CPHS Baseball: Sandites win third straight, 2-1 over Bixby

The Charles Page High School varsity baseball team (4-3) improved to a winning record for the first time this season with a 2-1 non-district victory over Bixby (4-2). 

Braden Askew (1-1, 4-3) got the win on the mound, pitching seven hits, five strikeouts, and two walks over seven innings. Stevie Owings (1-1) got the loss for the Spartans, pitching six hits, five strikeouts, and two walks over six innings. 

Both teams stranded a runner in the first inning, neither put anyone on base in the second, then the Spartans scored their lone run in the top of the third. Blake Williams walked, Tucker Pawley reached on a fielder's choice, then Jaxson Crull singled to load the bases. Matthew Henderson sent a line drive into left field to score Williams, but Jake Bennett struck out and Crull was tagged out on his way to third to strand loaded bases.

The Sandites nearly tied it up in the bottom of the third as Kameron Adcock and Tyler Ash singled. Adcock was caught stealing home, however, and the Spartans made a fresh offensive. Bixby also hit a pair of singles but Pawley struck out swinging to strand the runners in the top of the fourth.

Sand Springs finally hit pay dirt in the bottom of the sixth after Askew singled and courtesy runner Braden Millican scored on an error to tie it up. Riley Rutledge reached second on that same error, took third on a wild pitch, then scored on another error for the lead. 

The Spartans got a walk in the top of the seventh, but were unable to advance and Ash caught a foul ball in center field to seal the victory. 

The Sandites will travel to Arizona for Spring Break to compete at the Best of the West Tournament against teams from Phoenix and Peoria, starting with Thunderbird High School Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Bixby will play a tournament in Edmond beginning Friday, March 23rd against Class A No. 2 ranked Roff High School (3-1).