By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer
May 13, 2008 12:35 am
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SKIATOOK — Emotions flowed as Enid’s 2008 baseball team left the field following a 6-3 loss to defending champion Owasso in the Bracket B finals of the Class 6A state tournament Monday.
There were a few tears and a few hugs after the Plainsmen finished the season with a 29-12 record. The semifinal appearance was the farthest EHS advanced at the state tournament since winning it all in 1986.
Jenks and Moore were playing a second championship game in the A bracket Monday night.
“We had a great run at it,’’ said Enid coach Scott Baugh after addressing his team. “I’m proud of all my seniors. I’m proud of all of my kids. I’m proud of my coaches and my parents ... it’s a wonderful program to be a part of.
“I told the kids that when the day started only four teams out of 32 were still play. That’s a great accomplishment in itself. These kids have faced a lot of adversity all year and have come through with flying colors.’’
The Plainsmen could leave the field thinking what could have happen with a few “what ifs.’’
What if Dylan Nave wasn’t thrown out trying to steal home in the second?
What if Nick Rountree wasn’t thrown out trying to score from second on a double by Zach Gonzalez in the sixth?
What if Owasso courtesy runner Austin Kirk was out on a bang-bang play in the sixth on a squeeze play?
The Rams out hit Enid 14-8, thanks to some seeing-eye base hits.
“Some things didn’t go our way,’’ Baugh said. “Owasso is Owasso. That’s why they win like they do (34-3). We knew we had to play error-free. We knew they wouldn’t give us an inch.’’
The Plainsmen, down 5-1, made a serious threat in the sixth.
Alex Wilson, with one out, singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Rountree reached on a catcher’s interference.
Gonzalez doubled into the left field corner to score Wilson, but Rountree was thrown out at home trying to score on a perfect relay.
“They made a good play on it,’’ Baugh said. “I screwed up on that. I probably shouldn’t have sent him. We were trying to make something happen.’’
Nave drew a walk and Brett Kenaga followed with a single to score pinch-runner Grant Ogle to cut the lead to 5-3.
Owasso starter Austin Kirk got Seth Sturgeon to fly out to left to end the threat.
Brandon Bargas, who went 3-for-3 at the plate, struck out the side in the seventh to end the game.
The Rams opened the scoring in the second, when Ben Kozma singled in Jarrod Huneryager, who led off with a single.
EHS tied the game in the second when Gonzalez singled, went to third on a double by Nave and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kenaga.
After Sturgeon struck out, Nave tried to steal home, but was tagged out by Owasso catcher Joe Spring.
“I thought he was safe,’’ Baugh said. “I had a tough angle at third, but I thought he had it. Dylan didn’t get quite a big enough lead before he left.’’
EHS lefthander John Dillingham, making his final high school start, kept the Plainsmen in the game with a bulldog effort.
Owasso left 12 runners on base. Five times the Rams left two runners on.
Dillingham left the game in the seventh for Jaxson Johnson.
“The last two or three innings, John was pitching on pure guts,’’ Baugh said.
Owasso took the lead for good with a run in the third on a single by Kirk, an infield out and an RBI single by Spring.
The Rams scored two unearned runs in the fifth on the strength on an error, a sacrifice and three singles, including RBI hits by Spring and Bargas.
The Rams added another in the sixth when Kozma scored on a bunt by James Standfield. Enid catcher Cody Passmore was visibly upset after he felt he tagged Kozma out
Owasso added an insurance run in the seventh when pinch-runner Austin Colt scored on a Johnson wild pitch. Colt scored three runs on the day.
EHS was the first team to score on Owasso in the tournament. The Rams had shutout wins over Midwest City (2-0) and Yukon (4-0).
“That’s a consolation,’’ Baugh said, “but we wanted to win. I would have given anything to get to play a second championship game ... maybe we can get them next year.’’
There will be no next year for seniors Dillingham, Wilson, Rountree, Passmore and Brandon Martens. That senior class helped lead EHS to three state tournaments.
“It’s always sad to see the season end,’’ Baugh said. “Whatever endeavors those seniors choose, they will do well. They will grow up to be productive citizens.’’
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