ELK CITY – In a key 4A-1 matchup, Elk City beat Bethany in 10 innings, 4-3, Monday (Sept. 23).

The Lady Bronchos had plenty of opportunities offensively but took a slim 1-0 lead in the seventh inning. Junior Paige Sechrist was in control, having allowed one only hit up to that point. A leadoff error in the seventh got the Elkettes started. A bunt moved Elk City’s Brenyn Ball to second base. She would move to third on a passed ball. Sechrist struck out the next two batters, but Ball scored on a wild pitch on the third batter to tie the game at 1-1.

Bethany had opportunities to break the tie, loading the bases in the eighth inning and putting runners at second and third in the ninth, but couldn’t push a run across.

In the 10th inning, the Lady Bronchos broke the tie. Senior Ireland Riley reached on an infield error. Sophomore Emma Geissler and junior Madison Bibbs struck out. Sophomore Jules Barger broke the deadlock with a triple right field. Barger went on to score on a passed ball to make it 3-1, Bethany.

Elk City answered in the bottom of the 10th. A leadoff walk was followed by a double. Sechrist coaxed a pop out for the first out. Ella Sottile singled to score a run, making it a one-run game. Sechrist got the Elkettes’ pitcher Aubrie Pogue to pop out for the second out.

On an 0-2 pitch, Blakely Ball walked it off with a two-run double to left for the win.

“We’ve got to take opportunities to win a game and seize them,” Bethany coach Booker Blakley said via text. “We did that for a while and then had some opportunities slip through, offensively and defensively.

“That’ll be the difference come playoffs, who can make the play. Hopefully, that’s us.”

In all, Bethany racked up 11 hits in the loss. Their only run before extra innings came on an Elkette error in the third.

Sechrist allowed four hits, walked three and struck out 10 in the loss.

Pogue, who beat Bethany Sept. 16, struck out 12 in the 10-inning contest.

Riley went 2-for-4 as did Sechrist. Bibbs went 2-for-5. Every starter but one got a hit for the Lady Bronchos.

With the loss, Bethany dropped 7-5 in 4A-1 play while Elk City improved to 9-2. Both teams sit behind first place Weatherford in the district standings. It was the final district game for Bethany while Elk City travels to Weatherford Tuesday (Sept. 24).

UP NEXT

Bethany (14-15) travels to 6A Edmond North (10-12) Thursday (Sept. 26). First pitch is at 5 p.m.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Bethany (14-15, 7-5)	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	11	1
Elk City (24-3, 9-2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	4	4	2