Oklahoma high school baseball: Class A-B state tournament quarterfinal roundup
The Class A and B Oklahoma high school baseball state quarterfinals took place Thursday in Shawnee and Moore. Here are recaps from each game:
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Class A: Okarche 2, Wright City 1
Jett Mueggenborg is creating a habit of competing in state tournaments.
He reached the Class A fall baseball semifinals with Okarche. Then he finished as the Okarche boys basketball team’s leading scorer in a state finals victory over reigning champion Caddo.
When the sophomore center fielder stepped up to bat during the fourth inning of a spring baseball state quarterfinal game Thursday in Shawnee, he knew how to deliver for his team in a high-stakes situation. Mueggenborg scorched a single up the middle to break the scoreless gridlock as fifth-ranked Okarche defeated No. 4 Wright City, 2-1.
Next, Okarche faces Tushka at 11 a.m. Friday for a spot in the finals.
“We’re calm now, and it’s just nothing new,” Mueggenborg said. “It’s just what we do.”
The Warriors (23-4) showed that composure as they continued their pursuit of the program’s first spring baseball state title. Sophomore Easton Roby pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and one run while striking out four.
He held Wright City (25-5) scoreless until the fifth inning, when Dakota Billy crossed home plate on Kase Lindly’s single. Okarche minimized the damage, taking no chances while clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh. After a flyout and a groundout, Roby secured the victory with a strikeout.
Mueggenborg also played a key role in the defensive standoff. Wright City sent a deluge of fly balls to center field, and they met their demise in Mueggenborg’s glove.
“A lot of action out there today,” Mueggenborg said. “The most I’ve had in a while. We’re just working on that all the time. I just like to read off the bat and just go track it down.”
The Warriors had no home runs, either, but speed carried them instead of power. Roby led off with a double in the fourth, and Ethan Kirby followed Mueggenborg’s RBI single with an RBI groundout.
Those two runs were enough for Okarche to slip away with a win.
“It was a low-scoring game,” Okarche coach Ryan Beaman said. “But we’ve had some of those this year, so I think that’s helped us against good clubs. We’ve been in those moments. They’ve embraced it. I think they know how to handle it well.”
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Class A: Tushka 8, Canute 1
It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Pete Goodson to spark Tushka’s offense.
The senior pitcher entered the state tournament with a .472 batting average, so he was bound to record at least one hit.
The way he did it? That was the surprise.
“That’s his first career triple,” said Tushka coach Dax Simon. “That will probably be his last career triple.”
Simon said Goodson isn’t known for speedy baserunning, but he made the most of his rare opportunity Thursday in top-ranked Tushka’s 8-1 state quarterfinal victory against No. 9 Canute. Goodson also relied on his usual skills to secure the win, throwing 106 pitches for a complete game.
He had to overcome a rocky start. Jake Knutson and Jake Beutler opened the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back singles, and Canute (24-5) jumped to a 1-0 lead.
Instead of caving under pressure, Goodson (7-1) recovered to give up no more runs while striking out seven.
After his fourth-inning triple, Goodson scored on an error, giving Tushka a 2-1 lead. Montgomery Miller followed with an RBI single, and Tushka (28-2) kept rolling. In the seventh, Jaxson Gregory doubled to right field to bring home Tushka’s final run.
“We said, ‘Chip away,’” Simon said. “High school kids, they’re notorious; they just try to do too much. It just takes some time to get kids in situations and stretch that game. You’re just not gonna get crooked innings off the pitchers that are up here.”
Class A: Amber-Pocasset 2, Rattan 1
The baseball collided with Ian Guthrie’s glove.
Then he collided with Jackson Riley.
Guthrie, Amber-Pocasset’s left fielder, wouldn’t let anything stop him from making the winning play after a previous error. He caught the fly ball just before running into center fielder Riley, who was also tracking it.
“We just both went after it,” Guthrie said, “and I’m glad we’re both OK.”
When the chaos subsided, Guthrie could celebrate. His catch sealed sixth-ranked Amber-Pocasset’s 2-1 upset of defending state champion Rattan, the team that had run-ruled Am-Po twice in the fall.
“You got to change speeds and keep them off balance, which we did a good job of today,” said Am-Po coach Cheyenne Graham. “And then the bigger ballpark helps.”
Although third-ranked Rattan threatened to tie the game in the seventh inning as Kaleb Kopp led off with a single to right field, Am-Po responded with a double play. With two outs, Ben Ellis stepped up to bat and launched the ball deep into the spacious outfield, but Guthrie spoiled Rattan’s comeback hopes.
Winning pitcher Lawson Braden threw a complete game, refusing to let Rattan (28-6) score again after Shade Cody’s first-inning RBI single.
Am-Po (27-6) capitalized on errors to take the lead in the sixth.
“I’m just happy for the kids,” Graham said, “and so blessed to be a part of this.”
Class A: Arapaho-Butler 5, Dewar 2
Arapaho-Butler coach Bryan Holt realized his team didn’t need a new approach for the state tournament.
“I told the guys, ‘We’re not going to try to reinvent the wheel,’” Holt said. “We’re going to do what got us here.”
Seventh-ranked Arapaho-Butler’s usual strategies worked in a 5-2 upset of No. 2 Dewar. With a semifinal spot secured, Arapaho-Butler (26-2) is striving for its first state title in program history.
Facing OU commit Aidan Tomlinson in a ballpark with a huge outfield, Arapaho-Butler wasn’t likely to record a home run. But small ball had worked all season, and it continued to be the key to success. Arapaho-Butler drove up Tomlinson’s pitch count and benefited from walks, finishing the game with more runs (five) than hits (four).
Jaxson Baker, Arapaho-Butler’s lone senior, hit an RBI single in the sixth inning to bring his team’s lead to 5-0. Arapaho-Butler also relied heavily upon a freshman. Starting pitcher Jiles Southall held Dewar (27-3) hitless until the seventh inning, but Arapaho-Butler shut down the late rally.
“(Southall) is a machine,” Holt said. “He’s a kid that is gonna go up there and compete every time now. I never have to worry about him, if he’s ready or not.”
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Class B: Fort Cobb-Broxton 18, Granite 4
Kaleb Crowell approached the plate with plans to make a grand entrance.
It was the Fort Cobb-Broxton freshman's first at-bat in the state tournament. With runners on first and second base, Crowell's powerful hit to center field not only brought in both teammates to score but also set the tone for the game.
The hit led to a two-run first inning and sparked a dominant day for No. 1 Fort Cobb-Broxton.
"This year, I didn't start very well, but playing like this today makes me feel a lot better," Crowell said following Fort Cobb-Broxton's dismantling 18-4 win over Granite in the Class B state quarterfinals at Moore High School.
Crowell brought in an additional two runners in the top of the second, extending the lead to 5-2. The Mustangs created further separation in the third inning, scoring eight runs thanks to surgical infield hitting from Crowell and senior Braydon Davis.
The win gives defending-champion Fort Cobb-Broxton (22-6) its 11th consecutive win. Crowell and the Mustangs will next face off against the winner between Navajo and Stuart at 11a.m. Friday.
"We've just gotta keep hitting the ball like this and playing good defense," Crowell said. "I'll always like our chances. We're getting into a groove, so it's feeling better now since we're playing to the best of our abilities. Now it's up to us to keep going."
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Class B: Stuart 7, Navajo 6
When learning of its first opponent in the state tournament, Stuart anticipated a battle.
Navajo entered its matchup with the Hornets having won 24 of its last 25 games. The Indians' year had been promising, and they finished with their best record in a decade at 29-2.
Yet, Stuart's own battle-tested regular season steered it to embrace the challenge ahead.
"We lost 10 games this year, so we played in games like this to prepare us for the state tournament," Stuart head coach Josh Williams said. "Our kids have been there, and they've done it before. They love stepping up in big moments."
No. 4 Stuart defeated No. 5 Navajo 7-6 to advance to the Class B state semifinals. It will take on defending champion Fort Cobb-Broxton on Friday at 11 a.m.
Despite allowing two home runs, Stuart responded to Navajo's flare with some of its own.
Hornets junior Trenton Wimberly hit a double deep into left field to drive in two runs in the second inning. Wimberely then extended Stuart's early lead to 5-1 after being intentionally walked and crossing home plate after a single from Dallin Whitaker.
However, Navajo had a chance to take the lead in the sixth inning with two outs and bases loaded, but a flyout extinguished Navajao's hopes.
With the win, Stuart captured its first state tournament victory since 1991.
"Nothing was going to stop them from making it to state this year," Williams said. "They worked so hard every single day. Plus, we went to work while playing through a tough schedule. But tomorrow will be a new test for us. Fort Cobb-Broxton are the champs for a reason, so we'll have to limit our mistakes and play good Stuart baseball."
Class B: Tupelo 9, Kiowa 3
Tupelo coach Clay Weller values maintaining a strategy in the postseason above all.
Whether the game is going his way or not, he always emphasizes sticking to the game plan. It's worked all season for No. 3 Tupelo (21-6), making its fourth consecutive state tournament appearance.
He refused to compromise Tupelo's scheme as the Tigers and Kiowa were tied at 3 heading into the sixth inning.
"We're a really good small ball team, so we fell back on that to our advantage given the situation," Weller said after Tupelo defeated Kiowa 9-3 in the Class B state quarterfinals.
"When we get a guy on base and get going with our bunts, it kind of puts pressure on them to make plays. We didn't think they'd handle it very well."
Weller's blueprint for victory worked immensely in Tupelo's favor.
The Tigers began continuously bunting the ball in the sixth as Kiowa struggled to combat Tupelo's speed. On top of the Cowboys' errors, they allowed six runs to be scored in the inning, which proved to be a key difference maker in the win.
Bunts turned to base hits while Tupelo's momentum was fueled by the stellar performances of Colton Bourland and Peyton Bills, who hit doubles to center field late in the inning to drive in additional runs. Freshman pitcher Aiden Walkup also showcased his talent on the mound, allowing just one hit in five innings.
Weller credits Walkup's performance.
"I never hesitated to go to Aiden," Weller said. "I didn't know how good he'd be, but I knew he'd give us the best chance to win today. When you have someone dealing like that on the mound it'll always give you an advantage. But the main thing for us as a whole is to keep on striving for greater things."
Tupelo will face the winner between Roff and Calumet in the Class B state semifinals on Friday at 1:30 p.m.
Class B: Calumet 10, Roff 0
Cody Thiessen desired that Calumet remain the aggressor heading into the state tournament.
The Chieftains (22-3) have done just that over the past month. In that span, they've defeated opponents by over nine runs per game and entered Thursday riding a 15-game win streak.
Calumet added to its dominant streak thanks to the immense depth that the roster hosts.
"We hit .389 as a team this year, and so, once one guy gets going, we just kind of feed off that energy," Thiessen said following second-ranked Calumet's 10-0 win over Roff in the state quarterfinals.
"We really stress using the whole field and not just being dead pull hitters. We like to put pressure on the other team. It's become like that all year in the games in which we've had a lot of success."
After a sluggish start, the Chieftains began to kick into gear in the bottom of the third inning.
Hunter Arnold and Kyler Thiessen each hit triples on back-to-back at-bats, resulting in three quick runs for Calumet. Later in the fifth, an avalanche of runs ensued once Thiessen scored after Brendon Voss crushed a double to right field. Calumet carried an 8-0 lead heading into the sixth.
Koff put the bat on the ball several times throughout the evening, but the Chieftains' defense refused to let them capitalize. The Tigers ended the game with just three hits.
"In games like today, sometimes I think it just takes a spark," Cody Thiessen said. "Recently, they've been coming along down the stretch like we need them to. When you get to these games, it may not go your way all the time, but you have to be able to fight through it. And we did today."
Calumet will face Tupelo in the Class B state semifinals on Friday at 1:30.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school baseball: Class A-B state quarterfinal results
