Purcell’s fast-pitch home opener was like Christmas in August.

Junior right hander Ella Resendiz faced 18 Sulphur batters and watched all 21 take the walk of shame back to the dugout, eight of them by strike outs.

Resendiz had help from her buddies on defense in the game for the ages.

“Our defense was absolutely phenomenal,” said head coach Sarah Jones. “Hadleigh Harp made an ESPN diving play and Payci Constant ran down a deep fly ball.”

Resendiz didn’t stop when she was in the field, however. She went 3-4 with two home runs in the 10-0 run-rule victory.

“We hit up and down the lineup,” Jones continued.

Kenna Esparza was 3-3 at the plate while Hannah Whitaker, Savanna Edwards, Ella, Brynley Jennings and Payci all with RBIs.

The victory hiked Purcell’s record to a perfect 4-0 this season.

“We are playing together, playing hard and doing the small things right,” Jones said. “It has been fun but we still have a lot of business to do. We keep our pitchers throwing small pitch counts, ‘keep passing the torch’ and playing for each other we are going to have a fun season.”

The Dragons kick-started their season with a 4-1 victory on the road at Bethel.

As a team, Purcell pounded out 13 hits led by Esparza’s 3-3 performance. KK Vazquez, Whitaker, Jennings and Edwards all had two hits in the contest.

“We started off a little slow but put some bats together and ended up hitting the ball really well and had great defense.

Resendiz and Harp both had a hit in the game.

“Hannah started for us in the circle and did well,” Jones said. “It was great to win the first of the season.”

Resendiz was a thorn in the side of the Perry Maroons August 8 when she struck out an even dozen in a 5-0 shutout victory.

Vazquez was 2-3 with two RBIs (both home runs) and Resendiz was 2-2 with a pair of RBIs.

“Harrah had to reschedule to a district game and took us away from our home opener but we believe that it worked out for the better. Perry is a good team and we were able to meet halfway and got the opportunity to be hosted by Oklahoma Christian,” Jones said.

Vazquez went 2-3 with back-to-back home runs. Resendiz went 2-2 with the Dragons hitting throughout the entire lineup.

“Ella threw an amazing game in the circle,” the coach said.

She limited a good Perry team to three hits.

“Perry has gone on to beat good teams such as Tuttle and Washington since they played us. We plan on making this a yearly thing at OC. Our girls got some college exposure and we are looking forward to see that relationship grow with both schools,” Jones said.

The Dragons jumped out to an 8-love lead at Plainview August 10 before pinning an 8-2 loss on the Indians.

Whitaker went the distance in the circle scattering four hits. She was also 3-4 at the plate with an RBI.

Resendiz was 3-3 while Vazquez and Edwards both finished with two hits.

“Plainview is one of our district match ups where we need to come in and be ready to work with no innings off,” Jones said. “We did that until the last defensive inning but it didn’t hurt us.”

“From the first pitch, we came out swinging,” the coach said.

“Hannah pitched a full seven innings in the circle only allowing four hits and one earned run. We got a little shaky in the bottom of the 7th, probably just wanting to go ahead and win. It was a great district opener,” Jones concluded.

Dragon notes:

Purcell’s Junior High Dragons are 3-0 with victories over Dickson, Plainview and Sulphur.

“They are a fun group to watch and are being coached well and hard by Coach Franco and Coach Knowles.

The Dragons were to play at Byng Tuesday in a district match up.

Thursday and Friday  is the Heart of Oklahoma fast-pitch tournament, co-hosted by Washington and Purcell.