Stillwater High baseball puts game on hold for weather

Ron Holt — Special to the NewsPress

Tony Holt, Stillwater High’s baseball coach, learned many years ago not to worry about things out of his control. Rain is one of those things.

SHS had a fourth-straight game victimized by rain on Saturday afternoon as the Pioneers’ contest with Edmond Santa Fe was canceled.

With the Class 6A Regional Tournament scheduled to begin Wednesday in Sand Springs, the Pioneer coaches and players have been frustrated by the weather.

“Every coach I’ve talked to feels the same way,” Holt said. “This is the worst time of the year to be losing games. I know the smaller schools are having a tough time getting their regionals played. Every coach in the state wants to play to keep sharp and get ready for the playoffs. We’re all in the same boat.”

After four straight days of rain that boat resembles an ark.

SHS had a doubleheader at Sand Springs canceled on Thursday because of rain and was weathered out of a game at Jenks on Friday.

It’s a tough time for the Pioneers, who were on a three-game winning streak and coming off a win against then No. 2 Broken Arrow.

“I’m not as frustrated with this week as I was last week when we only played one game following our tournament,” Holt said. “We tried to schedule another game but couldn’t get it done. We did play one game this week before the rain hit so part of the problem is mine because of last week’s schedule.”

SHS, which plays at Edmond Memorial on Monday, wanted to remain sharp and feed off past momentum prior to the start of the regional tournament. The Pioneers (13-13) travel to Sand Springs for the regional tournament. Sand Springs is the top seed, followed by Choctaw, Stillwater and Muskogee.

“No disrespect to anyone in the regional but I think we have as good a chance as any team to win that regional if we play up to our abilities,” Holt said. “I know Sand Springs and Choctaw have had great seasons and Muskogee is always well-coached. We’ve said all season that we fear no one and we respect everyone.

“I’m sure Sand Springs, Choctaw and Muskogee all feel like we do. We all feel like we have a shot to come out of that regional. We’re good enough to go over there and win three and if we play bad we could go over and lose two. I just want the players to understand that if we don’t bring intensity and play the game right that, no matter who we play, we have a chance to lose,”

Coach Holt is basing his optimism on the Pioneers’ improved play lately and on the development of the pitching staff, which has shown depth potential.

“It’s obvious we’ve gotten better,” he said. Probably the biggest frustration with the weather is not being able to get pitchers like Tyler Scribner, Matt Brown, Chase Haines and Daniel Cassel time on the mound. We’ll try to get them some innings Monday.”

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