Okarche topples Dale to continue hot start

Sooner State Baseball Report is an outfit that covers an array of levels of the diamond sport, including high school.

Last Sunday the group came out with its first weekly installment of “Fall Elite Eight” in which it ranks the eight best teams regardless of class.

That first ranking of the 2024 season had Okarche at No. 2 and Dale ranked No. 1.

If SSBR released new rankings on Wednesday, there would already have been a new No. 1.

The Warriors continued their torrid start Tuesday to the season as they beat Dale 5-2 at home.

Easton Roby drove in three runs and Luke Hill offered another gem on the mound as Okarche improved to 5-0 while handing the perennial power Pirates their first loss.

Hill managed to mostly hush the loud Dale bats as he spread out five hits over his 6 2/3 innings.

The Pirates plated two runs in the fourth inning, but only one of them was earned.

Hill struck out four batters and walked three.

He out-dueled Dale’s Briar Turman, who pitched all six innings for his team.

Okarche managed five hits off Turman. Three of the five runs were earned.

Two of those runs came in Okarche first at-bat of the night.

Colin Hendrickson led off the bottom of the first with a triple. After Hill walked, Roby drove in the two baserunners with his own triple.

Hendrickson led off the third with a single, then found himself on third base after a wild pitch and then a throwing error by Turman.

Hill drove home Hendrickson with his groundout to make it 3-0 Warriors.

Hill ran into his only real trouble in the top of the fourth.

The Pirates collected two hits and also took advantage of an Okarche error to make it a 3-2 game.

It stayed that way until the sixth inning when Okarche built some cushion.

Hill led off with a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a steal.

He scored on Roby’s single.

Roby later scored on a throwing error after Jett Mueggenborg grounded out.

After Hill struck out the first two batters of the seventh, the next two batters singled and walked.

Coach Ryan Beaman called on Roby, who coaxed a popup to end the game.

Roby was 2 for 3 at the plate with his 3 RBIs and a run scored.

Hendrickson was also 2 for 3 and scored two runs. Hill joined Hendrickson in crossing home twice.

Mueggenborg had Okarche’s other hit.