For the Stroud Lady Tigers, this year’s regional fastpitch tournament was the same scenario from the opposite perspective as last season.
Last year, the Lady Tigers lost to Oklahoma Union on Thursday in the regional tournament and came on Friday having to win three games - two against Oklahoma Union - to advance to the state tournament.
That’s exactly what they did, winning three close games.
This year, the Lady Tigers won their Thursday games and had the luxury of needing to win only one game to advance.
Coach Lezli Robinson made sure they understood they couldn’t take their feet off the gas, lest someone overtake them on Friday.
“We told our kids we were in that position last year and got it done,” she said. “I felt pretty confident knowing someone was going to have to pitch 21 innings and they wouldn’t be able to hold us.”
The Lady Tigers left nothing to chance, raking up seven runs in the second inning against Panama and winning, 9-2.
Robinson said there were a few games in the seasons that turned hope into belief for the time.
“Early in the district, we went to Latta and lost, 1-0,” she said. “The next day, we went to Mounds and didn’t play very well and lost.
“That made a big difference, district-wide, but we had everything in hands.
“The next week we took care of Coalgate and Mounds, and then the big win against Chandler.
“We thought ‘If we can do that...’”
The Lady Tigers kick off the state tournament, which is back at the Hall of Fame this year, with an 11 a.m. game against Amber-Pocassett. A win puts them into the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. Friday against the winner of Dale and Oktaha.
Although they are back in the state tournament, just like last year, the feel of this year’s team is different, Robinson said.
“They’re just a tremendous, fun group to be around,” she said. “They never get too high or too low. Just an even kilter mindset.
“They just maintain, don’t get too high or low.”
On the opposite side of the coverage area, in North Rock Creek, it’s a completely different story for the Lady Cougars’ volleyball team.
When they hit the court at 10 a.m. Friday against Oklahoma Christian, it will be the first-ever appearance by a North Rock Creek team in the state tournament.
Following the Lady Cougars’ win over Southwest Covenant in the regional finals, first-year coach Jamie Hancock said the state tournament wasn’t the goal the team set at the first of the year.
“I don’t know that we had a goal, really,” she said.
“We were coming out brand new, we had freshmen, sophomores and one junior and didn’t know what we would be facing, so our goal was to show up for every game and show out.
“And that’s what we’ve done.”
The Lady Cougars won 3-1 over both Corn Bible and Southwest Covenant and were not truly pushed.
They hit a flat spot after setter Abby Smith had to leave with cramps against Southwest Covenant, but soon rallied and finished strong.
Hancock said she believed NRC’s play at the Noble tournament in September was fore-shadowing of what was to come.
“We were down two starters and came out and beat Class 5A teams and got second place,” she said. “That’s when I knew we were headed somewhere.”
At Dale, the fastpitch and baseball teams are back in the state tournament, with both looking to make repeat trips to the finals.
For the Lady Pirates, making the finals has become a regular thing, including last year with a team that was supposed to be rebuilding.
They knocked off Stroud in the first round, came from behind beat arch-rival Latta, then fell in the finals to Silo.
This year, they rolled through the regional with out a hint of trouble, winning their three games by a combined score of 38-2.
Now it’s on to the Hall of Fame for their 1:30 Thursday game with Oktaha.
The Pirates’ baseball team comes in as the defending state champion.
They knocked off topranked Silo 4-3 in last year’s finals and will meet the Rebels again this year in the first round at 7 p.m. Monday at Dolese Park in Oklahoma City.
The Pirates are 18-10 and ranked No. 4 while Silo is 24-5 and ranked third.