POTEAU — After facing one futile opponent after another last week, Tahlequah was finally tested on Monday.

Didn’t phase the Lady Tigers one bit.

Tahlequah, which debuted at No. 1 in the Class 5A coaches poll posted on www.okrankings.com, beat up Class 4A No. 5 Poteau 9-1 and coasted to its ninth straight victory.

The Lady Tigers took their initial lead with two runs in the fourth inning, before taking control in the fifth with five additional runs.

“We finally figured it out a bit at the plate,” said Tahlequah coach Matt Cloud, whose team posted two runs in the seventh frame, too. “It was a good battle.

Britney Johnson was front and center for Tahlequah, both in the pitching circle and at the plate. The senior hurler allowed only four hits and one earned run while striking out nine Poteau hitters. On offense, Johnson was 4 for 4 with three runs scored and a run batted in.

Marissa Girdner, Randee O’Donnell, Kirsten Chase and Whitney Wright all collected two hits apiece for Tahlequah.

“Now we’re both 10-1,” Cloud said of his team’s record, in addition to Poteau’s season mark, as well.

Poteau’s lone run came in the fourth inning to cut Tahlequah’s lead to 2-1 at the time.

“I honestly think they’ll be in the top five in 4A,” Cloud said of Poteau prior to the coaches poll coming out late Monday night. “They should be in Oklahoma City [at the state tournament] in October.”

Tahlequah’s next game will be Thursday at the Oktaha tournament.



Change in plans

Tahlequah is slated to open its volleyball season on Tuesday against Catoosa.

That will still happen; the venue is different, though.

Instead of playing at Catoosa, the two teams will meet at the TMAC at 6 p.m.

Catoosa, No. 9 in 5A, are already 10-2 on the season. Tahlequah is No. 13 in 5A.



Sequoyah blasts Vian

VIAN — Jessica Bluebird continued her mastery in the pitching circle, stifling Vian hitters and leading Sequoyah to a 11-1 rout of Vian on Monday.

Sequoyah, which picked up the No. 3 spot in the Class 3A coaches poll, was led on offense by Baylee Ratliff, who went 2 for 4 with three runs scored. Megan Towie also had two hits and three runs scored.

Taylor Thompson led the Lady Indians with four runs batted in, while Rhanda Walker, Jackie Wright and Rain Thompson also posted two RBI apiece.

Sequoyah is now 10-3 and will host Wagoner on Tuesday.



Hulbert loses big

SALLISAW — Hulbert’s softball team lost 12-3 at Sallisaw Central on Monday. The Lady Riders are now 2-5 on the season.

No other information was provided by the Hulbert coaching staff prior to press time.