CPHS Baseball: Sandites head to Regional finals with 6-5 win over Sapulpa

A seventh inning rally gave Sand Springs a one-run lead on Sapulpa and it was enough to punch their ticket to the Regional Championship finals Thursday evening in Owasso.

The Charles Page High School baseball team (24-11) won a 6-5 rivalry bout with Sapulpa (23-11-1) to stay alive in the Regional playoffs. 

Sapulpa defeated Owasso (27-8) on Wednesday and Owasso defeated Sand Springs, making it anyone's game on day two. After eliminating the Chieftains from contention, the Sandites will now look to avenge an 11-5 loss against the host team. The winner will earn their way to the State Tournament next week at Oral Roberts University. 

Sand Springs jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead with two walks and two singles in the top of the first inning. Riley Rutledge batted in Ty Steelman and scored on a hit from Kyler Copeland. 

Bennett Henderson got the Chieftains on the board with an RBI single in the second inning and Alan Shibley brought in Evan Casey in the third to tie it. 

Sapulpa took the lead in the fourth inning, loading the bases with a walk and a pair of singles. Casey and Gage Williams hit RBI singles and Henderson scored on a fielders choice for the 5-2 advantage. Steelman and Cal Watkins scored on a single from Rutledge in the top of the fifth.

 Things looked bleak in the top of the seventh as the first two batters flied out, but Rutledge and Braden Askew hit back to back doubles to tie it and Askew came in on a single from Tyler Ash for the lead.

Conner Dennis (3-2, 4-2) got the start on the mound and pitched eight hits, two strikeouts, and two walks over four innings. Brock Youngblood (4-4, 10-12) toss two hits, no walks, and one strikeout in the final three innings for the win.

CPHS 6 SHS 5
Hits: SHS 10, CPHS 9.
Walks: CPHS 5, SHS 2.
Strikeouts: SHS 3, CPHS 4.
Errors: CPHS 3.
Double Plays: CPHS 1, SHS 1.
Left on Base: CPHS 5, SHS 9.