The Guthrie Lady Jays’ impressive softball season ended on Thursday in a tough 10-7 loss to Duncan in the first round of the state tournament. Despite defeating the Demons twice during the regular season, Guthrie couldn’t complete the sweep, as Duncan’s late surge secured their spot in the state semifinals.
After finishing the year at 25-10, Guthrie competed in a school record fourth consecutive state tournament. Duncan went on to lose to Pryor in the semifinals, with Pryor eventually claiming the Class 5A championship.
The Lady Jays got off to a strong start, scoring in the first inning when senior Ava Hebensperger drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing in sophomore Ryn McCormick, who had singled to open the game. Duncan quickly responded with a two-run home run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 2-2.
In the fourth inning, sophomore Savannah Ingle broke the deadlock with a solo home run to center field, her second of the season. Later in the inning, Hebensperger added another walk with the bases loaded to extend the lead to 4-2. However, Duncan tied it up again with two runs in their half of the inning.
Duncan took their first lead in the fifth inning, but Guthrie responded in the sixth. Senior Haley Gallo, who had been intentionally walked twice earlier in the game, came through with a clutch two-run homer to right field—her 12th of the season—giving the Lady Jays a 6-5 lead and marking a memorable final swing of her high school career.
But Duncan wasn’t finished. They mounted a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a three-run home run, to take a decisive 10-6 lead. Guthrie managed one more run but couldn’t close the gap.
McCormick led the Lady Jays with three hits in five at-bats from the leadoff spot, as the team totaled 10 hits.
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