McAlester doubles up Antlers

Jeff Harrison
The Edmond Sun

May 11, 2008 12:53 am

— TULSA — After a brief visit to the Class 5A state tournament last year, the Deer Creek wanted a more lengthy stay this time around. The Antlers made it through the first day, but saw their season come to close Saturday evening with their second loss to McAlester.
Deer Creek opened the Class 5A state tournament Friday evening at Tulsa Union High School with a 9-8 loss to McAlester, but fought and stayed alive with a win over Skiatook. The Antlers needed a win over the Buffalos to avoid elimination, but fell by a final score of 7-4.
Deer Creek coach Ron Moore said he was pleased with the strides his young team made in 2008, as they tied the school-record for wins with 28.
“We come back with Derek Vaughn as our only returning everyday player and move him to catcher, and we’re in the semifinals of a state tournament,” Moore said. “That’s something to be said about kids and they’re ability to play everyday.”

McAlester 7, Deer Creek 4
After falling behind 4-0 in the first inning, the Antlers rallied back in the third inning. Pete Rosier scored on an error, and Derek Vaughn drove in two runs with an RBI-single. Deer Creek then tied it up 4-4 when Rosier scored his second run of the night on an error.
The Buffalos broke the tie in the bottom of the inning, when Justin Klusak drove in one run with a double, and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly. McAlester added another run in the sixth inning when Tyler Crabtree hit an RBI-double.

Deer Creek 3, Skiatook 2
The Antlers put some offense together early and managed to hang on and top Skiatook 3-2 in Friday’s nightcap.
Matt Fream put the Antlers on the board in the first inning, with a sacrifice fly to score Connor Patterson. Zach King drove in two more runs in the second inning with an RBI-single, giving Deer Creek a 3-0 lead.
Skiatook answered with one run in the fifth and one in the seventh, but could not overcome the deficit.
Cale Coshow threw a complete game allowing five hits and striking out five.

McAlester 9, Deer Creek 8
The Antlers looked to be on their way to win, as they scored four runs off Klusak in the fifth inning to take an 8-4 lead. But the Buffalos answered back with a four-run effort in the bottom of the inning.
Klusak then got his revenge with a two-out double in the eighth inning, to score Cameron Green and give McAlester the one-run win.