WASHINGTON — Bethany fell to 4A rival Tuttle and beat 6A Norman Thursday (Aug. 21) in the Pool B of Heart of Oklahoma Tournament played at Washington.

“I think it was a just result to leave the day with a split,” Bethany coach Booker Blakley said via text.

TUTTLE 2, BETHANY 0

Bethany was shut out despite outhitting Tuttle, 6-4.

“I was happy to see the effort that we gave against a quality opponent like Tuttle,” Blakley said.

The Tigers picked up single runs in the fourth and fifth inning. In both cases, there was an error in each inning.

The Bronchos were held hitless until the fifth inning when junior Grey Williamson singled to left field. Bethany had a couple of baserunners in other innings but their best shot at scoring came in the seventh inning.

In the seventh, three straight singles gave Bethany life but after the lead runner was retired, two fly outs sealed the win for Tuttle.

Senior Jayda Davis picked up the loss after allowing four hits and two unearned runs. Davis walked two and struck out three batters.

“I thought Jayda did a great job in the circle holding them to only two runs,” Blakley said. “If our starting pitcher can get through a game only allowing two runs, our offense has to help that person out.”

Williamson had two hits. Junior Jules Barger, freshman Rian Rollins, seniors Berkley Johnson and Maddison McNutt each had a hit in the loss.

“Tuttle made some great plays at opportune times to keep us off the board,” Blakley said.

Tuttle junior Ava Kanatzar struck out five Bronchos in the contest.

BETHANY 3, NORMAN 2 (9 INN.)

Barger’s sacrifice fly scored freshman Avery Bibbs for the walkoff win in extra innings. Avery Bibbs was placed at second base by tiebreaker rule. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt.

Blakley called the Norman game “a bit of a knockdown drag out.”

Bethany trailed to win in the sixth inning and were facing the tournament’s time limit. Williamson doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third base on a Norman error. She stole home to tie the game.

“While we did not play up to the standards that we want to keep, the girls battled very hard to get a run back in the bottom of the last inning before time limit and then to keep them off the board through three extra innings where a runner is starting on second each inning showed a lot of grit,” Blakley siad. “And that’s what we need going forward.”

Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, junior Emma Geissler led off with a single. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Ella Davis. Barger lined a singled to score Geissler and tie the game.

Williamson went 2-for-3 and walked once.

Blakley highlighted Williamson and her two doubles in the win.

“We need a little bit more pop in our bats going forward to really compete with the best so that was good to see from her,” Blakely said.

Barger added a 2-for-4 day, and drove in two runs. Senior Madison Bibbs, Rollins and Geissler each added a hit.

Senior Paige Sechrist scattered seven hits over nine innings. She struck out five batters.

“Paige was able to keep them off balance through nine innings, only allowing two runs as well,” Blakley said.”I thought the pitchers and our catcher did a great job calling the game today.”

UP NEXT

Bethany stays in Washington for day two, facing Bridge Creek (4-6) at noon and host 3A Washington (7-1) at 3:30 p.m.

“We got three more games in this tournament, all will be tough but I know our girls are more than capable,” Blakely said.

TUTTLE 2, BETHANY 0

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Bethany (1-6)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	2
Tuttle (8-1)	0	0	0	1	1	0	X	2	4	0

BETHANY 3, NORMAN 2 (9 INN.)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Norman (1-4)	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	7	2
Bethany (2-6)	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	3	7	1