Purcell couldn’t quite put the cherry on top of a spectacular fast-pitch season, losing in the State Championship finals to Newcastle 4-0.

The Dragons ended the season 29-10; cooking Poteau in the first round, 12-5 and blanking Blanchard in the semifinals 9-zip.

Errors early in the finals plagued.

“What an experience,” head coach Sarah Jones said. “The game didn’t go our way by any means but to be able to be in the Championship game in what I feel could possibly be the toughest class, saying that we are proud is an understatement.

“Newcastle is a great hitting ball club. We had some really hard hits and it went straight to them, the wind caught it, or they made a great play on it. I feel like if we would play them in a 2-3 series then that “if” game would be a good one.

“Ella (Resendiz) pitched a good game, striking out three,” Jones continued. “We made a couple of errors that would be easy the days before.”

Newcastle had only one earned run.

The Dragons got hits from Kenna Esparza, KK Vazquez, Hannah Whitaker and Savanna Edwards.

“We just couldn’t get anything going offensively,” the coach said.

It was just the opposite in the first and second rounds.

In the Poteau victory the Dragons hit up and down the lineup working off Pirate errors.

“We worked off their errors but we hit the ball really well,” Jones said. “Our defense was spectacular and Ella was a gem in the circle.

Resendiz helped her own cause going 3-5 at the plate including a ground rule double.

Mac McKay and Vazquez both were 2-3.

Purcell also got hits from Esparza, Whitaker, Edwards, Hadleigh Harp, Brynley Jennings and Payci Constant.

Vazquez led the squad with a trio of RBIs while Jennings and Harp had two each. Resendiz, Whitaker and Esparza each had an RBI.

“Poteau is a good ball team and when you hit the ball hard and string hits together it makes them make mistakes and we worked off those,” Jones said.

She said her club came out against Blanchard ready to dominate.

“Ella had a great game in the circle, our defense was making plays left and right and we were hitting the ball hard and getting those clutch hits,” Jones said.

“Our base running stole the show,” the coach said. “We made sure to get people in scoring position and were hungry for more runs.”

Whitaker paced the offense going 3-4 with two RBIs. McKay was 2-3 with two RBIs.

The Dragons also got hits from Resendiz, Vazquez, Edwards and Constant.

“They beat us 3-0 in our Heart of Oklahoma tournament and we had that in the back of our minds,” Jones admitted.

The sensational season included third place in the Heart of Oklahoma, Dale/Tecumseh Tournament runner-up, District Champions, Regional Champions, Super Regional Champions and the Class 4A State runner-up.

‘We beat the Class A Champions Caddo and 3A Champs Perry. Seven of our 10 losses came against teams from State Tournaments,” Jones said.

“Coach Raper and I couldn’t be more proud and honored to coach these girls. I think we both would admit that this team was by far the healthiest team that we have coached,” Jones said.

“They absolutely loved each other and we couldn’t ask for a better group. To our seniors - Savanna, Payci, Kailynn and Kelly thank you for pouring into this program, accepting whatever role you were given and helping lead this team not only to the state tournament but to the championship game. You are leaving this program better than when you found it and we couldn’t be more grateful for you four.”

Dragon fans turned out in force at the State Tournament and were loud and very supportive of the team.