Lady Tigers red hot in September
It was just two years ago that the Konawa Lady Tigers were hoisting up the trophy after winning a Class 2A state fast-pitch championship.
This fall, the Lady Tigers entered the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the state and head coach Jennifer Matthews hopes the underclassmen that were part of that title team can help Konawa contend once again as junior and seniors.
“We’re better hitters than we were (in 2007), and I think we’re better defensively for the most part,” Matthews said 24 hours after the Lady Tigers swept Wewoka, 8-0 and 9-0, in their district tournament to improve to 24-6 this fall. “The year we won it, we had some really good role players. This year, if somebody slumps, we know other people in the lineup can step up. Before, it was ‘we’ve got to have you hit’.”
Konawa pitcher Melanie Gladden
Top to bottom, the Konawa lineup is more dangerous than it was in 2007, and Matthews’ defense has also picked up the pace late in season, helping the Lady Tigers win 15 of their 16 games in September. The 2007 club rode the arm of All-State pitcher Hilary Kuestersteffen (who won 41 of 42 decisions) to the title, and although junior Melanie Gladden — this year’s hurler — doesn’t have Kuestersteffen’s credentials at this point, she has blossomed into one of the best in her class this fall.
“What people don’t realize is that Melanie was thrown into the fire a little faster than the pitchers we had had in the past,” Matthews said of Gladden, who was Konawa’s ace during a 20-10 campaign in 2008 that ended in the regional tournament. “Hilary didn’t take on a full-time role until she was a junior. She was able to get some confidence as a sophomore; Mel had to do it all year. She’s stepped up and thrown well for us this year. She seems to get better every game.”
As talented as this group of Lady Tigers is, Matthews said team chemistry — a key component on the 2007 state champs — makes her club a real threat for a state title.
“All the girls get along really well,” she said. “I’ve got good kids, and they’re not afraid to tell each other to get up and get after it. They’re not afraid to work, and they’re not afraid to stand up for one another, either.”
Although Washington is ranked No. 1 (with Konawa at No. 7) in 2A this fall, Matthews said the class is ripe for the taking for any team that can get hot at the right time.
“I think it’s wide open,” she said. “It’s going to depend on whoever is hitting at the time.”
Konawa makes the 106-mile trip to Liberty Thursday for Class 2A Regional Tournament action. That regional also includes No. 10 Wyandotte, the 14th-ranked host Lady Eagles and Oklahoma Union.
Allen putting up big numbers
What a difference a year makes for the Allen Mustangs 8-man football squad.
After injuries devastated the Allen club in 2008, the Mustangs limped to a 3-7 record.
After trouncing Bowlegs 54-28 last week, the Mustangs are off to a perfect 4-0 start in which they’ve outscored opponents 204-42 —‚ making Allen the highest-scoring team in Class B at this point in the season.
Allen running back Levi Howard
Against Bowlegs, tailback Levi Howard rushed for a career-high 240 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries, and his 70-yard interception return in the second quarter wiped out the first deficit the Mustangs have faced this season and launched them on a 48-14 run to close out the game.
“Levi Howard turned in the performance of his life,” second-year Allen coach Kenny Deaton said. “We didn’t panic when they got ahead. We kept our composure. Levi really changed the momentum with that 70-yard interception return, and we just took control of the game.”
There was even some talk early in the week of Allen having to cancel its trip to Bowlegs after flu swept through the school.
“We were hit hard by the flu bug all week, so I was proud the kids could even play four quarters,” Deaton said.
Allen, which debuted in the CoachesAid rankings at No. 8 this week, plays host to a solid 3-1 Alex team this week.
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