CPHS Softball: Taber strikes out 11 in 6-0 shut out of Jenks

The Charles Page High School varsity softball team (8-2 overall, 4-0 district) bounced back from a 6-4 loss to 2A No. 1 Dale (14-0) with a 6-0 shutout of Jenks (7-6) Tuesday afternoon at the Sandite Sports Complex, outhitting their foes 11-5 with eleven strikeouts from University of Northern Iowa-commit Jacie Taber (6-0 season, 19-7 career). 

The Lady Trojans put two on base in the first inning with a walk and a single, but stranded both after Taber struck out two. The Lady Sandites got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning as Sabrina Usher reached on a fielder's choice and scored on hit from Madelyn Blair. Elizabeth Luttrell brought home Blair with a single for the 2-0 advantage.

The girls had a big third inning with singles from Kimi Presnell, Makenna Skaggs, and Usher, the latter of whom scored Presnell. Skaggs and Usher both came in on a double from Blair, who was left stranded. 

The Sandites gave up a single in the top of the fourth, but Blair sent a ground ball to Presnell at second, who passed it to Luttrell at first for a double play. Taber struck out the third batter.

Jenks threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with a single and a pair of free bases, but Taber made up for the walks with three-straight strikeouts to save the inning. Felicity Horn scored on an error in the bottom of the inning for the final score of 6-0. 

On Friday the girls traveled to Stillwater for a festival. They took on the top-ranked undefeated team in class 2A and fell 6-4, bringing an end to their six-straight win streak, and had their second game rained out. 

Blair (2-2, 15-4) got the loss on the mound, giving up nine hits and three walks with two strikeouts against the defending 2A Fast-Pitch State Runners-Up and 4A Slow-Pitch State Champions.

Dale scored four runs in the top of the fourth with a grand slam from Skyle Thompson and added two more in the next inning. 

In the bottom of the sixth the Sandites staged a rally attempt with four straight singles. Taber scored Horn, Blair scored Skaggs and Taber, then Presnell doubled to bring in Usher. Madison Lee hit a double in the bottom of the seventh, but was left stranded on third as Dale secured the win.

The Lady Sandites will return to action Thursday on the road with a Highway 97 Rivalry district match-up against Sapulpa (3-9, 2-4) who they previously defeated 12-1 last week.