El Reno High School senior Izzy Birdsong (center) recently signed to play college softball for the Royals of Ecclesia College.
The program plays on the NCAA Division I level and is based in Springdale, Ark.
El Reno High School freshman first baseman Garrett Moss reaches out to glove a pickoff throw to the bag during a preseason game against Clinton last week at the Hub Reed Complex.
El Reno defeated the Red Tornado 9-5, paced by three runs in the fifth inning to break a 3-all tie.
El Reno had two more preseason outings slated before kicking off the 2026 season Monday at home against Midwest City. The two games with the Bombers, one on the road Tuesday, kick off District 5A-1 play for both schools.
All three area small school boys basketball programs remain in the hunt for a state tournament berth with defending champions Calumet and Okarche now one win away from punching Elite Eight tickets.
Calumet captured the Class B1, Area I, Region C title with a 99-44 win over Balko-Forgan for its sixth straight victory.
The Chieftains, ranked second in the state, are now 25-3 on the year and will play No.8 Hammon for the Area I Championship and a direct state pass.
Calumet, needing to win one out of two games, is seeking its 14th trip to state and fourth in a row.
Rallying from two points down to start the final period, Okarche High School’s girls basketball team joined Calumet in the driver’s seat toward state tournament berths in their respective classes – each needed one win.
Fifth-ranked Okarche outscored No.12 Mooreland 13-8 in the fourth period to secure a 41-38 win in the Class A, Area I, Region A Championship.
Now 22-4 on the year and riding a seven-game win streak, the Warriors face fourth-ranked Amber-Pocasset in the Area I title game. The last loss for Okarche was to the Panthers.
