Softball takes second

The Comanche softball team had their 10-game winning streak snapped but still managed to finish as the runner-up in a tournament in Perry last week.

The Lady Indians had won three games in a row before losing to host Perry, 1-0. They still qualified for the championship game where they fell to Morrison, 6-3.

“We went up there because we wanted to see Perry,” said Aaron Minor, head coach. “There’s a couple of reasons why, but there were a couple of teams we played earlier in the season that weren’t very good and we handled them pretty easily, which is what we are supposed to do.”

Which is why the trip to Perry was so important as Comanche got to see some good teams.

“We go up to Perry who we know is a good state tournament team in our class,” Minor said. “We didn’t execute the small things and they did and that was the difference. But, that’s a state tournament caliber team and that’s what we wanted and I wanted to leave there having some respect from them. That’s going to happen now.”

Morrison finished as state runner-up last year in Class 2A..

“They had most of their players back from last year,” Minor said. “We had them down, 2-0 through five, and then we gave up a big inning and they end up beating us, 6-3. But you know, again, those are two very quality teams in games that could have gone our way. They didn’t but they could have, so I’m pretty excited about the tournament, actually.”

Minor said the Lady Indians are playing well, but they are not playing at their best yet, which is just fine with him.

“We obviously weren’t playing our best, which is what we don’t want to do at this point,” Minor said. “But, I do think from the El Reno tournament to playing in this last tournament at Perry, we’re playing better now. We just gradually take a step forward every time, every week, so I’m pleased with where we’re at right now.

Saturday

Morrison 6

Comanche 3

A big fifth inning by Morrison led the Lady Wildcats to the win in the championship game. Morrison scored all six runs in the fifth inning.

Comanche took an early lead in the top of the second when Bre Gill scored on an error. The Lady Indians scored again in the fourth on a double by Josey Harris that scored Raylee Chaney.

After giving up the big inning in the fifth, Comanche scored their final run of the game in the top of the sixth when Ayli Minor had an RBI double that scored Gill.

Comanche had six hits in the game with Minor leading the way by going 2-for-3 with an RBI and double. Josey Harris and Gracee Miller also had doubles in the contest.

Cloey Kinkade started the game on the mound for Comanche, surrendering four runs on five hits. She struck out six and walked three.

Friday

Comanche 9

Woodward 3

Comanche pitcher Kamry Rendon gave up three runs in the first inning but then settled down and shut down the Woodward the rest of the way.

Rendon got out of a jam in the final inning. With runners on first and second with no outs, Rendon set down the next three batters on a pop out and two infield ground outs to end the game.

Brighton O’Connor continued her extra-base hitting ways, finishing a home run short of the cycle by going 3-for-3 with two runs driven in. Ayli Minor and Jentry Whaley each had doubles in the game with Whaley going 2-for-3.

Perry 1

Comanche 0

Comanche was limited to two hits in the game and were unable to push across any runs as the Lady Indians were shutout for the first time this season.

Brighton O’Connor was the only Comanche batter with a hit as she went 2-for-3.

Perry had six hits in the game with three of them coming in the bottom of the sixth inning that led to the only run of the game.

Thursday

Comanche 9

Bethany 5

In the first game of the tournament, Comanche built a 9-0 lead and then held off a late Bethany rally to get the win.

The Lady Indians had two runs in the first inning, four in the second inning, one in the third before adding the final two runs in the fourth.

The Lady Broncos would not go quietly, however, as they rallied for five runs in the bottom of the fourth. But it would be too late as the Lady Indians claimed the win.

Comanche had four doubles in the game, including Aspen Loafman, Gracee Miller, Ayli Minor and Brighton O’Connor.

Comanche had nine hits in the game, including a 3-for-4 performance by O’Connor.

Josey Harris started the game on the mound for Comanche, going 3-1/3 innings to get the win. Jentry Whaley then recorded the final two outs to close out the game.

Comanche 8

Blackwell 2

After giving up a couple of runs in the top of the second to fall behind 2-0, the Lady Indians stormed back to score eight unanswered runs over the next three innings to get the win.

Freshman Bre Gill had the hot bat, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead Comanche at the plate. Brighton O’Connor had a triple in the game and Jentry Whaley had a double. Aspen Loafman led the team with two RBI.

Kamrey Rendon was the winning pitcher as she went the distance, giving up no earned runs while striking out five and walking one.