September 27, 2019 Issue, Page 26 of 26

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Page 10 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Friday, September 27, 2019 Elkettes end season win with over rival By Don Munsch, Editor day afternoon. from Rylee Wyatt and the 15. “But they did it for the ran into trouble in the fifth, The Elk City Elkettes fast- Elk City got all of the runs second run scoring on a sin- Elk City softball coach team, and once everybody when Clinton put two run- pitch softball team ended its it needed it in the bottom gle to left field from Danni Kaleb Murray said it was starts buying into that (idea) ners aboard with one out. season with a 2-0 victory of the second, with one run Sottile, the winning pitcher. great to get a win against the in Elk City, we'll just bloom over Clinton at home Tues- scoring on an infield single The Elekettes finished 13- school’s biggest rival. for it,” he said. Sottile, though, was able to “It’s like I told everybody Murray wants to change strike out Kenzie Naranjo this year: We took some the culture in Elk City and Oilers try to get on and then got Loren Coleman lumps, and everybody ex- thinks success can happen to pop out pected us to be better and here. we had better expectations “Tt takes a group of girls Clinton also had two on in for ourselves, but when like we have here to do that, the sixth with two outs and track against Cordell you start five freshmen, it’s called growing pains,” Mur- and we’ve got great people in the community that sup- ray said. “You gotta learn to port us,” he said. “Things are was unable to push across a run, In the seventh, Clinton had a runner at first with one win.” going to start changing here By Don Munsch, Editor right now, so it is what is.” “We just need to focus on He said playing those in Elk City. We're going to out, but Naranjo lined to first The 2019 football season Richardson did see some the little things and secure freshmen will help the team start contending with a lot of and the runner was doubled hasn’t been kind so far to the positives from his team, the ball and finish drives going forward. Some of the people and start surprising a Merritt Oilers. including how his offense off to end the game. out,” he said. seniors hardly played this lot of people.” Wyatt and Carsen Culver Merritt is 0-3 after last moved the ball and madeIn facing Cordell, Merritt season, and that’s hard for Sottile struck out the side week’s 46-12 home loss to some good plays. will play a Blue Devils team any senior to deal with, Mur- in the first inning and had both went 2 for 3 for the Hooker. The Oilers play at “But defensively, we're that has dealt with its own ray said. seven K’s for the day, She Elkettes. home again today against still behind in what we need offensive woes this year. The Elk City runners grab fifth another team searching for to be doing, and wejust need Blue Devils have been shut its first win: Cordell [0-4]. to catch up in that depart- out three times and scored Against Hooker, Mer- ment,” he said. 16 points in the other game, ritt played a Bulldogs team He added that Hooker was that was more experienced, faster and more physical off stronger and athletic, Mer- the ball. place finishes at Norman a 45-16 loss to Watonga. Still, Cordell is a “scrap- py” team, and the Oilers will ritt coach Barret Richardson The Oilers have scored said. just 18 points in the first need to play hard and “take By Don Munsch, Editor classifications competed. 14:34. 41. Savannah Kauk, “Those are the [main] three games, and Richardson care of business” to avoid Elk City cross-country “Not all 4-A schools were 15:45. 43. Juanita Vala- things that stick out in my said his offensive unit needs coming out on the short end runners took home fifth there, but it gave us a pretty dez, 15:48. 59. Brett Bar- mind,” he said. “We did to finish drives, as the team again Richardson place finishes from a meet good idea that we can com- today, nett, 17:28, 61. Paige Lane, on sever- si some good things offensive- was stopping itself Saturday in Norman. pete in our class with suc- 17:56, 72. Jocelyn Pranab- ly, but defensively, we’ve got al series against Hooker with “They'll be ready to come Both girls and boys team cess,” ECHS cross-country dev, 19:39. a long ways to go. They’re mistakes, such as penalties play us, I promise you,” he finished fifth, with the girls coach Jim Taylor said, “Sev- ECHS boys: just a better team that we are or turnovers. said, accumulating 147 points and eral runners continue to im- 7. Mason Smith, 18:05. the boys scoring 130 points. prove. Looking forward to a 25. Kye Keyes, 19:19. 29. Weatherford won the girls Mitchell Robinson, 19:45. Pickens remembered at strong finish to the season.” division with 36 points and ECHS girls’ finishes: 31, Andrew Valadez, 19:53. Byng won the boys side with 10, Caylin Burton, 14:13. 43. Alex Waters, 20:31, 48. 54 points. Schools from 4A 16. Brooklyn Howard, Lane Hargrove, 20:39. service Wednesday By Jenni Carlson, The oped a friendship, but in passionate but restrained. Canute softball, baseball teams stay on roll Oklahoman, Oklahoma 1995, Walsh, then Boone's Both were competitive and City closest confidant, was killed driven to win. STILLWATER -- Mike in a car crash and Pickens In Pickens, Holder saw a Holder has known for a cou- needed someone to step in mentor. By Don Munsch, Editor day, Taylor Beutler, Madi- the seventh to drive home ple years he'd be speaking the void. Holder became the In Holder, you suspect Canute’s fast-pitch soft- son Faylor, Brianna Elliott the winning run. Kasen Le- at Boone Pickens’ memorial one who always answered Pickens saw a kindred spirit. ball and baseball teams have and Haley Schreck each had Grand was 2 for 3 and hac service. Boone's call. The one who When Pickens decided combined for more than 40 two-hit games. Elliott had Didn't mean Holder was listened and dreamed and to give OSU a nine-figure three RBIs for Canute. Dal: wins this season. two RBIs. Beutler was in prepared for Wednesday. planned. The one who hap- donation to overhaul the The softball team contin- the circle and got the win, ton Williams was 2 for 4 anc "I have no idea what's pily headed to West Texas to football stadium in 2005, had two RBIs. Colt Randal about to come out of my hunt quail. he wanted Holder to be the ued its winning ways with a striking out seven. The Tro- was the winning pitcher. Ir mouth," the Oklahoma State Holder quickly realized athletic director. Pickens has 13-3 win over Hobart Tues- janettes are now 24-5. the nightcap, Logan Smitt athletic director said. quail hunts were serious been honest about his terms day and a 7-0 victory over Canute’s baseball team was 2 for 2 for Canute. The He smiled as laughter bub- business in Boone's world. over the years -- no Holder Navajo on Monday. split games with Lookeba- bled out of the crowd inside "You get in that hunt- meant no money. On Tuesday, Madison Sickles on Monday, winning Trojans, now 21-9, had three Gallagher-Iba Arena. ing truck with him, and it's "None of this would've Faylor was 3 for 3 and had 7-6 in the early game and los- hits in the game. like playing in the NCAA happened without it," OSU "But," Holder said, "know three runs batted in and ing 5-1 in the nightcap. The Elsewhere, Elk City’s fast- it's from the heart." championship, coaching in president Burns Hargis said Kylee Smith went 2 for 3 Trojans scored four runs to pitch softball team lost 1-C On the day OSU remem- the NCAA championship," of Holder's friendship with and had three RBIs for the win the first game in walkoff in Cache on Monday. Mikal bered Pickens exactly two Holder said. "It's game on." Pickens. "It was everything. Trojanettes. Pitcher P Strain fashion. Kyron Whinery hit Butler went 2 for 3 for the weeks after he died, he was Holder wasn't a good shot "I know Mike just loved picked up the win. On Mon- a double in the bottom of Elkettes. celebrated for being many at the beginning, prompting him." things. Business mogul. some serious chiding from Mega booster. Super fan. Boone. Holder and Pickens talked pretty much every day for Riley doesn't see player's Change agent. But for Hold- "Nothing slows down a more than two decades. But er, Pickens was something hunt more than looking for their calls became fewer else, too. Best friend. your crippled bird," Pickens would tell him. and farther between in re- cent months. Pickens' health, position switch as big story The two men first met in Time and again, Boone By Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman, Okla- which had been failing for a Earlier in the season, the receiver came 1973. Holder was then the couple years, took a serious homa City ended the hunt with more into the postgame interview room wearing a newly minted golf coach at birds than Holder. But time turn for the worse. NORMAN -- Trejan Bridges’ position Rambo T-shirt. OSU, and when he decided and again, Holder couldn't As the school year ap- switch from wide receiver to safety has been to start a pro-am to raise wait to get the call from proached, Holder realized the biggest story leading up to Oklahoma's "Playing football when I was little, they some much-needed funds, Pickens about the next hunt. Pickens was near the end. game Saturday against Texas Tech, but thought that was my nickname because I hit he invited Jerry Walsh, who "There's nothing like be- "I said goodbye to him coach Lincoln Riley did his best to down- hard on the field," Rambo said. "They were Holder had gotten to know ing on that hunting truck August 16," Holder said. "I play the move Wednesday night. like, 'You go so hard they call you Rambo?" during his college days in with him," Holder said. didn't know when it was go- "This has gotten way farther in the media Stillwater. Walsh invited a Those quail hunts cre- ing to happen, but unless we No, that's my legal name." than what it is," Riley said. "I'm not gonna Rambo is the Sooners’ leading receiv- couple friends to come with ated a bond as Pickens and had a miracle ..." go into much detail on what it is, but it is far him. Holder recognized their sim- There would be no mir- from a permanent move. He's a talented kid, er with 11 catches for 251 yards and four Pickens was one of them. ilarities. Both were southern acles. Boone Pickens died but we'll see how it plays out. It hasn't been touchdowns. Over the next 20 years, Oklahoma guys who grew Sept. 11, and no one took nearly as big a story within these walls as it's Brotherly love Pickens and Holder devel- up playing sports. Both were it any harder than Holder. been outside of 'em," De'Vion Harmon was the top-ranked mem- Bridges, a true freshman, has been practic- ing at safety the last two weeks after com- ber of Oklahoma basketball's 2019 signing ing to OU as a five-star wide receiver from class. Now entering his freshman season, Carrollton, Texas. He caught four passes in Harmon is waiting on the Sooners to offer OU's first three games for 56 yards and a a scholarship to his younger brother, Deuce touchdown. Harmon. Bridges approached Riley about switching Like sports? Want to attend school A football scholarship positions. "| don't move players," Riley said. "I give Deuce Harmon, who attends Guyer High activities and games? suggestions, I give my opinion. But ifI go School in Denton, Texas, is a three-star pros- move somebody that doesn't want to move, pect in the 2021 class. He's the 25th-ranked what have we accomplished here? "He's an unselfish kid. He can and will cornerback in the class, according to the 247Sports composite. be able to help us wherever he wants to. The Elk City News is looking for someone to cover He's certainly that kind of player. He's got a "OU football is great, but I think they're bright future here as a receiver. There's prob- taking a little too long," De'Vion Harmon games and other activites on an as-needed basis. ably eight or nine positions on this team he could play pretty darn well. We'll see how said about his brother's recruitment. Deuce Harmon received an offer from it shakes out. Again, it's a long, long ways Must be reliable, able to write, take photos from being decided." Oklahoma State on Monday. He also holds offers from Texas A&M, TCU and SMU. and meet deadlines. Rambo embraces name Oklahoma wide receiver Charleston Ram- "I think for the last year or two he's done his best to get out of my shadow," De'Vion bo had plans after practice Tuesday. Ifthis sounds like you send your resume to Rambo headed to the movies to see Ram- bo: Last Blood. Harmon said. "I still read comments on Twit- ter that say De'Vion's little brother. That's He grew up watching the movies featuring [email protected] John Rambo, the character played by Syl- Deuce Harmon. He has his own name like I have my own name. I'm gonna support him vester Stallone. "All the time," Rambo said. "Just cause whether he goes to OU or not or whether my name was on there and I was little." they offer him or not."