In the first two days of the 2023 State Softball Championships, the Guthrie Lady Jays won in the most dramatic ways you could imagine, only to see the script flipped on the final day in the final inning at OU Softball Stadium.
Guthrie was three outs away from the program’s first-ever state title in their first-ever championship appearance, but Piedmont, Class 5A’s number one ranked team, found themselves with their third straight title.
“These girls deserve everything in the world, so it’s hard to see their disappointment after such a hard game,” Jays coach Booker Blakley said. “This moment in time, however, will hopefully be looked back at with a smile and some happiness at some point.”
On day one of the tournament, Guthrie walked off Tahlequah. On day two they walked off Coweta. Only to see themselves on the other side of the emotions. Related article: Cardiac Jays land themselves in first-ever state championship game
With Piedmont runners on second and third with one out, Peyton Gray, the Wildcats clean-up hitter, delivered a daggering blow with a single to left to plate the two runs and a 3-2 win. The first Piedmont lead of the day.
Piedmont finishes the season with only three losses, with two coming from Missouri schools. They dominated Oklahoma teams, but for all but one-half inning Guthrie had them on the ropes.
Guthrie jumped out to a 1-0 lead in their first at-bat when senior Abbie Eichler delivered a single to score junior Haley Gallo, who earlier reached on an error.
The Jays made it 2-0 with one swing of the bat as junior Kinley Duehning belted a line drive shot over the left field wall, right over the 2013 Oklahoma University National Championship banner.
Piedmont got their first run in the sixth inning off Duehning with a sacrifice fly. Duehning kept the Wildcats’ bats silent for a good part of the game while allowing four hits.
In the final at-bat, Piedmont’s leadoff hitter Tylar Short led the inning off with a walk, and Taybor Moss followed by being hit by a pitch. They were moved over with a sacrifice bunt. Gray, who finished the day 3-for-4, delivered the two winning runs.
“I could not be prouder as a coach for the way they battled for three days,” Blakley said. “This season was not the easiest for a lot of them, but they still managed to come together as a team and work towards their goals.”
Guthrie will look to fill the void of six seniors for the 2024 season.
“The party is over for now, but we will be back, hoping to knock down that final door,” Blakley added.
Guthrie ends their season at 28-8.
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