Collinsville ousts Elgin in state tourney

EDMOND—Another eerily-familiar start and a costly injury provided more problems than Elgin was able to handle Thursday as Collinsville pitcher JT Davis pitched a two-hit shutout and fanned 12 as the Cardinals rolled to a 9-0 victory to advance in the Class 5A State Tournament.

The game at Edmond Santa Fe High School started just like a tough loss to Guthrie in last week’s regional tournament as the Owls’ starter Jaxon Southerland hit the first two batters he faced and walked another to load the bases. A bloop single by Colton Hollenbeck drove in the first run and when Southerland threw two straight balls to another batter, Elgin coach Levi Garrett made his move, putting Ritson Meyer on the bump to try and slow things down.

Meyer was unable to throw a strike and another walk brought in a second run, but Meyer got a strikeout and then enticed the next batter to hit into a force at second but a third run scored on the play. Meyer ended that rally with a strikeout and the Owls had absorbed the Collinsville blow without further damage.

Last week it was Southerland and Grady Thomas who bailed out the Owls with their arms and even though Southerland was a freshman, he had been a stalwart when he was needed and Garrett gave him his chance Thursday.

Thomas never got his chance to pitch because in the top of the third he was hit by a bat by one of the Cardinals and was unable to continue, leaving a big void behind the plate. And to make matters worse he was called for catcher’s interference and while that didn’t cost the Owls any runs, it took a good bat, pitcher and catcher out of the Elgin lineup.

None of that may have changed the outcome because Davis was in control all the way, setting the Owls up and down without encountering many problems. Elgin’s first hit didn’t come until Mason Thornton hit a double to begin the sixth inning but even that didn’t help the Owls solve the talented arm of the Collinsville hurler.

The Owls were still in the game through the first four innings but without any offensive support it seemed only a matter of time before the Cardinals would tack on more runs and that’s what they did, scoring five more in the top of the fifth to take firm control.

The Cardinals will now turn around at face defending champion Carl Albert at 11 a.m. today at Edmond Santa Fe. Carl Albert, which is coached by Eisenhower grad Ryan Whiteley, beat Sapulpa, 1-0, in Thursday’s first game.

The late game was to feature Duncan against Coweta while Noble and Tahlequah were play in the other 5A quarterfinal contest. Games in Noble were delayed by rain during the afternoon.

Marlow rolls in 4A action

Marlow came up with the biggest win as the 4A State Tournament opened at Noble with the Outlaws rolling to an 11-2 victory over Hilldale.

Tuttle opened the day with a 6-0 victory over Cushing and Blanchard edged Newcastle, 6-5 in other first-round action.

In the final game Elk City and Chickasha were locked in a 2-2 battle at press time that featured Elk City senior lefthander Kash Mayfield who had fanned 18 after seven innings when he reached the pitch limit and was pulled.

Today’s semifinals have Tuttle facing Marlow at 1:30 p.m. at Noble with the Elk City-Chickasha winner to meet Blanchard in the 4 p.m. semifinal contest.

Marlow used a strong pitching effort from Blayd Harris who worked all seven innings, scattering five hits, and two earned runs. He fanned 10 and walked three. Harris also ripped three hits, drove in two runs and scored two runs.

Jackson Miller and Jacob Crosson both went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs apiece and freshman Jaxon Murray drove in two runs to help ignite the offense.