Sports

Union City and Calumet High School’s fast-pitch softball teams have been struggling of late to convert hits into runs, which has forced both schools to take hits in the win-loss columns.

Union City has posted a 2-3 record over the past five games to slip to 3-8 on the season. The Tigers hit 36-of-97 (.371) over the stretch and scored 29 runs, 20 of those in wins over Ninnekah (15-3) and Casady (5-3).

The losses were to Fletcher (14-8), Heritage Hall (13-0) and Cashion (10-1).

Fall baseball bragging rights in the rivalry between Calumet and Union City high schools will stay with the Chieftains following a 16-6 win over the Tigers in a battle of ranked teams.

Calumet, which holds the No.3 spot in the Class B poll, moved to 8-0 on the year with the win over the Tigers.

The Chieftains defeated Canute (4-0) a day earlier and were two days removed from a sweep of the Leedey Invitational.

In defending its Leedey crown, Calumet defeated Fargo-Gage/Fort Supply (9-1), Vici (10-0) and the host in the title game 11-1.

Following last year’s 29-7 win over Duncan to secure a fifth straight playoff berth for El Reno High School’s football program, veteran coach Tom Cobble walked across the Memorial Stadium turf and shook Russell Cook’s hand.

“You got hot at the right time,” said Cobble, who was a volunteer coach for the Demons.

For Cook the unspoken message was clear – the Indians now have opponents attention.

Running is defined as the “act of a person, animal or thing that runs.”

El Reno High School football coach Russell Cook calls the ground game of his program by another term – bread and butter.

While basing the offense for the 2023 season out of the spread formation, Cook says moving the chains by foot will be the Indians calling card.

Running the ball may be the foundation of El Reno High School’s offensive attack for 2023, but for the Indians “Blue Crush” defense, it’s just the opposite.

“We’ve got to stop the run, which is something we didn’t do a good job of last year. We expect that is what people are going to try and do against us, so hopefully we can give them a taste of their own medicine,” said head coach Russell Cook.

It’s a win-win scenario for EHS if the run game is a priority.