LAWTON — Putnam City West sophomore Malachi Ferguson’s first inning grand slam keyed a 16-2 rout of Lawton Friday (March 6).

West rebounded after being run-ruled Thursday at Midwest City.

“I’m proud of the way my boys responded from a game like MWC,” West coach Grason Wright said via text. “Where it felt like nothing went our way (against Midwest City).”

Things turned around with one out in the top of the first inning for the Patriots. Juniors Aaron De Loera and Daniely Hoyt walked. Senior Ezequiel Hernandez was hit by a pitch.

Then, Ferguson sent the first pitch over the left field wall and West had a 4-0 lead.

Ferguson went 2-for-2. He drove in five runs. Ferguson also doubled and stole a base.

Wright sad that Ferguson “is coming into his own and gaining the confidence we instill into him on a daily basis.”

Following the big first inning, the Patriots added six runs in both the second and fourth innings for the run-rule win.

West ran wild on the bases again with 16 stolen bases. Senior Kasen Jones swiped five bags. Jones went 2-for-2 with a double and had four runs batted in.

Freshman Riley Axtell added a 3-for-3 performance with two doubles and five stolen bases. Hoyt went 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs. Hoyt stole three bases.

Sophomore Cadence Smith allowed a one hit and two runs over three innings. Smith walked three batters and struck out four.

De Loera struck out three batters and walked one in the fourth to seal the win.

UP NEXT

Putnam City West (3-1) opens District 6A-1 play Monday (March 9) with a game at Edmond Memorial (3-1). First pitch is at 6 p.m.

The Bulldogs lost to 4A Tuttle, 3-1, Friday.

	1	2	3	4	R	H	E
Putnam City West (3-1)	4	6	0	6	16	11	0
Lawton (0-4)	1	0	1	0	2	1	1