SOFTBALL: Claremore opens Broken Arrow Festival with doubleheader sweep

A flawless defense and timely hitting defined Claremore’s first day at the Broken Arrow Festival.

The Lady Zebras strung together a shutout over Hilldale before grinding out a 5-1 victory against Putnam City North, finishing Friday’s doubleheader with a perfect 2-0 mark while improving to 4-2 overall.

CLAREMORE 8, HILLDALE 0

A 5-run explosion in the third inning broke the game wide open, and Claremore’s defense made sure Hilldale never had a chance to recover.

The Lady Zebras blanked the Lady Hornets 8-0 Friday afternoon in the opener of the Broken Arrow Festival, riding timely hitting, aggressive base running and 2 clutch double plays to secure the shutout victory.

Pitcher Alexis Morton controlled the circle, scattering just 1 hit across 5 innings while walking 2. Although she didn’t record a strikeout, her defense backed her flawlessly with 2 double plays and error-free play.

Offensively, Addison Reavis and Gabby Garcia each drove in 2 runs, while Reavis added a key RBI double in the third. Garcia also singled home a run in the second and later plated another on a groundout.

Morton and Reavis both finished with 2 RBIs, while Claire Pilkington and Tilly Andrews chipped in hits.

Claremore showed patience at the plate, drawing 9 walks. Avery Hyde, Bella Weaver and Riley Fay each walked twice, with Fay stealing 2 bases as part of the Lady Zebras’ 9-steal effort.

Defensively, Claremore was flawless, committing no errors and turning 2 momentum-swinging double plays — both initiated by Reavis at shortstop.

The Lady Zebras struck first in the opening inning when Fay worked a leadoff walk, stole 2 bases and came home on a groundout by Reavis to make it 1-0. Claremore added another in the second after Garcia singled down the left-field line to plate Amaeli Foster.

The game turned in the third, when the Lady Zebras erupted for 5 runs. Reavis doubled to center to score Weaver, then later came around on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Morton. A passed ball pushed another run across, and Foster grounded out to bring home yet another. Garcia capped the surge with an RBI groundout, stretching the lead to 7-0.

Claremore tacked on its final run in the fourth, when Andrews singled, advanced aggressively and scored on an error after Morton hit into a fielder’s choice, extending the advantage to 8-0.

The Lady Hornets' only real threat came in the fourth, when a walk and a single put 2 runners on with one out. However, Claremore turned a 5-3 double play, erasing the opportunity. An inning later, another double play erased a leadoff walk, sealing the shutout.

CLAREMORE 5, PC NORTH 1

A two-out rally in the third inning swung all momentum Claremore’s way.

Back-to-back RBI hits from Andrews and Garcia punctuated a surge that gave the Lady Zebras firm control, and they never looked back.

Claremore defeated Putnam City North 5-1 Friday afternoon in the second game of Day 1 of the Broken Arrow Festival, improving to 2-0 on the young weekend slate.

Andrews continued her strong day at the plate, collecting 2 hits, 2 stolen bases and driving in a run. Garcia also notched 2 hits and an RBI, while Reavis and Pilkington each drove in a run to round out a balanced attack. Weaver added 2 hits and scored twice.

In the circle, Foster kept the Lady Panthers off balance.

The right-hander allowed just 1 hit and 1 unearned run over four innings, striking out 4 and walking 2. Defensively, Claremore turned a crisp double play in the opening inning to snuff out early pressure, and error-free play behind Foster ensured PC North never mounted a serious threat.

The Lady Zebras broke through in the second inning.

After Andrews doubled and advanced on a passed ball, Pilkington dropped down a bunt to score the first run. Moments later, Alexa Reed came home on another passed ball to make it 2-0.

Claremore extended the lead in the third when Andrews singled to right to bring in a run, then promptly stole second and third before Garcia lined an RBI single to left to stretch the margin to 4-0.

The Lady Zebras tacked on their final run in the fourth when Weaver doubled and scored on Reavis’ sharp single to short, giving Claremore a 5-0 cushion.

The Lady Panthers' lone run came in the bottom half of the inning. A walk and fielder’s choice put two runners aboard before a pair of steals and a throwing error allowed one to cross, trimming the deficit to 5-1.

Foster regrouped to record the final out, halting the rally.

From there, Claremore’s defense closed the door. Another double play in the fifth helped erase a leadoff walk, sealing the the Lady Zebras’ victory and a perfect opening day at the festival.