From staff and wire reports

PRYOR — Perhaps it was the lightning delay or maybe it was just an anemic offense, either way Class 5A No. 4 Tahlequah dropped an opportunity to knock off  fifth-ranked Pryor on Thursday afternoon, losing 2-1 in eight innings.

With the game knotted at one apiece in the eighth, both teams were called off the field during a passing storm in Pryor. When Tahlequah took the field, it failed to score in extra innings, allowing Pryor to prevail in the bottom half.

In the eighth, Randee O’Donnell, who came up with three of Tahlequah’s seven hits, doubled to lead off and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher.

However, the Lady Tigers were unable to bring her home. Jessica Patrick struck out, Erica Sampson was intentionally walked, Ashley Boswell flied out to third base and Jenna Reed struck out.

“We struck out way to much,” said Tahlequah coach Matt Cloud, whose team dropped to 15-2 on the campaign.

Pryor capitalized by scoring the game-winning run in the eighth.

“You would have thought they won the state title on a Thursday afternoon in the middle of September,” said Cloud. “All their players and coaches were jumping up and down and going crazy.”

Tahlequah fell behind in the fifth inning when Pryor tallied its first run.

The Lady Tigers, however, rallied on Sampson’s solo home run in the sixth.

In the pitching circle, Brittany Johnson pitched a complete-game three-hitter for Tahlequah. Only one of the runs she allowed was earned.

“It was a big game for us,” said Cloud, whose team had its 13-game winning streak snapped. “And we deserved to lose since we couldn’t push a run across in the eighth.

“But the beauty of this game is we get to come right out again (Friday) and play another one.”

Tahlequah hosts Keys today at 5 p.m.



Lady Tiger runners take 3rd in Owasso

OWASSO — Jessica Hembree finished third overall and the Tahlequah Lady Tigers cross country team finished third as a team in Owasso on Thursday. Hembree clocked a time of 12:25 in the two-mile race.

Tahlequah’s Chenea Tschirhart came in fifth at 14:00, Breanna Duncan was 16th at 14:27, Carly Gipson (14:24) crossed the line at 18th and Thalia Mora finished 32nd with a time of 15:32.

“We ran good and real conservative,” said Tahlequah coach Elzy Miller.

Neosho’s Courtney Wood won the race at 11:48.

Neosho (Mo.) won the team race with 26 points. Collinsville came in second with 50.

“If we can get a fifth runner,” Miller said, “we’ll be right up there in 5A.”

Miller added: “If rankings came out right now, I would say we’d be right behind Collinsville, who would be first, and Coweta. I think we’re right in there somewhere.”

The Tahlequah boys finished second overall with 61 points. Owasso won with 25 points while Neosho came in third with 102.



Keys blanked in Fort Gibson

FORT GIBSON — The Keys Lady Cougars, who had won two games in a row, fell Thursday in Fort Gibson 7-0.

The loss drops Keys to 11-12 overall.



Charge dropped against Oklahoma St player

STILLWATER — A possession of a controlled substance charge has been dismissed against Oklahoma State safety Victor Johnson but he still faces accusations of obstructing a police officer and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Court records show the misdemeanor count was dropped Wednesday and an Oct. 18 disposition hearing was scheduled for the remaining charges.

Johnson was arrested in July after university police responded to a suspicious odor complaint at his apartment. Officers said they found marijuana after obtaining a search warrant.

Johnson's attorney, William Baker, said a woman made a statement to authorities that she was responsible for the marijuana and Johnson didn't have it in his possession. Payne County District Attorney Rob Hudson says Johnson also tested negative for marijuana when he took a drug test shortly after his arrest.

The Tulsa World first reported the story on its website.