The Oklahoman

Meet OKC area’s top softball teams

- High School Insider James D. Jackson The Oklahoman USA TODAY NETWORK

The regular season is winding down for high school fastpitch softball teams. Here are the two leading contenders from the Oklahoma City metro area in each class for the state’s five largest classifications:

Class 6A

Edmond Memorial (23-5): The Bulldogs fell just shy of defending its 2019 state championsh­ip and have been on a mission with a majority of its state championsh­ip team still around this year.

OU commit Leah McAnally and sophomore Beth Damon lead the experience­d and talented group.

Southmoore (20-4): The SaberCats are the defending state champs and after returning all ten of its key players, Southmoore hasn’t fallen shy of expectatio­ns. With The Oklahoman 2020 All-City senior pitcher Brinly Maples and junior shortstop Tallen Edwards leading the way, Southmoore will likely make another state championsh­ip run.

Class 5A

Piedmont (25-3): After sealing a district championsh­ip on Monday, Piedmont has its sights set on the bigger prize. The Wildcats were unable to defend its 2019 state championsh­ip after losing a majority of its senior-led group in 2020. But after one year as a younger team, the Wildcats are once again a frontrunne­r for the state championsh­ip with sophomores Payton Schibbelhu­te and Peyton Gray leading the way.

Carl Albert (16-5): The Titans lost two All-City players and its legendary head coach heading into the season but

that hasn't slowed them down much. In Dani Dobbs inaugural year leading Carl Albert, the Titans are again in the mix for the crown. Junior ace pitcher Marissa Frolich has led Carl Albert in the circle this year to counter the Titans' high-powered offense.

Class 4A

Tecumseh (25-2): The Savages have been dominant all year after surging to a near 10-game win streak to open the season. Its only two losses of the season came on back-to-back games in August but the Savages haven't wavered since. Tecumseh, led by star sophomore pitcher Serenity Jacoway, is on a 15-game win streak heading into the final stretch.

Tuttle (19-7): The 2020 defending state champions have picked up right where they left off. Tuttle extended its state district record win streak to 76 games last week — A streak that expands to when Tuttle joined the Class 4A-I district six years ago. Kya Watson has led the Tigers with a team-high nine home runs.

Class 3A

Washington (27-3): The Warriors have a new coach in charge with Tylor Lampkin but the former Davis coach has Washington in a familiar situation as the season winds down. With its win on Monday, Washington secured an undefeated district title. Elly Allison, Mattie Richardson and Maggie Place have led the charge.

North Rock Creek (23-6): As a newer school, with just one season under its belt, NRC is one of the youngest teams in the state. But despite its infancy, NRC has shown it can win with the rest of the powerhouse­s and its defense is a big reason why. Sophomore pitcher Hallie Hacker leads the stout defense that has only allowed two runs per game this season.

Class 2A

Dale (21-9): The Pirates fielded a younger team than it has in most years. And even after being placed with the “injury bug and COVID” to start the year, Dale has continued to show dominance with the younger lineup. Seniors Addie Bell and Sam Hartman along with junior Madison Conley have led the young bunch to another 20-win season.

Crescent (16-7): The Tigers field “an inexperien­ced bunch” but have put together a respectabl­e season with head coach Shawn Booth at the helm. Kinidi Taylor, Kaylie Counts, and Ashley Adams lead the team at the plate with all of them hitting above .304.

 ?? BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN ?? Kya Watson and Tuttle will try to defend their Class 4A state fastpitch softball title.
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN Kya Watson and Tuttle will try to defend their Class 4A state fastpitch softball title.
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 ?? CHRIS LANDSBERGE­R/THE OKLAHOMAN ?? Junior shortstop Tallen Edwards and Southmoore are the defending Class 6A state fastpitch softball champions.
CHRIS LANDSBERGE­R/THE OKLAHOMAN Junior shortstop Tallen Edwards and Southmoore are the defending Class 6A state fastpitch softball champions.

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