A record-setting season for the Ryan Cowgirl cross country squad ended in disappointing fashion, on a muddy and tough course at Shawnee last Saturday.
The Cowgirls were one of three regional team champions and came into the Class 2A state meet at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center ranked fourth in the state.
But with one runner battling a pulled muscle, another a hip flexor and still another a sprained ankle, the Cowgirls’ gutty performance was able to only net seventh place in the meet.
Watonga and Hooker battled for the team title with the Lady Eagles coming out on top with 52 points. Hooker finished with 53 points. The Cowgirls totaled 219 points.
The Cowgirls, winners of six meets during the season, had battled through the injuries in claiming the regional crown, but the injuries finally caught up with the squad at the state meet.
Even with the disappointing ending at the state meet, the Cowgirls had easily the most impressive season in the short school history of the sport.
The team qualified for the state meet for only the third time in school history. The regional title was the first in school history.
In the regular season the Cowgirls never finished lower than fourth in any meet they entered and a couple of them were full of teams that were in higher classes and relatively talented.
The Cowgirls never backed down from a challenge all season and the state meet was no different when taking into consideration the injuries.
Ryan won team titles at Walters, North Rock Creek, Frederick, Sulphur and Healdton, plus the regional title. The Cowgirls were runner up at Prague.
Lilybet Harmon led the team performance at the state meet. The junior finished 20th in the field of 154 runners in Class 2A with a time of 13:42.50.
It was not Harmon’s best time of the season, but it did surpass her time and finish at the state meet a year ago.
Harmon has been the ringleader for the Cowgirls all season and she won three individual titles during the season – a first for a Cowgirl runner.
Katlyn Dabbs finished 30th for the Cowgirls and she turned in a time of 13:49.33 – her second best time of the season over a 3,200-meter course.
Juliet Spangler, running in her fourth straight state cross country meet, finished 45th with a time of 14:02.58.
The next three finishers for the Cowgirls had to overcome injuries to finish the race at the state meet.
Lily York was 86th among the competitors for the Cowgirls with a time of 15:01.70.
Alicyn Williams finished 109th with a time of 15:38.60.
Whittany Spangler, a freshman for coach Steve Spangler’s harriers, was 119th with a time of 16:06.89.
Gracie Stamper, a senior running in her first state cross country meet, finished with a time of 17:39.76, which was good for 145th.
York and J. Spangler were running in their final races for the Cowgirls and the two Ryan seniors have been cornerstones in the building of the Ryan cross country program.
The 2019 Cowgirl cross country team accomplished much during the season and the performance at the state meet should in no way take away from a great season.
Ryan High School athletes were honored Monday night in the school’s cafeteria at the annual all-sports banquet.
A total of 47 athletes were recognized for their accomplishments in the 2018-2019 school year.
Two Ryan athletes were honored with a new award – Cowboy and Cowgirl Award. Holland Carter, a standout track, cross country and cheerleader, and Travis Fristoe, the school’s only four-sport letterman, were selected for the award.
Carter was also honored with a special letter jacket given to the girls cross country seniors that finish in the top ten in the state cross country meet. She was also presented with a special award for her contributions to cross country and track the past four years.
Their names will be on a plaque that will be placed in the lobby of the remodeled Ryan gym before the start of next year’s basketball season.
Ryan Fresmen at Ryan Sports Banquet
Athletic Director Tony Tomberlin also recognized two people for contributions to the Ryan athletic program. Ricky Phillips, the long-time public address announcer for the Cowboy football team, was presented a football signed by Ryan athletes in recognition of 20 years of service.
Ricky Phillips recognized for being the voice of the Ryan Cowboys for 20 years. Photo by Sheree Hanson
This reporter was also recognized for contributions to the Ryan athletic program and was presented with a signed basketball.
Trey Smart was honored for being not only a journalist with distinction but for recording the story of the Cowboys in print.
Plaques were presented to the graduating seniors that participated in the various sports for the Cowboys and Cowgirls.
But, the evening belonged to the athletes that participated in the sports of cross country, cheerleading, fast-pitch softball, football, boys basketball, girls basketball, slow-pitch softball, track and field and baseball.
Letter awards were given to each of the athletes in every sport and special recognition was given to selected athletes in each sport. All-conference, all-district and conference all-stars were also presented certificates during the evening’s activities.
Coaches Cheryl Carter, Steve Spangler, Tony Tomberlin, Stan Mueggenborg, Austin Masoner and Tony Roberts presented the awards during the evening.
Special recognition was also given to grade school coach Shelly Cain. Tomberlin presented her with five tickets to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City for her contribution to the grade school, junior high and high school athletes.
Shelly Cain is presented with five tickets to the Women’s College World Series for her contribution to Ryan Athletics. Photo by Sheree Hanson
Here’s a list of the student-athletes honored during the evening:
(l-r) Lilybet Harmon and Juliet Spangler Photo by Sheree Hanson
Football
Lineman of the Year: Sam Brown; Newcomer of the Year: Mike Regehr; Defensive Player of the Year: Travis Fristoe; Offensive Player of the Year: Skyler Parkhill; Most Valuable Player: Grayson Tomberlin.
Ryan Football Awards presented. (l-r) front row: Andrew Villarreal, Sam Brown, Skyler Parkhill, Travis Fristoe, and Michael Regehr. back row: Grayson Tomberlin, Trey Bryant, Kalen Weldon, and Pacen Wiest. Photo by Sheree Hanson
Fast-Pitch Softball
Teammate of the Year: Lily York; Most Valuable Player: Juliet Spangler.
Offensive Player of the Year: Samantha Good; Defensive Player of the Year: Laken DeBoard; Most Valuable Player: Emilee Martin.
(l-r) Laken DeBoard, Samantha Good, Kodi Duke, Emilee Martin
Girls Basketball
Newcomer of the Year: Alicen Williams; Most Improved Player: Bailee Martin; Defensive Player of the Year: Lily York; Offensive Player of the Year: Juliet Spangler; Most Valuable Player: Samantha Good.
(l-r) Samantha Good, Juliet Spangler, Lily York, and Alicen Williams. Photo by Sheree Hanson
Boys Basketball
Sixth Man Award: Andrew Villerreal; Mr. Hustle Award: Travis Fristoe; Offensive Player of the Year: Kaine Howard; Defensive Player of the Year: Landen Alexander; Most Valuable Player: Grayson Tomberlin.
(l-r) Back Row: Andrew Villarreal, Kaine Howard. Front Row: Grayson Tomberlin, Travis Fristoe, and Landen Alexander. Photo by Sheree Hanson
Slow-Pitch Softball
Defensive Player of the Year: Justyce Keith; Offensive Player of the Year: Samantha Good; Most Valuable Player: Emilee Martin.
(l-r) Samantha Good, Emilee Martin, and Justice Keith. Photo by Sheree Hanson
Baseball
Most Improve: Daniel Alsup; Co-Most Valuable Players: Travis Fristoe and Pacen Wiest.
(l-r) Pacen Wiest, Travis Fristoe, and Daniel Alsup. Photo by Sheree Hanson
Boys Track
Most Valuable Player: Travis Fristoe.
Girls Track
9th Grade Letters: Landen Alexander (track, boys basketball), Raesh Casebolt (boys basketball, football), Carter Combs (fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball, girls basketball), Carson Cooper (football, baseball), Katelynn Dabbs (track, cross country), Danielle Garza (slow-pitch softball), Kaine Howard (boys basketball), Caleb Perrin (football, baseball, boys basketball), Lindsey Reake (fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball, girls basketball), Michael Regehr (football, boys basketball), Skylar Wickware (football, boys basketball, baseball), Alicen Williams (cross country, girls basketball, track).
(l-r) Travis Fristoe, Lily York, Holland Carter, and Juliet Spangler
10th Grade Letters: Daniel Alsup (baseball, boys basketball), Trey Bryant (football, basketball, baseball), Crystal Chazaretta (cheerleading), Diamond Chazaretta (slow-pitch softball), Kyla Essary-Phillips (slow-pitch softball), Lilybet Harmon (cheerleading, track, cross country), Eimilee Lowry (cheerleading), Trista Perry (slow-pitch softball), Grayson Tomberlin (football, boys basketball, baseball), Tawny Vanover (cheerleading).
(l-r) Back Row: Grayson Tomberlin, Kodi Duke, and Trey Bryant. Front Row: Lilybet Harmon, Kyla Essary-Phillips, and Daniel Alsup. Photo by Sheree Hanson
11th Grade Letters: Brooklyn Charmasson (cheerleading, slow-pitch softball, fast-pitch softball), Samantha Good (fast-pitch softball, girls basketball, slow-pitch softball), Avery Howard (fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball), Savannah Lashley (fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball), Bailee Martin (girls basketball), Gunner Phillips (football, boys basketball, baseball), Walker Rawlings (track), Madisen Rhoades (fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball), Walter Snider (football), Juliet Spangler (cross country, girls basketball, track), Grace Stamper (cheerleading, slow-pitch softball), Andrew Villarreal (football, boys basketball, baseball), Lily York (cross country, girls basketball, track).
(l-r) Back Row: Andrew Villarreal, Juliet Spangler, Savannah Lashley, Avery Howard, Samantha Good, and Gunner Phillips. Front Row: Lily York, Grace Stamper, Madisen Rhoades, Brooklyn Charmasson. Photo by Sheree Hanson
12th Grade Letters: Samuel Brown (football, baseball), Holland Carter (cheerleading, cross country, track), Laken Deboard (cheerleading, fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball), Travis Fristoe (football, boys basketball, track, baseball), Justyce Keith (fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball), Emilee Martin (fast-pitch softball, slow-pitch softball), Skyler Parkhill (football), Kalen Weldon (football), Pacen Wiest (football, baseball), Justin Williams (football).
(l-r) Back Row: Skyler Parkhill, Kalen Weldon, Pacen Wiest, and Sam Brown. Front Row: Travis Fristoe, Justyce Keith, Holland Carter, Laken DeBoard, and Emilee Martin. Photo by Sheree Hanson.
It has been a busy few days for the Ryan Cowgirl slow-pitch softball squad.
Last Thursday the Ryan Cowgirl slow-pitch softball team battled through pool play to advance to the championship game where they fell to Grandfield, 8-1.
Ryan advanced to the finals by defeating Wilson, 9-8, and handing Temple a 10-0 setback in the one-day tournament.
Grandfield earned a spot in the title game with a 10-5 victory over Geronimo and a 6-5 win over Thackerville.
Ryan hosted its own tournament for the first time at Larry Ninman Field and it featured five other schools divided into two pools. The winner of each pool played in the finals.
On Monday, the Cowgirls dropped their second straight game, 12-2, to Wilson. Wilson’s junior high squad nipped the Cowgirls, 8-7.
Tuesday’s game with Empire was postponed when Empire had only eight players. It was slated to be the final home game for the Cowgirls so seniors Emilee Martin and Laken DeBoard were honored after the junior high game.
The Cowgirl junior high squad defeated Empire, 9-3.
The Cowgirls were to have continued the season today competing in the 17-team Fletcher Invitational.
Ryan was to have met Bray-Doyle today at 10 a.m. The winner was to have met the winner of Verden and Fletcher at 12:15 p.m.
A loss by the Cowgirls would have them playing tonight at 5 p.m. A win in any game on Thursday would guarantee Ryan to be in action on Friday.
In the game with Wilson on Monday, the Lady Eagles took charge with five runs in the top of the first and held on to a 5-0 lead through two innings.
In the top of the third, the Lady Eagles exploded for seven more runs to hold a 12-0 lead.
The Cowgirls got their only runs of the game in the bottom of the third. Savannah Lashley and Samantha Good each had base hits and eventually came around to score.
However, the Cowgirls went down in order in the bottom of the fourth and the game ended on the run rule.
In the first two innings of the tourney title game the Cowgirls went down in order, while the Lady Bearcats left four runners stranded, but took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
But, in the top of the third the Cowgirls managed to put a run on the board as Carter Combs reached base and scored on Lashley’s RBI-ground out to knot the game at 1-1.
Grandfield answered in the bottom of the fourth with a seven-run uprising and held off the Cowgirls in the top of the fifth to secure the title.
The Cowgirls scored in every inning in the encounter with Temple in the tourney.
In the first inning, Good walked and scored on Brooke Charmasson’s RBI-double that gave Ryan a 1-0 advantage.
The Cowgirls increased the lead in the second inning with a pair of runs. Lindsey Reake singled and eventually scored on Laken DeBoard’s RBI-single. DeBoard crossed the plate later in the inning and Ryan held a 3-0 lead.
Another pair of runs in the third inning put the advantage at 5-0 for the Cowgirls. Emilee Martin and Reake each singled and then Justyce Keith walked. Successive walks by combs and DeBoard drove in the two runs as the Cowgirls left the bases full to end the inning.
The Cowgirls added another two runs in the fourth inning. Kodi Duke got an infield single and she scored on Good’s double. Charmasson drove home Good with a double. The inning concluded with two Cowgirls stranded.
In the fifth inning, the Cowgirls got three runs – all after two outs. Lashley reached base and Grace Stamper came in to run for her. Duke followed with a single and Good picked up two RBI’s with a base hit. Good scored on Charmasson’s hit to set the final margin.
Keith got the shutout in the circle for the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls picked up a dramatic win in the first game of the tournament.
Wilson took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but the Cowgirls recorded seven runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead.
Martin started off the inning with a base hit and then Madisen Rhoads followed with a two-run homer run. After two outs, Combs got an infield hit and DeBoard and Lashley followed with hits. Duke drove in another run with a base hit that was followed by a grand slam by Good to give Ryan a 7-2 lead.
It didn’t take the Lady Eagles long to answer. After one out, four consecutive Wilson batters reached base and scored. After two were out an infield hit produced another run and the game was tied at 7-7.
In the bottom of the third the Cowgirls got a solo home run from Martin giving the Cowgirls an 8-7 advantage.
Wilson tied the game in the top of the fourth to tied the score at 8-8 and set up the dramatic win for the Cowgirls.
The Cowgirls were retired in order in the bottom of the fourth and Wilson did the same in the top of the fifth.
Good led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and moved to third on Charmasson’s double down the left field line. Martin’s single scored Good giving the Cowgirls the victory.
The state track meet in all classes is challenging for every school in Class A.
While the performances posted by the larger schools are almost always better, there are many more Class A schools and that results in a real challenge for a school to score points in the state meet.
That is what the track squads from Ryan discovered at last weekend’s Class A State Track Meet conducted at Western Heights High School in Oklahoma City.
The Cowgirls finished in a tie for 40th place among the 47 schools that scored points in the state track meet. The Cowgirls finished with two points and tied with Cimarron, Red Oak and Kremlin-Hillsdale.
The Cowboys finished tied for 47th at the meet with just a single point. The Cowboys finished tied with Depew, Okarche and Indiahoma.
Thomas was the boys’ team title with 120 points and Boise City-Keyes was the team runner up with 58 points.
Boise City-Keyes turned the tables on Thomas in the girls’ team race by claiming the title with 125 points, while the Lady Terriers finished second with 75 points.
Many more teams scored points in the 2019 state meet with the new format in team scoring. Eight places earned points in each event and the top six finishers received medals.
The Cowgirls’ 3,200 meter relay team of Lilybet Harmon, Lily York, Juliet Spangler and Holland Carter managed eighth place with a time of 11:02.5 – just ahead of rival Waurika. The two teams have battled back and forth at nearly every meet in the 2019 season and the state meet was no different.
The time posted was the third best in school history and the second best in the 2019 campaign.
A few other Cowgirls competed in the state meet, but did not score. Carter posted her second best time of the season in the 800 meters, but it was good for only 11th place, while Harmon also posted her second best time in the same event, but managed only 14th place. Carter’s time was 2:36.55 and Harmon posted a time of 2:41.00.
Spangler also competed in two individual events. The junior finished well back in the field in both the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters. Her time in the 1,600 meters was 6:26.21 and was her second best of the season and the seventh best in school history.
In the 3,200 meters, Spangler posted a mark of 14:08.71 and was her third best time of the season.
The only other event the Cowgirls competed in was the 1,600 meter relay and despite setting a school record for the event finished only 15th – just behind Southern Eight Conference rival Geronimo.
The team of Harmon, York, Spangler and Carter finished with a time of 4:40.70, which was five seconds better than the previous school record of 4:45.71. That time was posted by the squad at the regional meet the week before the state meet.
For the Cowboys Walker Rawlings and Travis Fristoe competed at the state meet.
Rawlings was the only placer for the Cowboys as he finished eighth in the discus with a throw of 120-0 – his third best performance of the season.
In the shot put, Rawlings recorded a throw of 40-1 – his fifth best of the season. He finished 10th among the 16 throwers in the competition.
Fristoe competed in the 110 meter high hurdles for the Cowboys and recorded a time of 18.75 – his best time of the season. Fristoe’s performance was 14th among the 16 runners in the event.
SEASON-ENDING NOTES: Rawlings placed in the discus and becomes the second in his family to place in the event at the state meet….McCain Rawlings placed in the discus four consecutive years with the last year coming in 2015….In the discus, the Cowboys have placed 13 times in the state meet….Gary Waitman was the last Cowboy to win the state title in the discus and that came in 1988….Fristoe was the first Cowboy to compete in the 110 meter high hurdles at state meet since Rickey Hill finished second in the event in 2003….The Cowboys scored at the state meet for the first time since 2015 when they finished tied for 16th….The Cowboys have managed to score in a state meet only five times in the past 16 years…The best finish by a Cowboy track squad at state came in 1973 when Ryan finished fourth and won the mile relay state title….The Cowboys have only three top ten team finishes in state competition….The Cowgirls also scored in the state meet for the first time since 2014…..The Cowgirls’ best team finish at the state meet came in 190 when Ryan managed a tied for ninth place….The Cowgirls have scored at the state meet only 10 times since meets for girls began in 1972….The strength of the Cowgirls’ track squad the past few years have been in the distance relays….The 1,600 meter relay team has broken the school record 11 times in the past two seasons….The 3,200 meter relay team from the past two seasons holds 14 of the top 15 times in school history….The 2019 3,200 meter relay team became the first Cowgirl relay team to place at the state meet in school history.
A limited number of participants from Ryan and Waurika traveled to Velma-Alma a week ago Tuesday for a final competition before last week’s regional meets for the two schools.
It was less than ideal conditions as rain threatened to cancel the meet, but after a couple of rain delays, the final part of the meet was completed.
Plus, the meet featured a number of Class 2A and Class 3A teams that made the competition at the meet extremely tough.
The Ryan Cowgirls chose not to compete in the meet after running at Covington-Douglas the day before and not wanting to risk injury.
The Cowboys sent only one participate – Walker Rawlings – to the meet and he placed in both events he entered.
Rawlings finished sixth in both the shot put and discus. His mark for the shot put was 40-8 and his best throw of the discus was 121-8.
Seminole won the boys’ part of the meet with 124 points, while Ryan finished tied for 25th with two points and Waurika managed 11th place with 20 points but had the most points among the Class A teams competing in the meet that featured over 25 teams.
Only two of the Waurika relay teams managed to place in the meet.
The 800 meter relay of Kevin Garcia, Turner Mora, Nic Alvarado and Colton Bryant was sixth with a time of 1:37.09, which is the third best time posted in the 2019 campaign.
The 1,600 meter relay team for the Eagles earned a bronze medal with a time of 3:41.85. Garcia, Mora, Bryant and Cache Arellano finished the race for Waurika. It was the third best time this season for the relay squad.
The only other placer for the Eagles was Mora who managed a third-place finish in the 400 meters with a time of 53.28. The time was the best of the season for Mora – even better than last Saturday’s gold-medal regional performance.
The Lady Eagles also took a full squad, but found the competition to be tougher than expected as the Lady Eagles failed to place in any of the running events.
Pauls Valley was the team champion with 107 points, while Waurika finished 16th with 11 points.
Madison Roberson accounted for all the team points for the Lady Eagles.
Roberson’s throw of 36-4.5 in the shot put earned her gold medal honors. It was her fourth best throw of the season in the shot put.
In the discus event Roberson finished sixth with a throw of 99-0. The mark was her third best performance in the event in 2019.
Empire scored 40 unanswered points last Friday night against the Ryan Cowboys to record a 58-8 District B-4 victory on the Bulldogs’ home field.
The Cowboys trailed only 18-8 heading into the intermission, but the Bulldogs struck for some long-distance scoring runs in the second half to doom the Cowboys.
Ryan is now 3-3 on the year (including the forfeit from Temple) and is 0-1 in district play. The Cowboys will try to rebound from the big loss by taking on Waurika tonight (Thursday) at Bob Givens Sports Complex. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Cowboys who are still battling injuries and inexperience stayed with the Bulldogs throughout the first half, but Ryan struggled offensively to move the ball with any consistency throughout the contest.
Midway through the first quarter the Cowboys’ Grayson Tomberlin launched a 52-yard punt to put Empire on the move at the Bulldog 29. It took only five plays for the Bulldogs to drive for the initial score of the night.
The drive ended with a 51-yard scamper by Empire quarterback Mitchell Monteith. The Cowboys stopped the two-point conversion, but Empire was on top, 6-0, with 4:31 to play in the first quarter.
Photo by Sheree Hanson
Late in the first quarter the Bulldogs took over after an unsuccessful fake punt the by the Cowboys inside Ryan territory at the 45 yard line.
The Cowboy defense stiffened but the Bulldogs kept plugging away even though it took Empire 12 plays to cover the 55 yards. Peyton Booth scored from four yards out after reversing the field to find an opening. The try for two failed, but Empire now owned a 12-0 lead with 9:49 left in the second quarter.
Ryan picked up only its second first down of the game on the next drive, but the Cowboy offense stalled at the Empire 39 and turned the ball over on downs.
After an incomplete pass, Booth took a pitch and raced 61 yards for the touchdown. The try for two failed, but Empire now held an 18-0 advantage with 4:47 left in the first half.
The Cowboys answered with their only scoring drive of the night. Ryan took the ball from its own 34 and in 13 plays picked up the score. Tomberlin found Andrew Villerreal wide open on the left side and Villerreal took the pass and waltzed into the end zone for the touchdown. Villerreal ran for the two-point conversion and the lead had been trimmed to 18-8 with just 41 seconds before halftime.
Photo by Sheree Hanson
The Bulldogs scored on their first three possessions of the second half with the third scored coming with 11:14 left in the game that gave Empire a 40-8 lead.
The Cowboys continued to struggle offensively and Empire took advantage of a Ryan fumble midway through the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs took possession at the Ryan 39 yard-line and on the first play Booth went the distance to increase the lead to 46-8 with 6:22 left in the game.
The Cowboys failed to convert a fourth down on the next possession and handed the Bulldogs the ball at the Ryan 43. It took Empire just four plays with Booth carrying the ball three times including a 33-yard run. The third rushing play resulted in a six-yard run for the touchdown by Booth and with 4:13 left the Bulldogs were in front, 52-8.
On the next possession the Cowboys’ drive ended with an interception and Empire took over at the Bulldog 35 yard line with just 1:57 remaining in the game. Two plays netted eight yards and instead of running out the clock, the Bulldogs’ Monteith took the ball and broke into the Ryan secondary for a 57-yard scoring run that ended the game on the mercy rule with only 41 seconds left in the game.
COWBOY CORRAL: These two schools have met on the gridiron only six times since Empire started football in the 1974 season….The Bulldogs and Cowboys played four times before Ryan dropped to eight-man football….Ryan still leads the short series, 4-2….The 50-point margin of victory is the largest of the six-game series breaking the old mark of 46 points set in the 1977 game won by Empire, 64-18….The 58 points is the second most points scored by Empire in the series….Ryan tied for the fewest points in a game against Empire…The Cowboys scored only scored eight points in a 1976 win over the Bulldogs, 8-6….The 490 yards rushing by the Bulldogs is the fourth most by an opponent in school history…The other three totals are 684 against Grandfield in 1997, 535 against Grandfield in 2001 and 496 against Ringling in a 1947 contest….Ryan dominated the time of possession with a seven-minute advantage, but Empire scored twice on short, one-play drives….Ryan went one of seven on fourth-down tries, while Empire was four of six in fourth-down conversions.
Game in Figures
RHS EHS
First Downs 11 17
Yards Rushing 46-99 42-490
Yards Passing 51 130
Passes 3-14 10-17
Passes Int. By 0 1
Fumbles, Lost 3-1 1-0
Punts 3-31.7 0-0
Penalties 5-45 11-105
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Ryan 0 8 0 0—8
Empire 6 12 16 24—58
FIRST QUARTER
EMPIRE – Mitchell Monteith 51 run (pass failed), 4:31
SECOND QUARTER
EMPIRE – Peyton Booth 4 run (run failed), 9:49
EMPIRE – Booth 61 run (pass failed), 4:47
RYAN – Andrew Villerreal 14 pass from Grayson Tomberlin (Villerreal run), :41.5
Waurika hosted the Velma-Alma Comets Tuesday night for a doubleheader encounter and the visitors came away with a pair of victories.
The Lady Comets bested the Lady Eagles, 44-33, while the Comets toppled the Eagles, 53-29.
The Lady Comets are 7-0 and ranked 17th in the latest Class A rankings. The Comets are now 5-1 and are ranked sixth in Class A.
The Lady Eagles dropped to 3-3 with the loss and the Eagles are now 4-2.
Waurika will close out the December portion of the schedule with a Friday matchup with Grandfield on the Bearcats’ home court. Tipoff for the girls’ game is 6:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Waurika will return home and face Big Pasture. The girls’ game will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Waurika gym.
The Lady Eagles were in front of the Lady Comets after one quarter of play, 14-10.
In the second quarter, however, the Lady Eagles went ice cold and scored only two points. Fortunately, the Lady Comets only managed eight points, but it was enough to give them an 18-16 lead at the half.
The third quarter was a battle with Velma-Alma coming out of the period with an 11-10 advantage to lead 29-26 heading into the final quarter.
The Lady Comets outscored the Lady Eagles, 15-7, to secure the victory in the fourth quarter.
Velma-Alma had three girls in double figures and all three were responsible for the Lady Comets’ fourth-quarter surge.
Jaycee Kimbrough and Shain Ille each had 13 points, while Destinee Wofford added 12 points.
Waurika’s Tallin Mora had 13 points including eight in the first quarter to help the Lady Eagles hold the lead. Asia Smith added 10 points for the Lady Eagles.
The Eagles simply could not keep pace with the talented Comets.
The Comets jumped out to a 13-8 lead and increased the margin to 31-15 by the break.
In the third quarter the Comets put the game away with an 18-6 run to open up a 49-21 lead going into the final frame.
Waurika outscored the Comets, 8-4, in the fourth quarter, but the game was out of reach by that time.
Treyton Torrez led the Eagles in scoring with seven points.
Competing in fast-pitch softball without an experienced pitcher usually is not a good situation.
The 2019 Ryan Cowgirl fast-pitch softball team experience that first hand during the recently completed season that saw the Cowgirls go winless in 19 games.
Without an experienced pitcher on the squad, coach Stan Mueggenborg looked to senior Samantha Good who had been a three-year starter at shortstop.
And, despite great effort throughout the season, according to Mueggenborg, Good could not carry the Cowgirls to one victory during the season.
Last Thursday the difficult campaign ended with two losses in the Class B District Tournament that was hosted by Big Pasture.
The Cowgirls lost the first game to Temple, 13-0, and then fell to Big Pasture, 18-4.
The game with Temple was close for three innings. Temple held a 2-0 lead after three innings, but the Lady Tigers exploded for 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to blow the game wide open.
Kodi Duke and Savannah Lashley had the only two hits for the Cowgirls in the contest.
The second game was much different as the Lady Rangers took a 3-0 lead after one inning and then blew the game open with 10 runs in the second inning to hold a 13-0 advantage.
Big Pasture added to the lead in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs to increase the margin to 15-0.
In the top of the fourth the Cowgirls put together a three-run uprising sparked by Good’s two-run home run. Lindsey Reake scored the other run for the Cowgirls on Katelyn Dabbs’ hit and the Cowgirls trailed 15-3.
The Rangers scored three more runs in bottom of the fourth that put the lead at 18-3.
In the top of the fifth the Cowgirls scored another run as Brooklyn Charmasson singled and later came around to score but it was not enough to end the game on the run-rule.
COWGIRL DIAMOND NOTES: The 19 losses in 2019 is the most losses in a season since the program started in 2000….There are nine years in which no final win-loss records are available….The Cowgirls have now lost six straight games in district tournament play….In 20 seasons the Cowgirls are 10-35 in district tourney games…This was the first year for the Cowgirls to play in a district tournament hosted by Big Pasture…Ryan is 2-9 in district tournament meetings with Temple…Ryan and Big Pasture have met only twice in district tournament play with each team winning one game…The 18 runs scored by Big Pasture was the third most allowed by the Cowgirls in 2019….Temple had upset Big Pasture, 3-2, in the first game of the tournament, but the Lady Rangers came back to win two straight over Temple and claim the district title….Big Pasture is ranked 16th heading into regional play.
All through the regular season – including the regional cross country meet – the Waurika girls’ cross country squad has been on the cusp of accomplishing great things.
And, all the hard work and competition of the 2019 season paid off last Saturday at the Class 2A State Cross Country Meet held at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center in Shawnee.
The Lady Eagles, who finished behind Ryan and Merritt at the regional on Waurika’s home course, outdistanced those two teams in the state meet to earn fifth place – the highest finish ever for a Waurika cross country squad at state.
Watonga claimed the team title over Hooker by one point. Watonga finished with 52 points, while the Lady Bulldogs had 53. Cherokee was fourth with 119 points and Boise City was fourth with 134 points. Waurika claimed fifth place with 175 points.
“I was very proud of the high school girls this year,” said long-time cross country coach Joe Masoner. “They started working towards state in June in the weight room.”
The course was a difficult one last Saturday as the recent rains produced a somewhat muddy path for the competitors in the crowded Class 2A field which featured 154 runners.
Asia Smith led the way for the Lady Eagles earning 21st place with a time of 13:43.06 – her second best time of the season. Smith was a late addition to the Lady Eagles’ squad and she really made a difference for the Lady Eagles in the last part of the season.
Tallin Mora finished 34th with a time of 13:52.10 – also her second best time of the season.
Liberti Simmons, just a freshman for the Lady Eagles, earned 35th in her first appearance in the state meet with a time of 13:52.47 – her second best clocking of the season.
Lexie Streeter was 53rd for the Lady Eagles. She turned in a time of 14:08.62.
Rounding out the team scorers for the Lady Eagles was Faith Roberson. She finished 92nd in the race and turned in a season-best time of 15:07.12.
Also representing Waurika at the state competition was Hope Cummings. She finished 132nd with a time of 16:46.04 – also her best time of the season over a 3,200-meter course.
Kaci Reynolds finished not far behind Cummings in 140th place with a time of 17:33.54.
The fifth-place finish for the Lady Eagles was the highest team finish at the state meet in school history.
The Lady Eagles have qualified for the state cross country meet the past three seasons and have improved each year. In 2017, Waurika finished 14th and in 2018 the Lady Eagles were ninth.
Waurika also qualified for state in 2014 and 2013.
“These girls ran hard in practice and in meets,” said Masoner commenting on the 2019 season. “I was hoping for a regional title this year, but they gave themselves a chance.”
“The one thing about this group of ladies is they were determined to do better at state which they did by finishing fifth overall and beating the two teams that beat them at regionals,” added Masoner.
“I am super excited about next year getting everyone back next year except for Sara (Ballard),” noted Masoner. “We will add five girls moving up from the junior high team that will make us better.”
While the boys’ squad failed to qualify for the state meet, they claimed one meet title and performed well against some tough competition throughout the year.
“I am also proud of the boys’ team although we didn’t qualify for state,” said Masoner about the Eagles’ 2019 season. “The boys never seemed to get over the hump where their times started to go down.”
“They worked hard and ran close to each other which needs to be done to score well but only was able to do that in the front half of the pack in a couple of meets,” Masoner noted.
“It hurt not having Bryson (Hernandez) this year since he has been one of the team leaders the previous three years,” said Masoner. “We are losing half our team to graduation, but we will get some help from the junior high team.”
With the accomplishments of both teams this year, the Lady Eagles and Eagles have a lot to look forward to next fall for the 2020 cross country season.
Hoping to redeem what has been a disappointing season for the Waurika fast-pitch softball team, the Lady Eagles were to have begun play today in the Class A District Tournament at Ringling.
The first round game with Wilson was to have been played at noon today (Thursday). The loser was slated to face Ringling at 1:30 p.m. and the winner plays Ringling today at 3 p.m.
The double-elimination tournament will continue tonight and if only two teams remain, the championship game would be tonight if one of the teams has no losses.
An if necessary game is scheduled for Friday.
Last week the Lady Eagles dropped contests to Geronimo, 4-1, on Monday and to Velma-Alma, 12-5, last Thursday
The Lady Eagles scored in the top of the first against Geronimo as Gracie Walling singled. Hope Cummings also singled and Walling scored by stealing home to give Waurika a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Blue Jays picked up two runs in the bottom of the first as the first two runners reached on errors and eventually came around to score to give Geronimo a 2-1 advantage.
The game stayed at 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning. Three hits and two walks helped the Lady Blue Jays add two more runs to take a 4-1 advantage into the seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh, the Lady Eagles went down in order.
Five different players for Waurika had hits – Liberti Simmons, Faith Roberson, Walling, Cummings and Landry Forsyth.
Against Velma-Alma the Lady Eagles battled on nearly even terms with the Lady Comets until late in the game.
The Lady Comets got on the board first with a four-run uprising in the bottom of the first with the benefit of only two base hits.
The Lady Eagles answered in the top of the second with a pair of runs. Cummings singled and Forsyth singled and Cummings scored on a bases loaded walk by Grace Hill. Forsyth scored on an error and the Lady Eagles had trimmed the lead to 4-2.
V-A came back with a single run in the bottom of the second to increase the lead to 5-2.
Waurika narrowed the lead in the top of the third with a run after Walling reached on an error Forsyth got an RBI-single to put the deficit at 5-3.
The Lady Comets added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a run to put the score at 6-3.
In the top of the fifth, the Lady Eagles scored twice. Walling led off with a walk, Cummings singled and Forsyth singles to load the bases. Riley Howell was hit by a pitch to score Walling and Kinzie Taylor got an RBI-single to cut the Lady Comet lead to 6-5.
In the bottom of the fifth the Lady Comets scored three times taking advantage of two Lady Eagle errors, a walk and two doubles to extend the lead to 9-5.
Waurika could not cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth and V-A added three more runs in the bottom of the inning with a three singles and two Waurika errors.
The Lady Eagles could not score in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Forsyth was outstanding at the plate for the Lady Eagles going 3-for-4 with one run batted in. Cummings had two hits and scored two runs. Walling also scored a pair of runs for the Lady Eagles.
The Lady Eagles had seven hits total, but nine Waurika errors hampered the squad’s ability to stay with the Lady Comets, who had 10 hits and had only two errors in the game.
