Rams tough once again
Rattan holds off Okarche rally, beats Warriors in semis for 2nd straight year
OKARCHE COACH waves home Cody Endres in the sixth inning of the Class A baseball semifinal against Rattan. Endres’ run pulled Okarche within 9-8 after the Warriors had trailed 9-0. [KT&FP Staff Photo]
OKARCHE’S Sam Kroener (above) keeps an eye on Rttain pitcher Kooper Johnson as he gets a lead on first base. Below is Easton Roby delivering a pitch against Rattain in the Class A semis. [KT&FP Staff Photos]
For a brief moment, it appeared Okarche was going to pull off the improbable, if not the impossible.
Colin Hendrickson laced a shot to right field with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, two runners in scoring position and his team trailing by a run.
His offering had Rattan right fielder Jimmy Ellis backpedaling while looking into the sun.
Eventually, Ellis fell backwards to the ground…. as the ball fell into his glove.
The out negated the two runs Okarche would have scored and second-ranked Rattan eventually held on for a 9-8 victory in the Class A fall baseball state semifi nals at Edmond Santa Fe High School.
The fact third-ranked Okarche was even in contention didn’t seem likely just over an hour earlier.
The Rams scored nine runs in their first three atbats.
Six runs and five hits came off Okarche starter Luke Hill in the first inning.
The Rams started the second with a triple and double to plate another run before Ethan Kirby was able to get out of the inning.
Coach Ryan Beaman turned to Easton Roby in the top of the third, but the Rams were able to touch him up for two runs off three hits.
The momentum took a big swing in Okarche’s favor in the bottom of the third.
The first eight Warriors reached base.
Okarche got on the board with a two-run single by Roby. Brett Carnott and Hendrickson followed with RBI singles to make it 9-4.
After Jett Mueggenborg reached safely, Kirby’s single brought home a run and kept the bases loaded.
Ryder Lykins hit into a double play for the first two outs of the frame, but Hendrickson scored to bring Okarche within 9-6.
The Warriors were back in it.
Roby kept them there as he settled in on the mound and shut down the Rams over the final four frames.
The game remained at a three-run margin until the sixth.
Okarche was able to load the bases with one out.
Roby brought a run home with his sacrifice fly and then Carnott singled home another, pulling Okarche within 9-8.
The hit pushed Cody Endres to third base and Carnott advanced to second on a throw, setting up Hendrickson’s plate appearance.
After Ellis made his catch, he lay motionless on the ground for several moments before slowly getting back to his feet to a thunderous applause from Rams fans.
Still, Okarche had a shot in the bottom of the seventh.
Kirby started the frame with a single and advanced to scoring position on Mueggenborg’s sacrifice bunt.
However, the Warriors were unable to bring him home as the game concluded with a pop-up, a walk and then a strikeout.
The last out of the game was recorded by Mark Janoe, who got the save.
Kooper Johnson pitched the first 6 2/3 innings, but had to be pulled due to the pitch count prior to the final out.
Johnson gave up 10 hits, eight earned runs, walked six and struck out three.
Roby struck out five in his five complete innings of work. He gave up six hits and two earned runs.
Carnott continued to be big at the plate for Okarche as he finished 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
Kirby was 2 for 4. Roby drove in three runs and was one of five Warriors to collect one hit.
Endres scored twice. Okarche finished the year 23-7.
It was the Warriors’ third straight baseball season to fall in the state semifinals.
They were defeated 5-1 by Rattan in the 2023 fall season and then lost 2-1 to Tushka in the spring of 2024.