THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bartlesville High School Athletics

NEWS

Muskogee ousted by Owasso in regional finals

MUSKOGEE OUSTED BY OWASSO IN REGIONAL FINALS

OWASSO — For Muskogee, a shaky season managed a momentum roll into the Class 6A regional finals Wednesday. Then it hit a wall — or more specifically, Owasso's Jordan Housher's pitching arm and a little bit of revenge. Housher handcuffed the Roughers on one hit and the Rams run-ruled the Roughers, 10-0 to punch a state tournament ticket for use next week. Housher hadn't allowed a hit until Mya Gaulden delivered a single to left with two outs in the fifth. Casey Isaacs then became the sixth strikeout for Housher, then the Rams put the game away with a four-run half bottom of the fifth. It was atonement for the District 6A-4 champs, who were double-dipped by Muskogee in last year's regional final, Keith Coleman's last as MHS coach. Rick Carbone inherited a team gutted by graduation of all but one of its top players a year ago. The Roughers finished the year 11-22 overall and fifth in 6A-4 this season with a 6-8 league mark. Once in regionals, a 14-2 win over Enid with their backs to the elimination wall on Tuesday was followed early Wednesday with a 6-1 win over Jenks. That win was redemption for a 5-1 opening loss to the Trojans on Tuesday where MHS left 13 runners on base. All that remained was beating Owasso twice to go back to state for a second consecutive season. The Rams (35-1) said nothing doing. Owasso's top three in the lineup, Rylie Boone, Daelyn Denny and Allie Elcher, were a combined 8-of-10 at the plate, driving in six of the 10 runs. Roughers starting pitcher Elexis Watson gave up 13 hits in 4 2/3 innings, the last a two-run double by Denny to reach the run-rule. Against Jenks, Watson had a two-run home run in a three-run fifth inning, making it a 5-1 game. D'Asia Brown was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Kennedy Glass was 2-for-3. Watson, playing with a leg muscle ailment, allowed just four hits and the one run while striking out three. The four-year starter wasn't the only injured player. Phynix Coleman missed both games and the entire regional after being struck in the face on a freak incident during batting practice prior to the start of the tournament on Tuesday. Catcher Kayleigh Phillips had a pinched nerve but played. "We were banged up," Carbone said. "But give Owasso credit today. They're 35-3 for a reason. [Housher] threw well. They were determined not to make the same mistake twice in this spot." Watson, Isaacs and Dymin Purdin graduate. Only two others are juniors. Carbone targeted a key focus heading into the off-season — reasons why his team lost six one-run games. "We have to pick up our runners in those opportunities," Carbone said. "Just like yesterday against Jenks, we leave the bases loaded three times and scored one run. Not taking advantage of those type situations shaped this season. It's part of a process we have to work through for next year."

PRIVACY POLICY (opens in a new tab) | © 2024 MASCOT MEDIA, LLC