grand slam from Luttrell in the bottom of the inning, but Alanna Leisy kept her team in the lead with a three-run homer in the fifth. Westmoore loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth, then walked in three-straight runs before the Sandites pulled out of it.

Skaggs scored on an error in the sixth, but the Sandites entered the final stretch down 17-10. 

After holding the home team scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Sandites staged one last comeback attempt and nearly pulled it off.

Presnell singled, Usher reached on a fielder's choice, and Taber reached on an error to load the bases with a single out. Arnold connected on her second grand slam of the season, and just like that the girls were back in contention. Unfortunately, the next two batters flied out and the ten-time State Champions punched their ticket back to State.