Warriors back in state
Okarche earns spot in Class A bracket
COACH RYAN Beaman has Okarche baseball in the state tournament for the first time since the spring of 2015. The Warriors enter this week’s Class A bracket with a 25-4 mark. [KT&FP Staff Photo]
Okarche is in a state baseball tournament for the first time since 2015.
The Warriors beat No. 8 Tushka 6-1 last Friday night to claim the consolation championship of their regional tournament at Oktaha.
They’ll take on No. 2 Wister at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Edmond Memorial High School in the state quarterfinal round.
Last Friday’s victory was ninth-ranked Okarche’s second win over Tushka in as many days. Okarche edged the Tigers 4-3 to open the regional on Thursday.
That earned the Warriors a crack at No. 1 Oktaha in the regional championship game that night.
Oktaha prevailed 7-4 to win the regional and punch its ticket to state.
Okarche, however, got another shot on Friday as the fall season takes two teams from each of four regionals across the state.
Tushka eliminated Hydro-Eakly to get its chance at revenge against Okarche, but it didn’t happen.
This is Okarche’s eighth time to reach the fall state tournament, but first since finishing state runner- up to Silo in 2010.
That was a part of Okarche’s best historical run in baseball when it reached five consecutive combined spring and fall state tournaments as well as three state championship games during that stretch (taking runner-up in all three).
All told, from Spring 2008 until Spring 2012, Okarche made seven of nine possible state tournaments.
This is Okarche’s first time at state since the Spring of 2015.
The Warriors will enter with a 25-4 record.
The three losses prior to Oktaha:
• 7-6 to Ft. Cobb-Broxton to open the season. Ft. Cobb is No. 1 ranked and top-seeded in the Class B state bracket this week;
• 1-0 to Calumet on Aug. 25. The Chieftains are 27-1 and ranked No. 2 and second-seeded in the Class B state bracket. Their lone loss? It was a 7-6 decision to Okarche on Sept. 1;
• 1-0 to Dale in extra innings on Sept. 12. The Pirates are ranked fifth in Class A and are also a part of the state tournament field.
Class A State Schedule Thursday, Oct. 6 at Edmond Memorial
Game 1: Oktaha vs. Preston, 11 a.m.
Game 2: Dale vs. Silo, 1:30 p.m.
Game 3: Rattan vs. Wright City, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Okarche vs. Wister, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 7 at Edmond Memorial
Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 7 at Bricktown Ballpark Championship, 12:05 p.m.