August 6, 2019 Issue, Page 8 of 8

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Sports Page 8 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Tuesday, August 6, 2019, Elkettes look to compete for district crown By William B. Carroll, that the team includes 10- class is one of the largest in essarily where we are going Murray said the team’s district, he noted that Clin- Contributing Writer 11 freshmen, six of whom Elk City in recent memory. to finish,” Murray said of speed is also much im- ton is vastly improved over The Elk City Elkettes fast- he said could see significant Murray said his infield for potential outfield starters. proved this season over pre- previous seasons. pitch softball team has a lot playing time this season. He the upcoming season is pret- Murray noted that there vious seasons. He said he Murray said how well the of young talent this season noted that a couple could ty much set but he has some are number of solid athletes felt the team had the ability and head coach Kaleb Mur- be starters when the season II girls who are competing in all classes and that he to earn extra-base hits and Elkettes do this year may ray hopes that talent can opens Aug. 12 at Merritt. for spots in the outfield. He feels he hi team that can thereby put pressure on op- come down to the first sev- propel the team to a 20-win “We have a couple of seriously compete for a dis- posing defenses. He said eral games of the season and noted that during the sum- season and a high finish in freshman who can step in mer he has tried a number of trict crown this season. while he didn’t feel he had how well the young team district 4A-2. right now and be starters,” players in outfield positions Murray said sophomore a player that could steal 25 handles adversity. He noted Murray said this year’s Murray said. “And we will and that the final starters Danni Sottile will pitch the bases this season, he does squad promises to be one need them to step up and have not been determined bulk of the Elkettes games have speed up and down the that the team chemistry is of the more athletic teams into starting roles.” yet. with Carsen Culver also see- lineup that can improve the the best he has seen it and he has had during his time Murray noted that this “Where we start the sea- ing time pitching. team’s chances of earning that if the summer perfor- coaching the team. He noted year’s overall freshman. son in the outfield is not nec- On offense, Murray said extra doubles this season. mance is any indicator, this the team has shown signifi Murray said the Elkettes year’s team could go far. Oilerettes looking cant skill in that area during primary competition in dis- “I could see us winning the summer practice season trict this year will be from and he hopes that the team Weatherford, with Tuttle 20 games this year if we buy can carry it through into the being another potential in,” Murray said. “I could regular season. also see us finishing below for top 4 in district hurdle to overcome. Mur- “We have been hitting the ray noted that Tuttle lost 16 -500 if we don’t.” ball well all summer,” Mur- players from their 4A cham- The Elkettes open their ray said. “There are girls on pion team from last year, season Aug. 12 at Mer- By William B. Carroll, ing third, Miranda Brady at would also be seeing time the team who have hit in but he noted they have a lot ritt and follow that up Aug Contributing Writer shortstop, Allison Justus at in the batters box during the the four spot before that are of young talent to fill in the hitting eighth or ninth right gaps. 15-17 with a tournament in The Merritt Oilerettes fast season. first base and Erika Fazza- pitch softball team is look- laro in center field. During summer practice now.” Among other teams in the Weatherford. ing for a top four finish in games, Gunter said the team Gunter said the team also Thunder names Grant district 2A-2 this year, and has a number of juniors is showingsigns of improve- head coach Keith Gunter and sophomores he expects ment. He said early in the thinks his team has a good to contribute to the team summer the team was strug- opportunity to reach that during the season. He said gling some in the outfield, Waggoner and Taisha Hart- Canute and Mangum, they Gibbs G team coach goal. sophomores Mackenzie but in recent games against “IT think we will prob- ably be middle of the pack,” man would both be starting showed improvement. Gunter said. “We finished in the outfield while Makin- He noted it is somewhat By Erik Horne, The Okla- the Blue and is ready to con- on this role with the Blue fourth last year and I think ly Raulston is expected to difficult during the summer, homan, Oklahoma City tinue his growth within the and continue to be part of we can do the same this year start at second base. especially with temperatures The Thunder announced organizatioi the Thunder organization," but our district will be a lit- Gunter said the team also exceeding 100 degrees, to Friday that Grant Gibbs will Gibbs takes over for said Gibbs via press re- tle bit tougher this year.” has a number of utility play- really get a feel for how the be the new head coach of the Mark Daigneault, who was lease. "Getting to work with Gunter explained that the ers who are expected to con- team will perform in a nor- G League Oklahoma City elevated to the Thunder our players and help them district added an additional tribute to the team this year. mal game situation, but he Blue. bench as an assistant coach. improve on a daily basis team this year in Boone- For instance, Gunter said said that comes with playing Gibbs was an_ assistant Daigneault is the fourth is something that I'm very Apache to bring the district both junior Keely Cox and ball in Oklahoma. coach on the Blue the last coach to go from the Blue to committed to, and I'm look- up to eight teams and that sophomore Lexi Smith are Gunter said he was opti- two seasons. He began his the Thunder coaching staff. ing forward to building on the expanded district would pretty good batters and so mistic about the team this coaching career after a three- "Im incredibly grateful what has been established be harder, as would compet- he wanted to get them in the season. year international playing for the opportunity to take here." ing against strong teams like lineup where he can to help “Lam really excited about career and collegiate stints Mangum and Hobart. the team offensively. Gunter this team,” he said. “We at Gonzaga and Creighton. Gunter said that team’s five senior leaders the said Rylee Zimms will act as have a good group of se- a pinch courtesy runner for niors. I think we will be and returning pitcher junior the catcher during games. "Grant is someone we identified early in his post- competitive this year. I ex- playing career as a potential OU basketball Jordyn Garrett would be im- “One thing we don’t have pect a lot of this team, but fit within our organization," By Joe Mussatto, The tian Doolittle has been im- portant to the team’s success a lot of speed,” Gunter this is a good group of girls Thunder general manager Oklahoman, Oklahoma pressed by Harmon. Sam Presti said via press City "He came in full throttle," this season. said. “We have some pretty and they have a lot of fun.” All five seniors will be good hitters but not a whole The Oilerettes open their release. "He has steadilyi NORMAN -- The Okla- Doolittle said. "That's some- homa men's basketball team thing that everyone can take starting this season, Gunter lot of speed.” season against cross-town pressed us with his versatil- completed its final summer and try to mimic, if not cre- said, with Jo Thomas catch- Gunter said his own rival Elk City Aug. 12 at ity as acoach. We believe he workout Wednesday after- ate for themselves. ing, Macie Steward play- daughter, Mazie Wagner, home. will do an excellent job with noon. The Sooners will have Doolittle expanding game Cowboys entertain two weeks off before the fall Doolittle, albeit on lim- semester begins Aug. 19. ited attempts, was a 39.5 Here are three takeaways percent 3-point shooter as from the last summer ses- a freshman. He made 17 of sion: 43 attempts. In the two sea- hundreds of hoops fans Harmon finding his foot- sons since, Doolittle is 2 of ing 8 from three. He went 34 De'Vion Harmon arrived games last season without ‘on campus two months ago draining a 3-point shot. as the top-ranked player in "I was knocking some By Jimmy Gillispie, Still- with his twin brother Kalib place go crazy and play my ready to work. The guys al- OU's top-25 recruiting class. down today," Doolittle said. water NewsPress, Okla. -- admitted he hadn't talked first game as an OSU Cow- ways encourage you and are He spoke then of having the "I don't know if y'all seen Thursday kicked off the to many alumni before the boy.” "same keys" to the program it. That's definitely a focus Oklahoma State football practice but was hoping to Fellow freshman Marcus great teammates. I love the that coach Lon Kruger gave of mine that they tasked me season, which always carries meet some later, said the Watson was also happy with Trae Young. with this summer -- just get- a lot of hype and excitement event energized him from the hundreds of fans who coaching staff. They've been But his first test drive ting comfortable shooting for months in Stillwater. what was a drag of a morn- came out to watch practice. there ever since day one. ... hasn't been without the them, regardless of making However, the first practice ing. Watson admitted he knows bumps all freshmen face. or missing them.’ of the Cowboy football team "Today was fun," Keylan OSU fans are excited about I love my teammates. They "It's been different," Har- Oklahoma shot a middling the upcoming football sea- mon said. "I ain't gonna lie. wasn't the only athletic draw Boone said. "I was looking keep pushing me -- from 34.6 percent from three last for OSU fans Thursday. forward to it. I ain't going son, but he hopes fans will I can't sit here and front and season, but the Sooners at- Happening simultane- to lie to you, this morning I roll their support from the week one to week 52, we're be like it's been all pretty ... tempted just 654 shots from ous to the football team's was tired and I wanted today gridiron to the hardwood in going to be great." When I say up and down, it's behind the arc -- 268th na- opening practice inside the to be over with. November. not like a bad thing. It's actu- tionally and the fewest of Sherman E. Smith Training Then I got here and said "It felt great," Watson Keylan Boone agreed. allya good thing. That's how any Big 12 team. Center was a men's basket- this is going to be fun to put said. "The energy was there. I look at it. You can't have ball practice open to fans. on a little dunks at the be-We're usually in a quiet "The first couple of weeks everything going all good, Doolittle could play more Several hundred fans sat in ginning of warm-ups. It was gym, so it's nice to have was tough, but overall, I've because then you're never on the wing this season after OU bulked up on frontcourt the lower level of Gallagher- fun." somebody here to hype it up. loved it," Keylan Boone going to know how to han- Iba Arena for 90 minutes as Keylan Boone added he It was good." dle adversity. Being up and options in its 2019 signing the Cowboy basketball team was a bit surprised at how Both Watson and Boone said. “It's been hard work. down keeps it even-keeled class. entertained with — dunks, many fans showed up to are part of a large freshmen for me." "I honestly couldn't tell 3-pointers and plenty of en- watch the team practice, de- class that has brought a lot I embrace every day of it, Harmon, ranked by you," Doolittle said when thusiasm. spite the season not official- of hype to the Cowboys’ every minute. It's something 247Sports as the fifth-best asked about his primary po- Following the team's prac- ly starting for over another program. They came in point guard in the 2019 sition. "That's really not my tice, OSU players and coach three months. this summer and have been new, which is good, because class, is expected to share decision. That's up to (Kru- Mike Boynton signed nu- "I's a great feeling, be- working hard to develop T don't want something that's the backcourt with sopho- ger), but whatever happens, merous autographs and took cause that means I chose the their bodies and their bas- more Jamal Bieniemy -- T'll be rocking with." photos with young and old right school," Keylan Boone ketball skills. easy. It's a challenge and I OU's incumbent starting With one scholarship se- fans. said. "I know they love this Thus far, it's been a good, embrace it every day." point guard. Bieniemy could nior and seven new players, The event was held in con- program, because I wanted but challenging process. play off the ball at 6-foot-5 Kruger said he's probably junction with the Cowboy to go to a school that loved "It's been hard, real hard, The Cowboys open their more easily than Harmon at facing more roster turnover basketball alumni weekend. basketball and have fan sup- a big transition from high 6-foot-1. this year than any season Freshman Keylan Boone port. I can't wait for the first school," Watson said. "You season Nov. 6 when they Despite the — growing in his 33-year college head -- a Tulsa product along game on Nov. 6, see this have to come in and be host Oral Roberts in GIA. pains, senior forward Kris- coaching career.