The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association released the state tournament brackets Monday and Tuesday.

CLASS 6A
At Shawnee
Thursday
Tulsa Kelley at Norman North, 11 a.m.
Jenks vs. Yukon, 1:30 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Owasso, 4 p.m.
Edmond North vs. Broken Arrow, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Tulsa Kelley/Norman North winner vs. Jenks/Yukon winner, 4 p.m.
Edmond North/Broken Arrow winner vs. Edmond Santa Fe/Owasso winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 6 p.m.

CLASS 5A
At Edmond Santa Fe
Thursday
Noble vs. Deer Creek, 11 a.m.
Guthrie vs. Coweta, 1:30 p.m.
Carl Albert vs. Pryor, 4 p.m.
Chickasha vs. Claremore, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Noble/Deer Creek winner vs. Carl Albert/Pryor winner, 4 p.m.
Guthrie/Coweta winner vs. Chickasha/Claremore winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 4A
At Edmond Memorial
Thursday
Piedmont vs. Byng, 11 a.m.
Tuttle vs. Weatherford, 1:30 p.m.
Plainview vs. Catoosa, 4 p.m.
Berryhill vs. Dewey, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Piedmont/Byng winner vs. Plainview/Catoosa winner, 4 p.m.
Tuttle/Weatherford winner vs. Berryhill/Dewey winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Shawnee
Championship game, 3:30 p.m.

CLASS 3A
Thursday
At Deer Creek
Verdigris vs. OCS, 11 a.m.
Stroud vs. Vian, 1:30 p.m.
Salina vs. Spiro, 4 p.m.
Marlow vs. Kingston, 6:30 p.m.

At Edmond Santa Fe
Friday
Verdigris/OCS winner vs. Salina/Spiro winner, 11 a.m.
Stroud/Vian winner vs. Marlow/Kingston winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, noon

CLASS 2A
Thursday
At Dolese Park
Dale vs. Alva, 11 a.m.
Caney Valley vs. Latta, 1:30 p.m.
Colbert vs. Tushka, 4 p.m.
Silo vs. Ketchum, 6:30 p.m.

At Shawnee
Friday
Dale/Alva winner vs. Colbert/Tushka winer, 11 a.m.
Caney Valley/Latta winner vs. Silo/Ketchum winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 1 p.m.

Class A
At Dolese Park
Thursday
Cashion vs. Binger-Oney, 11 a.m.
Rattan vs. Thomas, 1:30 p.m.
Roff vs. Glencoe, 4 p.m.
Wright City vs. Sterling, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Cashion-Binger-Oney winner vs. Rattan-Thomas winner, 11 a.m.
Roff-Glencoe winner vs. Wright City-Sterling winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, noon

Class B
Thursday
At Edmond Memorial
Dover vs. Asher, 11 a.m.
Moss vs. Lookeba-Sickles, 1:30 p.m.
Leedey vs. Sentinel, 4 p.m.
Red Oak vs. Olustee, 7:30 p.m.

At Dolese Park
Friday
Leedey-Sentinel winner vs. Dover-Asher winner, 4 p.m.
Moss-Lookeba-Sickles winner vs. Red Oak-Olustee winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

USA Today’s Scott Allen took time to rank the top 10 high school baseball states in the country.

You can read the full list here.

The top four are no real surprise: California, Florida, Georgia, Texas. Next comes South Carolina at No. 5, followed by Oklahoma at No. 6.

Here’s what Allen had to say about the state of baseball in the state:

6. OKLAHOMA

Best Current High School Prospect: Jonathan Denney, C, Yukon
The Arkansas commit is a potential first-round draft pick.

Best Former ALL-USA Selection: Dylan Bundy, 2011
Bundy, the 2011 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year, was selected fourth overall in the 2011 draft. After dominating the minor leagues last season, he will compete for a rotation spot with Baltimore this spring.

Best All-Time: Johnny Bench
The 14-time All-Star and Hall of Fame catcher starred at Binger High School before the Cincinnati Reds made him the 36th overall pick of the 1965 draft.

The best current high school prospect and best former All-USA selection are pretty obvious picks. Denney, who was recently named as a Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American, has a chance to be the highest state high school position player picked in a long time. Bundy broke through to the majors last season at 19 years old.

The final category might draw more of an argument. When ESPN ranked the top 100 baseball players of all-time last year in its Hall of 100 project, Mickey Mantle was the top state player on the list at No. 9. Bench came in at No. 27.

Willie Stargell (No. 84) and Paul Waner (91) also made that list.

Former Owasso standout Dylan Bundy is ranked No. 2 on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects. AP Photo

Former Owasso right-hander Dylan Bundy is entering just his second full season as a professional baseball player, but his status continued rising Tuesday when he was revealed as the No. 2 prospect on MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects.

Former Broken Arrow standout Archie Bradley is No. 24 while former Putnam City and Oklahoma State left-hander Andrew Heaney is No. 81.

Bundy, 20, made his MLB debut last season for the Baltimore Orioles, appearing in two games out of the bullpen. In the minors he started 23 games, going 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA and 119 strikeouts across three levels.

“His Fastball is easily plus, thrown up to 98 mph, and he maintains velocity deep into his starts with a clean and easy delivery,” MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo wrote. “His curve should be at least above-average in the future, though he’s still learning to throw it consistently. He has good arm speed on his changeup, which should be another above-average or better pitch. He looks every bit the top of the rotation starter the Orioles hoped they were getting when they gave him a Major League contract.”

Bundy spoke via phone with MLB Network on Tuesday and was asked to grade his first professional season.

“I really wouldn’t give it just a grade,” he said. “I would just go on my feel and how I felt all year; I felt good throughout the whole year. I still had the zip on the fastball that I needed, I was still throwing strikes and competing out there.”

Bradley, a Broken Arrow standout who was going to play at Oklahoma before being drafted No. 7 overall in 2011 by Arizona, had a successful first season as a professional. He started 27 games in the Midwest League, going 12-6 with a 3.84 ERA and 152 strikeouts. Perhaps the most glaring statistic is his .181 batting average against.

“His fastball, which tops out at 95 mph, has some serious sink to generate groundball outs,” Mayo said. “His curve has sharp bite to it, though he doesn’t always command it well. He has a feel for a changeup with some fade to it, giving him the chance to have three average or better offerings at his disposal.”

The negative? Bradley also led the league in walks with 84.

Heaney was selected ninth overall in last year’s draft by the Marlins and was able to make six starts in the minors. His overall ERA was a bit high at 4.33, though.

“Heaney’s plus pitchability should let him move quickly, as he has a firm grasp of the strike zone and mixes his pitches well,” Mayo wrote.

Texas Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar is ranked No. 1.

The Baltimore Orioles said last month they would not bring up phenom Dylan Bundy to the majors in September, preferring to send him to their Florida instructional league team instead of injecting the 19-year-old into the thick of a pennant race.

Wednesday morning, a night after Baltimore used  eight pitchers in an 18-inning win over Seattle, the Orioles relented and called Bundy to the majors, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

Bundy was 9-3 with a 2.08 ERA across three levels this year, rising from Class A Delmarva to high-A Frederick to Double-A Bowie.

Bundy is still nearly two months away from his 20th birthday. If he makes his debut this season, he’d become the 19th Oklahoman to debut in the big leagues before their 20th birthday, according to a search on Baseball-Reference.com.

Here’s a list of the youngest players from Oklahoman to make their debuts. When Bundy debuts, he’ll fall just above Ed Baecht on the list.

17: Roy Jarvis. Born June 7, 1926. Debuted April 30, 1944 for Brooklyn Dodgers. Born in Shawnee and attended Oklahoma City Central High School.

18: Bud Swartz. Born June 13, 1929. Debuted July 12, 1947 for St. Louis Browns. Born in Tulsa.

18: Von McDaniel. Born April 18, 1939. Debuted June 13, 1957 for St. Louis Cardinals. Attended Arnett (Hollis) High School.

18: Jerry Walker. Born Feb. 12, 1939. Debuted July 6, 1957 for Baltimore. Attended Byng HS

18: Cal McLish. Born Dec. 1, 1925. Debuted May 13, 1944 for Brooklyn Dodgers. Born in Anadarko. Attended Oklahoma City Central High School.

18: Jim Baumer. Born Jan. 29, 1931. Debuted Sept. 14, 1949 for Chicago White Sox. Born in Tulsa. Attended Broken Arrow High School.

19: Jerry Hinsley. Born April 9, 1945. Debuted April 18, 1964 for New York Mets. Born in Hugo.

19: Mike McQueen. Born Aug. 30, 1950. Debuted Oct. 2, 1969 for Atlanta Braves. Born in Oklahoma City.

19: Bobby Murcer. Born May 20, 1946. Debuted Sept. 8, 1965 for New York Yankees. Born in Oklahoma City. Attended Southeast High School.

19: Mickey Mantle. Born Oct. 20, 1931. Debuted April 17, 1951 for New York Yankees. Born in Spavinaw. Attended Commerce High School.

19: Johnny Callison. Born March 12, 1939. Debuted Sept. 9, 1958 for Chicago White Sox. Born in Qualls.

19: Jay Porter. Born Jan. 17, 1933. Debuted July 30, 1952 for St. Louis Browns. Born in Shawnee.

19: Virgil Cheeves. Born Feb. 12, 1901. Debuted Sept. 7, 1920 for Chicago Cubs. Born in Oklahoma City.

19: Darrell Porter. Born Jan. 17, 1952. Debuted Sept. 2, 1971 for Milwaukee Brewers. Attended Southeast High School.

19: Lindy McDaniel. Born Dec. 13, 1935. Debuted Sept. 2, 1955 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Born in Hollis. Attended Arnett (Hollis) High School.

19: Johnny Bench. Born Dec. 7, 1947. Debuted Aug. 28, 1967 for Cincinnati Reds. Born in Oklahoma City. Attended Binger High School.

19: Derrell Griffith. Born Dec. 12, 1943. Debuted Sept. 26, 1963 for Los Angeles Dodgers. Born in Anadarko. Attended Anadarko High School.

19: Ed Baecht. Born May 15, 1907. Debuted April 24, 1926 for Philadelphia Phillies. Born in Paden.

Former Putnam City North pitcher Jace James, center, signed with the Missouri baseball team last week.

Former Putnam City North baseball player Jace James has taken the next step in his baseball career, signing with Missouri last week.

James, a 2011 PC North grad, played last season at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, where he was 4-0 with a 1.59 earned-run average and 10 saves in 23 appearances.

James allowed 18 hits and six walks with 39 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings. He gave up only three extra-base hits, and opponents batted just .171 against him. He will be classified as a sophomore next season at Missouri.

James was a Big All-City first-team selection as a senior at PC North in the spring of 2011, going 8-2 with a 1.77 ERA and 86 strikeouts. He also played infield, hitting five home runs and driving in 46 runs, playing a huge role in getting the Panthers to the state tournament.

In addition, he was a two-year starter at quarterback for the Panthers football team, guiding them to the playoffs in 2009.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com
Twitter: @ScottWrightOK

A pair of city-area players were named to the ESPNHS 2012 Baseball All-American first team this week.

Carl Albert’s Taylor Hawkins, The Oklahoman’s All-State and Big All-City Player of the Year, earned first-team honors at catcher.

Hawkins hit 28 home runs this season, including one in the Class 5A championship game, to help give the Titans the state title.

Hawkins was a 12th-round pick of Tampa Bay in this month’s draft. He’s also an OU signee.

Joining Hawkins on the first team is Edmond Santa Fe right-handed pitcher Ty Hensley. Hensley was dominant on the mound, going 10-0 with a 1.52 ERA and 111 strikeouts in 55 innings. He also hit .447 with 10 home runs and 41 RBIs.

Hensley was a first-round pick of the New York Yankees and has signed with Ole Miss.

Leedey sophomore Drew Ward was named to the ESPNHS third team after hitting .541. Widely considered the nation’s top player in the 2014 class, Ward missed some time this season due to injury.

Ty Hensley accepts a 'Thank You' card from Terry Davis, a patient at The Children's Center in Bethany and a player for the Pirates in the Spirit League. Photo provided by The Children's Center

Ty Hensley’s life is pretty busy these days. But the Edmond Santa Fe pitcher, who was recently drafted by the New York Yankees, also knows there are more important things than another workout session or more contract negotiations.

On Tuesday night, Hensley served as the honorary team captain for the Pirates, a T-ball team that participates in the Spirit League in Yukon, designed for children with disabilities.

The Pirates have five players who are patients at The Children’s Center in Bethany, where Hensley and his mother have been volunteers in the past. Hensley joined the team for their end-of-season celebration and trophy ceremony Tuesday night

“It’s really impressive that a New York Yankee like Ty would take the time to brighten the day of our patients at The Children’s Center,” said Travis Doussette, the communications coordinator at The Children’s Center.

Hensley appreciates such moments just as much.

“I started volunteering there in January,” he said. “My mom’s company went there one day and she told me about it. I thought it sounded like a pretty cool idea, so we got me signed up to volunteer there. It’s a really neat experience.”

Ty Hensley, standing center, poses with members of the Pirates.

The game will be played July 24 at Oral Roberts (Small school 4:30 p.m., large school 7 p.m.)

Large East

Pitchers: Gabe Coldwell (Stilwell), Jacob Evans (Broken Arrow), Alex Hackerott (Sand Springs)

First baseman: Derrick Haworth (Durant)

Infielders: Donovan Walton (Tulsa Kelley), Mason Mantle (Metro Christian), Brenton Washausen (Claremore), Carter Cumbie (McAlester)

Outfielders: Dylan Helms (Eufaula), Corey Hassel (Stillwater), Adam Boyd (McAlester), J.P. Seifried (Claremore)

Catchers: Kylar Robertson (Sand Springs), Josh Whisler (Owasso)

Large West

Pitchers: Ty Hensley (Edmond Santa Fe), Jordan Watson (Edmond Santa Fe), Carson McPherson (Ardmore)

First baseman: Michael Lowe (Jones)

Infielders: Alex Polston (Carl Albert), Colt Pickens (Yukon), Tanner Dearman (Anadarko), Joe Robinson (Edmond North)

Outfielders: Greg Bruno (Midwest City), Luke Davis (Guthrie), Christian Thaxton (Duncan), T.J. Turner (Lawton MacArthur)

Catchers: Taylor Hawkins (Carl Albert), Dakota Shadoan (Norman North)

Small East

Pitchers: Evan Sanders (Hartshorne), Jacob Lux (Wyandotte), Dillon Proctor (Caddo)

First baseman: Jonathon Samuels (Rattan)

Infielders: Dusty Henry (Afton), Kaleb Matthews (Wellston), Landon Coon (Dale), Ty Miller (Caddo)

Outfielders: Caleb Hill (Wister), Brennon Fuser (Afton), Asa Thomas Manship (Dale), Zach Burns (Tushka)

Catchers: Cash Miller (Coleman), Eddia Lomas (Roff)

Small West

Pitchers: Brett McNaughton (Pioneer), Austin Kretchmar (Okarche), Stetson Buller (Timberlake)

First baseman: Clayton Brewster (Cheyenne)

Infielders: Jason Johnson (Arnett), Brady Baugh (Hennessey), Kent Callison (Lookeba-Sickles), Cameron Nix (Carnegie)

Outfielders: Josh Jackson (Amber-Pocasset), Dillon Almaguer (Granite), Jeff Jackson (Amber-Pocasset), Aaron McCandless (Shattuck)

Catchers: Cody Hunter (Arnett), Landon Larue (Crescent)

Friday
Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Oral Roberts
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

CLASS 5A
At Tulsa Union
Thursday
Game 1: Shawnee vs. Claremore, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Skiatook vs. Carl Albert, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Guthrie vs. Durant, 4 p.m.
Game 4: McAlester vs. Deer Creek, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Oral Roberts
Championship game, noon

CLASS 4A
At Shawnee
Thursday
Game 1: Berryhill vs. Heritage Hall, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Anadarko vs. Tecumseh, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Hilldale vs. Byng, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Weatherford vs. Oologah, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Game 2 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 4 winner. 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, 5 p.m.

CLASS 3A
Thursday
At Edmond Memorial
Game 1: Marlow vs. Jones, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Henryetta vs. Metro Christian, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Salina vs. Plainview, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Verdigris vs. Spiro, 6:30 p.m.

At Shawnee
Friday
Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday
Championship game, noon

CLASS 2A
At Dolese Park
Thursday
Game 1: Dale vs. Fairview, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Silo vs. Hennessey, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Ketchum vs. Tushka, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Oktaha vs. Wister, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
Game 1 winner vs. Game 3 winner, 4 p.m.
Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
At Shawnee
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

Heritage Hall’s baseball team made the semifinals last year and had most of its starters returning.

But an ambitious schedule and some uneven performances at the plate early in the season led to an under .500 record going into last weekend’s I-40 Classic.

But the Chargers put it all together, beating Class B No. 4 Lookeba-Sickles, Bethany, Class 4A No. 6 Weatherford and No. 2 Anadarko to win the tournament.

The Chargers (12-9) did it with four complete-game performances, including junior Tyler Huber’s no-hitter in a 4-3 win over Lookeba-Sickles.

Chad Nelson nearly no-hit Weatherford, allowing just a bloop single in a 3-2 win.

Freshman Ryan Huber got the win in an 8-2 victory over Bethany and Nathan Bowker went the distance against Anadarko in a 5-4 championship-game win.

“Our pitching has been strong all year but we’re just now starting to swing the bats as well,” Heritage Hall coach Pat Wasson said.

Among those bats coming on strong is Barry J. Sanders, who started in a bit of a slump but has heated up lately.

The Chargers are scheduled to play at Casady at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Monday, it was Gavin LaValley coming up big for Carl Albert against Chickasha.

Tuesday, it was Taylor Hawkins’ turn.

The Oklahoma signee was 4 for 4 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs in the Titans’ 16-0 win.

Alex Polston, an Oklahoma State signee, added a grand slam as Carl Albert bounced back from Monday night’s loss to Shawnee.

Class 5A No. 2 Carl Albert improved to 4-0 in District 5A-2 play. The Titans step outside of district play Friday when they play at No. 4 Guthrie at 4 p.m.

Carl Albert’s Gavin LaValley had a big day at the plate Monday.
The sophomore homered three times in a 15-4 win over Chickasha, then belted another in his first at bat against Shawnee in the nightcap.
The Titans dropped the second game 3-1.
LaValley had five RBIs in the opening win, while Taylor Hawkins and Alex Polston also added home runs.
Shawnee’s Tim Perkins limited the damage after LaValley’s second-inning home run tied the game 1-1. Perkins went the distance and the Wolves scored two in the fifth to pull out the win.
The loss was No. 3 Carl Albert’s first of the season. No. 4 Shawnee is 7-4.

at Jenks
Tulsa Kelley vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Kelley vs. Deer Creek, 4 p.m.
Jenks vs. Deer Creek, 6:30 p.m.

Friday
at Broken Arrow
Broken Arrow vs. Deer Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Memorial vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 4 p.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 6:30 p.m.

at Jenks
Jenks vs. Edmond Memorial, 1:30 p.m.
Tulsa Kelley vs. Moore, 4 p.m.
Jenks vs. Moore, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday
at Broken Arrow
Tulsa Memorial vs. Deer Creek, 9 a.m.
Broken Arrow vs. Moore, 11:30 a.m.

at Jenks
Tulsa Kelley vs. Edmond Memorial, 9 p.m.
Jenks vs. Edmond Santa Fe, 11:30 p.m.

East No. 4 vs. West No. 4, 2:30 p.m.*
East No. 3 vs. West No. 3, 5 p.m.*

East No. 2 vs. West No. 1, 2:30 p.m.*
East No. 1 vs. West No. 1, 5 p.m.*
Sites for these games will be determined by finish of Broken Arrow and Jenks in pool play.

Anadarko’s Tanner Dearman has already signed with Howard College, one of the top junior college baseball programs in the country, but he received a big-time Division I offer earlier this week when Wichita State came through.
Dearman hit .489 with 25 stolen bases and scored 66 runs as a junior.
It’s already been an eventful year for Dearman, who was a key piece in the Warriors’ run to the Class 3A football title.
Dearman had 403 receiving yardsm 199 rushing yards, 45 tackles and nine interceptions as a senior.
Anadarko is currently No. 2 in the OKRankings.com Class 4A baseball coaches rankings.

Edmond Santa Fe senior right-hander Ty Hensley started the team’s Spring Break trip to Arizona off with a bang Monday night.
Hensley threw five no-hit innings, striking out 13 as the Wolves beat Apollo (Ariz.) 11-0.
With spring training also going in in Arizona, it gave many big league teams a chance to see Hensley up close. More than 40 scouts and even a few general managers took in Hensley’s performance.
He also impressed at the plate, with a solo home run and another hit.
Hensley is signed with Ole Miss but is expected to be an early draft pick this summer.

Class B
Thursday
At Edmond Santa Fe
Red Oak vs. Caney, noon
Leedey vs. Moss, 2:30 p.m.
Coleman vs. Tupelo, 5 p.m.
Arnett vs. Lookeba-Sickles, 7:30 p.m.
Friday
At Edmond Santa Fe
Leedey/Moss winner vs. Coleman/Tupelo winner, 5 p.m.
Red Oak/Caney winner vs. Arnett/Lookeba-Sickles winner, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
At RedHawks Field
Championship game, 2:30 p.m.

Class A
Dale, Olive, Ripley
Wister, Crowder, Howe
Byng, Indianola, New Lima
Latta, Vanoss, Earlsboro
Okarche, Fargo/Gage, Glencoe
Rattan, Clayton, Ft. Towson
Ft. Cobb-Broxton, Arapaho-Butler, Hydro-Eakly
Colbert, Turner, Achille
Sterling, Sentinel, Fletcher
Soper, Tushka, Boswell
Silo, Calera, Rock Creek
Wright City, Haworth, Smithville
Amber-Pocasset, Calumet, Binger-Oney, Verden
Roff, Ninnekah, Stonewall
Blair, Canute, Chattanooga, Navajo
Oktaha, Preston, Cameron, Okay 

Class B
Red Oak, Braggs, McCurtain
Panola, Moss, Kinta
Arnett, Ft. Suppply, Waynoka
Tupelo, Mill Creek, Wapanucka
Leedey, Drummond, Vici
Coleman, Milburn, Bennington
Mulhall-Orlando, Dover, Cimarron, Shidler
Lookeba-Sickles, Indiahoma, Union City, Geronimo
Asher, Wanette, Calvin
Battiest, Eagletown, Caney
Stuart, Kiowa, Pittsburg
Varnum, Butner, Wilson-Henryetta
Olustee, Granite, Big Pasture, Davidson
Hammon, Cheyenne, Erick
Mason, Paden, Oilton
Buffalo Valley, LeFlore, Whitesboro

Former Sentinel and Oklahoma State standout Rebel Ridling was named the Southern League’s Hitter of the Week for the week ending Sunday.

The Tennessee Smokies infielder took a 13-game hitting streak into Monday night’s game against Jacksonville.

He started the week with five hits and seven RBIs over two games Monday and Tuesday.

Ridling, a 25th-round pick of the Cubs in 2008, is hitting .311 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs for Chicago’s Double-A affiliate.

Edmond Santa Fe right-hander Ty Hensley walked to the mound at Wrigley Field on Saturday, starting for the American team in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game.

He got the first batter he faced to ground out, then worked out of a two-on, one-out situation with a double play to cap a scoreless inning.

“It was a blast,” Hensley said. “It was so much fun to be able to do that.”

Hensley hit 94 on the radar run during his performance.

After getting back from Chicago, Hensley made his college choice official when he committed to Ole Miss.

He chose the Rebels over Arizona State and Texas.

He said he had known he wanted to commit to Ole Miss for awhile but wanted to wait to make it official.

“I just wanted to make sure that it was for sure where I wanted to go,” he said. “I felt like it was a place where I could develop as both a pitcher and a hitter better than anyplace else.”

Here are the 5A/6A districts:

Class 6A
District 1
Choctaw, Edmond North, Lawton Eisenhower, Midwest City, Moore, Putnam City, Edmond Santa Fe, Yukon
District 2
Putnam City North, Edmond Memorial, Lawton, Norman, Norman North, Putnam City West, Southmoore, Westmoore
District 3
Broken Arrow, Bartlesville, Tulsa Kelley, Bixby, Tulsa Edison, Muskogee, Owasso, Stillwater
District 4
Tulsa Union, Enid, Jenks, Mustang, Ponca City, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, US Grant

Class 5A
District 1
Deer Creek, Bishop McGuinness, Capitol Hill, El Reno, Guthrie, Guymon, Shawnee, Western Heights
District 2
Carl Albert, Altus, Ardmore, Chickasha, Del City, Duncan, Lawton MacArthur, Southeast
District 3
Claremore, Tulsa Washington, Collinsville, Coweta, Tulsa East Central, Grove, Skiatook, Tahlequah
District 4
McAlester, Tulsa Central, Durant, Tulsa Memorial, Tulsa Hale, Noble, Northwest Classen, Pryor

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

Tuesday
Game 1: Southmoore vs. Woodward CM, noon
Game 2: Enid Minors vs. Edmond Stars, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: WW Minors vs. CC Shockers, 5 p.m.
Game 4: OKC Broncos vs. Enid Majors, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday
Game 5: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, noon
Game 6: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser, 2:30 p.m.
Game 7: OKC Sandlot vs. Game 1 Winner, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Game 2 Winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday
Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner, 2:30 p.m.
Game 10: Game 7 Loser vs. Game 8 Loser, 5 p.m.
Game 11: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 7 Winner, 7:30 p.m.

Friday
*After Thursday’s play, pairing will be determined by AABC rules
Game 12: TBA vs. TBA, 5 p.m.
Game 13: TBA vs. TBA, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday
Game 14: TBA vs. TBA, noon
Game 15: TBA vs. TBA, 2:30 p.m.
Game 16: TBA vs. TBA, 7 p.m.

Sunday
Game 17: Championship, 1 p.m.
Game 18: Championship, 6 p.m. (if necessary)
Champion advances to South Plains National Regional in Fort Worth

But they’ll get a head start on getting to know each other this week as the duo are two members of Team Oklahoma in the Heartland Classic that begins Tuesday.

The event is in its second year and has replaced the Sunbelt Classic. Games this year will be played at Norman High, Norman North and Southmoore.

Oklahoma will be joined by teams from Canada, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Maryland, Arkansas and Arizona.

Games will be played all week, culminating in the championship at 6 p.m. Saturday at Norman.

Oklahoma roster
Cooper Ansell (Shawnee), Tanner Hessman (Choctaw), Garrett Crain (Edmond Santa Fe), Kyle Lacy (Edmond Santa Fe), Denver Johnston (Midwest City), Brad Honeycutt (Edmond Memorial), Grant Hamilton (Bethany), Dylan Raper (Glenpool), Travis Remillard (Norman), Caleb Simpson (Norman North), Ryan Wright (Midwest City), Edward Layton (Pioneer-Pleasant Vale), Sean Patton (Jenks), Cisco Factor (Yukon), John Lassiter (Edmond Memorial), Kyle Vail (Moore), Koda Glover, Jace James (Putnam City North)
Coaches: Wayne Dozier (Carl Albert), Todd Boyer (Shawnee), Colin White (Carl Albert), Kevin James (Yukon).

Heartland Classic
Tuesday
At Norman North
Canada vs. Texas, noon
Oklahoma vs. Maryland, 3:30
Ohio vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
At Southmoore
Ohio vs. Georgia, noon
Arkansas vs. Arizona, 3:30
Canada vs. Arkansas, 7 p.m.
At Norman
Texas vs. Georgia, 3:30
Maryland vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
At Norman North
Arkansas vs. Maryland, noon
Oklahoma vs. Arizona, 3:30
Georgia vs. Canada, 7 p.m.
At Southmoore
Georgia vs. Oklahoma, noon
Ohio vs. Texas, 3:30
Arkansas vs. Ohio, 7 p.m.
At Norman
Maryland vs. Canada, 3:30
Arizona vs. Texas, 7 p.m.
Thursday
At Norman North
Arizona vs. Ohio, noon
Texas vs. Arkansas, 3:30
At Southmoore
Maryland vs. Texas, noon
Oklahoma vs. Canada, 3:30
At Norman
Arkansas vs. Oklahoma, noon
Arizona vs. Georgia, 3:30
Friday
At Norman North
Georgia vs. Arkansas, noon
Canada vs. Arizona, 3:30
Georgia vs. Maryland, 7 p.m.
At Norman
Canada vs. Ohio, noon
Maryland vs. Ohio, 3:30
Texas vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m.
Saturday
At Norman
Seventh place, 9 a.m.
Fifth place, noon
Third place, 3 p.m.
Championship, 6 p.m.

Deer Creek's Michael Fulmer was drafted by the New York Mets, while Brian Anderson was drafted by the Minnesota Twins.

State championships are nice but this might rank right up there for the Deer Creek baseball program.

One day after another there was an Antler or former Antler being selected in the MLB Draft. Deer Creek is in a unique position in terms of location. It’s like its own isolated community.

But that’s part of what makes it special, baseball coach Ron Moore said. It wasn’t just Michael Fulmer, Brian Anderson and Derek Vaughn celebrating, the whole Deer Creek community played a role.

“This is an accumulation of not just one person but of the whole program,” Moore said. “One of the things we talk about is individual recognition comes from team success.”

It started Monday night when Fulmer, a right-handed pitcher, was selected by the New York Mets with the 44^th overall selection. Anderson followed Tuesday afternoon when chosen by the Minnesota Twins in the 20^th round.

Anderson was an interesting case because Moore said Anderson was being looked at hard by some teams as early as the ninth round as a pitcher. However, Anderson chose to enter the draft as a shortstop. It made him fall a little bit down the draft, but he’s still in a pretty good spot.

As for Vaughn, a Deer Creek graduate now at Texas Wesleyan, he was picked in the 47^th round by the Tampa Bay Rays. Anderson and Fulmer have both signed with Arkansas.

So in talking to Moore, I put him on the spot: ‘you ready to go through all of this again with Isaac Hellbusch?’

“It’s funny because at our first practice we had more than 40 scouts,” Moore said. “They came to see Michael and Brian, but it was an opportunity for everybody to get noticed. Ike certainly took advantage of that.

“He took more of an ownership of the team this year. Even though he was just a junior, he felt like this was his team, too.”

Hellbusch was one of the better pitchers in the area. And combined with Santa Fe’s Ty Hensley, is another potential big prospect for next year’s class.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Edmond Santa Fe's Clayton Blackburn and Conor Costello (not pictured) were drafted two picks within each other Tuesday.

Edmond Santa Fe’s Conor Costello had to interrupt his own celebration for another one. I guess that’s a pretty good reason, right?

Costello was excited about being selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 505th pick (16th round) of the MLB Draft. By the time he could let it all sink in, another Santa Fe player was selected. Not two minutes later, pitching star Clayton Blackburn was picked by the San Francisco Giants at No. 507.

“This feels so awesome,” Costello said. “I’ve been playing with him the last five years so to get drafted right by him is really cool.”

Blackburn and Costello were two vital cogs of a crazy-talented group of Wolves that reached the 6A state semifinals.

Costello has signed with Arkansas and was a first-team Big All-City selection, while Blackburn was a first-team Big All-City selection and first-team All-State pick by yours truly. Blackburn is headed to Oklahoma.

Blackburn was also involved in one of my favorite moments of the year, an epic pitching duel won by Blackburn in a 1-0 win at Deer Creek against Michael Fulmer.

Fulmer, of course, could also be headed to Arkansas. He was selected with the 44th pick by the New York Mets. And another Antler, Brian Anderson, is gonna be a Hog, too. So it’s possible to have Blackburn, Fulmer and Costello all in the same lineup.

“If we end up all going there, it’s going to be awesome because we’re all supposed to be roommates,” Costello said. “It’s an exciting time.”

Costello, 6-4 and 200 pounds, hit .373 with five home runs and 33 RBIs. He also was 5-2 on the mound with 57 strikeouts in 44 innings. Blackburn, 6-4 and 22o pounds, was 10-1 with a 1.37 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 66 innings. He hit .375 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs.

UPDATE: Heh, didn’t take long. Anderson got drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round (No. 628). Anderson is a phenomenal shortstop and hitter. Fulmer has given Anderson a lot of credit for Fulmer’s success as a hitter this season. Anderson was first-team All-State and Big All-City.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Deer Creek's Michael Fulmer is one step closer to accomplishing his dream of playing in MLB.

Deer Creek’s Michael Fulmer was busy making the rounds after being selected with the 44th pick of the MLB Draft by the New York Mets.

Was able to get in touch with him recently and here are some of the nuggets.

On the last hour:

“This has been unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. This is a dream come true.”

On the night’s event:

“We had a big watch party with more than 100 people. We had the entire baseball team and all the families. I want to thank them for all their support and their contributions to my success.”

On when the Mets first contacted him:

“They called around the end of the first round. My agent got back to me and said if I was still around, the Mets were thinking about taking me with the 44^th pick.”

On the moment of hearing his name:

“We got the call from the Mets area scout. My eyes lit up. I didn’t say a word to anybody. And then when they said my name the whole place just exploded. It was the happiest moment of my life.”

On other interested teams:

“From my understanding, the Rangers gave a call to my agent. The Rays were the team I thought. They had a lot of picks, and we had a great relationship with their area scout. They made a lot of great picks tonight, too. Right now, I’m just happy to be a Met. They’ve been in contact with me throughout the season, and I just kind of had that gut feeling.”

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

In an incredibly close decision, Broken Arrow's Archie Bradley (hoisting trophy) was named The Oklahoman's All-State Player of the Year.

OK, the feedback hasn’t been as negative as I thought. There have been questions about the selection but no irrational sentiments voiced so far.

Knew it was going to be an eye-opener to select Broken Arrow’s Archie Bradley instead of Owasso’s Dylan Bundy as The Oklahoman’s All-State Baseball Player of the Year.

Ryan Aber and myself did not make this selection to cause a stir, believe me. It was a tough one, and I still blame Ryan for why there will never be co-players of the year.

It stems back to the senior seasons of Keiton Page at Pawnee and Rotnei Clarke of Verdigris. Both won state championships. Clarke set the state scoring record. Incredibly tough. Ryan chose Page as the Player of the Year.

Since then, no matter what, it’s eliminated Co-Players of the Year. Though this is close to that, Page over Clarke is about the best case for the co-player honor.

I felt it last year in tennis with undefeated state champions (and clearly the two best singles players in the state) Mia Lancaster of Bishop McGuinness and Julie Labarthe of Heritage Hall. Picked Labarthe, definitely irked some but that’s OK.

So that brought us to this year. We were convinced on Bradley. Then Bundy was named the Gatorade Player of the Year. Then Bundy was named the National Player of the Year. Oy. But I’ve always viewed this as a high school award.

It’s what you did on the field/court/mat, etc. It’s not about potential. Bundy is projected to be the higher draft pick and that’s fine. And heck, it’s been great to see the genuine friendship between the two so I don’t feel there is a real rivalry.

Owasso's Dylan Bundy and Broken Arrow's Archie Bradley - two of the better Oklahoma HS pitchers in a LONG time.

This could have kinda been settled in April when the two teams were scheduled. It was rained out. This could have been settled at OneOK Field in Tulsa in the Class 6A state championship. Bundy didn’t pitch. Bradley did. And he pitched, maybe not his best, but the most important game of his life. He was dominant with 14 strikeouts and leading the Tigers to the state championship.

I don’t hold it against Bundy or his coaches/advisers that believed it was in Bundy’s best interest to not pitch. Heck, maybe it was after the backlash of what happened in 2010 with Bundy’s arm.

But I also wasn’t going to use it against Bradley for going out there and getting the job done on the biggest high school stage possible.

If you wanna play the stat game, Bundy was slightly better than Bradley in most major categories on the mound and at the plate. There weren’t many glaring differences between the two. You’re talking about hundredths separating ERAs. Three earned runs for Bradley compared to two for Bundy.

It’s nitpicking no matter which way you slice it. So instead of trying to knock down Bundy or Bradley to give out the honor, I chose to reward Bradley for an outstanding season that culminated with a magical outing on that Saturday in May.

Obviously expect both players to hear their names called Monday night, and it should be an incredible feeling for both of them. But I also feel the right choice was made for the All-State Baseball Player of the Year.

And if you wanna read even more on Bradley and Bundy, here is a tremendous piece by Matt Baker of the Tulsa World. Baker spent the majority of this week with the super studs to see what’s on their minds hours away from their lives being changed forever.

- All-State Player of the Year, Archie Bradley of Broken Arrow

- Big All-City Player of the Year, Michael Fulmer of Deer Creek

- Little All-City Player of the Year, Blake Estep of Jones

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Small West
Pitchers — Ryan Lenaburg, Sentinel; Ryan Raupe, Okarche; Heath Curry, Sterling.
Infielders — Jeremy Seaton, Cashion; Tyler Miller, Okarche; Ryan Ainsworth, Sterling; Cody McElroy, Chattanooga; Jason Esparza, Granite.
Outfielders — Edward Layton, Pioneer; Weylin Hargrove, Apache; Bobby Davis, Hydro-Eakly; Zach Friesen, Amber-Pocasset.
Catchers — Bryan Holt, Sentinel; Mason Marshall, Lookeba-Sickles.
Coach — Richard Carney, Granite
Small East
Pitchers — Mason Crenshaw, Red Oak; Parker Taylor, Rattan; Cameron Proctor, Oktaha.
Infielders — Lance Kirkland, Wellston; Jordan Booth, Red Oak; Tanner Goodwin, Dale; Dylan Tinkler, Latta; Shawn Hendricks, Silo.
Outfielders — Colby Nichols, Smithville; B.W. Savage, Silo; Jace Flewallen, Dale; Jacob Sanders, Tupelo.
Catchers — Brendon Barr, Roff; Jamie Oakes, Newkirk.
Coach — Pat Foster, Lincoln Christian

Here are the rosters for the Oklahoma City Area Baseball Coaches Association’s all-star game 6 p.m. Thursday at Palmer Field at Dolese Park:

North
Pitchers — Brad Honeycutt, Edmond Memorial; Conor Costello, Edmond Santa Fe; Michael Fulmer, Deer Creek.
Catchers — Jace James, Putnam City North; Clayton Blackburn, Edmond Santa Fe.
Infielders — Ross Stracke, Deer Creek; Jeff Stursa, Jones; Josh Blair, OKC Broncos; Brian Anderson, Deer Creek.
Outfielders — Kyle Lacy, Edmond Santa Fe; Dylan Keester, Edmond Memorial; Brian Brightwell, Putnam City.
Utility — Jack Decker, OKC Broncos
Reserves — Brandon Carr, Putnam City West; Anthony Stancampiano, McGuinness; Hunter Gates, Guthrie; Robert Irons, El Reno; Brian Rhodes, Piedmont; Vu Nguyen, Northwest Classen; Hunter Daylor, Edmond North; Garrett Massey, Classen; Jeremy Seaton, Cashion; Bob Kraft, Heritage Hall.
Coaches — Grant Ledbetter and Brent Hardin, NW Classen

South
Pitchers — Kevin Hill, Tecumseh; Kyle Vail, Moore; Matt Southard, Norman North.
Catchers — Caleb Teel, Southmoore; Denver Johnston, Midwest City.
Infielders — Anthony Frazier, Carl Albert; Tanner Hessman, Choctaw; A.J. Wilson, Carl Albert; Josh Terrell, Westmoore.
Outfielders — Torey Hart, Westmoore; Cisco Factor, Yukon; Aaron Johnson, Midwest City.
Utility — Caleb Simpson, Norman North. Designated hitter — Ty Ash, Choctaw.
Reserves — Chance Lay, McLoud; Michael Critchfield, Del City; Brian Strother, Capitol Hill; Hunter Wood, Western Heights; Jace Chestnut, Mustang; Josh Covert, Santa Fe South; Colin Foster, Blanchard; Erick Cummings, Tuttle; Travis Remillard, Norman; Dakota Sutton, Southeast; Cooper Ansell, Shawnee.
Coaches - Jarod Freeman, Westmoore; Dean Hodges, Moore

2011 Suburban Conference

All – Conference Team

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Sr. Brian Anderson- Deer Creek­­­­­­­­­­­­­­

PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Sr. Michael Fulmer- Deer Creek­­­­­­­­­­­­

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

Fr. Gavin Lavalley- Carl Albert

COACH OF THE YEAR

Ron Moore- Deer Creek

Class 3A
At Edmond Santa Fe
Friday
Quarterfinals
Game 1: Jones 4, Coalgate 3
Game 2: Eufaula 2, Chandler 1
Game 3: Sperry 1, Morris 0
Game 4: Verdigris 7, Purcell 1
Saturday
Semifinals
Game 5: Jones vs. Eufaula, 2:30
Game 6: Sperry vs. Verdigris, 5 p.m.
Championship: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 8 p.m.

Class 2A
At Dolese Park
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Game 1: Dale 12, Frederick 2
Game 2: Latta 4, Christian Heritage 3
Game 3: Silo 10, Haskell 0
Game 4: Wister 10, Newkirk 0
Friday
Semifinals
Game 5: Dale 5, Latta 2
Game 6: Wister 6, Silo 1
At Shawnee
Saturday
Championship: Dale vs. Wister, 2:30

Bracket B
At Bixby
Wednesday
Game 1: Broken Arrow 12, Choctaw 0
Game 2: Jenks 7, Putnam City North 6
Thursday
Game 3: Choctaw 7, Putnam North 5
Game 4: Broken Arrow 15, Jenks 2
Game 5: Jenks 6, Choctaw 2
Friday
Game 6: Broken Arrow 20, Jenks 8
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Championship: Owasso vs. Broken Arrow, Noon

Class 5A
Bracket A
At Broken Arrow
Wednesday
Game 1: Chickasha 5, Pryor 4 (8)
Game 2: Deer Creek 9, Ardmore 0
Thursday
Game 3: Pryor 12, Ardmore 2
Game 4: Deer Creek 6, Chickasha 3
Game 5: Pryor 16, Chickasha 6
Friday
Game 6: Deer Creek 7, Pryor 6

Bracket B
At Claremore
Wednesday
Game 1: Tulsa Kelley 18, Guthrie 14
Game 2: Shawnee 11, Carl Albert 4
Thursday
Game 3: Carl Albert 6, Guthrie 3
Game 4: Tulsa Kelley 16, Shawnee 0
Game 5: Shawnee 10, Carl Albert 5
Friday
Game 6: Tulsa Kelley 6, Shawnee 2
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Tulsa Kelley vs. Deer Creek, 2:30

Bracket B
At Bixby
Wednesday
Game 1: Broken Arrow 12, Choctaw 0
Game 2: Jenks 7, Putnam City North 6
Thursday
Game 3: Choctaw 7, Putnam North 5
Game 4: Broken Arrow 15, Jenks 2
Game 5: Jenks 6, Choctaw 2
Friday
Game 6: Broken Arrow vs. Jenks, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Championship: Winner Bracket A vs. Winner Bracket B, Noon

Class 5A
Bracket A
At Broken Arrow
Wednesday
Game 1: Chickasha 5, Pryor 4 (8)
Game 2: Deer Creek 9, Ardmore 0
Thursday
Game 3: Pryor 12, Ardmore 2
Game 4: Deer Creek 6, Chickasha 3
Game 5: Pryor 16, Chickasha 6
Friday
Game 6: Deer Creek vs. Pryor, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)

Bracket B
At Claremore
Wednesday
Game 1: Tulsa Kelley 18, Guthrie 14
Game 2: Shawnee 11, Carl Albert 4
Thursday
Game 3: Carl Albert 6, Guthrie 3
Game 4: Tulsa Kelley 16, Shawnee 0
Game 5: Shawnee 10, Carl Albert 5
Friday
Game 6: Tulsa Kelley vs. Shawnee, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Winner Bracket A vs. Winner Bracket B, 2:30

Bracket B
At Bixby
Wednesday
Game 1: Broken Arrow 12, Choctaw 0
Game 2: Jenks 7, Putnam City North 6
Thursday
Game 3: Choctaw vs. Putnam North, 1:30
Game 4: Broken Arrow vs. Jenks, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Championship: Winner Bracket A vs. Winner Bracket B, Noon

Class 5A
Bracket A
At Broken Arrow
Wednesday
Game 1: Chickasha 5, Pryor 4 (8)
Game 2: Deer Creek 9, Ardmore 0
Thursday
Game 3: Pryor vs. Ardmore, 1:30
Game 4: Chickasha vs. Deer Creek, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)

Bracket B
At Claremore
Wednesday
Game 1: Tulsa Kelley 18, Guthrie 14
Game 2: Shawnee 11, Carl Albert 4
Thursday
Game 3: Guthrie vs. Carl Albert, 1:30
Game 4: Tulsa Kelley vs. Shawnee, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Winner Bracket A vs. Winner Bracket B, 2:30

Bracket B
At Bixby
Wednesday
Game 1: Broken Arrow vs. Choctaw, 1:30
Game 2: Putnam City North vs. Jenks, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Championship: Winner Bracket A vs. Winner Bracket B, Noon

Class 5A
Bracket A
At Broken Arrow
Wednesday
Game 1: Chickasha vs. Pryor, 1:30
Game 2: Deer Creek vs. Ardmore, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)

Bracket B
At Claremore
Wednesday
Game 1: Tulsa Kelley vs. Guthrie, 1:30
Game 2: Shawnee vs. Carl Albert, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)
Saturday
At OneOK Field
Winner Bracket A vs. Winner Bracket B, 2:30

Class 3A
At Edmond Santa Fe
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Game 1: Jones vs. Coalgate, Noon
Game 2: Eufaula vs. Chandler, 7:30
Game 3: Morris vs. Sperry, 2:30
Game 4: Purcell vs. Verdigris, 5 p.m.
At Shawnee
Friday
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, Noon
Game 6: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7:30
Saturday
Championship: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 5 p.m.

Class 2A
At Dolese Park
Thursday
Quarterfinals
Game 1: Frederick vs. Dale, Noon
Game 2: Latta vs. Christian Heritage, 2:30
Game 3: Silo vs. Haskell, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Wister vs. Newkirk, 7:30
Friday
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 6:30
At Shawnee
Saturday
Championship: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 2:30

At Wellston
Thursday
Game 1: Hominy vs. Wellston, 1:30
Game 2: Dale vs. Hennessey, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Latta
Thursday
Game 1: Latta vs. Luther, 1:30
Game 2: Drumright vs. Warner, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Pocola
Thursday
Game 1: Wister vs. Wyandotte, 1:30
Game 2: Fairland vs. Pocola, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Walters
Thursday
Game 1: Calera vs. Frederick, 1:30
Game 2: Walters vs. Mangum, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Ponca City
Thursday
Game 1: Newkirk vs. Commerce, 1:30
Game 2: Alva vs. Ketchum, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Christian Heritage
Thursday
Game 1: Christian Heritage vs. Watonga, 1:30
Game 2: Cordell vs. Apache, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Oktaha
Thursday
Game 1: Liberty vs. Oktaha, 1:30
Game 2: Tushka vs. Haskell, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Bethel
Thursday
Game 1: Bethel vs. Meeker, 1:30
Game 2: Okemah vs. Chandler, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Verdigris
Thursday
Game 1: Verdigris vs. Salina, 1:30
Game 2: Henryetta vs. Inola, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Morris
Thursday
Game 1: Morris vs. Westville, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Vian vs. Lincoln Christian, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Jones
Thursday
Game 1: Jones vs. Kingfisher, 1:30
Game 2: Perry vs. St. Mary, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Coalgate
Thursday
Game 1: Coalgate vs. Valliant, 1:30
Game 2: Kingston vs. Sulphur, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Sperry
Thursday
Game 1: Sperry vs. Kellyville, 1:30
Game 2: Pawhuski vs. Perkins-Tryon, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Marlow
Thursday
Game 1: Plainview vs. Marlow, 1:30
Game 2: Purcell vs. Davis, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Weatherford
Thursday
Game 1: Weatherford vs. Woodward, 1:30
Game 2: Piedmont vs. Clinton, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Blanchard
Thursday
Game 1: Blanchard vs. Ada, 1:30
Game 2: Heritage Hall vs. Seminole, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Sallisaw
Thursday
Game 1: Fort Gibson vs. Sallisaw, 1:30
Game 2: Poteau vs. Broken Bow, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Cache
Thursday
Game 1: Cache vs. Newcastle, 1:30
Game 2: Byng vs. Lone Grove, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Mannford
Thursday
Game 1: Mannford vs. Blackwell, 1:30
Game 2: Glenpool vs. Cascia Hall, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Oologah
Thursday
Game 1: Oologah vs. Locust Grove, 1:30
Game 2: Stilwell vs. Jay, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

At Tuttle
Thursday
Game 1: Tecumseh vs. Tuttle, 1:30
Game 2: Anadarko vs. Bethany, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 1 p.m. (if necessary)

Class B
Thursday
At Edmond Memorial
Game 1: Red Oak vs. Dover, noon
Game 2: Lookeba-Sickles vs. Sentinel, 2:30
Game 3: Granite vs. Coleman, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Arnett vs. Tupelo, 7:30
Friday
At Dolese Park
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2:30
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5 p.m.
Saturday
Championship: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, noon

* Pitchers Clayton Blackburn (11), Michael Fulmer (11) and Kyle Shaw (3) combined for 25 strikeouts out of a possible 42 outs.
* Nobody had more than one hit. Blackburn had lone RBI on sacrifice fly to score Lacy.
* The only Antler to not strike out was shortstop Brian Anderson (Arkansas signee). Anderson didn’t have one of the two hits, though. Three Wolves didn’t K (Conor Costello, Brady Newville and Zac Cobble). However, none of them figured in the only run.
* Blackburn’s no-hitter was broken up by a bunt single with two outs in the fifth by Hunter Dinkines. The single eventually led to the final out of the inning at home plate when DC tried scoring from second base on the bunt.
* Blackburn struck out seven consecutive batters at one point. Fulmer retired 10 of the last 11. Only person to reach had the courtesy runner caught stealing.
* The loss snaps Deer Creek’s 21-game winning streak and is first loss to in-state opponent.
* Santa Fe’s Lonny Cobble: “We’re as healthy as we’ve been all season today. Our arms are coming back, and we’re feeling really good.”
* Deer Creek’s Ron Moore: “Anybody who says a loss is a good thing before the playoffs – that’s a bunch of bull. You want to win every game. We let a couple of opportunities slip away. The competition level today was great and Michael threw the ball really well.”

5:54 – Kyle Shaw strikes out the side.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – Final

5:46 – Fulmer closes the day by retiring 10 of his last 11. The only batter to reach had the courtesy runner picked off on a caught stealing. Fulmer goes 7 IP, 5 H, 11 K. Blackburn has reached his limit, too. Kyle Shaw in to close out the show.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – Bot 7th

5:36 – Antlers try to play small ball again but to no avail. Blackburn gets Ross Stracke to pop out on a nice effort by Newville to retire the side.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – End 6th

5:30 – Fulmer picks up strikeout No. 10 and retires the side 1-2-3. He has now taken down the last eight batters. Blackburn will throw the sixth. Coach Lonny Cobble said he was going to try to limit Blackburn to 5 innings or 80 pitches. But when you’re throwing as good as Clayton is, hmm, tough to do, no?

5:24 – Ooh, a heads up play by Ty Hensley keeps it 1-0. After making a throwing error to start the inning, Hensley triggers the rundown to end the inning. Hunter Dinkines picked up the Antlers’ first hit on a bunt with Chase Stephens at second base. Instead of throwing to first, Hensley kept the ball, which enabled the Wolves to gun down Stephens at the plate (attempting to score from 2nd on the bunt). Blackburn with two more Ks to give him 10.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – End 5th

5:15 – We were so close to having a half inning without a strikeout. But Fulmer struck out the final batter of a 1-2-3 inning. He’s got 9 for the day.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – Bot 5th

5:08 – A great defensive play at short by Brady Newville, add in another strikeout and the Antlers are retired in order. Blackburn has 8 Ks through four, too.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – End 4th

5:02 – Fulmer works around a couple of singles, strikes out two to give the Arkansas signee eight through four frames.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – Bot 4th

4:52 – Wow, it’s reached a point where if the ball is hit, that’s cause for celebration. Blackburn punches out two more before Brian Anderson ends the streak at seven on a ground out. Thirteen Ks between Blackburn and Fulmer.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – End 3rd

4:47 – Everything you would expect from these two. Fulmer gives up a one-out single to Zac Cobble and strikes out the next two to give him six so far.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek – Bot 3rd

4:38 – Blackburn is on fire. The OU signee has now struck out five consecutive batters in fanning the side in the bottom of the second.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – End 2nd

4:32 – Fulmer brings it in this frame. Retires the side 1-2-3 and strikes out the final two batters looking. He’s got four Ks through two.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – Bot 2nd

4:25 – Blackburn works out of it. Two uncharacteristic errors by the Wolves, but Blackburn strikes out the final two batters to escape out of the jam. Not sure how crowd is looking on TV, but it’s packed here at John Hundley Memorial Field and the ‘blue out’ by Deer Creek is certainly adding to it.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – End 1st

4:12 – Edmond Santa Fe gets on the board first. Kyle Lacy jacked a triple and was brought in via sacrifice fly by Clayton Blackburn. Lacy was down 0-2 and took a tough pitch. A lot of people (yours truly included) thought it was strike three. Given new life, Lacy hit a towering drive to left-center. Michael Fulmer had two Ks.
Edmond Santa Fe 1, Deer Creek 0 – Bot 1st

3:32 – Arrived at John Hundley Memorial Field for the battle between Deer Creek and Edmond Santa Fe. Great crowd for the game still being 30 minutes away. Will post inning-by-inning updates. Can’t make it out here, game is also being televised LIVE on Cox.

Kyle Lacy and Jackson Matthews have played big roles in helping Edmond Santa Fe this season.

There should be a ‘Boneman’ championship trophy given to the winner of Saturday’s Edmond Santa Fe and Deer Creek baseball game. Somebody get on that and design the trophy. We only have a day to get it done.

I haven’t gotten to see Broken Arrow or Owasso this season (and we know how awesome both of those teams are), but when you talk about the west side, it’s been the Wolves and the Antlers.

There’s not much more either team can do to stand out at this point. They’ve both made their mark on this season and both know it won’t matter unless they can claim that championship in two weeks. Regardless, it should be a whole lotta fun at John Hundley Memorial Field at Deer Creek.

Coaches Lonny Cobble and Ron Moore have said they’re going to throw their aces – Michael Fulmer for the Antlers and Clayton Blackburn for the Wolves. Fulmer, of course, has signed with Arkansas, while Blackburn is going to be a Sooner.

No idea how long either will throw. I can’t imagine them going more than 4-5 innings. It might be where they reach a certain pitch count limit and then are taken out. For however long they’re both on the mound, it will be a showcase of two of the best. And again, for the west side, the version of Archie Bradley vs. Dylan Bundy.

Deer Creek started the season 6-0 before going 0-4 in a tournament in Alabama. It fueled the team, initially, and the Antlers haven’t let up yet. Brian Anderson is one of the best players around and has also signed with Arkansas. Every time I see him I’m more impressed. Fulmer is also a solid hitter, and I like what Ross Stracke brings to the table. And Isaac Hellbusch, well, his stock has gone up so much since the beginning of the season.

The "Arkansas boys" as Michael Fulmer and Brian Anderson have led Deer Creek to another great season.

The Antlers have won 21 consecutive games and have not lost to an in-state component this season. Notable wins include at Carl Albert, Norman North, Westmoore, Stillwater, Chickasha, Guthrie (twice), Bishop McGuinness (twice).

Santa Fe has been every bit as good as expected. This season also marked coach Cobble’s 500th win with the Wolves but that didn’t serve as a distraction.

Between Conor Costello (Arkansas) and Ty Hensley and Blackburn, that’s a scary trio either on the mound or at the plate. Easton Mitchell has surprised me all season as a pitcher, and the ‘Kyles’ Lacy and Shaw can both bring it.

The Wolves’ biggest win was last Saturday at Broken Arrow. Under next year’s single elimination format, that would spell the end of the Tigers. I think that’s part of the reason the coaches weren’t in favor of that. Show you can do it again. That’s another argument for another time.

Santa Fe has had the target on its back and has been up to the challenge. Two wins against Yukon, Putnam City North. Wins against Norman North, Westmoore, among others.

The game was originally scheduled for 6 p.m. However, Santa Fe has Prom on Saturday so the game has been moved (yay) to 4 p.m. and will also be on Cox.

So as I asked in the title, No. 3 Edmond Santa Fe (6A) vs. No. 1 Deer Creek (5A)…what more do you want?

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Class 6A Baseball
West
At Putnam City North
Wednesday
Game 1: Putnam North vs. Norman, 1 p.m.
Game 2: Putnam City vs. Moore, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 7 p.m. (if necessary)

At Deer Creek
Wednesday
Game 1: Deer Creek vs. Northwest Classen, 1:30
Game 2: Noble vs. Lawton MacArthur, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)

At Guthrie
Wednesday
Game 1: Guthrie vs. Tulsa East Central, noon
Game 2: McGuinness vs. Skiatook, 2:30
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 5 p.m.
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2:30
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 5 p.m.
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 2:30
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 5 p.m. (if necessary)

East
Wednesday
At Broken Arrow
Game 1: Edmond Memorial vs. Claremore, 1:30
Game 2: Broken Arrow vs. Putnam West, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30
Thursday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 6:30
Friday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)

At Yukon
Tuesday
Game 1: Yukon vs. Southmoore, 1:30
Game 2: Westmoore vs. Lawton Eisenhower, 4 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6:30
Wednesday
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 4:30
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 4:30
Game 7: Winner Game 6, vs. Loser Game 6, 6:30 (if necessary)

Let that sink in for a moment. Wow, gotta say that’s pretty cool. Owasso, led by uber-star pitcher Dylan Bundy, went from No. 4 in the last rankings to the top slot.

Broken Arrow went from No. 5 to No. 8. Of course with OKRankings.com rankings completed last week, yes, you can say Owasso is No. 1 in the nation and not even No. 1 in the state. That’s not a bash on anybody, but it is certainly weird to say.

The Rams are 26-1 and have been simply dominant all season. And like Deer Creek (No. 1 in 5A), Owasso has not lost to an in-state opponent. That was true of Broken Arrow until third-ranked Edmond Santa Fe won at BA on Saturday night.

The Baseball America rankings are released every other week, and it just happened to be at the right time for Owasso and its supporters.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

And focused.

Coming off a grueling Deer Creek Classic tournament championship that saw the Antlers defeat Westmoore and Norman North, I was kinda expecting an emotional letdown against Chickasha.

It didn’t happen. The team was crisp in earning an 8-0 victory Monday night at Deer Creek in six innings. The Chicks are a legit top 5 team in 5A, and Isaac Hellbusch went right through them.

The junior had a no-hitter for 5 2/3 innings before Collin Hightower broke it up with Chickasha’s only hit of the game. Hellbusch struck out eight in six innings.

Offensively, it was the Ross Stracke show. The senior had a two-run triple, doubled and then closed out the game with a two-run double. Biggest confusion was the score. Was it 9-0 or 8-0? DC was up 6-0 when Stracke cleared the bases with another double. However, once that second run crossed, game over. So even though the ninth run crossed the plate, game was done at 8-0.

Deer Creek’s Jon Wilson also had a solid performance with a two-run double. Wilson, Brian Anderson and Stracke were really the only hitters to have success off pitcher Chris Nye. However, Chickasha’s defense let itself down by committing four errors.

Coach Brad Gore said coming into the game how important the defense was, and it failed the Chicks again vs. the top-ranked Antlers.

Sounds like a broken record, but that puts the winning streak at 20 games for Deer Creek and the Antlers still have not lost to an in-state opponent.

The countdown is on…Saturday. No. 1 Deer Creek vs. No. 3 Edmond Santa Fe. Ooh boy, get giddy just thinking about it. One of several great matchups between 5A-6A teams as all clubs look to stay sharp before regional play.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Class A
At Okarche
Thursday
Game 1: Okarche vs. Mooreland, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Thomas vs. Cashion, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Sterling
Thursday
Game 1: Sterling vs. Carnegie, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Chattanooga vs. Navajo, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Roff
Thursday
Game 1: Roff vs. Bowlegs, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Ringling vs. Davenport, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Rattan
Thursday
Game 1: Rattan vs. Cameron, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Smithville vs. Fort Towson, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Amber-Pocasset
Thursday
Game 1: Amber-Pocasset vs. Fletcher, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Elmore City vs. Fort Cobb-Broxton, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Caddo
Thursday
Game 1: Caddo vs. New Lima, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Stonewall vs. Rock Creek, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Pioneer-Pleasant Vale
Game 1: Pioneer vs. Hooker, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Oilton vs. Pond Creek-Hunter, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Preston
Game 1: Preston vs. Okay, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Welch vs. Dewar, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

Class B
At Red Oak
Thursday
Game 1: Red Oak vs. Battiest, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: McCurtain vs. Braggs, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Tupelo
Thursday
Game 1: Tupelo vs. Victory Life, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Varnum vs. Stuart, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Granite
Thursday
Game 1: Granite vs. Olustee, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Cheyenne vs. Blair, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Sentinel
Thursday
Game 1: Sentinel vs. Cyril, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Geronimo vs. Hammon, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Lookeba-Sickles
Thursday
Game 1: Lookeba-Sickles vs. Asher, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Moss vs. Mulhall-Orlando, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Coleman
Thursday
Game 1: Coleman vs. Caney, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Ryan vs. Whitesboro, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Arnett
Thursday
Game 1: Arnett vs. Shattuck, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Drummond vs. Leedey, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

At Glencoe
Thursday
Game 1: Glencoe vs. Shidler, 1:30 p.m.
Game 2: Dover vs. Timberlake, 3:30
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5:30
Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7:30
Friday
Game 5: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 4 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 5, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (if necessary), 1 p.m.

From the girls winning the state basketball championship to Gunnar Nixon’s continued ‘wow’  success to Josh Richardson signing with Tennessee to now this: Santa Fe baseball winning at top-ranked Broken Arrow on Saturday night.

After seeing a 4-0 lead evaporate, it was Kyle Lacy who got to play hero. Lacy hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh off Broken Arrow stud Archie Bradley to give the third-ranked Wolves a 6-5 win. And though I might be speaking out of turn, also the biggest win of the season.

In the bottom of the seventh, it was Kyle Shaw closing the door by striking out the side. Between Clayton Blackburn, Lacy and Shaw, the Wolves struck out 15 BA batters.

For Lacy, it was a little redemption as it was Lacy who let a 5-2 lead slip away in the bottom of the sixth. In baseball, you always get that second chance. Always a shot to go from goat to hero and give credit to Lacy for mentally staying in the game.

I really wanted to be there or at the Deer Creek Classic final (won 5-1 by DC over Westmoore). However, my day was spent in Ardmore for Justin Blackmon Day. And my night was spent at the WinStar Casino in Thackerville watching Baltimore Ravens safety Tom Zbikowski earn a nice first-round knockout.

But don’t cry for me. I’ve got Saturday all penciled in for the Antlers and Wolves. In my opinion, they’re the two best teams on the west side, and I love that they’ve decided to play each other a week before regionals.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Class 5A Regional Pairings
(first team listed is host site)
West
Deer Creek, Lawton MacArthur, Noble, Northwest Classen
Carl Albert, El Reno, Capitol Hill, Western Heights
Chickasha, Duncan, Altus, Southeast
Guthrie, Bishop McGuinness, Skiatook, Tulsa East Central
East
Tulsa Kelley, Tulsa Memorial, Collinsville, Tulsa Central
Pryor, Grove, Tulsa Washington, Tahlequah
Shawnee, Coweta, Tulsa Edison, Tulsa Rogers
Durant, McAlester, Tulsa Hale, Ardmore

And a little word on when these will be played:
Regional Tournaments in Class 6A-5A must be completed no later than Saturday, May 7, 2011 and be played in consecutive days. The tournaments will be scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 5, with three games on Thursday, two games on Friday, May 6, and one or two games on Saturday, May 7. Regional dates can be changed by mutual agreement, but cannot begin earlier than Tuesday, May 3. This format may not be changed. The OSSAA would encourage teams involved to work cooperatively with other schools if the majority wish to change the tournament times and dates. School administration should be involved in the decision to change the tournament format. Sunday, May 8, will be a make-up day if everyone agrees prior to the tournament beginning.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Norman North was on early against Deer Creek pitcher Isaac Hellbusch. The Timberwolves had two hits and a run across the plate by the time Caleb Simpson was up to bat.

Runners were at second and third and Simpson rifled one up the middle. Unfortunately for him, it went right into Hellbusch’s glove and started a double play.

“That was a game changer,” Hellbusch said.

The Timberwolves got one more across via an error and then were stoned by Hellbusch the rest of the way as Deer Creek rallied for a 4-2 victory at the Deer Creek Classic on Wednesday.

Hellbusch didn’t allow another hit the rest of the way and finished the game with 10 strikeouts, including fanning the final two batters of the game.

Hellbusch had an RBI double in the first inning and thought maybe we were headed for a slugfest. Um, we weren’t. The score remained that until the bottom of the sixth when the top-ranked Antlers notched three in the frame without the ball leaving the infield on the run-producing hits.

We had infield hits, safety squeezes, one error, good base running and a 2-1 deficit became a 4-2 advantage for the Antlers.

“We practice for things like that,” coach Ron Moore said. “You have to be able to find a way to win games any way possible.”

The wind, which wasn’t too bad initially, really picked up and there weren’t going to be any HRs hit on this day. In the sixth, George Haaland had an RBI single, Cameron Davis ends up with the game-winning safety squeeze while Haaland scored from second on an infield single by Hunter Dinkines.

Norman North pitcher Ryan Allen was great for five innings. And really, he didn’t throw bad pitches in the sixth but the breaks went against him. He gave up four of the seven hits in the frame and also struck out seven for the fourth-ranked TWolves.

Circumstances beyond either team’s control forced the No. 1 5A team against the No. 4 6A team at 1 p.m. on a Wednesday, but it was well-played and fun to attend.

Norman North has won 17 of its last 19 games. I have seen the two losses. The Timberwolves are going to make sure I don’t come to any more of their games. Deer Creek still has not lost to an in-state opponent.

Norman North had a good strategy by running on Hellbusch as the TWolves had five stolen bases in the first inning. But unable to get many runners on after the first inning, the running attack didn’t play a big role.

Look for a video with Hellbusch on NewsOK. The Classic continues throughout the rest of the week, with the championship Saturday night.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Thursday
Edmond North vs. El Reno, 10 a.m.
Westmoore vs. Guthrie, 1 p.m.
Noble vs. Norman North, 4 p.m.
Deer Creek vs. Miami, 7 p.m.

Friday
Miami vs. Noble, 10 a.m.
Miami vs. Norman North, 1 p.m.
El Reno vs. Guthrie, 4 p.m.
Edmond North vs. Westmoore, 7 p.m.

Saturday
Times and teams to be decided later based on all teams participating.

Crazy to think Deer Creek and Norman North will play each other. I’ll be there for that one as it’s No. 1 in 5A vs. No. 4 in 6A. Should be fun.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Talked with a couple of softball coaches, but I didn’t get a sense of true outrage like I did in baseball. It will hurt teams like Yukon this last year who had two solid pitchers. If you only have to win one game a day, you can ride the arm of a super stud to a championship. The super stud I’m thinking about is Jordan Dixon of Edmond North. You can go from playing five games to three, and that’s a big difference.

But besides the change at state, a lot of people were up in arms about fixed regional winners playing each other. In fact, on Friday morning, I was right with ya.

However, a conversation with the OSSAA’s Mike Whaley and a re-examination of the regionals has changed my tune.

Whaley pointed out that if everything works out, district champions will be playing district runner-ups in the state tournament. Odd regionals (1, 3, 5, 7) feature all district champions. Even regionals (2, 4, 6, eight) feature district runner-ups.

So if everything held to form, Regional 1 winner (champion) vs. Regional 8 winner (runner-up) is OK for a state tournament. It’s just a question of seeing everything hold true to form.

The funny part about the new format and something I spoke at length with several 5A-6A baseball coaches is it is now a double elimination for regionals only to go to single elimination at state. Huh?

- Another good question will be when the district games will be played? Conference games are Monday-Tuesday here on the west side. Would you dare play a district game before spring break? A lot of teams are missing a player or two because of the winter sports season not being over with. Would it be fair to have a pair of district games that second week of March when teams aren’t at full strength?

- I have a lot of faith in Whaley. He’s someone who really does understand the game and understands Oklahoma high school athletics. So I’m not running him out just yet. When the districts are decided, we’ll get a better feel about things.

- Districts is a good format. Rankings, though having the right intentions, haven’t come out the way everybody hoped they would. Now it’s all decided on the field so that’s great. We will lose the specialty of conference play. Suburban Conference showdowns like Deer Creek and Carl Albert might go away. Of course, they might not if they’re in the same district. We’ll just have to see.

- For my piece from Monday’s paper about how the purity of the game being compromised, here ya go.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Archie Bradley of Broken Arrow is a two-sport star and is scheduled to pitch vs. Owasso's Dylan Bundy.

EDIT at 5 p.m.: Oh, stupid weather. The game between Owasso and Broken Arrow has been postponed. Word is that it’s postponed and not canceled, which might be the only good thing about the announcement.

No word on when the game is going to be made up. Sigh.

***

What more can you ask for? No. 1 vs. No. 2? Check. The two best prospects in the state faring off against each other? Check.

Great weather? Oh, we hit a snag there. Another one of those patented weather shifts is the only downside to what could be an epic evening Friday in Owasso.

While I’ve made it clear Edmond Santa Fe is the cream of the crop on the west side, even coach Lonny Cobble would admit the Wolves have a ways to go when it comes to No. 1 Broken Arrow and No. 2 Owasso.

The Tigers and Rams have not lost to an in-state opponent this year so something will change in that category tonight. The teams are a combined 45-2 and haven’t lost a game since March 16.

Still not hooked? OK, how about Dylan Bundy vs. Archie Bradley? Got ya paying attention now. As of Thursday, both teams were planning on giving EVERYBODY what it wants with a showdown of the two best arms in the state.

Bradley, of course, has signed with Oklahoma for football and baseball. Bundy has committed to Texas. A lot of of experts believe neither will see a day at their respective campus because they’re going to be first-round draft picks in the MLB Draft in June. Bundy has 95 strikeouts in 42 innings.

This seemed like a prime spot for Cox to swoop in and broadcast the game. However, Cox has opted for Bedlam baseball between OU and OSU. However, VYPE will have a broadcast on ihigh.com. Because of prior commitments, I cannot make it out to Owasso (really wanted to), so here’s to hoping my laptop is compatible with the video on ihigh.

Once again, No. 1 Broken Arrow (Bradley) at No. 2 Owasso (Bundy), 7 p.m. Friday.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Thursday
At Carl Albert
Duncan vs. Carl Albert, 11 a.m.
Clinton vs. Carl Albert, 1:30
Altus vs. Clinton, 4 p.m.
Altus vs. Weatherford, 6:30
At Shawnee
McGuinness vs. OKC Broncos, 11 a.m.
McGuinness vs. Ada, 1:30
Yukon vs. McAlester, 4 p.m.
Lawton Mac vs. McAlester, 6:30

Friday
At Carl Albert
Blanchard vs. Altus, 9:30 a.m.
Blanchard vs. Weatherford, noon (I’ll be there)
Duncan vs. Weatherford, 2:30
Duncan vs. Clinton, 5 p.m.
Carl Albert vs. Altus, 7:30
At Shawnee
McAlester vs. Ada, 9:30 a.m.
OKC Broncos vs. Ada, noon
OKC Broncos vs. Lawton Mac, 2:30
Lawton Mac vs. Shawnee, 5 p.m.
Shawnee vs. Yukon, 7:30

Saturday
Games at both sites at 11 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m. Championship game is at Carl Albert at 4 p.m.

I did it Monday and saw Putnam City North lose to Yukon. Did it Saturday and saw Norman North lose to Edmond Santa Fe 15-10 in the Edmond Classic championship at Edmond North. Though to be truthful, one streak had to end in the Edmond Classic.

The game was originally scheduled to be played at Memorial, but conflicts (ACTs, Prom, etc) made everybody shuffle things around. So I apologize about saying the game was at Memorial, hopefully that didn’t force anybody to miss some action.

Because in the first two innings, boy, was there a lot of it. How about 16 runs on 12 hits in the first inning? How about a 13-10 Santa Fe lead after the second frame?

But I’m not going to rip Santa Fe pitcher Conor Costello or Norman North’s Paul Reed. We all know they’re much better pitchers than what they threw Saturday. Hey, it was the seventh game in six days for both teams. More about guts than skill at that point.

And both teams had plenty of it. Santa Fe notched 10 in the top of the first, but the TWolves responded with a six-spot of their own.

So when does a three-hour game feel like a short one? When the first two innings took 90 minutes. Everything looks short in comparison. We can all thank Santa Fe’s Easton Mitchell and Norman North’s Caleb Simpson for getting us out of there at a decent hour.

Mitchell threw 4 1/3 innings and struck out six, while allowing just three singles. Clayton Blackburn, who pitched four innings Friday, struck out the side in the seventh. Hey, it was all about guts in this one.

To Simpson’s credit, there wasn’t much he didn’t do wrong. He tired a bit in the seventh, but who could blame him? He threw five innings, giving up two runs and striking out seven.

The loss snapped Norman North’s 12-game winning streak. The Timberwolves ran the table last week and this week until this one. Santa Fe is now in the midst of its own 12-game winning streak.

Kyle Lacy was 3-5 with a triple and 5 RBIs for Santa Fe. Garrett Crain added two hits and drove in three runs. Blackburn had an RBI double among his three hits.

Norman North’s Conner Kohlscheen had four singles. Simpson had a two-run double, while Dakota Shadoan had three hits, including a triple. TWolves also had two homers as Colin Jones hit one out in the bottom of the first and D.J. Gasson had a three-run bomb later in the frame.

And I would be a fool to not comment on the wind. This was insane. If things weren’t bolted down or heavy, they were flying everywhere. It caused a lot of problems for fielders in this one.

Santa Fe is trying to cement itself as the top team on the west side. Pretty good case in the last two weeks. Wolves have a home-and-home with Putnam West this week. Norman North has the same with Moore, beginning Monday.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Ty Hensley embraces coach Lonny Cobble, following 12-1 win that is Cobble's 500th win at Santa Fe.

The Edmond Santa Fe baseball community did all it could to keep it a secret. They were so close before a parent congratulated coach Lonny Cobble before Friday’s game against Moore.

“Congratulations for what?” Cobble asked. Uh oh, cat out of the bag. Cobble earned his 500th win as the head coach of Santa Fe in a 12-1 win against Moore at Edmond North as part of the Edmond Classic.

Cobble’s wife, Terri, has been working on making the occasion special, and it still was a nice scene at North. T-shirts and cupcakes were given out. Edmond athletic director Mike Nunley distracted Cobble long enough for the team to dump the Gatorade bucket on Cobble.

Cobble really had no idea, he told me after the game. He said he remember getting his 400-win plaque but that he hadn’t really thought about No. 500 at all.

Cobble is definitely one of the good guys in high school sports (we have a lot of them). He was there when Santa Fe opened, and he doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

He said he’s not normally nervous before any game, but when he was alerted about the 500-win plateau, he actually was nervous Friday.

But when you have players like Conor Costello, you can always relax just a little bit. The Arkansas signee came up huge in helping relieve the tension early. He made a great catch against the right field wall that he turned into a double play in the top of the first. Then in the bottom of the first, he notched a two-run triple.

After Moore got one across, the Wolves notched eight in the second to put distance between the teams. The Lions committed four errors and Gaston Hart had a two-run double.

Clayton Blackburn, an OU signee, wasn’t at his best, but he settled down, too, after the first two frames. He pitched four innings.

A lot of the Cobble family was on hand for the occasion. His parents were there. Brother-in-law Travis Owen (McLoud baseball coach) was also in attendance. Opposing players, coaches were congratulating Cobble. He said he really appreciated just how many people came out for the game.

I’m doing a big piece on Cobble in Monday’s paper, and you can also check out more in Saturday’s paper. Shot video with Costello and Zac Cobble. You could tell how much this day meant to Zac, being able to be out on the field when his dad and coach reached the milestone.

And spoken like a true coach, Lonny said he hopes No. 501 comes Friday night against Edmond North. A win there would put the Wolves in the final of the Edmond Classic. That game is 5 p.m. Saturday at Edmond Memorial.

Congratulations to Cobble on the achievement.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Wednesday
At Memorial
Choctaw 16, Checotah 2
Norman North 7, Choctaw 4
Edmond Memorial 5, Southmoore 3
Edmond Santa Fe 17, Latta 2
At North
Moore 13, Norman 5
Westmoore 5, Moore 2
Edmond North 8, Westmoore 5

Thursday
At Memorial
Checotah vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Choctaw, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Norman, noon
Norman vs. Edmond North, 2:30
Latta vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Latta vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Friday
At Memorial
Southmoore vs. Norman North, noon
Edmond Memorial vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Checotah, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Moore, noon
Moore vs. Latta, 2:30
Norman vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Saturday
At Memorial
A5 vs. B5, noon
A3 vs. B3, 2:30
A1 vs. B1, 5 p.m.
At North
A4 vs. B4, 2:30
A2 vs. B2, 5 p.m.

Wednesday
At Memorial
Choctaw vs. Checotah, noon
Choctaw vs. Norman North, 2:30
Edmond Memorial vs. Southmoore, 5 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Latta, 7:30
At North
Norman vs. Moore, 2:30
Moore vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Westmoore vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Thursday
At Memorial
Checotah vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Choctaw, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Norman, noon
Norman vs. Edmond North, 2:30
Latta vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Latta vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Friday
At Memorial
Southmoore vs. Norman North, noon
Edmond Memorial vs. Norman North, 2:30
Southmoore vs. Checotah, 5 p.m.
Edmond Memorial vs. Checotah, 7:30
At North
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Moore, noon
Moore vs. Latta, 2:30
Norman vs. Westmoore, 5 p.m.
Edmond Santa Fe vs. Edmond North, 7:30

Saturday
At Memorial
A5 vs. B5, noon
A3 vs. B3, 2:30
A1 vs. B1, 5 p.m.
At North
A4 vs. B4, 2:30
A2 vs. B2, 5 p.m.

But what he did Monday in a 16-7 victory against Putnam North, arguably the hottest team around, was even more impressive.

He turned in one great play after another at shortstop. Yukon took a 10-2 lead, but the Panthers slowly crawled their way back into it.

Then we were stuck at 11-7 for two innings because Gibson made all the routine plays and then added a little something extra and made some top-notch quality plays.

It allowed Conner Sayers to throw a complete game, and it kept PCNorth at bay. Yukon’s bats woke up one more time with a five-run seventh inning and there ya go, 16-7.

Huge day at the plate for Jon Denney. Started the game with an RBI single. Next at bat was a three-run double. And then punctuated it with a three-run triple that all but iced the game.

Interesting dynamic with the wind in this one. I don’t think I saw the best of either team because of the conditions, but I’m glad I went out. Obviously way too windy for a video so apologize, Denney. You’re owed a video one of these days.

Also impressed by the play of Cooper Biggers for PC North. Slotted in the two-hole, had three hits, but I was surprised at his speed. Didn’t think he would be that fast.

The win by Yukon snaps the 10-game winning streak for PC North. Of course, with baseball, one game is nothing to get too worked up about. The teams play again Tuesday at Yukon, and the Panthers’ slate is full the rest of the week at the Shawnee Showdown.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

The last two years, the Mayor’s Cup between the three Edmond and three Moore high schools has been a regular event at the ballpark now known as RedHawks Field at Bricktown.

This season the schedule of games at the park expands with 17 high school and one college game scheduled for the park during April.

The 2011 Mayor’s Cup will be played Saturday with Edmond North and Moore at 11 a.m., Edmond Santa Fe and Westmoore at 2:30 and Edmond Memorial and Southmoore at 6 p.m. (Boneman’s note: I will be at The Brick for the Saturday games).

Crowder and Stuart will play at 7 p.m. Friday to start the series.

World Baseball Outreach will hold a baseball equipment drive during the Mayor’s Cup. Fans are asked to bring new or gently used baseball and softball equipment to help the organization provide equipment to at-risk youth in the state.

Other than the Mayor’s Cup, the other games in the series are free to the public.

Schedule (gates open an hour before game time):

Friday: Crowder vs. Stuart, 7 p.m.

Saturday: Edmond North vs. Moore, 11 a.m.; Edmond Santa Fe vs. Westmoore, 2:30 p.m.; Edmond Memorial vs. Southmoore, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: UCO vs. USAO, 7 p.m.

Wednesday: Amber-Pocasset vs. Cashion, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 7: Yukon vs. El Reno, 7 p.m.

Friday, April 8: Sterling vs. Elgin, 4 p.m.; Purcell vs. Sayre, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 9: Kansas vs. Westville, 5 p.m.

April 23: Stroud vs. Wellston, 2 p.m.; Cushing vs. Lone Grove, 5 p.m.

April 26: Carnegie vs. Clinton, 4 p.m.; Holdenville vs. Konawa, 7 p.m.

April 27: Carl Albert vs. Shawnee, 7 p.m.

April 28: Jenks vs. Choctaw, 7 p.m.

April 30: Midwest City vs. Muskogee, 2 p.m.; Comanche vs. Velma-Alma, 5 p.m.

He absolutely understands how to pitch right now. What I mean by that is he is able to think his way out of jams and think himself into strikeouts.

Whether or not my babbling makes sense, I’ll tell ya what does: 16 strikeouts against one of the most high-powered offenses in the state.

Fulmer was impressive in a 10-2 win at Carl Albert on Monday night.

The offense wasn’t too shabby, either, for the third-ranked Antlers. Deer Creek launched five homers and not one of them was close to not going out. Isaac Hellbusch, Ross Stracke, Chase Stephens, George Haaland and Fulmer notched a homer of his own.

Antlers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on back-to-back jacks in the top of the first. Going into the bottom of the third, it was 6-0. This game changed in the bottom of the fourth. Fulmer definitely put himself in a tough spot. With bases loaded and nobody out, Fulmer struck out the next two batters before walking in a run. He then recorded another strikeout to end the frame.

From there, well, Fulmer was nearly unhittable. Going against studs like Alex Polston, A.J. Wilson and Taylor Hawkins, among others, Fulmer did a great job of mixing up his pitches and keeping the hitters off balance.

Last year’s was a slugfest from beginning to end. We could have been down that route this year, but Fulmer didn’t allow that to happen.

Coming in relief was an eye-opening performance for Carl Albert freshman Cameron Warren. He struck out the first four batters he faced and finished with 6 Ks in 4 2/3 innings of work. Very impressed with the way he controlled his emotions against such a good team.

Look for a video with Fulmer, an Arkansas signee, on NewsOK on Tuesday.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

It’s tough to top hitting two grand slams in one game, but Union City’s Kolton Brown did just that.

Brown became only the third high school player documented to hit two grand slams in one inning in a victory against Calumet on Tuesday.

Brown finished the game with nine RBIs and then hit another home run in game two of the double-header.

“I did not think he would get a chance to hit a second,” coach Ludy Griggs said. “When he did, I thought this could be something special. And he’s the type of kid who can hit one at any time.”

Former Caney star Aaron Chalk accomplished the same feat in 2009, while it was also done by a player in Illinois.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

Good to get back out there to cover baseball. I’m going to be all over the Oklahoma City area to cover as many different teams and games as I can in the next two months.

My first stop was Monday at Edmond Santa Fe for the Wolves and Yukon. Santa Fe won 4-1. Senior pitcher Easton Mitchell, in his first start this year, was brilliant. Not overpowering, but he had great command of his pitches and let his defense do the rest.

Oklahoma signee Clayton Blackburn added a solo homer and an RBI single to pace the offense. Yukon’s Kyle Gibson actually pitched pretty well, IMO. After a rough start, he battled through it and only gave up two hits and no runs in the final three innings.

For my story on the game, go here.

***

Robert Przybylo, bprzybylo@opubco.com

It wasn’t too long ago (around this point last year) where I wasn’t sure how far Heritage Hall was going to go with Cooper Cloud as its quarterback.

You know about the greatness about Sterling Shepard and Barry J. Sanders, but you need a quarterback to keep teams honest. Was Cloud really the answer?

Um, yes. Yes, he is. Cloud has improved dramatically in the last year, and what I saw Friday night was a continuation of that. He takes control of this team. Cloud threw for three touchdowns in the Chargers’ 34-0 win against Bridge Creek.

The health of Sanders and Shepard will continue to be a big story, but this team can still find a way, especially if Cloud can stay healthy.

Other contenders

Heritage Hall defense: Wrote about them after the fact. But two picks, two recovered fumbles, no points. Heck of a night vs. the Bobcats.

Sterling Shepard, Heritage Hall: Wasn’t the sharpest I’ve seen him, but man, I think we would all love to have two touchdown receptions and an interception on an ‘off’ night.

Bob Kraft, Heritage Hall, Baseball: You don’t think of Heritage Hall and baseball, but the Chargers are making strides. Kraft signed with New Mexico State last week.

Shanna Schuelein, Casady, Diving: From elite gymnast to one of the best divers around, Schuelein signed with Auburn last week.

Well, the crazy, uneven season for Edmond North finally came to an end Friday at Union. I swear this team had me scratching my head all season.

Some games I thought it would win, it wouldn’t. Then I’d think they’d lose, and they wouldn’t. Kept me on my toes all year.

And leading that charge was senior QB Travis Townsend. This offense isn’t really built for Townsend to rack up insane offensive numbers. But when he was on, he was extremely efficient.

Townsend threw a touchdown pass in the 58-17 loss to the Redskins. More importantly, the Huskies can build off of this after reaching the quarterfinals.

Other contenders

Alex Christensen, Deer Creek: Ever the workhorse to the end. Christensen rushed for 70 yards, but it wasn’t enough in a 23-0 loss at Booker T.

Troy Davis, North: Davis, a transfer from Western Heights, will have one more year with the Huskies. He scored the team’s other touchdown vs. Union.

Clayton Blackburn, Santa Fe, Baseball: Time to get some signings in. Blackburn signed with Oklahoma in a ceremony last week.

Obi Emegano, Memorial, Basketball: Emegano did the same as he signed with Western Illinois last Wednesday in a ceremony.

Taylor Moore, Memorial, Golf: No signing, but a commit. Moore, just a junior, committed to Arkansas over the weekend.

Connor Myers, Memorial, Football: No signing or commit, but Myers picked up offers from Army and Stephen F. Austin this week to give him four offers now.

A busy Tuesday and Wednesday on the signing day circuit. Let’s start at Heritage Hall where senior pitcher Bob Kraft signed with New Mexico State.

Still one of my top moments from last year was when Kraft struck out 20 at Casady. Pure luck that I happened to be there to witness something special.

Here’s a short video with Kraft, following the signing:

State baseball pairings for this weekend.

Class B
Thursday
At Norman HS
Game 1: Red Oak vs. Coleman, Noon
Game 2: Dover vs. Granite, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: Whitesboro vs. Tupelo, 5 p.m.
Game 4: Lookeba-Sickles vs. Arnett, 7:30 p.m.

Friday
At Norman North
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 5 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday
At OU
Championship: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 2:30 p.m.

Class A
Thursday
At Norman North
Game 1: Okarche vs. Roff, Noon
Game 4: Dale vs. Rattan, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: Byng vs. Silo, 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: Sterling vs. Wister, 5 p.m.

Friday
At Norman North
Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, Noon
Game 6: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 4, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday
At OU
Championship: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, Noon

High school softball and baseball coaches can rejoice. The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association Board of Directors heard the reasoning for why the game limit rule needed to be addressed, and it was.

The Board unanimously approved a motion to eliminate individual game restrictions for this school year only for fall baseball, fastpitch softball, spring baseball and slowpitch softball at Wednesday’s meeting. The action went into effect immediately.

The rule had been players were allowed to play 22 regular season games. Not included in that were the three tournaments and postseason play. However, if a player participated in a varsity and junior varsity game in the same day, that was two of the 22 games.

“In my 19 years here I’ve never had so many phone calls and e-mails from administrators and coaches regarding this rule as I have this year,” OSSAA executive secretary Ed Sheakley said.

Teams are still restricted to 22 regular season games. But varsity and JV squads can each have 22 games. Therefore, schools without enough kids to field separate teams can have players participate in both games.

Sheakley said the rule change is for this year only. Administrators and committees will take a look at the issue later this year to see how to structure the rule in the future.

The 22-game limit rule has been in effect for a long time, Sheakley said.

“It used to be about the exploitation of kids,” Sheakley said. “You would have kids playing both JV and varsity when the team had enough kids for separate teams.

“In this instance, that’s not the case. We’re having issues in participation and this is about giving the kids the opportunity to play.”

Schools were adjusting to the rule in a couple of ways. One thing was reducing the number of scheduled varsity and junior varsity games. Other schools, such as Edmond Santa Fe and Tulsa Public Schools, have canceled several JV games.

James struck out the Yankees’ Robinson Cano on three pitches to open the inning. He allowed three soft singles and a walk with a fielder’s choice in the middle before closing the inning by striking out Derek Jeter on an 88-mph breaking ball.

James is the older brother of Chad James, the Yukon left-hander who was the first-round pick of the Florida Marlins in 2009. Justin James was drafted in 2003 after his sophomore season at Missouri and worked his way up to Triple-A in the Toronto organization before getting traded to Cincinnati.

A shoulder injury landed him on an independent league team in Kansas City the last two years. He was signed by Oakland in June and sent to their Double-A team in Midland, Texas. By mid-July he was called up to Triple-A Sacramento and became the team’s closer in early August. He had four saves, a 1.37 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings there.

The A’s added him to the 40-man roster and called him up on Wednesday when teams were allowed to expand their active rosters beyond 25 players.

From the independent leagues to striking out Derek Jeter at Yankee Stadium three months later… not a bad way to spend your summer.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

Edmond Santa Fe track star Gunnar Nixon finished sixth in the high jump at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore on Saturday morning.

Nixon was able to clear 6 feet 11 inches. Nixon said on his Facebook the two weeks have been a great experience for him.

The senior also earned another honor this week as he was named the top multi-event high school competitor by DyeStat for the last year.

Nixon made his mark at the Arcadia Invitational in April by posted the second-highest high school decathlon score ever.

***

The Edmond Santa Fe baseball team could possibly have at least five players move on to Division I schools, and coach Lonny Cobble got another one last week.

Senior Conor Costello committed to Arkansas last week, joining pitcher Clayton Blackburn who committed to Oklahoma earlier this summer.

Costello had an arm injury early in the spring, but he played a solid third base down the stretch for the Wolves and opened a lot of teams’ eyes with his play this summer.

Costello was also receiving interest from TCU, OU and Stanford but was happy with the offer from the Razorbacks. He will join Deer Creek stars Michael Fulmer and Brian Anderson as commits to the Hogs.

raber@opubco.com

Just more than a year ago, Yukon’s Chad James was picked in the first round by the Florida Marlins.

Friday night, playing for Class A Greensboro, James got a taste of the big leagues.

James faced Lakewood, with a rehabbing Ryan Howard, on the road and pitched his best game in a month.

“It was awesome,” James said. “That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, especially in Low-A ball.

“It definitely got my adrenaline pumping for sure.”

The 19-year-old struck out three and allowed just one hit–a sixth-inning RBI double by Howard–in six innings to pick up his first win since July 1. James allowed one run in the Grasshoppers 4-1 win in front of more than 10,000 fans in Lakewood.

“I guess if you’re going to give up a no hitter it might as well be to a hitter like that,” James said. “I was trying to go inside and just left the ball out over the middle and he drove it to the gap.”

James had a no-hitter going into the inning before Howard’s hit. The RBI gave Howard the BlueClaw’s career record with 92.

Before the game, Lakewood retired Howard’s number.

James walked Howard in the first, then got the Phillies first baseman to ground out to second to lead off the fourth.

Choctaw trio highlight tourney team

All this summer has been a reunion for Rose State’s Dalton Bernardi and fellow Choctaw products Tanner Hessman and Josh Halbert in the American Legion baseball events as part of the Midwest City-based Oklahoma Outlaws squad.

The trio capped it off with not only the championship Tuesday night, but all three made the all-tournament team.

Bernardi, who was dominant during the American Legion World Series, was named the MVP of the tournament while Tecumseh’s Kevin Hill had 35 strikeouts in regional and Series play and earned the Strike Out Leader honor.

Bernardi was sensational in the final game, a 10-1 victory over Eden Prairie, Minn., driving in four runs and striking out the side in the ninth for the championship.

Dale’s Turner Coon also made the all-tournament team. The Outlaws finish the year at 66-10.

Halbert has signed with Wichita State while Hessman will be a senior this year.

Tuesday marked the first day of football, but don’t tell that to some of the state’s best baseball players as Oklahoma HS kids are dominating right now on the national scene.

Oklahoma reps win Area Code challenge

Whether it was Broken Arrow’s Dylan Delso at the plate or Deer Creek’s Michael Fulmer on the mound, the Oklahoma representatives fared well in the Area Code challenge this week in Long Beach, Calif.

Eight Oklahomans were on the Chicago White Sox roster that went 4-1 in the six days and earned the challenge championship.

In the team’s final win, a 9-1 whipping of the Texas Rangers, Delso drove in two runs while Fulmer, Edmond Santa Fe’s Kyle Shaw and Broken Arrow’s Mason Hope combined to pitch five scoreless innings and struck out nine.

The White Sox roster had players from 11 different states and Oklahoma had representatives from Deer Creek (Fulmer and Brian Anderson), Santa Fe (Shaw, Ty Hensley and Clayton Blackburn), Norman North (Caleb Simpson) and Broken Arrow (Delso, Hope).

***

Outlaws taking next step

The Oklahoma Outlaws baseball team had no problems in advancing to the American Legion World Series.

The Outlaws won 8-0 against League City, Texas, and then 7-2 vs. Pontotoc, Miss., on Monday night to earn the American Legion Mid-South championship.

The Outlaws consist of high school graduates from the Mid-Del area, including Choctaw’s Josh Halbert. The team has won the Seniors Division of the American Legion in Oklahoma two years in a row.

The American Legion World Series begins Friday in Spokane, Wash., where the Outlaws will play the Mid-Atlantic champion.

Well, it’s not just Edmond Santa Fe junior Ty Hensley that is tearing it up, but the Chicago White Sox have been dominating and have a 3-0 record heading into Monday’s action.

Hensley has been showing exactly why he’s such a highly-touted baseball  prospect. He’s a three-sport star, but it sure feels like baseball is going to be his sport of choice.

In Sunday’s 7-3 victory against the New York Yankees, Hensley showed what he can do on the mound. He threw two innings and struck out two.

In a 9-4 win against the Oakland A’s on Saturday, Hensley had a double and two runs batted in. In all three games, Broken Arrow’s Dylan Delso has been extremely consistent.

Here’s the remaining schedule:

Monday
White Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds, 10 a.m.

Tuesday
White Sox vs. Texas Rangers, noon

The Area Code baseball games got underway Thursday in Long Beach, Calif., and Deer Creek pitcher Michael Fulmer introduced himself to the rest of the nation.

In two innings, Fulmer struck out four as the Chicago White Sox (where all Oklahomans are) defeated the Washington Nationals 6-3 on Thursday night.

Broken Arrow’s Dylan Delso had a triple as well.

The White Sox are off Friday and will return to the diamond Saturday. You can track all Area Code games at ESPNRISE.com/IScore.

Here’s the rest of the White Sox schedule:

Saturday
White Sox vs. Oakland A’s, 1 p.m.

Sunday
White Sox vs. NY Yankees

Monday
White Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds, 10 a.m.

Tuesday
White Sox vs. Texas Rangers, noon

When the Area Code baseball tournament begins Thursday in Long Beach, Calif., it will definitely have a familiar feel for some Edmond athletes.

Deer Creek’s Michael Fulmer and Brian Anderson, who both committed to Arkansas on Monday, will be joined three players from Edmond Santa Fe: Kyle Shaw, Clayton Blackburn and Ty Hensley.

“It’s great for these kids, and I think it says a lot about the quality of baseball that we play here in Oklahoma,” Deer Creek coach Ron Moore said.

All players on the roster had to be invited, and the Oklahoma players are representing the Chicago White Sox club that includes players from 11 different states.

Other Oklahomans on the roster include Norman North’s Caleb Simpson and Broken Arrow’s Mason Hope and Dylan Delso.

Hope and Blackburn have committed to Oklahoma while Hensley is one of only two juniors on the roster. The Area Code games began in 1985 and will run through Aug. 10.

***

Another week, another big-time national event for some of Oklahoma’s top high school kids. Definitely going to be keepin’ tabs on how things go for the White Sox.

Here is the White Sox schedule:

Thursday
White Sox vs. Washington Nationals, 7 p.m.

Saturday
White Sox vs. Oakland A’s, 1 p.m.

Sunday
White Sox vs. NY Yankees

Monday
White Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds, 10 a.m.

Tuesday
White Sox vs. Texas Rangers, noon

They’re polar opposites when it comes to their personalities, but a couple of Deer Creek baseball standouts are heading in the same direction.

Ace pitcher Michael Fulmer and Brian Anderson both committed to Arkansas on Monday, confirmed coach Ron Moore.

I told Moore I knew about Fulmer because he was more than happy to let it be known on Facebook and that didn’t shock the Antlers coach at all.

That’s the way he is. He’ll tell everybody, and he’s just that type of kid. Brian is different. He called me up and hasn’t really said anything since.” – Moore

Very true as it turned out Anderson committed to the Razorbacks a few hours before Fulmer. This is a little more personal for Moore as he is an Arkansas alum so it means a lot to him to see a couple of his boys going to Fayetteville.

The Area Code games start this week in California with Fulmer and Anderson on the roster, and Moore initially thought they might wait until after the games, but it’s tough to beat an offer from an SEC school with ridiculously high attendance.

Under Moore, Deer Creek has become a consistent baseball power, and that success is now starting to show up in the recruiting game.

A torn labrum derailed what should have been a promising junior season for Putnam City baseball player Brian Brightwell.

But an impressive summer put Brightwell back in the spotlight, culminating with Brightwell committing to Oklahoma this weekend.

“Brian can hit. He can hit with anybody,” Putnam City coach Jim Drummond said. “He’s a real coachable kid.”

Brightwell hit .389 as a sophomore. And despite not playing half of last season, still managed to bat .350.

Deer Creek graduate Typ Whinnery

Some stories slip through the cracks, that’s why I love doing these ‘off to college’ pieces. You can’t write about everybody and sometimes you find out the story a little too late.

I got to write three of these stories this year, focusing on swimming, baseball and wheelchair basketball.

Typ Whinnery, Deer Creek: I’ve called him the silent assassin the last couple of years. He just goes out there and gets the job done when he gets in the pool.

I would have loved to have seen him in different events, but he was so dominant in the 500 free and 100 breaststroke that it’s tough to dispute the decision.

The Antlers didn’t have a coach, but with Whinnery, Logan Testi and Slater Pennington, they had three solid competitors.

Blanchard graduate Blaine Smith

Whinnery’s just been solid. Maybe he doesn’t shine or stand out (he’s pretty quiet), but he was easily one of the best swimmers in the state the last four years.

Whinnery is moving on to Army.

For Whinnery’s story, here ya go.

Blaine Smith, Blanchard: Here was an interesting story that I had no knowledge of during the year. Smith, a catcher, broke his neck in the first game of the football season but made it back.

It was interesting listening to him and his mother talk about the trials and tribulations of trying to come back. The little hand exercises they would do. And how Blaine would constantly push that envelope to go as far as he possibly could until being cleared.

Getting through homecoming week of football was huge – that was an emotional time. He got through it and got things back on track.

Piedmont graduate Colin Cutter

Catcher is the most grueling position in baseball, but the injury didn’t change the way Smith approached the game.

Smith actually had his best offensive season of his career this year, hitting .402 and earned a scholarship to Rose State.

For Smith’s story, check out Monday’s paper.

Colin Cutter, Piedmont: We’ve actually watched him grow up through all the Endeavor Games events, but this was the first time we put the spotlight on his school activities.

I was humbled talking to Cutter. He really is quite the character and none too bashful. I enjoyed getting to hear all about his incredible story. He’s earned a scholarship at Missouri to play wheelchair basketball.

He rightfully takes a lot of pride in everything that he has accomplished, and he’s done incredible in track and field and basketball.

It was interesting hearing his thought process when it came to Penn State and Missouri before he finally decided on the Tigers.

His heart is going to be in coaching, no doubt about it. Once he’s done playing, he’s going to work like crazy at being a coach and trying to get the word out on wheelchair basketball.

For Cutter’s story, here ya go.

No ‘if’ game necessary this time around as the Oklahoma Outlaws left no doubt as to who the best team was in the American Legion Seniors Division tournament.

Sparked by MVP Greg Nelson of Midwest City, the Outlaws cruised to the title with a 9-2 victory against Muskogee 3 Rivers in the championship.

Muskogee defeated Ada earlier in the day to earn another shot at the Outlaws. Pryor, of course, won the 2A and 3A divisions. The Outlaws won the 2009 title as well.

Thanks to everyone who sent in scores and updates.

Here are the results of the double elimination tournament:

Wednesday
Game 1: Edmond Stars 16, Ardmore Cardinals 1
Game 2: Oklahoma Outlaws 16, Dewey Seminoles 4
Game 3: Ada Braves 21, Oklahoma RufNeks 15
Game 4: Muskogee 3 Rivers 8, Bartlesville Indians 5

Thursday
Game 5: Ardmore Cardinals 11, Dewey Seminoles 0
Game 6: Bartlesville Indians 13, Oklahoma RufNeks 8
Game 7: Oklahoma Outlaws 6, Edmond Stars 0
Game 8: Muskogee 3 Rivers 10, Ada Braves 8

Friday
Game 9: Edmond Stars 8, Bartlesville Indians, 5
Game 10: Ada Braves 14, Ardmore Cardinals 13
Game 11: Ada Braves 12, Edmond Stars 2
Game 12: Oklahoma Outlaws 15, Muskogee 3 Rivers 3

Saturday
Game 13: Muskogee 3 Rivers 8, Ada Braves 4
Championship
Game 14: Oklahoma Outlaws 9, Muskogee 3 Rivers 2

If I’m reading it right, the Oklahoma Outlaws can walk out the champions Saturday night. The Outlaws are the only undefeated team.

Again, all updates are appreciated.

Here’s the schedule for the double elimination tournament:

Wednesday
Game 1: Edmond Stars 16, Ardmore Cardinals 1
Game 2: Oklahoma Outlaws 16, Dewey Seminoles 4
Game 3: Ada Braves 21, Oklahoma RufNeks 15
Game 4: Muskogee 3 Rivers 8, Bartlesville Indians 5

Thursday
Game 5: Ardmore Cardinals 11, Dewey Seminoles 0
Game 6: Bartlesville Indians 13, Oklahoma RufNeks 8
Game 7: Oklahoma Outlaws 6, Edmond Stars 0
Game 8: Muskogee 3 Rivers 10, Ada Braves 8

Friday
Game 9: Edmond Stars 8, Bartlesville Indians, 5
Game 10: Ada Braves 14, Ardmore Cardinals 13
Game 11: Ada Braves 12, Edmond Stars 2
Game 12: Oklahoma Outlaws 15, Muskogee 3 Rivers 3

Saturday
Game 13: Muskogee 3 Rivers vs. Ada Braves, 5 p.m. (Elimination)
Game 14: Oklahoma Outlaws vs. Winner Game 13, 8 p.m.

Again, all updates are appreciated.

Here’s the schedule for the double elimination tournament:

Wednesday
Game 1: Edmond Stars 16, Ardmore Cardinals 1
Game 2: Oklahoma Outlaws 16, Dewey Seminoles 4
Game 3: Ada Braves 21, Oklahoma RufNeks 15
Game 4: Muskogee 3 Rivers 8, Bartlesville Indians 5

Thursday
Game 5: Ardmore Cardinals 11, Dewey Seminoles 0
Game 6: Bartlesville Indians 13, Oklahoma RufNeks 8
Game 7: Oklahoma Outlaws 6, Edmond Stars 0
Game 8: Muskogee 3 Rivers 10, Ada Braves 8

Friday
Game 9: Edmond Stars vs. Bartlesville Indians, 10 a.m. (Elimination)
Game 10: Ada Braves vs. Ardmore Cardinals, 1 p.m. (Elimination)
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 5 p.m. (Elimination)
Game 12: Oklahoma Outlaws vs. Muskogee 3 Rivers, 8 p.m.

Will update on daily basis. At least I think that’s what the bracket should look like.

Edmond Stars pitcher Alex Hill in action. The Stars lost Thursday.

Again, all updates are appreciated.

Here’s the schedule for the double elimination tournament:

Wednesday
Game 1: Edmond Stars 16, Ardmore Cardinals 1
Game 2: Oklahoma Outlaws 16, Dewey Seminoles 4
Game 3: Ada Braves 21, Oklahoma RufNeks 15
Game 4: Muskogee 3 Rivers 8, Bartlesville Indians 5

Thursday
Game 5: Ardmore Cardinals vs. Dewey Seminoles, 10 a.m. (Elimination)
Game 6: Oklahoma RufNeks vs. Bartlesville Indians, 1 p.m. (Elimination)
Game 7: Edmond Stars vs. Oklahoma Outlaws, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Ada Braves vs. Muskogee 3 Rivers, 8 p.m.

Friday
Game 9: Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 6, 10 a.m. (Elimination)
Game 10: Loser Game 8 vs. Winner Game 5, 1 p.m. (Elimination)
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 5 p.m. (Elimination)
Game 12: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 8 p.m.

Will update on daily basis. At least I think that’s what the bracket should look like.

Won’t be able to make it out to Bartlesville this week for the American Legion Seniors Division championships. Appreciate any and all updates.

Here’s the schedule for the double elimination tournament:

Wednesday
Game 1: Edmond Stars 16, Ardmore Cardinals 1
Game 2: Oklahoma Outlaws 16, Dewey Seminoles 4
Game 3: Ada Braves 21, Oklahoma RufNeks 15
Game 4: Muskogee 3 Rivers 8, Bartlesville Indians 5

Thursday
Game 5: Ardmore Cardinals vs. Dewey Seminoles, 10 a.m.
Game 6: Oklahoma RufNeks vs. Bartlesville Indians, 1 p.m.
Game 7: Edmond Stars vs. Oklahoma Outlaws, 5 p.m.
Game 8: Ada Braves vs. Muskogee 3 Rivers, 8 p.m.

Will update on daily basis.

A lot of last year’s seniors from the Edmond Santa Fe baseball team will be playing in colleges, and early indications are it will be another good year for this year’s crop.

Santa Fe pitcher Clayton Blackburn committed to Oklahoma, joining Broken Arrow pitchers Archie Bradley and Mason Hope who also recently committed to the Sooners.

Blackburn made Big All-City second team in helping the Wolves back to the state tournament.

The right-hander was 8-1 last year with a 2.12 ERA. In 63 2/3 innings pitched, he struck out an incredible 103 batters.

It was the first time the American Legion split up the baseball tournament by east and west, and it led to a different dynamic.

In the finals, Pryor outlasted Edmond Memorial to earn its first AAA American Legion championship since 1983. Pryor also earned the AA championship earlier this summer.

Pryor won game 1 of a best-of-3 series 3-2 and followed that with a near three-hour marathon and a 7-6 victory in eight innings against the Bulldogs.

“You have to give a lot of credit to Pryor. They played really well,” Memorial coach Kyle Roberts said. “I’m looking forward to reading about them in the spring because they have a lot of talent.”

With that, Memorial is closing up shop for the next few weeks. Roberts said the team will meet the first day of school and be ready to practice the second day of school.

In the senior division, Memorial representatives are still alive. Stars from the Bulldogs, Huskies, Wolves and Antlers are on the Edmond Stars who advanced to the Seniors Division State Tournament that begins Wednesday in Bartlesville.

The eight teams schedule to compete: Bartlesville, Edmond, 3 Rivers (Muskogee-area players); Oklahoma Outlaws, OKC RufNeks, Ada, Ardmore and Dewey. The Outlaws are the defending champions.

A little late on this but trying to catch up on everything. Edmond Memorial upended Norman North 9-5 in the finals of the Pure Prairie League state tournament last weekend in Enid.

Norman North defeated Midwest City in the semis while Memorial ousted Putnam North. And interestingly enough, three of those four teams represented the west side in the state tournament in May.

The only representative not there was Edmond Santa Fe as the Bombers knocked off the Wolves.

“This is a big deal,” Norman North coach Charles Redman said. “These are our high school teams for next year. We looked at this as the continuation of our season.”

The Timberwolves have closed up shop for the summer at 29-8.

Waiting to hear back from Memorial coach Kyle Roberts to see who stood out when it came to the Bulldogs.

Got summer baseball news? Don’t by shy, hit me up in an e-mail. Appreciate it.

***

Got in touch with Roberts, and he said it’s just been an absolute team effort right now by the Bulldogs. The starting pitching has been fantastic, but he didn’t want to single out any of them because it’s been a TEAM thing.

And talking to him found out Memorial is taking on Pryor in the finals of the American Legion Tournament in Enid. It’s a best-of-3 series with Pryor leading 3-1 in the fourth of the first game that was suspended by rain. Keep ya posted.

The Area Code baseball games are one of the biggest showcases for amateur baseball, and Oklahoma has five representatives.

Deer Creek shortstop Brian Anderson and pitcher Michael Fulmer will be joined by star pitchers Archie Bradley of Broken Arrow and Dylan Bundy of Owasso and Norman North’s Caleb Simpson for the six-day event in August.

“This is real special for all the kids but to have two from our program really means a lot,” Deer Creek coach Ron Moore said.

All players had to be invited and all games will be played in Long Beach, Calif. Bundy, one of the top prospects in the state, has committed to Texas while Bradley has committed to Oklahoma.

Moore said Anderson and Fulmer are receiving interest from numerous top baseball programs but haven’t made a decision.

The program is run through Major League Baseball, and the kids will represent the Chicago White Sox club.

What can he possibly do for an encore Saturday? Jay’s Cayle Shambaugh said he would prefer to play outfield instead of pitching because he can play every day.

In the Heartland Classic, Shambaugh is showing he can do it all. It’s tough to top a no-hitter, but Shambaugh hit not one but two walk-off home runs Friday.

Shambaugh, an Oklahoma signee, hit a three-run shot in the afternoon to give Oklahoma a 6-5 victory against Ohio. Jon Gray of Chandler pitched well as some of the runs were unearned.

For an encore, he hit the game-winner in a 2-1 win over Texas. Ryan Wilson of Owasso was brilliant on the mound for the first five innings while Roff’s Blake Logan closed out the show.

Shambaugh threw a no-hitter for Team Oklahoma in a 3-0 win against Team Arkansas on Wednesday night.

Shambaugh struck out 15 and walked two. The Classic concludes Saturday at OU’s Mitchell Park. Oklahoma went 5-2 in the round robin portion and plays Texas (again) for third place at 3 p.m.

Georgia plays Maryland for the inaugural championship at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule
At Mitchell Park
Seventh place: Canada vs. Arkansas, 9 a.m.
Fifth place: Ohio vs. Arizona, noon
Third place: Oklahoma vs. Texas, 3 p.m.
Championship: Maryland vs. Georgia, 6 p.m.

Heartland Classic
Tuesday
At Mitchell Park
Arizona 9, Ohio 3
Texas 12, Canada 0
Georgia 13, Oklahoma 5
At Norman High School
Maryland 6, Arkansas 2
Oklahoma 8, Maryland 6
Ohio 12, Texas 7
At Norman North
Georgia 12, Arkansas 2
Arizona 14, Canada 4 

Wednesday
At Mitchell Park
Oklahoma 19, Canada 10
Ohio 12, Arkansas 4
Maryland 11, Georgia 3
At Norman High School
Ohio 10, Canada 4
Arizona vs. Georgia
Oklahoma 3, Arkansas 0
At Norman North
Maryland 6, Texas 4
Texas 9, Arizona 1

Thursday
At Mitchell Park
9 a.m. – Maryland vs. Arizona
Noon – Ohio vs. Georgia
3 – Texas vs. Arkansas
Norman North HS
Noon – Canada vs. Arkansas
3 – Oklahoma vs. Arizona

Friday
At Mitchell Park
Noon – Maryland vs. Canada
3:30 – Arkansas vs. Arizona
7 – Texas vs. Oklahoma
At Norman HS
3:30 – Texas vs. Georgia
7 – Georgia vs. Canada
At Norman North HS
3:30 – Ohio vs. Oklahoma
7 – Maryland vs. Ohio

Saturday
At Mitchell Park
9 a.m. – No. 8 vs. No. 7
Noon – No. 6 vs. No. 5
3 – No. 4 vs. No. 3
6 – No. 2 vs. No. 1, championship

Heartland notes: Jay’s Cayle Shambaugh was brilliant in the 3-0 win against Arkansas on Wednesday night. He threw a no-hitter and struck out 15. He’d rather play outfield, but numbers like that are eye-popping…Interurban Restaurant in Norman is covering the cost for Team Oklahoma tonight for dinner. Players, coaches and their families would like to thank the restaurant for the gesture and their support…The Senior Sunbelt is gone, but the junior one still lives. Three players from Oklahoma made the junior all-tournament team: Deer Creek’s Brian Anderson, Mustang’s Garrett Crain and Shawn Hendricks of Silo.

***

Owasso star Dylan Bundy confirmed to the Tulsa World on Wednesday night that he has committed to Texas to play baseball.

Odds are he probably won’t see a day on the Austin campus because he is, of course, one of the top prospects in the state for the 2011 Draft.

How good is he? He was 11-1 last year with a 1.58 ERA and 164 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings. He’s dangerous at the plate, too, hitting .442 with seven home runs and 58 RBIs.

For much more on Bundy, here ya go.

That’s a good start for Team Oklahoma. Paced by a beautiful three-run double by Deer Creek’s Cale Coshow, Oklahoma earned an 8-6 win against Maryland to open up the Heartland Classic on Tuesday afternoon from Norman HS.

Santa Fe’s Jordan Lopez had a pair of RBI singles while Putnam North’s Casey Coyle launched a solo home run as well.

Norman’s Nick Fowble pitched strong to start the game while Chandler’s Jon Gray closed the show. He had a little trouble, but he got through it.

Look for a story on Jay’s Cayle Shambaugh in Wednesday’s paper.

Now that it is officially underway, here is your official Oklahoma roster:

Drew Dahlberg, Edmond Memorial; Brandon Weddle, Norman; Landon Hallam, Memorial; Dalton Hilliard, Moore; Caleb Hallman, Santa Fe; Cody Rosecrans, Santa Fe; Taylor Alspaugh, Union; Cayle Shambaugh, Jay; Jordan Lopez, Santa Fe; Ryan Wilson, Owasso; Alec Stand, Norman North; Zach King, Deer Creek; Ben Moore, Jenks; Nick Fowble, Norman; Wade Ambrose, Union; Cale Coshow, Deer Creek; Blake Logan, Roff; Jon Gray, Chandler; Casey Coyle, Putnam North.

Fun atmosphere out there at OU’s Mitchell Park for the Opening Ceremonies of the inaugural Heartland Classic. Free food didn’t hurt, either. Kids were definitely appreciative of all the goodies.

Was on hand for the Home Run Derby. There were 16 competitors, two from each team. One round, 10 outs, winner take all. And your winner was…Ohio’s Ryan Berry. Berry, who has signed with Dayton (20 minutes from where I’m from in Ohio), hit five to easily win the title.

Berry was the third batter up and got into a real comfortable rhythm and was hitting lazer shots out to left field. Ohio also took the team title with a combined six home runs.

Tulsa Union stud Wade Ambrose hit one out for Oklahoma while Deer Creek’s Cale Coshow, who will be playing at Mitchell Park next year, wasn’t able to get any out.

HR Totals
1. Ohio 6 (5, 1)
2. (tie) Texas 5 (2, 3); Georgia (2, 3)
4. Arizona 4 (1, 3)
5. Arkansas 3 (1,2)
6. (tie) Oklahoma 1 (1,0); Maryland 1 (1,0)
8. Canada 0

Look for a video with Berry on NewsOK on Tuesday. He was pretty open about how the heat is something dem Ohio kids are not used to. It gets to be 95 in Ohio often but not like the 95 degrees in Oklahoma.

Back out at the Heartland Classic on Tuesday.

We’ve already had some Big 12 Conference commits like Isaac Masalera (OSU) and Jake Love (Kansas), and Sunday’s story features Mustang star receiver David Glidden, also bound for Stillwater.

The elusive 5-foot-8, 165-pound Glidden gave up football as a freshman, but came back because he missed the game, and because he spent that year watching his brother play for the Broncos as they were building themselves into a legitimate program, year after year.

So he returned as a sophomore, though his first love is still basketball. And he still has a passion for baseball as well, and feels he could make an impact in the Big 12. He hasn’t discussed the idea with any coaches at Oklahoma State, but if the opportunity were to present itself, he wouldn’t mind trying the two-sport route. It worked out OK for Josh Fields.

As for his senior year at Mustang, Glidden loves basketball too much to give it up, and he thinks the 2010-11 Bronco ballers could be one of the more athletic teams Mustang has produced in a while.

This fall, Glidden will be back in the role he played during the first five games last year as the team’s No. 1 big-play threat. Over the final six games, he shared the spotlight and the football with running back Daniel Farrow, which slowed the torrid statistical pace he was on at the start of the year.

He still finished with 1,029 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, along with seven more TDs by rush, kick return or interception return. He had to play a lot of cornerback last year, and coach Ty Prestidge would like to cut down on his amount of defensive snaps this season to keep him fresh.

– Scott Wright, swright@opubco.com

Edmond Memorial baseball coach Kyle Roberts said you could tell that the recruiting process was taking its toll on star Drew Dahlberg whenever Dahlberg would talk about it.

However, it never once affected his play. Dahlberg was incredible in his senior season for Memorial, and his dream year continued as he committed to play at Oklahoma on Friday night.

I say committed because he can’t sign right now, of course, with all of OU and Sooner Nation being in Omaha for the College World Series.

His performance, his leadership, his character has just meant the world to this program. The rest of the kids followed his lead.” – Roberts

I got to watch Dahlberg a lot this season, and he was terrific every time out. That consistency, said Roberts, was one of the things that stood out to the Sooners.

Roberts said the interest began in the spring. OU was able to see him play a couple of times, and the staff was very impressed with what they saw.

Dahlberg helped lead the Bulldogs to the Class 6A state tournament and hit .450 with eight HRs and 35 RBIs. It didn’t stop there as he also had 15 doubles and was 31-33 on stolen base attempts.

Sooner fans looking to catch a glimpse of Dahlberg can do so this week at the Heartland Classic in Norman. Dahlberg is one of several OU signees who will be participating in the week-long Classic at OU’s Mitchell Park, Norman HS and Norman North HS.

You can call this a version of ‘Boneman’s Musings.’ Just some little things I’d like to pass on.

Weatherford
The news here is that stud pitcher Dillon Overton will not be a part of the Heartland Classic roster. I was able to talk to the left-hander Thursday afternoon, and he confirmed it.

Overton was originally on the roster, but he said he will be heading out to Boston in early July and wants to be ready. He will be visiting the Red Sox organization for a nice introduction. He was chosen by Boston in the 26th round of the MLB Draft last week.

He said the whole process was actually tense more than anything else as he thought his name would be called a couple of times but wasn’t.

The Heartland Classic runs in Norman from Monday night (opening ceremonies) through next Saturday.

Guthrie
It simply will never stop for star recruit Kentrell Brothers. His whirlwind summer tour continued this week and so did the offers. Brothers received an offer from Oregon State on Wednesday to bring his ridiculous total to 15.

Most impressive about Brothers is the variety of the offers from Duke and Syracuse on the east coast to a bevy of Pac-10 schools on the west side. He’s marketed himself beautifully.

Jones
The hype is pretty crazy for junior wide receiver Tylor Seabolt, but you know what? The Longhorns have a pretty dang good defensive tackle right now in Micah Thompson, who will be a senior.

He’s 6-5 and close to 300 pounds, and he has turned some heads this summer. Thompson already has an offer from Tulsa and was one of several recruits who stood out last week at the Oklahoma State camp.

Yukon
Fellow chum Scott Wright is going to be crazy-busy following the progress of Yukon QB Corben Jones. He’s only going to be a junior in the fall, but he has caught the attention of several top programs.

Jones has gotten bigger and stronger and can beat you with his legs as well as his arm. He was another one solid at OSU, and his stock grows with each passing day. And you know confidence will never be his problem.

Casady
Diver Shanna Schuelein continues to succeed. She was nominated for all-American status on the high school level, and she came in second place at a regional competition in both the springboard and platform events.

She will be back in action June 30-July 3. Schuelein is also a cheerleader for the Cyclones and was great during the winter in SPC competitions.

A little dated but wanted to make sure it got in:

He’s still pretty small for being such a dominant pitcher, but that isn’t stopping Heritage Hall’s Bob Kraft from achieving success.

Kraft threw a complete game in Oklahoma’s 6-3 win against Texas in the Junior Sunbelt Classic on Sunday in McAlester.

Kraft, a left-hander, was 8-1 last year a 0.84 ERA and struck out 105 last year for Heritage Hall. He was a reserve on The Oklahoman’s All-State team and was first team Little All-City.

He won’t be a member of the Oklahoma’s Heartland Classic team next week, but he should be one of the top pitching recruits for 2011.

This summer will be very interesting for him. I don’t know if you can make someone grow (OK, you can’t), but I think the focus should be on getting his strength up.

Right now, he’s solid for a HS pitcher. But if the arm and legs can be even stronger, obviously his future would become even more brighter than it already is.

For whatever it’s worth, I enjoyed watching him pitch this last year. Just think it’s important to build off of last year, and I’m sure he realizes that.

If it’s the middle of June, then it’s about that time again. The Sunbelt Classic is no more, replaced by the Heartland Classic. Much more on that later in the week.

Teams are coming from Ohio, Canada, Texas, Georgia, Maryland, Arkansas, Arizona and Oklahoma.

For now, here is your schedule and Oklahoma roster.

Oklahoma Roster

Jordan Lopez, Edmond Santa Fe; Cayle Shambaugh, Jay; Aaron Cornell, Roff; Drew Dahlberg, Edmond Memorial; Casey Coyle, Putnam City North; Caleb Hallman, Edmond Santa Fe; Cale Coshow, Deer Creek; Blake Logan, Roff; Ryan Wilson, Owasso; Dillon Overton, Weatherford; Ben Moore, Jenks; Billy Waltrip, Fort Gibson; Alec Stand, Norman North; Dalton Hilliard, Moore; Cody Rosecrans, Edmond Santa Fe; Taylor Ambrose, Tulsa Union; Landon Hallam, Edmond Memorial.

Head coach: Pete Sangirardi, Bixby. Assistants: Eric Castle, Dover; Brad Gore, Chickasha.

Heartland Classic Schedule
Monday
6 p.m. – Opening ceremonies/home run derby at OU’s Mitchell Park

Tuesday, June 22
At Mitchell Park
Noon – Arizona vs. Ohio
3:30 – Canada vs. Texas
7 – Georgia vs. Oklahoma
At Norman HS
Noon – Arkansas vs. Maryland
3:30 – Oklahoma vs. Maryland
7 – Ohio vs. Texas
At Norman North
3:30 – Georgia vs. Arkansas
7 – Canada vs. Arizona

Wednesday, June 23
At Mitchell Park
Noon – Oklahoma vs. Canada
3:30 – Arkansas vs. Ohio
7 – Georgia vs. Maryland
At Norman HS
9 a.m. – Canada vs. Ohio
3:30 – Arizona vs. Georgia
7 – Arkansas vs. Oklahoma
At Norman North
3:30 – Maryland vs. Texas
7 – Arizona vs. Texas

Thursday, June 24
At Mitchell Park
9 a.m. – Maryland vs. Arizona
Noon – Ohio vs. Georgia
3 – Texas vs. Arkansas
Norman North HS
Noon – Canada vs. Arkansas
3 – Oklahoma vs. Arizona

Friday, June 25
At Mitchell Park
Noon – Maryland vs. Canada
3:30 – Arkansas vs. Arizona
7 – Texas vs. Oklahoma
At Norman HS
3:30 – Texas vs. Georgia
7 – Georgia vs. Canada
At Norman North HS
3:30 – Ohio vs. Oklahoma
7 – Maryland vs. Ohio

Saturday, June 26
At Mitchell Park
9 a.m. – No. 8 vs. No. 7
Noon – No. 6 vs. No. 5
3 – No. 4 vs. No. 3
6 – No. 2 vs. No. 1, championship