Morrison finishes the job this time, takes the Class 2A fast pitch softball crown

Caddo continues championship run in softball by repeating as Class A state champion

By Michael Kinney 

OKLAHOMA CITY - In 2019, Audrey Warriner experienced the highs of high school athletes.

As a freshman, she was part of the Morrison fast pitch softball Class A state championship run. It ended with Warriner being part of the celebratory dogpile at home plate with her teammates. 

It was a feeling that many in the freshman class thought they would experience more often. But that was not how it worked out.

However, with one last chance to earn a fast pitch title, the Morrison senior class stepped up and pulled out a 2-0 win against Pocola Saturday night in the Class 2A championship game.

And Warriner got to experience the dogpile one more time.

“It was just success. We did it our freshman year, so it just felt like it was freshman year again,” Warriner said. “I love all of them with all my heart. I would do anything for them.

"It’s so sad to see them all go because I made such a connection with them. It just felt great.”

After losing in the 2021 fast pitch finals, the Wildcats came back looking to earn another shot at the crown.

“We lost in the finals last year, we came back hungry,” Morrison coach J.T. Freeman said. “That was our motto all year, eat and stay hungry. It’s an amazing group of seniors.”

This time around, Morrison had the pitching of Hally Vaughn leading the charge. She allowed four hits, but none of them were able to cross home plate.

“That girl in the circle is just phenomenal,” Freeman said of Vaughn. “Tip your hat. What an athlete, what a ball player. We knew runs were going to be at a premium.”

Kallie Rupp gave the Wildcats their first lead with a two-run bomb in the third inning. That was all the scoring either team would muster in the game.

“It feels amazing. Unbelievable,” Rupp said. “I knew we would always do it, but it’s just awesome to finish how we started back in 2019.

"We end on a great note.”

Class A Championship

Caddo 2, Ripley 0

Caddo brought home its second straight Class A State fast pitch championship with its win against Ripley Saturday. It comes just a few months after claiming its first-ever slow pitch title as well.

The 2-0 win has Caddo coach Dustin McKay ready to elevate the program to new heights.

“It’s unbelievable,” McKay said. “These girls have bought into what we’re doing. They are just great competitors.

"I just told them they are part of a tradition. They have helped us make this part of a tradition. We’re going to go up to the state tournament every year and we’re going to try and compete.”

Caddo’s pitching had been on point throughout the tournament. McKay was able to use three different hurlers during the run and they gave up a total of four funs.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth inning that Caddo scored the game’s first run on a pop fly in foul territory. They had a chance to add to the lead when Kadey Lee McKay and Jordyn Nichols each reached base and Rylan Peevyhouse coming up to the plate.

Peevyhouse sent a screamer up the middle of the infield and was able to bring home McKay. Caddo led, 2-0.

“It’s crazy,” said Kadey Lee McKay, a junior. “I wouldn’t want to do it with any other team. We love each other.

"We play so good together. We just love the sport.”

Emily Robinson had a no-hitter going through five innings. But Ripley’s Brooklyn Howell broke it up with a two-out single.

Robinson then walked freshman Coogar Poole and brought Saylor Collier to the plate with a chance to put a dent in Caddo’s lead.

However, Robinson got Collier to ground out and end the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Caddo’s Nichols came to bat with the bases loaded and two outs. Ripley’s Brooklyn Gobble pitched herself out of the jam and the deficit stayed two runs.

Ripley’s last opportunity came in the top of the seventh. Carolyn Overton led off with a single, which brought the game-tying run to the plate in the form of Taylor Boyd.

However, Boyd hit into a double play to end the threat. Robinson then got Kendyl Overton to ground out and braced herself for the dogpile that was coming.

“I could not breathe,” Robinson said with a smile. “I was suffocating. But it was a great feeling.”

Caddo (41-1) finished the season on a 31-game win streak. Its only defeat came Sept. 1, a 2-0 decision to 3A state finalist Tishomingo.