OKLAHOMA CITY —
The Edmond North Huskies scored six runs in the first two innings and never looked back on their way to defeating the Moore Lions 11-2 for the Oklahoma Class 6A state championship at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Monday.
Jordan Dixon led the Huskies from the circle as the senior allowed one run in the first and one in the third, but held the Lions scoreless after three innings.
The Edmond North offense gave Dixon more than enough cushion early, scoring six of their 11 runs in the first two frames.
Sheridan Bond led the game off with a single in the bottom of the first and stole second on the next pitch. Mattie Nordyke, daughter of head coach Rick Nordyke, drove Bond in the following at-bat with a double to deep, right-center field to tie the game 1-1. After two fly-outs to center, Dixon drove Nordyke in with a double to take the lead 2-1.
The Huskies’ offense exploded in the second inning. Paige Bond led the frame off with a single before Kourtney Tanner drove her in with a double off the bottom of the left field wall. Later in the inning, Sheridan Bond and Nordyke reached on back-to-back singles and each scored on consecutive errors to make the game 5-1. Abby Taliaferro reached on an error and scored later in the inning as well.
North failed to score in the third inning, but pushed across two runs in the fourth. With two out Nordyke reached on an error and scored on a Taliaferro double in the following at-bat. Bridget White followed with an RBI single to extend North’s lead to 8-2.
The Huskies again failed to score in the fifth inning, however, they scored three runs in the sixth to extend their lead to 11-2, ultimately giving them the 6A state title.
Nordyke led the sixth off with a double, her third hit of the contest. Taliaferro drove her in with a second straight double before Moore recorded the first out of the inning. Dixon contributed to the offense as well as the defense with a triple later in the inning, driving in Taliaferro for North’s 10th run. Dixon scored later on an RBI groundout by Hannah Danielson, sewing up the game and the state championship for the Huskies.
North did not lose a game since dropping back-to-back contests at the Broken Arrow Tournament in late August.
“We didn’t really talk about it much,” Mattie Nordyke said of the streak. “We didn’t want to jinx it. We just stayed loose out there.”
“It feels great,” assistant coach Jon Hunter said after the game. “I had some big shoes to fill with coach Nordyke, but I’m more excited for the girls. They really worked hard and played their guts out. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Rick Nordyke was suspended for North’s final few games due to the Huskies playing too many games in the regular season.
“This is fantastic,” Nordyke said after the win. “It’s the greatest feeling ever. They’ve won 32 games in a row and they played with a lot of confidence. Edmond North is a fantastic school to be a part of right now, the athletics are great and the academics are as well. I’m extremely proud of our girls and their classmates.”
“This was the most exciting experience of my life,” Jordan Dixon said. “It’s the best feeling ever and I’m so proud of my teammates and coaches. This is as good as it gets.”
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Related Photos
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN The Edmond North softball team celebrates its 2012 Class 6A state championship Monday night after the Huskies defeated Moore 11-2 at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. See the full story and photos on page A7, and a gallery of photos at www.edmondsun.com.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN Edmond North head coach Rick Nordyke laughs after his players doused him with water following the championship win Monday night.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN North's Jordan Dixon (11) congratulates Abby Taliaferro after the left fielder hit an RBI double and scored in the fourth inning Monday night.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN Edmond North's Kaylon Dunn slides into third base too late to get the call on this force out play in the second inning Monday.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN North shortstop Mattie Nordyke takes a throw to get a Moore base runner at second base Monday night in the state finals.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN Abby Taliaferro lifts Jordan Dixon into the air (center) as the Huskies celebrate their 2012 state softball title on the field at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Monday night.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN After catching a line drive, North second baseman Sheridan Bond, back, jumps into the air as first baseman Paige Bond takes her put-out throw to get the lead Moore runner in a double play to end the Lions' half of the sixth inning Monday night.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN Edmond North pitcher Jordan Dixon poses after the title game with her brothers, Joel, Lance and Andrew, and her sisters Leslie, right, and Miranda, who were part of North 2004 state championship team.
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DREW HARMON | THE EDMOND SUN The Edmond North Huskies pose with their trophy following Monday night's win over Moore in the state championship game.
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SLIDESHOW: Huskies win state softball title
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Edmond Santa Fe's Taylor heading to Central Florida
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Tennis camps offered in Edmond
Edmond Raquet Club is offering a pair of tennis camps beginning May 28.
For ages 5-8, a camp is offered from 8:45-9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for ages 7-15 a tennis camp is available from 6-6:55 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Both camps run from May 28-June 13 and cost is $99 per camp.
A camp session for ages 8-16 will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30-9:25 a.m. May 29-June 12 for the identical cost.
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