Guymon Softball Tournament play resumes today with games all day; Texhoma apparent leader

August 25, 2012

Guymon’s Macy Pritchard slides safely into home plate for a run for the Lady Tigers as Hooker pitcher Shania Miller (2) covers the plate during the opening game Friday morning. Staff photo/John Plestina

Will the defending 2011 Guymon Softball Tournament champion, the Lady Tigers, repeat at they 2012 tournament? That cannot be answered without knowing all of the results from pool play on Friday.
As the second and final day of play begins at 10 a.m. today, Texhoma has emerged the leader from Pool B with wins in all four games played Friday.
Pool A final results were unclear late Friday night because attempts to reach several coaches were unsuccessful.
Guymon defeated Hooker 8-2 Friday morning and later lost to Forgan 3-2. The Lady Tigers played Rocky Ford, Colo., late in the day but the results were not known when the Guymon Daily Herald went to press.
Late Friday afternoon, Forgan and Rocky Ford each had two wins, Guymon and Lamar, Colo., each had one win and one loss and Hooker had three losses.
In Pool B, the Lady Devils finished on top after defeating Tyrone 11-2, Turpin 16-0, Goodwell 11-3 and the Guymon junior variety 7-0. That game was called off after two innings due to lightening.
Tyrone finished second in Pool B play, Goodwell third, GHS JV fourth, and Turpin fifth.
Texhoma pitcher Bailey Talbert won all four games, striking out five against Tyrone, four against Turpin, four against Goodwell, and one against the Guymon JV.
Talbert helped her own cause with a home run against Tyrone, a triple against Turpin and a double against the Guymon JV.
Her teammate, Taysi Peterson hit a grand slam home run against Goodwell and Kaitlyn Campbell also homered in the same game.
Reagan Higgins tripled against Guymon.
Stats from the other teams were not made available to The Guymon Daily Herald.
When asked if he thinks the Lady Devils could win the tournament championship, head coach Greg Higgins said, “We’re capable of it, but I haven’t seen all the other teams.”
Class 1A Texhoma’s hitting, fielding and Talbert’s pitching were effective in a doubleheader against Class 5A Guymon Thursday night, with the Lady Devils winning both games.
Tournament play today is single elimination.
While most people locally look at Panhandle teams, is there a wild card?
Two Colorado schools are participating in the tournament for the first time this year.
If the addition of the two schools that play in Colorado’s Class 3A District 2 include a wild card winner, that would send this year’s championship out of state.
The Rocky Ford Meloneers finished their 2011 season with a 6-4 record in their conference and 19-4 overall. They lost in the Colorado Class 3A semifinals.
Rocky Ford is an eastern Colorado city located near LaJunta. It is in an agricultural area known for growing watermelons and cantaloupes.
The Meloneers’ mascot is — you guessed it — a green watermelon with red pants.
The Lamar Lady Savages (also referred to as the “Savagettes” on their website) are opening their 2012 season at the Guymon Tournament.
The Meloneers play the Lady Savages during the regular season.