Stuart breaks lengthy title drought with 5-3 win for Class B fast pitch softball championship
By Michael Kinney
OKLAHOMA CITY - It had been almost six decades since the last time Stuart had taken home a state title in fast pitch softball.
At that time a gallon of gas was 25 cents, Lyndon Johnson was the President and Oklahoma football had only three national championships under its belt.
While the Lady Hornets have had their chances to end that streak since then, they came into the 2022 Class B state tournament with seemingly everything they needed to be called champions.
Led by strong pitching and defense, Stuart beat Whitesboro 5-3 Saturday to claim the program’s second title at USA Hall of Fame Stadium, winning it all for the first time since 1964.
“It’s insane,” Stuart senior Haili Igou said. “I don’t even have words for it.”
Stuart coach Chance Chapman has been at Stuart for 15 years. And to be the skipper to end the 58-year streak was huge for him.
“It’s a dream,” Chapman said. “You see these guys win it year in and year out. You see guys win it from time to time.
"And you just think what it would be like to be that team to celebrate right here on championship Saturday. I’ll be honest with you, the feeling is unbelievable.”
However, the Bulldogs (18-17) had their chances to come back and snatch the championship out of Stuart’s hands.
Leading by three runs heading into the top of the seventh, the Lady Hornets (37-5) seemed to have the contest under control. But no one told the Bulldogs, who scored a run to cut the deficit down to two.
Whitesboro senior Madi Edwards came to the plate with one runner on and two outs on the board. She smashed a shot into center field that looked like it was going to fall into the gap and bring home another run.
However, Stuart’s Chloe Akin had other plans. She swooped in and made a diving catch from her center field spot to end the threat and secure the state championship.
“I was scared,” Akin said. “I had no idea I had it. I was scared for my life.”
Akin added it was the type of play she has dreamt about making her entire softball career.
“I dream about it all the time,” Akin said. “Every bit of it. It’s amazing.”
During their three-game run at the state tournament, the Lady Hornets outscored their opponents, 13-5.
“The key was just to be gritty,” said Chapman. “And we were gritty all week. The key was also to come out and compete and give it our all.
"We knew coming into this week, we were going to have to hit the ball. That’s the big equalizer right there, if we can get in the box, and drive in runs. I told my girls if you get us five runs, Kira (Meaders, Stuart's pitcher) is going to shut them down.”
Stuart struck the opening blow in the top of the first inning when Igou knocked in a run. Then in the second inning, an error at shortstop allowed Haddie Lindey to score and give the Lady Hornets a 2-0 advantage.
“The key was to hit the ball,” Igou said. “And stay up, be positive. It was very important to get everyone pumped and excited to play and believing we had a shot.”
Bulldog pitcher Madison Grogan was unable to slow down the Lady Hornets’ bats. In the top of the third inning, she found herself with a bases-loaded situation and no outs.
Stuart senior Jadyn Dalton came to the plate and smashed a double to center field to drive in three runs, making it 5-0.
Whitesboro began to figure out Meaders in the fourth inning. After Kayleigh Walker smacked a double into center field, she scored on a Darah Cole’s misplayed pop fly to cut the deficit to 5-2.
However, the Lady Hornets’ defense took over and controlled the rest of the game.
“We may not be the best day in and day out, but I promise you I have the grittiest bunch of players to walk through these gates,” Chapman said.
Class 3A Championship
Washington 2, Tishomingo 0
The Washington Warriors won the second straight 3A state championship and the program’s ninth since 1999.
“The feeling is immaculate right now,” said senior Tinley Lucas. “We knew it was going to take a lot of work to get back to this spot and to keep our title. The fact we actually pulled it off is pretty amazing. It feels great going out on a note like that.”
Washington (38-3) was the top-ranked team coming into the tournament and did nothing to show otherwise as they outscored its opponents, 17-0.
In the title game, the Warriors took a 1-0 lead over Tishomingo (35-8) in the bottom of the first inning.
That was all Maggie Place needed. The senior hurler dominated the Indians on her way to a one-hit shutout. That is coming off a seventh no-hitter of the season in the semifinals.
“It is just really awesome because I get to leave a legacy here,” Place said. “It’s really fun.”
With the way Place has been pitching, the Warriors didn’t need to worry about another run. However, Tinley Lucas decided to shut the door completely with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth inning.
It was the senior’s second round-tripper in two days.
“It felt amazing,” Lucas said. “I actually kind of missed it. It wasn’t the best. But it went out.”
