Lose to Union (News/2011)

NEWS (2011)

Rams lose in 6A championship game

By Rick Heaton, Owasso Reporter Sports Editor

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 20, 2011) -- For the third time since he's been head softball coach at Owasso High School, Shane Eicher took his team to the state championship game. And for the third time, his team came up just short.

In the 6A Oklahoma state championship game, the Lady Rams, which had won 28 straight heading into the finale, finally dug a hole they couldn't climb out of, and lost to Union 10-4 at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Union, behind a five-run second inning, never trailed, and ended Owasso's championship run.

"It's just hard," Eicher said. "It's so hard to watch the other kids jump around and celebrate when you know it could have very well been us. I'm starting to think I have the Roy Williams/Bill Self jinx."

The Lady Rams advanced to the title game with a 5-3 win over Edmond North in Thursday's tournament opener, and then routed Edmond Santa Fe 11-2 in Friday's semifinals.

But Saturday, the Lady Rams just didn't get the breaks.

Union got a three-run home run from nine-hole hitter Kelsey Goodwin to cap a five-run second. And quickly, the Lady Rams found themselves behind.

"It was kind of like we were shell shocked," Eicher said. "I told them we've got the talent, we're going to score. We needed to calm down and get out of this inning and take it an inning at a time. Our kids never quit. For that, I am so proud of them."

Whitney Whitehorn doubled and scored in the bottom of the second to make it 5-1, but Union answered with a run in the third to make it 6-1.

Owasso's Emily Bevan doubled and scored on an error to make it 6-2, and the Rams loaded the bases on two more Union errors, but couldn't score any more.

Union added four more runs in the fifth for a 10-2 lead, but Owasso had one more surge in them.

The Rams scored twice in the sixth when Whitehorn and Mikayla Waggnor hit back-to-back singles. Both later scored and the Rams once again had the bases loaded, but couldn't capitalize. Twice the Rams couldn't get the key bases-loaded hit.

"Whitney was up one time and has come through for us all year," Eicher said. "And Haley (Buchanan) was up the next time, who has come through all year for us. If you could get a hit every time, there'd be a lot more kids playing this game. There wasn't much different we could have done."

But in the end, it was Union which got the key hits.

"They played really well," Eicher said. "The way I look at it is that we didn't give it away; they earned it. For that, you've got to tip your hat. They have some very talented girls on that team. They're well coached. We could play again and it could just as easily be the other way around. It was just their day."

Whitehorn suffered the loss in the circle. She was relieved by Shawna Cary in the fifth inning. Owasso had eight hits to Union's 16. Bevan was 3-for-4, Whitehorn was 2-for-4 and Waggnor was 2-for-3.

The Rams end a remarkable season with a 39-3 record and a perfect district record, which is nothing to sneeze at, according to Eicher.

"It's pretty remarkable in any sport," Eicher said. "I told my kids I still wouldn't trade my team for theirs. These are great kids and they're going to be successful after softball is over. We had no problems this year. The parents were great. It makes it fun. You get up every day ready to go to practice. I wanted that for them."

The Rams lose three seniors, but return all but one position player and both pitchers. So next year could be even better.

"We lose three great seniors," Eicher said. "We've got a great nucleus of kids. The crazy thing is, even though all the spots are open, there is really one spot out there (for next season). I hope the kids work hard and get better and try to improve their game."

As for winning that elusive first state championship, it could happen for Eicher, sooner than later.

"It's going to happen," he said. "You just have to keep working to make it happen. We just don't know when it's going to be. I was just hoping it would be this year."

Owasso 5, Edmond North 2

Edmond North scratched across the first run of the game, but Owasso answered with all five of their runs in the bottom of the fifth. Owasso took advantage of three walks. Owasso's big play of the game was a simple sacrifice fly by Buchanan to right field that scored two runs. Whitehorn gave up just five hits for the win. Waggnor was 2-for-3. Hannah Stirton and Nicole Nease each drove in a run.

Owasso 11, Edmond Santa Fe 2

Edmond Santa Fe scored the first two runs in the first inning, but gave up the next 11 runs to Owasso in the semifinal game. Myranda Stewart homered to cut the lead in half in the second inning, and the Lady Rams took a 3-2 lead on RBI by Buchanan and Stewart in the third.

But the Rams would basically end the game with a seven-run fourth inning. With two outs, the Rams started pounding the ball. Three hits, a walk, two errors and a three-run homer by Whitehorn provided more than enough runs for the Rams. Buchanan was 3-for-4 with two RBI. Bevan was 2- for-4 with two RBI and Stirton was 2-for-4. Stewart drove in two runs. Whitehorn got the win, allowing two runs on just four hits.

Whitney Whitehorn