The Guthrie Lady Jays softball team ended its three-game losing streak in spectacular fashion, sweeping through the Norman tournament with three dominant wins over Class 5A Noble, 4A Newcastle and 6A Norman.
The Lady Jays showed off their offensive prowess, averaging nearly nine runs per game. That’s a stark contrast to last week’s struggles, when they averaged less than three runs per game in four matches.
Brylan Shephard stole the show on Saturday against Norman with three home runs, giving her a total of five home runs this season.
In their opening game against Noble, the Lady Jays posted a resounding 13-2 victory, led by Haley Gallo’s five RBIs, including a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
Guthrie kept the momentum going against Newcastle, overcoming an early deficit and winning 5-2. Ava Hebensperger opened the game with a base-clearing triple.
In the final of the tournament, Shephard’s batting performance exploded, helping Guthrie to a 9-5 victory over Norman with three home runs and five runs scored.
Guthrie’s pitching team also shone throughout the tournament, with solid performances from Savannah Ingle (1-1), Kinley Duehning (2-0) and Holland McLemore (1-2).
The Lady Jays will finally play on home soil when they host Carl Albert (2-1) in a non-district game on Monday at 5 p.m.
Guthrie 13, Noble 2
Gallo scored five runs on three hits to lead Guthrie past Noble 13-2 on Friday. Gallo hit a home run, her second of the season, to center field in the fourth inning to score three runs, and in the second inning she hit a double to score two runs.
Guthrie got on the scoreboard early in the first inning after Ingle hit a groundout and Brylan Shephard hit a single, both scoring a run.
The Jays extended their early lead early in the second inning when Gallo scored two runs with a double and Ingle scored a run with a single.
Guthrie extended its early lead early in the third inning after Emalyn Redman hit a single, Codi Hibbs hit a double and Saylor Hamilton hit a single, each scoring a run.
In the fourth inning, Guthrie scored five more runs to extend the lead to 13-1. Redman scored a run with a single, Hibbs scored a run with a single, and Gallo scored three runs with a home run.
Ingle took the win for the Lady Jays. The right-handed pitcher allowed four hits and two runs (one earned) in four innings, with four strikeouts and no walks.
Guthrie scored 13 hits in the game. Gallo and Hamilton were a force in the lineup together, as they each scored three hits for Guthrie. Shephard, Redman and Hibbs each scored multiple hits.
Noble falls to 5-3 this season.
Guthrie 5, Newcastle 2
Newcastle (0-3) got on the scoreboard with two runs, including a home run, at the beginning of the first inning.
Guthrie increased the lead to 5-2 in the third inning after Hebensperger scored three runs with a triple and Duehning scored a run with a single.
Duehning got the win for Guthrie. The left-hander allowed eight hits and two runs in six innings, striking out twice and walking one.
Hebensperger got three runs batted in. The right-hander managed 2 out of 2 that day. Duehning and Hebensperger each had two hits.
Guthrie 9, Norman 5
Shephard hit three home runs and struck out five as Guthrie defeated Norman 9-5 on Saturday. Shephard hit home runs in the second, third and fifth innings.
Norman (2-2) was first on the scoreboard in the first when Marcela Attar hit a double and scored two runs.
Shephard hit a home run to center field to make the score 2-2 early in the second inning.
Guthrie took a 6-2 lead in the third inning when Hebensperger hit a triple to score a run, Duehning hit a single to score a run and Shephard hit a home run to left field to score two runs.
Guthrie extended his lead with two runs in the fifth inning thanks to home runs from Shephard and Ingle.
McLemore earned the win by allowing just three hits and four runs, one strikeout and five walks in three innings. Duehning picked up the save.
Guthrie scored 12 goals in the game. Duehning, Ingle and Hebensperger each scored multiple goals for the Lady Jays.
