OKLAHOMA CITY – Bethany split two games on the opening day of the Oklahoma High School Fast Pitch Festival at USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex Thursday (Aug. 22). The Lady Bronchos fell 9-0 to Deer Creek before beating a previously unbeaten Chandler squad, 3-1.
Bethany (4-6) faces tough competition at the event.
“This festival is definitely a fantastic test for us as a whole,” Bethany coach Booker Blakley said via text. “As we start to get into the meat of our schedule, we are going to end up playing five or six state tournament level teams this week so we will hopefully find out a lot about what we are as individuals and as a team.”
DEER CREEK 9, BETHANY 0
Bethany couldn’t overcome a six-run first inning in the loss to the Lady Antlers. Deer Creek collected four singles, a walk and hit by pitch en route to the big lead.
The Lady Bronchos committed for errors in the loss.
Senior Ireland Riley and sophomore Grey Williamson each singled.
Junior Paige Sechrist struck out six batters in 3 2/3 innings of relief, scattering two hits.
BETHANY 3, CHANDLER 1
The Lady Bronchos gave Chandler its first loss of the season after a 10-0 start.
Like Bethany’s win Monday over Putnam City North, the bottom of the order started a rally in the fifth inning with the Lady Bronchos trailing, 1-0.
Junior Emma Buxton led off by being hit by a pitch. Fellow junior Alyssa Daniels doubled to center field. Riley brought both runners home with a double to right. Another junior, Madison Bibbs, scored Riley on a sacrifice fly to left, giving Bethany a 3-1 lead.
“The fifth inning was a success because of the bottom of our lineup setting the table for the top,” Blakley said. ” When we can get runners on for our best hitters, good things are going to happen.”
Seachrist pitched all seven innings to earn the win, allowing seven hits, an unearned run and striking out five batters.
UP NEXT
The festival continues Friday (Aug. 23). At 3 p.m., the Lady Bronchos face Mustang, a Class 6A state quarterfinalist. At 7 p.m. Bethany meets Piedmont, the Class 5A defending champs for the last three seasons.
DEER CREEK 9, BETHANY 0
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
| Deer Creek (5-1) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Bethany (3-6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
DEER CREEK – 2B: Maddie Oakley
BETHANY 3, CHANDLER 1
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Bethany (4-6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Chandler (10-1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
BETHANY – 2B: Alyssa Daniels, Ireland Riley.
HBP: Emma Buxton. SF: Madison Bibbs. SB: Ireland Riley.
CHANDLER – 2B: Brenlee Corea.
HBP: Gentry Garner. SF: Kennedy Allen. CS: Hadlee Massengale.
West Metro Sports 