No. 1 Verdigris survives Jones

Verdigris junior pitcher Cole Woods knew his team’s offense was struggling. But he also had a job to do. The right-hander not only shut down a red-hot Jones team for seven innings, but also drove in the game’s lone run for a 1-0 victory Thursday to open the Class 3A state tournament at Edmond Memorial’s baseball field. Verdigris (29-3) advanced to play No. 4 Vian (24-9) in Friday’s semifinals. Vian blew a four-run lead but rallied to beat No. 6 Hartshorne 8-7. The other semifinal will pit No. 2 Tulsa Metro Christian (28-5) against the winner of a late game between No. 3 Beggs (28-5) and No. 7 Marlow (23-12).

No. 1 Verdigris, the defending champion, mustered just three hits against Jones starter Grant Harrison, who pitched all six innings and baffled hitters with his curveball. But in the sixth it scored a run without a hit. Braden Beasley walked to open the inning and advanced to third on an error by Jones sophomore shortstop Jarren Maples.

Vian 8, Hartshorne 7

Vian led 6-2 after four innings, but Shay Wilcox hit a three-run homer to key a four-run fifth for Hartshorne (23-11) and the Miners went up 7-6 on Blake Tubbs’ RBI single in the top of the sixth. The Wolverines answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Christian Crist singled to center and scored on Elijah Crist’s sacrifice fly off Wilcox, and pinch-runner Bodhi Vann came home on a passed ball to put Vian ahead. Elijah Crist went 3-for-3 for the Wolverines. Vian starter Javier Ramos struck out the final three Hartshorne batters in the seventh to seal the win. Tulsa Metro Christian 10, Chisholm 2 Metro Christian left-hander Foster Roy (8-1) had 15 strikeouts and allowed only three hits, but the Patriots struggled to put away No. 11 Chisholm (25-10) until they posted a six-run seventh inning.

Metro Christian 10, Chisholm 2

Metro Christian lefthander Foster Roy (8-1) had 15 strikeouts and allowed only three hits, but the Patriots struggled to put away No. 11 Chisholm (2510) until they posted a sixrun seventh inning.

A throwing error by Metro Christian third baseman Ote Staton and an RBI single by Brice Snapp helped the Longhorns build a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but they didn’t advance another base runner past second base the rest of the game.

Metro Christian had six singles off Chisholm starter London McKee (5-2) in a four-run third, including run-scoring hits by Dalton Smallwood, Roy and Dylan Bierman. Bierman went 4-for-4 with four RBIs for the Patriots.

The Class 5A and 6A state track and field meets will be held Friday and Saturday at Yukon High School.

Here are a few Oklahoma City-area athletes to watch:

Boys

Headed to OU, Appiah has posted 100-meter times below 10.5 seconds this season.

The defending champ in the shot put and discus has the top throws of the year in both once again. Among 6A’s top pole vaulters, who cleared 15-0 at regionals.

Standout hurdler will contend in both the 110-meter and 300. Went 24-10 in the long jump this year.

Comes in with the top 300 hurdle time in the class.

The OU signee and two-time state champ is the NFHS record-holder in the high jump at 7-feet, 6-inches.

Girls

The junior sprinter is particularly strong in the 200.

The top high jumper in 6A with a winning regional height of 5-8. Speedy hurdler who should contend for medals in both events.

The top 400-meter runner has run in the low 57-second range.

One of the state’s top sprinters, Mukes will contend for gold in the 100 and 200.

Will be among the contenders in the high jump after jumping 5-6 at regionals. Whittenberg leads the way with a 6-7 high jump.

Likely to contend for a medal in the shot put.

The hurdler duo will look to collect multiple medals. The distance runner comes in with the top 5A time in the 3,200 on a deep Irish squad. 5A’s top 200 sprinter will try to help the Eagles defend their team title.

Schedule of events

Field events will begin each day at 10 a.m., with running events set to start at noon.

The finals will be held in the 3,200 meters, 3,200 relay and 800 relay on Friday. All other running events will hold preliminaries on Friday and finals on Saturday.

In Class 5A, the high jump, shot put and pole vault will be held Friday for boys and girls, with the long jump and discus on Saturday.

In Class 6A, the long jump and discus are set for Friday, with the high jump, shot put and pole vault on

Saturday.

Meet of Champions on Tuesday

The annual Oklahoma Track Coaches Association Meet of Champions will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Moore High School.

The state champions and runners-up in each event in each class will receive an automatic invitation to the Meet of Champions.

The event lanes will be filled with the next four top times regardless of classification, based on regional and state competition, or otherwise selected by the games committee.

For more information, visit OHSTrack.com.