Manship a cut above the rest…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Another Saturday, another trio of all-state softball games. This time it was the slowpitch variety at the OU softball complex.
And once again, it was the Small East winning, followed by the Middle West and Large West coming out on top. Pretty conclusive where the power of the respective sides were at this season.
My No. 1 thought after watching all six games: Southeastern got the steal of the state in getting Ali Manship of Harrah.
She is ridiculously good. She showed it last Saturday with her pitching, hitting and base running.
Then two days ago, it was her fielding. She threw out two runners from her knees at shortstop, showing tremendous arm strength.
Her bat was as strong as ever, knocking in four runs on a two-run single and a pair of RBI singles in a 20-3 whipping of the Large East.
I talked to Harrah coach David Shannon around the time of All-City selections, and I’ll never forget what he said about her: “she’d cut your throat if it meant a win.”
Good stuff. The Manship family is not gone from Harrah as Ali’s younger sister, Beth, will be a senior next season. Shannon said Beth’s swing is more natural than Ali. That’s a scary thought.
I focused on Southmoore’s Brittany James because two things: 1. Thought it was interesting for her to leave Moore to go to the first-year school. 2. Wondered what her thoughts were about playing with those Moore and Westmoore girls again.
The MVP was probably Kayla McKinley of Westmoore. She drove in four runs but oddly enough, it was her pitching that raised my eyebrows.
She pitched six of the nine innings and only gave up one run. More importantly (well, to me), she threw so many strikes that the game flew right on by.
It was a Moore (and Westmoore) thing. Leslie Martini of Moore missed a HR by inches and had to settle for a two-run 3B. WM’s Taylir Ross had a two-run double.
Jay’s Samantha Robertson had the biggest blast of the game, a solo home run that was gone as soon as it hit the bat. It didn’t clear the bleachers, but it was pretty high up there.
In the middle contest, it was a Morrison thing as Adrian Henington, Meagan Wright and Megan Snowden drove in five of the 13 runs in a 13-9 win.
Henington had the big blast. Other than that, it was simply playing station to station as Washington’s Taylor Hancock and Caitlyn Marcum, Fletcher’s Lauren Whitefeather, Hobart’s Jamie Bingham, Wayne’s Amara Martin and Healdton’s Andrea Pemberton all had RBI singles.
Rachelle Reeve knocked one out of the park for the East.
The small version was just the opposite as the East put it on the West good, 14-7.
Cameron’s Kenetta Vickery had a home run while Red Oak’s Sarah Mauzey and Cayce Coleman each brought home a couple of runs. Tupelo’s Josie Soukup had two hits, including a triple.
Bethel athletic director and longtime softball coach Tommy Block was one of two coaches to be inducted into the Oklahoma Slowpitch Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as well.
Prague’s David Smith was also honored. He led Prague to a state championship in 1994 and was inducted into the hall of fame for fastpitch in 2002.
The OSSCA also named its coaches of the year. Moore’s Robert Wakefield received the large schools honor. He led Moore to the semifinals.
Paul Watts of Rattan earned the middle schools award while Bobby Sifers of Moss was named for the small schools.
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