Meet the 6A-4A fastpitch softball title contenders
With the Class 6A-4A state tournaments beginning Thursday, here’s a refresher on some of the teams and the top storylines.
Class 6A
Southmoore (30-6): The returning Class 6A state champion returned all 10 of its key players from the state championship team, including Brinly Maples and Tallen Edwards. Now, they’ll have to defend it in a loaded bracket. Coach Jason Lingo believes a few of his “difference makers” in Taitum Bradshaw (.433 batting average), Kaylee Carter (.423) and Maveryck Lightfoot (.405) can help push them over the top.
Westmoore (26-5): Aynslee Linduff (.580), Renee Christian (.524) and Adelaide Haack (.470) have helped the Jaguars to one of the most explosive offenses throughout the season. And coach Jenny Rollins has recently found another spark in Malorey Outon, who has “come alive” in the postseason batting .714 with three home runs.
Choctaw (25-10): Choctaw returns to the state tournament for the first time since 2017. Lily West, Saige Bacon and Bella Cabral have helped the Yellowjackets to the winning season.
Edmond Memorial (29-7): OU commit Leah McAnally, Beth Damon and Mandi Lenon lead the experienced and talented group.
Mustang (25-7): Mustang is coming off a 2021 Class 6A slowpitch state championship in May and is geared to make noise in the fastpitch state tournament. Cassie Passwaters is batting .593 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI, Hannah Keele (.546) and 16 stolen bases and Landry Garza (.430) lead the Broncos’ offense.
Class 5A
Guthrie (23-8): Breakout freshmen Haley Gallo is batting over .600 and has 14 home runs and Kinley Duehning, who struck out 15, walked three in 14 innings and hit two home runs in regionals, have helped lead the BlueJays this season.
Pryor (28-9): Starting pitcher Brooklynn Stohler is 23-6 on the season. With Stohler and the stout defense behind her, Pryor has only given up an average of 2.4 runs per game.
Carl Albert (26-8): Coach Dani Dobbs has taken the reins this year and has Carl Albert back in the tournament. Ausha Moore batting .560, Marissa Frolich (.457) with six home runs and 48 RBI to go along with Kaylee Davis (.442) have led the charge.
Piedmont (32-7): Karissa Fiegener, who is batting .531 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI, Tayvin Davis (.417) and Tylar
Short (.392) have played a big role in the Wildcats resurgence.
El Reno (19-15): El Reno has been to the state tournament three times in the past five years (2016, 2019, 2021) and have a talented group leading the way. Chenoa White (.495), Kira Taber (.444) and Bailey Brothers (.405) are leading the team at the plate.
Coweta (31-6): In Blake Dunn’s first year as head coach in 2020, Coweta went 35-3 and won the Class 5A state title with just three seniors. Coweta hasn’t dropped off much and is one of the favorites to win it all again.
Class 4A
Lone Grove (30-5): The Longhorns stole 180 bases and have over 20 home runs while batting .415. Lone Grove has won 22 games in a row with the help of Lexi Meadows (.539, 30 stolen bases), Malea McMurtrey (.513, 57 stolen bases) and Stephen F. Austin commit Chloe Yeatts (.467, seven home runs).
Tecumseh (32-4): Serenity Jacoway has a 30-4 record in the circle and has played a pivotal role at the plate as well batting .454 with 33 RBI. Emily Bingham (.475, 4 HR, 40 RBI) and Jesse Hull (.444, 2 HR, 39 RBI) have anchored the offense.
Tuttle (29-10): Tuttle is ready to defend its 2020 state championship after battling early-season injuries. The Tigers have regrouped and have five batters hitting above .400 with Kya Watson leading the way. The junior catcher is batting .466 with 12 home runs and 65 RBI. Madi Surber backs her hitting .466..
Harrah (18-7): Senior pitcher Tori Miller leads the “strong senior group” Harrah fields. Miller, who is committed to Coastal Carolina, set a school for record with over 700 strikeouts in her career. Harrah outscored its regional opponents 26-2.