OILTON — The Oilton Lady Panthers spent the week reminding the Cimarron Valley they can win games in more ways than one — by jumping on teams early, stringing together crooked innings, and leaning on their depth up and down the order.
Tuesday’s 15-8 win over Stroud looked like a track meet with canvas bags. Oilton plated six runs before the Lady Tigers had even found their footing, with Jadeann Smith, Paydee Smith, Joshlyn Cox, Aubrey McEwen, and Mackenzie Begley all driving in first-inning runs. By the third, Karlie Kennedy and D Kennedy were part of another five-spot, and the Lady Panthers had the cushion they needed.
Smith went the distance in the circle, scattering nine hits while fanning seven. At the plate, she led Oilton with three hits, while McEwen, Kennedy, Cox, and Rosenquist all drove in two runs apiece. The Lady Panthers finished with 14 hits and 10 walks — a steady parade of baserunners — and swiped four bags for good measure.
Stroud rallied late with a five-run fifth keyed by Carly Miller and Brylnleigh Bell, but Oilton never flinched.
Two nights later, The Prue Lady Rockets came calling, and Oilton never let them off the ground. This time it was Keylee James lighting up the scoreboard, hitting a single, a triple, and an inside-the-park home run — while driving in three runs.
Her first-inning homer and Paydee Smith’s RBI double pulled Oilton even after a shaky start. The Lady Panthers then flipped the game with a four-run second inning, and by the fifth, they were pouring it on with another five-run frame featuring triples from both James and Karlie Kennedy.
Smith again handled the pitching, striking out 10 in a complete-game effort, while the Oilton bats banged out 14 hits. Smith and James combined for six RBIs, McEwen and Kennedy added multi-hit nights, and the defense backed it with a double play.
Through two games, Oilton racked up 29 runs on 28 hits, 14 RBIs from the heart of the order, and double-digit strikeouts in the circle. More importantly, they showed balance — speed on the bases, patience at the plate, and a defense capable of finishing the job.