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Saturday, September 1, 2007
State Championship Contenders
Central Oklahoma, OK
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The fast-pitch season is half over and the contenders for a state championship are trying to separate themselves from the rest. The Class B-4A state championships are Oct. 4-6 while the Class 5A and 6A state championships are Oct. 11-13. Both are at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. Here are a few teams to watch down the stretch of the season and into the state tournaments:
Carl Albert
Coach: Colin White
Players to watch: Samantha Bachman, sr., P; Karolyn Long, sr., SS; Autumn Brown, sr., IF
All about the Titans: Carl Albert is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A and the favorite to capture its second straight title. The Titans went 41-2 a year ago and return eight starters. The most important one is Bachman, the team’s best pitcher and hitter. She is the best player in the class and one of the best in the state. The Titans have experience and their new lead-off hitter Jourdan Clark is a sparkplug on offense.
Tuttle
Coach: Jerry Bates
Players to watch: Whitney Cummings, sr., P/IF; Casey Chambliss, sr., P; Katie Turner, sr., SS
All about the Tigers: Tuttle is motivated this year after a stunning ending to its season a year ago. The Tigers were ranked No. 1 in Class 4A nearly the entire year last season, but failed to make the state tournament. They have plenty of talent to make amends with a senior-laden team. Tuttle is a good hitting and good pitching team. The Tigers have about a .330 batting average and have one of the best pitching duos in the class with Cummings and Chambliss.
Piedmont
Coach: Rick Scott
Players to watch: Kristina Davis, sr., P/IF; Bethany Meiwes, sr., P/IF; Ashley Scott, sr., C
All about the Wildcats: Piedmont is ranked No. 1 in possibly the toughest class in the state – Class 4A. One reason is because the Wildcats have a lot of speed to help offensively and defensively. The other reason is the pitching duo of Davis and Meiwes. They complement each other well. Davis is an off-speed pitcher while Meiwes is a power pitcher.
Newcastle
Coach: Mike Crossley
Players to watch: Taylor Smith, jr., SS; Teesha Burris, sr., CF; Shelby Blanton, so., IF
All about the Racers: Newcastle returns six starters from a team that finished runner-up in Class 3A a year ago. But the Racers have moved up to the much more competitive 4A class. Newcastle does have sophomore pitcher Meesha Sorrell, who carried the team to the title game a year ago. It also has Stacey Riddle, a move-in from Allen, Texas, who has provided the team with a powerful bat.
Washington
Coach: Mike Lawless
Players to watch: Lindsey Moore, jr., P; Caitlin Marcum, jr., C; Kelly Roberson, jr., SS
All about the Warriors: The former Class 2A power has moved up to the much more competitive 3A level. But Washington is still ranked in the top 10 in the class and a force to watch. Moore, Marcum and Roberson are three-year starters and give the team much needed experience. The Warriors lost three All-Staters from last year's team and three more starters who decided not to play. Washington is strong defensively up the middle.
Bethel
Coach: Tommy Block
Players to watch: Bobbie Wesley, sr., P; Kimber West, sr., IF; Brittany Watson, so., SS
All about the Wildcats: Bethel has long been a Class 3A power, making the semifinals, but is adjusting to the move up to Class 4A this season. The Wildcats are still a team to contend with. They lost five seniors from a year ago and are a young, but talented team. Bethel counts on its defense and stellar pitching to counteract a struggling offense.
Westmoore
Coach: Steve Schwartz
Players to watch: Kaci Quintero, jr., P; Breyonna Phillips, jr., IF; Amanda Ingram, sr., SS
All about the Jaguars: Westmoore is showing that it is much more than a slow-pitch softball powerhouse; the Jaguars can play fast-pitch as well. Westmoore, which has won nine slow-pitch titles since 1991, has recorded its best season in school history in fast-pitch the past four seasons, including its first trip to the state tournament a year ago. This year, the Jaguars are ranked in the top five in Class 6A and have one of the best hitters in the state in Phillips, who was hitting nearly .800 in late August. Ingram is the team's lone senior on a junior-laden squad.
Deer Creek
Coach: Ron Moore
Players to watch: Raven Staats, sr., C/IF; Amanda Alston, jr., P; Shonda Glover, sr., IF
All about the Antlers: Deer Creek is a bit inconsistent this year with a young team, especially offensively. The Antlers have a steady defense and strong pitching, but have to pick it up offensively to make another run to the Class 5A state tournament. Deer Creek, which made the 5A semifinals last year, does have one of the best players in the state in Alston, who carries the Antlers on offense and defense. She hit nine home runs a year ago, including a grand slam that cleared the stadium at the OU softball complex. Staats is a three-year starter.
Shawnee
Coach: Todd Boyer
Players to watch: Ashley Brokeshoulder, jr., P; Randi Gregory, P; Sidni Boyer, CF
All about the Wolves: Shawnee is carried by its strong pitching, mainly from Brokeshoulder. The junior is one of the best pitchers in the state, having won 25 games a year ago with a .21 earned run average. She does it with the strikeout, having recorded 375 last year. But she's not the only talent on the team. The Wolves return eight of nine starters from a year ago. That experience should carry Shawnee deep into the state tournament.
Edmond Santa Fe
Coach: Rhonda Lawson, ninth season
Players to watch: Morgan Russell, sr., C; Brittney Osborn, sr., CF; Tela Lovingshimer, sr., IF
All about the Wolves: Santa Fe advanced to its first Class 6A state title game a year ago and finished runner-up. This year, the Wolves hope to make that last step and win the state title. Although not as talented as last year, the Wolves do have some pieces in place for another run to the state tournament. Santa Fe has a lot more depth than a year ago and has the talented pitching combo of Sierra Bronkey, who is an off-speed pitcher, and Evan Gray, who is a power pitcher with a good screwball.
El Reno
Coach: Lynetta Keller, third season
Players to watch: Katie Raines, sr., P; Tara Nall, jr., SS; Chelsea Jones, fr., P/OF
All about the Indians: El Reno has five returning starters from a year ago, more pitching depth and a lot more experience. Raines is a standout, but she will split time with Jones, who coach Keller said is a star in the making. The pitchers should do well considering the Indians are strong offensively, putting out a lineup that is one of the strongest in Class 5A.
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