Dragons route Ardmore

They almost had to call the fire department to get Purcell out in the second inning last Saturday in the Plainview Tournament.

The Dragons sent 16 hitters to the plate in a 10-run bottom of the second that led to a 12-0 run-rule shutout victory over Ardmore.

In the big inning, Hannah Whitaker laced a three-run double to right field. KK Eck was 2-2 including a double and had an RBI.

Lauren Holmes and Brynley Jennings both lined doubles in the game. Coach Sarah Jones also got hits from Kenna Esparza, Savanna Edwards, Hadleigh Harp and Payci Constant, who knocked in a pair of base runners.

Winning pitcher Ella Resendiz silenced the Lady Tiger bats, tossing a one-hitter while the Dragons pounded out nine hits.

Riding the arm of Coty Sessions, the Dragons shutout Comanche, 2-0. Purcell out-hit the Lady Indians, 5-4.

Edwards spanked a double in the game while Resendiz, Jennings, Whitaker and Constant all pounded out hits.

The day before the Dragons blasted Marlow, 9-3 with Edwards going 3-3, including a double that plated Resendiz and Esparza in the first inning.

Holmes and Harp both went 2-2 in the game. Harp registered two RBIs while Holmes had one. Whitaker and Jennings both had an RBI in the game.

Resendiz struck out four Lady Outlaws on her way to victory in the circle.

Purcell came up on the short end of a 6-3 count with North Rock Creek despite a perfect 3-3 performance at the plate by Holmes. Edwards went 2-4 while Whitaker, Constant and Resendiz all had a hit. Resendiz’s knock plated a runner.

Purcell also came up short at Tuttle last Thursday, 9-4.

Harp shined at the plate going 3-3 including a double and had an RBI. Whitaker was 2-3 while Edwards, Holmes and Jennings all had a hit.

“We played them well until we lost a little bit of focus in the bottom of the fourth,” Jones said. “We made some errors and they took advantage. They had seniority on us and it was a big learning moment for us.”

Healdton shut out the Dragons 4-0 despite Eck going 2-2. Harp and Resendiz also registered hits in the loss.

“Friday morning against Healdton we were worrying more about what time we were going to get home than playing the game,” Jones said. “We had a talk and we responded well against Marlow.

“I was proud of the girls fighting back over the next three games. Comanche Saturday morning was a really good game. It was back and forth and constantly put ourselves in tough situations both offensively and defensively.

“Offensively we couldn’t push a run across and defensively runners in scoring position and continued to hold them.

“Savanna Edwards came up big for us to win the game to send us to the consolation championship game. At that point, it seemed like we were taking BP against Ardmore to end in three innings,” the coach said.

Harp in the clutch

Harp’s walk off single to left in the bottom of the seventh plated Jennings, who had reached on a single. That score broke a 5-5 tie and handed the Dragons a dramatic victory over the Lady Bulldogs.

Resendiz led the offense going 3-4, including a triple, with an RBI. Edwards, Holmes and Jennings were all 2-4. Holmes had a double and an RBI. Jennings finished with a pair of RBIs in the game.

Tinley Winters had an RBI in a 1-2 outing at the plate and Jones got a hit each from Eck, Whitaker and Constant.

Sessions relieved Whitaker in the circle and was credited with the pitching victory.

“Sulphur on Monday was a great non-district game to start the week,” Jones said.

“It was a good back and forth competition that made us compete and made us work.

“We saw what we need to fix before our district games against Little Axe and Chandler this week. So many girls stepped up last week, especially the freshman,” Jones said.

Purcell was 11-6 after the Sulphur victory.

“Moving forward, pitchers need to focus on controlling the game and hitting their spots,” the coach confirmed.

“We need to stay more focused on the bases, remember the rules, and don’t make dumb decisions.

“We need to continue to have quality at-bats and making pitchers work to give us the pitches we want. The girls are getting better every day and realizing what all they are capable of,” Jones said.

“We appreciate coach Raper for being there and being our added bonus this season. He has helped out so much,” she said.

The Dragons were scheduled to play at Little Axe Tuesday and host Meeker today (Thursday) starting at 5 p.m. They are scheduled to play at Lexington Tuesday with the first pitch set for 5:30 p.m.