Choctaw uses big inning to move on

Choctaw coach Lindsey Mudgett noticed her players’ nerves early and realized why.

It had been two years since the Yellowjackets were in the Class 6A softball state tournament. Most of the players had no experience at Hall of Fame Stadium.

It was going to take some time to adjust, but when that happened Choctaw took off in a 4-1 win over Sand Springs in the state quarterfinals Thursday afternoon.

“We made adjustments late and it paid off,” Mudgett said.

Choctaw scored four runs in the fourth behind Jaidyn Stevens’ run-scoring double, an RBI single by Kaiden Boren and tworun double from Peyton Norvelle.

That was more than enough for pitcher Josie Swafford, who allowed three hits and a run over seven innings.

Choctaw faces Moore, which shut out Owasso 5-0, at 11 a.m. Friday.

Carl Albert routs Tahlequah

It took one pitch to motivate Chenise Delce even more.

Carl Albert’s star pitcher was called for an illegal pitch to open the Titans’ 14-0 rout of Tahlequah. She could have been frustrated as coach Colin White met with umpires and got clarification that the pitch was in fact legal.

Instead, she found more determination, a bad sign for Tahlequah.

“She is unflappable,” White said. “You can’t tell whether or not she’s happy or sad, which is good. The opposing team doesn’t know if she’s locked in or struggling.”

Delce dominated Tahlequah for four perfect innings. She struck out 11 of 12 batters she faced. She also hit a two-run homer as part of the Titans’ 10-run first inning.

“I just knew that we had to keep the momentum going, so I saw the firstpitch strike and I swung,” Delce said.

The Titans face Pryor at 11 a.m. Friday.

Tuttle edges Broken Bow

A throwing error propelled Class 4A defending champion Tuttle back to the semifinals.

With the game tied at 1 in the fifth, Tuttle’s Kaylin Koeltzow stole second and scored on an error by catcher Jules Callaham.

Oklahoma commitment Macy McAdoo then finished off the victory by retiring six of the next seven batters.