The 2024 slow-pitch softball season did not start out the way the Gans Lady Grizzlies had desired as they lost both games during their opening week last week, losing a 10-5 road to Gore on March 11 and coming up short in a 22-18 road loss to Okay.
The Lady Grizzlies’ home doubleheader Thursday against Kinta was rained out, and the two-day Haileyville Tournament was canceled Friday and Saturday due to wet fields from Thursday’s storms.
In the loss to Gore, after the Lady Grizzlies (0-2) scored three runs in the third inning to take a 3-2 lead, the Lady Pirates scored once in the third inning to tie the game at 3-all, then took the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning and a fourrun sixth inning to take a 10-3 lead into the seventh inning.
In defeat, Brianna Burris was 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two RBIs, Raina Gaona doubled and scored once, Stevie Pratt doubled with an RBI and a run scored and K’Cee Osburn tripled with two RBIs and a run scored for Gans. Layla Manuel (0-1) took the loss.
In Tuesday’s loss to Okay, after the Lady Grizzlies scored nine runs in the first inning for a 9-0 lead, the Lady Mustangs scored twice in the first inning and six runs in the second inning to cut the deficit to 9-8. After Gans upped its advantage to 11-8 with two runs in the third inning, Okay scored five runs in the third inning and twice in the fourth inning to take a 15-11 lead after four innings. Gans regained the lead with a five-run fifth inning to take a 1615 lead, but the Lady Mustangs rallied to take the lead for good with a seven-run fifth inning to take a 22-16 lead after six innings.
In defeat, Gabbie Price was 3-for-5 with a double, two runs batted in and two runs scored, Raina Gaona was 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI and K’Cee Osburn was 3-for-4 with a double and four runs scored to lead Gans.
Burris (0-1) took the loss in relief. Manuel started and went the first two innings, then Aaliyah Taylor pitched the third inning.
The Lady Grizzlies will return to action at 4 p.m. Monday at home against Arkoma.
Editor’s Note: The Gans Grizzlies baseball team had Thursday’s road game at Webbers Falls rained out, then had their road three-way with Braggs at Porum canceled due to wet fields. The Grizzlies are slated to return to action at 4 p.m. Monday with a home game against McCurtain.