Fri, Jul 18 2008
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Published May 12, 2008 11:26 pm - Pitching fades in stretch during championship outing By Kenton Brooks Phoenix Sports Writer SHAWNEE — Pitching had been an asset of the Oktaha High School baseball team for 30 wins this season.
However, it wouldn’t carry the Tigers to a 31st victory. Starting pitcher Derek Ellison and relief pitchers Cale Elam and Cameron Proctor struggled on the mound as the Tigers fell 13-2 to Silo in the Class 2A state championship game at Shawnee High School’s Ed Skelton Field on Monday. Ellison pitched four innings and to one batter in the fifth. Silo had taken its first lead of the game at 3-2 in the fourth inning when Damien Mantzke grounded out and Brandon Wells scored off the Tigers’ senior hurler. Then, the Rebels, also the fall state champions, erupted for 10 runs in the fifth off Elam and Proctor. A three-run homer run by Trevor Bowen off Proctor, a freshman, sealed the victory. Ellison, who pitched a complete-game victory over Drumright in the quarterfinals last Friday, knew he was having a tough time on the mound. “I had to get a curveball out over the plate before (the umpire) would call it a strike,” he said. “This is pretty disappointing because I’m 0-2 in (state) championship games. I also got a little wild. We just didn’t come to play.” Elam lasted five batters in his turn on the mound. He gave up a triple, a double and hit a batter with a pitch before leaving the game. The Rebels scored three times to increase their lead to 6-2 before the sophomore, who won a complete-game decision last Saturday in the semifinals against Dale, was replaced by Proctor. “I wasn’t throwing the way I can,” Elam said. “If we played them again, it wouldn’t be the same. I don’t know. I guess we weren’t ready to go, but I’m not one to make excuses.” The Tigers also had five errors in the game, adding to the pitching woes. “We didn’t play real well behind (the pitchers),” Oktaha coach Chris Burt said. “It was a heck of a year for us. I think it’s the fewest losses we’ve had in a season. It was a good year. “We had a great group of seniors. They’ve done a lot for us over the last four years.” 
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