The road to the State Tournament is never easy, and for three Okmulgee County teams, it was a battle of grit, determination and sportsmanship as they competed against some of the best in Oklahoma. The Dewar Lady Dragons, Preston Lady Pirates and Preston Pirates all advanced to State this past week, representing their schools and community with pride. While their seasons ended short of a championship, the journey to the tournament and their performances on the field were a testament to their hard work and talent.

— Dewar’s Tough Battle Against Red Oak The Dewar Lady Dragons put up a valiant fight against the powerhouse Red Oak Lady Eagles, but fell 10-4 in a high-intensity game. Despite the loss, the Lady Dragons displayed a mix of solid hitting and fielding, keeping the game close through the early innings.

Red Oak opened the scoring in the top of the first with two singles, bringing in two runs. Maggie Wilson led the way for Red Oak, driving in two runs to set the tone. The Lady Dragons, determined to respond, tied the game in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly by Emmy Hall and singles from Bre Harvell and Kinsey Maldonado. This burst of offense brought hope to Dewar fans as the game stood at 2-2 heading into the second inning.

However, Red Oak’s persistent offense proved difficult to contain. Blaykee Ward’s sacrifice fly in the top of the third pushed Red Oak ahead, 4-3. Dewar’s pitching staff, led by sophomore Brooke Thomas, worked hard to keep Red Oak within reach, but struggled with some walks and key hits from Red Oak’s lineup. Thomas pitched five innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits, with three strikeouts.

Leading the charge for Dewar’s offense was Emmy Hall, who drove in two runs, and junior standout Bre Harvell, who went 3-for-4 at the plate. Despite these efforts, Dewar couldn’t close the gap, as Red Oak’s lineup continued to chip away, eventually pulling ahead for the 10-4 win.

Key Performers

• Bre Harvell: 3-for-4

• Emmy Hall: 1-for-3, 2 RBIs

• Brooke Thomas: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB — Lady Pirates’ Heartbreaker Against Oktaha The Preston Lady Pirates found themselves in a pitching duel against Oktaha, ultimately losing a nail-biter 2-0. Both teams struggled to put runs on the board until the final inning, as pitching dominated the game from start to finish.

Junior pitcher Taylan Starr gave an impressive performance on the mound, striking out 10 batters over seven innings while allowing only three hits and two runs. Her dominant outing kept Preston within striking distance, but the Lady Pirates couldn’t generate enough offense to back her up.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the seventh inning, when Oktaha broke through. A triple by Shianne Dill and a sacrifice fly by Aubree Davis gave Oktaha the two runs they needed to secure the win. Despite allowing only two hits, Madison Capps pitched a complete game shutout for Oktaha, striking out four and allowing just one walk.

Preston’s offense struggled to get going, managing only two hits from Ashleigh Hurt and Kynlee Martin. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to capitalize on the few opportunities they had, ultimately falling short in a heartbreaking loss.

Key Performers

• Taylan Starr: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 10 K

• Ashleigh Hurt & Kynlee Martin: 1 H Each

• Madison Capps (Oktaha): 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K — Pirates Hard-Fought Battle Against Dale The Preston Pirates also made their mark on the State Tournament, facing off against the talented Dale Pirates in a game that saw Dale win 6-1. Preston’s hopes for a state title were dashed early on, as Dale’s offensive surge in the second and third innings created a deficit too large to overcome.

Dale got on the scoreboard in the second inning with a sacrifice bunt from Matthew Sharp, scoring one run. They continued to apply pressure in the third, where a single by Easton Edmonson and a double from Denton Forsythe each brought in two runs, extending their lead to 5-0.

Preston’s pitchers, Hunter McElhannon and Kaden Dean, worked tirelessly to keep the team in the game. McElhannon started the game, striking out four over two and two-thirds innings, but allowed five runs on four hits. Dean took over in relief, pitching three and one-third innings of one-hit ball, striking out eight without walking a batter.

The Preston offense struggled against Dale’s pitching. Hunter McElhannon was the bright spot for Preston, going 2-for-3 and driving in their only run. Dale’s defense was rock-solid, committing no errors and turning multiple key plays to keep Preston at bay.

Key Performers

• Hunter McElhannon: 2-for-3, 1 RBI

• Kaden Dean: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 8 K

• Denton Forsythe (Dale): 1-for-2, 2 RBIs — Season Records

Dewar Fastpitch: 36-5; Coach Stephen Castlebury Preston Fastpitch: 32-6; Coach Jimmy Hurst Preston Baseball: 19-7; Coach Ryan Hudson – While none of the Okmulgee County teams came away with a state championship, their efforts and performances on the field were a source of pride for their schools and community. The Dewar Lady Dragons, Preston Lady Pirates, and Preston Pirates all showed resilience and determination throughout the season, and their trips to state were well-deserved.

These athletes put their hearts into every game and faced tough competition with courage and composure. As the seasons come to a close, Okmulgee County can reflect on the incredible journeys of these teams and look forward to even greater success in the future.