Calera and Colbert each cruised to Class 2A regional championships while advancing to their respective state baseball tournaments this week.
For Calera, the Bulldogs got their offense into high gear with a dominant sweep of three regional contests by at least 13 runs each to advance to the 2A Division I tournament for the first time since 2023.
Colbert meanwhile reached the state tournament for the first time since 2013 as the Leopards also romped their way to the regional crown in 2A Division II.
Calera Bulldogs
The second-ranked Bulldogs upped their season record to 30-4, breaking school records for victories in the process as they belted Okemah, 13-0, before blasting Christian Heritage by 21-4 and 15-2 counts.
Pitching was once again stellar for Ricky Teafatiller’s club in the Okemah contest as the trio of Hazyn Applegate, Demarcus Dunn and Ryder Smith combined on a one-hit shutout that included seven strikeouts and no walks.
Calera exploded for eight runs in the second frame to break open a tight game and never looked back from there. Darren Johnson had a solo home run while Applegate chipped in a two-run double to fuel the flurry.
Jaron Varner also smacked a threerun homer in the fifth stanza as part of his two hit and five RBI effort. Applegate also pitched in two hits and drove in three.
Logan Bumgarner proved to be the offensive catalyst along with Zaiden Craige in the 21-run eruption against Christian Heritage. Bumgarner was only a double away from the cycle as he homered, tripled and singled while knocking in five. Craige contributed a home run and double as part of his four hits and drove in three. Talon Rose and Johnson added two hits apiece.
Bumgarner worked three innings on the mound, yielding two runs on two hits and fanned three to garner the victory with one frame of relief by both Applegate and Cody Langley.
Leading just 2-1 in the title tilt, the Bulldog bats came to full life in a 10-run third frame to coast the rest of the way in the rout.
Varner contributed three hits with two apiece from Bumgarner, Applegate, Rose and Johnson.
Craige tossed the first three and two-third stanzas on the mound and notched the win, allowing a run on four hits along with three strikeouts.
Colbert Leopards
Colbert allowed just one run in three regional games while claiming the regional crown as the third-ranked Leopards head into the state tournament with a 27-8 record.
The Leopards smashed Stratford, 16-0, and then dispatched Pocola twice in 5-0 and 11-1 triumphs.
It didn’t take long for Coach Zach Crabtree’s club to take total control in the regional opener, batting around the lineup twice en route to 15 first inning tallies. They added one more in the second, which was more than enough for Marr and Taylor as they combined on a two-hit shutout on the mound and fanned six in just three stanzas.
Neill posted two hits, including a double, and drove in three while Brett Parsons also chipped in two and a pair of RBIs. Hudson Brigman added a double and knocked in three runs.
The first Pocola meeting was a pitcher’s duel for a while, but Neill proved to be the stalwart for the Leopards in tossing a complete game three-hit shutout. He struck out 13 and walked three batters.
Lopez joined Parsons and Neill with two apiece of the seven Colbert hits in the game.
Colbert ran away early in the title matchup, posting four runs in the first frame and three more in the second.
Remington Graham added another complete game gem on the mound, yielding one run on two hits while fanning 13.
Brigman was the offensive catalyst with two hits along with four batted in. Marr and Neill also finished with a pair of hits each.