When Josh Finnigan and his mother, Karon Grulkey moved the Smoke on the Water Drag Boat Races to Lake El Reno, they wondered if the event would have the staying power they both sought.
A decade later, Finnigan answers that question with a resounding yes.
“In the beginning, I never thought we would make 10 years. But after three or four years we got things rolling and the support from local businesses has been outstanding.
BETHANY – After having several rally attempts halted in the first game of a doubleheader against Bethany on defensive plays by the Broncos, El Reno’s junior high baseball team got its revenge in the nightcap.
Clinging to a one-run lead and facing a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the final inning, a pitch got away from El Reno’s Ryker Crain.
However, the catcher was able to collect the ball and throw to pitcher Matt Velarde, who was covering home.
Pictured are the youth who took part in the 2023 El Reno High School Volleyball Skills Camp.
MUSTANG – Having lost yet another doubleheader due to the lack of players by its opponent, El Reno High School’s Varsity 1 baseball team made its first road trip of the summer having played two games in eight days.
The lack of diamond time showed.
El Reno slipped to 4-3 on the summer in the Red Dirt League standings after being swept by Mustang’s Red Squad by scores of 7-5 and 10-4.
The Indians had been scheduled to host Clinton the night before, but the Red Tornadoes backed out of the twinbill hours before first pitch due to a lack of available players.
Uncorking a summer-high 12 base hits, El Reno High School’s Varsity 1 baseball team rebounded from its first loss of the summer to defeat Crossings Christian School 13-12 in a Red Dirt League shootout.
The Knights defeated El Reno 1-0 in the opening game of the series at the Hub Reed Complex.
The split left the Indians with a 4-1 record for the Wooden Bat RDL standings. El Reno is now 3-1 against the Knights this summer after going 12-of-27 (.444) from the plate in the second game.
Union City played host to a wooden bat tournament last weekend but it was Mother Nature that ended up striking out the field of teams after one day.
“We have a lake,” said Union City head coach Ludy Griggs on field conditions after overnight rains forced the cancellation of the event.
Union City played several games the first day to fill in for Southwest Covenant and Hydro-Eakly, which backed out due to the pending storms. One of those was a 3-2 win over El Reno High School's Varsity 2 team.
Other than winning a state title, there are few firsts that have eluded El Reno High School’s girls basketball program under the watch of head coach Jennifer Douglas.
Douglas’ teams have been the first in school history to win a state tournament game, first to win a semifinal contest and the first to bring home hardware from the Class 5A Oklahoma State High School Championships – both runner-up trophies.
Each one of those entries in the record books has been with a different lineup.
“Usually we graduate one or two starters every year,” said Douglas.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Three pitchers combined for a two-hit performance as El Reno High School's Varsity 2 team defeated Capitol Hill 5-1 to split a Red Dirt League series here last week.
It was the first win for the Indians in RDL action to improve to 1-1-1 on the summer. The Indians dropped the opening game of the series 4-2 after allowing the Red Wolves four unanswered runs over the final two frames.
Despite losing six games to rain, Calumet High School’s baseball team remains undefeated on the summer season following a 6-2 road win over Arapaho-Butler.
The Chieftains moved to 3-0 on the summer with the win. The other victories were over Sentinel (11-1) and Clinton (8-1).
Hunter Arnold picked up the win on the mound over Arapaho-Butler, scattering a hit and two walks over three innings, while striking out six batters.
Under new head coach Jason Little, El Reno High School's softball team will travel to Piedmont on Tuesday to take part in the second date of the Piedmont Summer League.
El Reno defeated Edmond Memorial and tied the Wildcats in the first day of the league earlier this month.
