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Oklahoma HS slowpitch softball: Storylines, players to watch at 2024 state tournament

jordan davis, the oklahoman
·5 min read

The final week of the 2024 Oklahoma high school slowpitch softball season has arrived.

The Class 6A-B championships will take place Tuesday and Wednesday at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Classes 6A, 5A and 4A will play Tuesday, while Classes 3A, 2A, A and B will compete Wednesday.

Here are some OKC-area storylines and players to watch:

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Choctaw softball coach Lindsey Mudgett is pictured during The Oklahoman's annual high school spring sports media day at Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.
Choctaw softball coach Lindsey Mudgett is pictured during The Oklahoman's annual high school spring sports media day at Bishop McGuinness High School in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.

Choctaw on the hunt for first-ever slowpitch title

Lindsey Mudgett sensed that Choctaw was in for a special slowpitch season ahead of its start.

Her intuition kicked in during the fall after she saw her Yellowjackets claw their way to a fastpitch state tournament appearance. That same grit and determination have since resumed in the spring.

Heading into the state tournament, Choctaw is 33-1 and sits atop the Class 6A rankings. Its lone loss came at the hands of Class 5A power Washington.

"It's been a great year, but right now, we're focused on becoming champions," Mudgett said. "Day in and day out this year, we've held that champion-type mindset. We're all out to chase the title, and that's the big goal. Ultimately, I aim to coach the girls to be the best versions of themselves and not only that but also to help people around them become better."

Through the Yellowjackets' dominant 34-game season, they've outscored opponents by 10.7 runs a game. Demoralizing win after demoralizing win resulted in an added sense of belief in the program.

However, Choctaw's 10-year coach has maintained a narrow focus for her squad heading into Tuesday's state tournament action.

"If you come to any state tournament, it's going be a long day," Mudgett said. "The girls are fully aware of the battle and war they're walking into. I've told them to go out there, get in your zone, and let it fly. We're all ready to bring it because it's playoff time, and it doesn't get better than this."

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Can Washington repeat?

The last time Washington took the field at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, Tylor Lampkin celebrated in the pitching circle with his team.

Now, Lampkin has the chance to recreate that moment. After dominating the Class 5A state tournament last year, the Warriors have remained one of the state's best teams.

Washington sits at 31-6 and will take on Idabel at 11:30 on Tuesday in the state quarterfinals.

The Warriors are headlined by a veteran group. Stars Emjay Lucas, Julie Hoehner and Iowa State commit Olivia Palumbo have led the team in hits. Each has eclipsed over 60 hits on the season.

To win back-to-back state titles, Washington could have to face either North Rock Creek or Tecumseh, which are on the opposite side of the bracket.

The potential matchup will be one to watch closely. Both defeated the Warriors by less than three runs in the regular season.

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Washington’s Emjay Lucas (23) hits during a high school Class 3A softball state championship series game between Kiefer High school and Washington High School at Firelake Ball Park in Shawnee, Okla.,, on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.
Washington’s Emjay Lucas (23) hits during a high school Class 3A softball state championship series game between Kiefer High school and Washington High School at Firelake Ball Park in Shawnee, Okla.,, on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023.

Will Dale continue its postseason success from the fall?

Karsen Griggs has been one of the strong heartbeats of the Pirates softball program since arriving in 2020.

During that time, Dale has won state titles in both fastpitch and slowpitch. The Kansas signee has cemented herself as one of the best softball prospects in the state.

Now, Griggs and head coach Andy Powell look to add additional hardware to their collection.

Fresh off a fastpitch state championship in October, the Pirates seem to have picked up where they left off in the fall. The squad led by Griggs, Kinsley Hill, Gracee Waller and Heartly Snyder has produced a 31-8 record heading into the tournament.

After a strong start to the season, which featured an 18-game win streak, the Pirates have since struggled, going just 4-4 in the final weeks of the regular season. However, expect the club's veteran experience to play a large role in their quest for the gold this weekend.

Dale's Karsen Griggs celebrates after hitting a home run during the Class 3A slowpitch softball state championship game between Caddo and Dale at USA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
Dale's Karsen Griggs celebrates after hitting a home run during the Class 3A slowpitch softball state championship game between Caddo and Dale at USA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 3, 2023.

Players to watch in the Oklahoma high school slowpitch state tournament

Kaylee Carter, Sr., Southmoore: Carter signed with Murray State and emerged as one of the SaberCats' most formidable hitters. Her veteran leadership and relentless drive have propelled Southmoore towards another state title. With a current batting average of .714, Carter is a key player in Southmoore's quest for a fifth state championship.

Karsen Griggs, Sr., Dale: Griggs has the 31-8 Pirates dominating Class 4A. The Kansas signee was named to The Oklahoman's 2023 Little All-City fastpitch first team in the fall after leading Dale to its sixth state championship.

Haley Hacker, Sr., North Rock Creek: Hacker is a Grayson signee who has led the Cougars both in the circle and at the plate in the spring. She has staked her claim as one of the best hitters in Oklahoma, leading No. 1 North Rock Creek to a 32-8 record.

Serenity Jacoway, Sr., Tecumseh: After being named to The Oklahoman's Little All-City first team in the fall, Jacoway has continued her dominance in slowpitch. The UTEP signee leads the second-ranked Savages, as they have produced a 28-9 record and will play Bristow in the Class 5A quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Alexis Kierstead, So., Mustang: Kiersted's on a mission for the Broncos. She has been one of Mustang's top hitters and a vocal leader who looks to keep the Broncos locked in in their quest to repeat as state champions.

Lainey King, Sr., Southmoore: In the fall, King was named a finalist for The Oklahoman's Big All-City high school softball player of the year. In the new year, she has picked up where she left off. The second-ranked SaberCats are second in 6A largely due to King's efforts at bat and on defense.

Emjay Lucas, Sr., Washington: The Warriors have found great success and a significant chunk of it has been thanks to Lucas. The Arkansas-Monticello signee has led them to win eight of their last 10 games. Lucas had a dominant regular season, batting .667 at the plate with 68 hits and 30 home runs.

Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS slowpitch softball 2024 state tournament players to watch