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New Chick Jon Salazar (4) gets the greeting at home plate Tuesday after a first-inning two-run homer against Noble. Salazar was 7-for-7 for the night and had eight RBIs as the Chicks rolled for two run-rules.
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Salazar’s big night lifts CHS
Newcomer goes 7-for-7 in over Noble
Chickasha’s newest Chick was the big hero Tuesday as Brad Gore’s guys run-ruled Noble twice in their Elliott Field home opener.
Senior left fielder Jon Salazar had a career night as the third-ranked Chicks rolled over their guests, 14-0 and 9-1.
Salazar, whose family relocated from Claremore to Chickasha over the summer, went a perfect 7-for-7, hit a two-run home run and drove in eight runs, including the walk-off to end the nightcap early with the Chicks’ second run-rule of the night.
“Jon probably had the best pre-season of anybody,” Gore said. “He hit three home runs and was on top of the ball all scrimmage season. He’s a good kid and fits right in and we’re very happy to have him.”
The hard-hitting outfielder started the night with a towering two-run home run out near the scoreboard and tacked on an RBI double to the wall in left-center, a two-run single and three RBI singles.
And he singled to set the table for the Chicks’ last two runs of game one.
The newcomer may start a trend with his trademark mohawk if he keeps it up.
“I love Chickasha so much,” Salazar said after the game, beaming. “It’s such a welcome change from Claremore. The guys are loose and calm and everybody just gets better with every practice.
“It’s just a completely different atmosphere.”
When asked about his hitting philosophy, Salazar said simply: “It’s just staying under the ball and thanking Jesus right after every hit.”
His two-run first-inning blast wasn’t even the biggest blow as the Chicks jumped all over Bear starter Alex Kugler in the opener – that was reserved for DH Christian Fincher, who ripped a bases-loaded rope to the wall in left center for a three-run triple and a 6-0 lead.
Chick pitcher Braden Cook started the first-inning onslaught with an RBI single and he and Salazar went back-to-back with a pair in the second to extend the lead to 8-0.
Noble reliever Blake Lee got out of the third frame unscathed, but two-run doubles by catcher Devan Shepard and leadoff hitter and third baseman Chance Thomas got them out to a dozen in the home fourth for the five-frame win.
Cook pitched all five innings, allowed three scattered hits and fanned nine.
Chickasha went six innings to end Game Two early, 9-1.
Kugler got a little payback, doubling in a run in the top of the first, but Cook’s RBI single and Salazar’s RBI double in the home half got Chickasha out in front to stay.
Noble managed just one more hit off Thomas, a single in the third inning that resulted in a pickoff, and three scattered walks.
Thomas’ sacrifice fly to center scored first baseman Chris Nye in the home second, Cook doubled and scored on Salazar’s RBI single in the third, and the Chicks went in order in the fourth, sitting on a 4-1 lead.
But Salazar doubled in two more runs in the fifth and scored on Devan Shepard’s double to the fence to extend to 7-1.
Cook then doubled in run eight in the sixth and scored to end it on Salazar’s walk-off bullet up the middle.
Thomas got the win allowing a run on three hits, three walks and six strikeouts.
Chickasha (3-0) travels to 4A Weatherford Friday for an afternooner with Todd Gaunt’s second-ranked Eagles
Chicks ranked
No. 3 in 5A
Okrankings released their first coaches’ poll of the year Tuesday morning and state runner-up Chickasha opened the season ranked third in 5A, behind defending state champion Carl Albert and Deer Creek.
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Duncan nips Chicks for straight-game win
Duncan got their eighth match win of the season Tuesday, beating Nancy Waters’ Lady Chicks in straight games at the Activity Center.
The Chicks looked like they had a little hangover from Monday night’s tough road loss at Tecumseh, coming out flat again and dropping their first two games by identical 25-17 scores.
They came out firing on all eight cylinders for game three, running out to a 15-9 lead on the strength of a 7-0 run with Shelby Crosley serving, but the Demons battled back to tie it late and the Chicks let it slip away, 25-21. -
STATE SPORTS BRIEFS
NORMAN (AP) — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has named walk-on Patrick O'Hara as the starting place-kicker for the seventh-ranked Sooners.
Stoops said on his radio show Tuesday night that O'Hara won the competition with Jimmy Stevens, freshman Michael Hunnicutt and redshirt freshman Bryce Easley. -
Sooners' announcer to retire
NORMAN (AP) — Bob Barry Sr. announced Tuesday that he plans to retire as the radio play-by-play voice of Oklahoma football and men's basketball after the upcoming season.
Barry has been the radio voice of the Sooners for the last 20 years and he also had a 12-year stint in the job at the beginning of his career. In between, he handled the play-by-play for Tulsa basketball games and then for Oklahoma State football and basketball. -
Big 12 fans target Huskers during last go-round
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Cornhuskers shouldn't expect a fond farewell from fans when they go on the road this fall.
Century-old relationships will end when Nebraska leaves the Big 12 for the Big Ten in 2011, meaning this season's visits to places like Kansas State and Iowa State could be it.
Folks in those old Big Eight haunts already are planning raucous sendoffs.
The message from Iowa State fan Adam Gray: "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." -
Eagle project gives discs flight at park
Early this spring, Tanner Tibbetts, a scout from Troop 4306 in Chickasha began to plan his Eagle Scout Project. He decided on a Disc Golf Course.
He had seen a disc golf tournament at Duncan Lake while he was attending a camporee. There were more than a hundred campers who attended the weekend Disc Golf event at Duncan Lake. He continued to see this event for five consecutive years, because it was held on the same weekend as an annual scout camp.
It was surprising to him see so many people involved in an event that was unavailable in Chickasha. -
Alex visits Ryan for final scrimmage
RYAN – Alex coach Justin Savage took his Longhorns back home to Ryan Friday for their final scrimmage and came away pretty happy with his team’s performance.
With the new re-alignments, Ryan dropped to Class C this year but will still be pretty good despite losing quarterback Colby Barrett to graduation. Vype’s pre-season football magazine picked them to finish second behind Temple in a tough District C-2. -
Chicks struggle with Reds' run game
Clinton, ranked sixth in the Vype Pre-Season 4A poll, brought their powerful running game to Memorial Stadium Thursday for both teams’ final tune-up and presented Chickasha with some new challenges on both sides of the ball.
Tailback Saul Pina, who rushed for just under 1,200 yards (7.1 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns last year, ran roughshod behind the Reds’ big front line and gave the Chick defense fits. -
Drover Baseball, softball programs host alumni weekend
The USAO baseball and softball programs, in conjunction with the Alumni Association, will host an alumni weekend in August for former players to come together socially and competitively.
“I think it’s a great thing. It keeps them involved in our programs and it provides tradition,” softball coach Jenn White-Cody said. “And I think people love to come back … It’s a way they can reconnect with the guys and gals they played ball with.”
Baseball and softball alumni will meet for dinner and drinks beginning at 5 p.m. August 28, and will follow with an alumni baseball or softball game, beginning at 1 p.m. the following day at Bill Smith Ballpark. Registration for both is $30. Any additional guests — including spouses — are $15 each. -
Chickasha splits matches in Lawton
Chickasha was at Lawton Tomlinson Thursday night for some middle school volleyball and came home with a split. The “A” team lost a close, three-game set and the “B” team won in straight games.
The “A” team prevailed in game one 27-25 but Tom answered with a 22-25 win to even things up and took the rubber game 12-15.
“Elizabeth Wilson and Chloe Moore both served for a five-point runs and Esteria Sanchez had a lot of good hits,” coach Amy Widener said.
Chickasha “B” came out on top in game one 25-19 and held Tom off 25-23 for their straight-game win. Widener said that Devyn Crosley and Athena Stallard both served well for the Chicks in that match.
“Everyone got to play and the girls were very excited,” the coach said. “They worked hard for their points, moved their feet well and never gave up.
“I was very proud of their effort tonight.”
The high school team will be at the Skiatook tournament Saturday then everyone will be back in action Monday at Tecumseh. Matches start at 4 p.m.
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Woods struggles during second round at Barclays
PARAMUS, N.J. (AP) — Tiger Woods was poised to take control at the Barclays on Friday. Instead, he went the other way.
Woods missed a 20-inch putt for one of his four bogeys over the last eight holes and shot a 2-over 73.
The difference from the rest of the year is this only cost him the lead, not a chance of winning.
Jason Day, the 22-year-old Australian who won his first PGA Tour event earlier this year, made three straight birdies late in his round and finished with a good par for a 4-under 67 that gave him a one-shot lead.
Day was at 8-under 134, one shot ahead of Kevin Streelman (63) and Vaughn Taylor (70). - More Sports Headlines
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