Sports

El Reno High School’s volleyball team extended its win streak to seven matches last week, six of those coming in the EHS Invitational, en route to the Gold Bracket Championship – the first time the Indians have won the title of their home tourney.

Kristen Koehler’s team did not lose a set in winning the title, defeating Hennessey, Guymon and Chickasha in Pool A play by duplicate 2-0 counts to take the top seed. In the semifinals of bracket play, El Reno defeated Duncan for the second time in three days by scores of 25-18/25-12.

El Reno High School’s football team ran through some quick passing game scenarios during practice last week. The Indians were working through the sixth of eight two-a-day practices. The Indians were scheduled to end two-a-day practices on Thursday and put on the pads for the first time on Friday.

El Reno High School’s softball team uncorked the bats last week to give Kylee Webb her first career victory as head coach, defeating Ardmore 12-1 to kick off the 2020 season.

The win also counted in the District 5A-1 standings.

“Getting your first district win on the road is always going to be a good feeling. The girls played well both defensively and offensively to get the job done. They knew this game was incredibly important in setting the precedent for the rest of the season. We have a lot of games left,” said Webb.

El Reno High School’s volleyball team kicked off the 2020 season last week by splitting a triangular road series with Destiny Christian and Christian Heritage.

The Indians are 1-1 on the season after defeating Destiny Christian 2-1 by scores of 25-17/23-25/25-21. El Reno fell in three games to Christian Heritage by scores of 25-19/25-10/25-18.

El Reno served the ball well but could not turn the effort into a high ace count. For the two matches the Indians were 109-of-119 serving for 92 percent, but had 10 serving errors and 10 aces.

The first round of county small-school softball bragging rights went in favor of Union City as the Tigers defeated Calumet last week in nine innings 16-14 in the 2020 season opener for the Chieftains.

Calumet had 19 hits in the loss, led by doubles from Audrey Gathers, Allie Harris, Abby Nitzel, Tina Ortiz and Presley Stilley.

Sarah Nitzel and Abby Nitzel added a triple each.

Abby Nitzel led all hitters with five, followed by Sarah Nitzel, Harris and Stilley with three each. Gathers and Maklya Nitzel added two hits each.

Northeast

Birch: Elevation normal, water 80s and dingy. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush structure and channels.

Ft. Gibson: Elevation above average, water 82 and less than 1 ft. visibility. White bass good on in-line spinnerbait, sassy shad, spoons and topwater lures around creek channels, points and river channel. Blue catfish slow on shad below the dam.

El Reno High School’s sporting programs shifted into high gear Monday morning as the football team kicked off the first of two-a-day practices as the Indians have just 18 days to prepare for the 2020 season opener.

It’s the third fall sport at EHS to begin preseason drills. Softball and volleyball opened last month and are set to kick off the 2020 season on Tuesday.

Fall practice will begin bright and early Monday for El Reno High School’s football team as the Indians begin the first of at least four two-a-day practices.

Morning practices will start at 7:30 and will be followed by an afternoon practice beginning at 4. The program will follow the district’s COVID-19 precautions which began in early June.

“We will be doing temperature checks and exposure screenings and now we are wearing masks in the weight room and in all meeting rooms,” said El Reno head coach Chuck Atchison.

El Reno High School center fielder Krystiana Guzman throws toward third base after making a sliding catch during a practice last week. El Reno is set to open the season Tuesday at Ardmore before hosting its own tournament on Friday and Saturday.