Guthrie Softball earns No. 3 seed for State Softball Tournament

The Guthrie Lady Jays are set to begin their quest for a state title, starting with a familiar opponent. After dominating their regional competition with two run-rule victories over El Reno (27-5 combined score), the Lady Jays have earned their spot in the Class 5A State Softball Tournament.

With a 25-9 record, Guthrie enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed and will face the No. 6 seed Duncan Demons (27-11) in the opening round. The game is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Senior Haley Gallo, a University of Central Oklahoma commit, has been a standout this season, leading her team with a remarkable .588 batting average. Gallo has racked up 57 hits, including 11 triples and 11 home runs, while driving in 57 runs, making her a key player in Guthrie’s push for another championship appearance.

Sophomore middle infielder Ryn McCormick has been a consistent force at the top of the lineup, boasting a .458 batting average. Sophomore catcher Brylan Shephard has provided power at the plate with a .455 average, 13 home runs, and 39 RBIs. Senior outfielder Ava Hebensperger, who has committed to play at Rose State, enters the tournament with a .411 batting average and 39 RBIs.

In the pitching circle, senior Kinley Duehning leads the team in wins with 11, along with a solid 3.24 ERA. Duehning, who hit a home run in last year’s championship game, will be supported by freshmen Holland McLemore and sophomore Savannah Ingle, who both earned wins during the regional tournament. McLemore holds an 8-2 record, while Ingle stands at 6-3.

Top-seeded Piedmont (29-5), playing its final season in Class 5A, leads the eight-team field, followed by No. 2 Pryor (29-7). Other teams rounding out the bracket include No. 4 Coweta (24-14), No. 5 Claremore (25-8), No. 7 Carl Albert (21-12), and No. 8 Tahlequah (17-17).

Throughout the season, Guthrie has already faced five of the seven other qualifying teams, compiling a 4-3 record in those matchups. The Lady Jays notched wins over Coweta, Duncan (twice), and Carl Albert but fell to Pryor, Tahlequah, and Claremore.

In terms of overall records against the state tournament field, Pryor holds the best record at 6-1, followed by Piedmont at 4-1. Coweta (3-4), Claremore (3-5), and Guthrie (4-3) follow, while Duncan (0-2), Carl Albert (1-4), and Tahlequah (1-2) round out the standings.

The first round kicks off Thursday, starting with Guthrie vs. Duncan at 10 a.m., followed by Piedmont vs. Tahlequah at noon. Coweta will face Claremore, and Pryor takes on Carl Albert in the afternoon.

If the Lady Jays advance, they’ll meet the winner of the Pryor vs. Carl Albert game at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The Piedmont-Tahlequah winner will face the Coweta-Claremore winner at 11 a.m. All games will be played on Field 3, with the championship game scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday at OGE Field.