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Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Softball City, Oklahoma
Central Oklahoma, OK
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Welcome to Moore, where softball titles are in abundance.
The Moore War is one of the biggest and best rivalries in the state.
The battle between rivals Moore and Westmoore brings out fierce competition and plenty of school pride.
More than 12,000 annually show up for the football game, which opens the season each year.
But in softball, when the two schools meet, state championships are on the line because in softball, Moore is Softball City, Oklahoma.
“There is a real emphasis on the sport with the programs in Moore,” Westmoore coach Steve Schwarz said. “The whole community gets behind the sport and the youth programs are good. There is a lot of talent in this area.
“The good tradition draws talented girls into the sport more and more.”
How much tradition is there? Well, the pair of Class 6A schools has combined for 12 softball state championships – two fast-pitch and 10 slow-pitch. They have controlled the softball landscape since the turn of the century combining for eight state titles since 2001.
The last few years has seen even more success, as the two have been battling each other for state titles. The two programs met for the first time in a state championship game in the 2007 slow-pitch finals, with Westmoore winning. Then, the two met again last year, this time in the fast-pitch title game, which Moore won.
“You love playing in big games, and nowhere is it bigger for us than playing our rivals for the state championship,” Moore pitcher Katie Lynn said. “We all know each other so we know how talented the players and teams are every time we play.
“It’s the best against the best.”
Moore has won two of the past three fast-pitch state titles while Westmoore has won four slow-pitch titles in the past eight years. The two schools have produced standout players like Oklahoma State’s Alyssia Hamilton and Arizona State’s Himmita Hixson.
“There’s just an atmosphere around Moore that softball is a big deal,” Westmoore second baseman Breyonna Phillips said. “So you get a lot of skilled players. You see the talent that is playing now and that the town has produced, and you want to be a part of that.”
The city of Moore is different than other traditional power softball towns because it holds two of the larger schools in the state in Moore and Westmoore. It will add a third one this fall when Southmoore opens its doors as a 6A school as well.
Other powers like Davenport, Tuttle and Washington have one school and play in the much smaller classes. So Moore, Westmoore and now Southmoore, contend for the talent in the city.
“It’s a great area for softball,” Southmoore coach Jeff Small said. “There is some great coaching there. Both programs have been very good for a number of years because there is a lot of talent. I hope we have some in Southmoore so we can be competitive right away.”
Moore is similar to many areas in Oklahoma that are taking advantage of an increase in participation in softball. The sport has grown and is continuing to grow quickly in the state. One reason is the environment of having the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, where the College World Series is held and Team USA plays some games. Another reason is more girls are playing the sport year-round. Those things have helped change the landscape in the state from predominantly slow-pitch softball to fast-pitch.
“When I first came here 10 years ago, it was basically a slow-pitch town,” Moore coach Robert Wakefield said. “But over the last six years or so it’s been all fast-pitch because the sport has grown and is so competitive.”
While most programs have switched over to fast-pitch, Moore and Westmoore remain two of the larger schools that still play both slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball. Wakefield said that has been a big advantage for the programs over other teams because of what both sports offer.
“We encourage our players to play both because it really helps in a lot of ways,” Wakefield said. “Slow-pitch improves your defense and throwing. It’s a lot more laid back. Fast-pitch is much more mental and technical. It improves your eye-hand coordination.”
The softball programs in Moore are also getting the benefit of the lack of success of their other girl’s sports. Moore and Westmoore girls have not had much success in basketball and soccer the past few years. So some of the better athletes are now going out for the softball programs.
“A lot of it has to do with how the school is,” Lynn said. “A variety of girls come out, which means there are more talented girls playing and more competitive ball. There are a lot more opportunities for girls to come out who would otherwise play soccer or basketball.
“I remember some girls who came out didn’t even know what a glove was.”
That rarely happens in Moore, where girls are increasingly being brought up with a glove or bat in their hand. The talent and participation in Moore could increase as well. There will be softball programs at the junior high level for the first time beginning next year.
“There’s a great tradition of softball in Moore,” Schwarz said. “Girls see that and want to play because they know they can be successful.
“Moore is going to be rich in softball for years to come.”
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