Stroud scored three runs in the first inning and three in the ninth to beat Chandler, 6-4, in a regular season finale Friday that had the look and feel of playoff softball.
It was a fitting atmosphere, as playoffs for Class 2A and above began with bi-district play on Monday.
In Class 3A, Chandler advanced to the regional tournament with a twogame sweep of Alva and Prague moved on with a dramatic bi-district win over Meeker.
In Class 2A, Wellston fell to Texhoma-Goodwell 9-6 and Stroud and Dale both had byes and moved directly to regionals.
Stroud-Chandler
Five of Stroud’s first six batters of the game reached base against Stroud on Friday, with a two-run single by Macey Morris being the major blow.
Chandler got one run back in the bottom of the inning and tied the game on a two-run double by Hannah Edwards in the bottom of the sixth.
Meanwhile, Chandler pitcher Grace Hulsey found her groove and didn’t allow another hit until Shelbie Caraveau singled in the top of the ninth. She scored on a fielder’s choice later in the inning and KayLyn Baker and Kenlee Parrick both scored on errors to make it a 6-3 game.
Chandler got a run back in the bottom of the ninth to account for the final score.
Prague-Meeker
Lexsey Trevizo singled in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Prague Lady Devils a 4-3 win in Game 3 of their bi-district match with Meeker.
Prague trailed 3-1 going in to the inning, but loaded the bases with one out.
Kennedi Watkins drilled a single to center to score two runs and set the scene for Trevizo’s game-winner.
“We’d just been talking about making adjustments throughout the game, starting to get on the top side and letting it travel,” said Prague coach Dailyn King. “We’d been reaching and finally got some line drives and did something with them.”
Meeker won the first of the three-game set by a 5-3 score.
For Prague, that was the 11th loss in 12 games, but the Lady Devils showed no residual effects.
They came from behind to win the second game on an RBI single by Tessa Cooper in the sixth inning, then came from behind again in the rubber match.
And now they have a two-game winning streak and a berth in the regional tournament.
“I think it should prove to them that all the hard work and effort and challenges we’ve gone through this year, and telling them to keep grinding and working and that’s going to start paying off,” King said.
“They finally got to see a little bit of that today.
“I hope that keeps them rolling and working hard.
“We worked really hard to get here.”
Chandler -Alva
The Lady Lions made quick work of their bi-district, beating Alva 17-0 behind Jentrie Gibson’s no-hitter and 12-2.
Gibson also went 5-for-5 at the plate and drove in five runs.
The sweep puts the Lady Lions into the regional tournament.
Regional Schedules
Fast-pitch
Class 2A
Stroud vs. Chelsea at Pawhuska, 2 p.m. Thursday
Dale vs. Konawa at Dale, noon Thursday Class 3A
Class 3A
Chandler vs Lexington at Chisholm, 2 p.m. Thursday
Prague vs. Sulphur, at Sulphur 1 p.m. Thursday
Baseball
Class 2A
Dale vs. Fletcher at Dale, noon Thursday
Volleyball
Class 3A
North Rock Creek vs. Southwest Covenant at North Rock Creek, 4:30 p.m. Thursday