Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

Related Photos

  • Claremore senior right-fielder Isaac Hollihan (10) smashes a curveball from Booker T. Washington pitcher Evan Skaggs for a third-inning grand slam Thursday afternoon in the Zebras’ 5-2 win over the Hornets during Metro Lakes Conference play at Legion Field. On Friday, Hollihan belted two more home runs to lift the Zebras past Booker T. Washington, 6-4. The Class 5A No. 2 Zebras improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in conference with the sweep of Booker T. Washington. TIM RITTER

    DSC_0091web.jpg

  • Claremore junior pitcher Bryce Howe (39) improved to 3-0 on the season with a 13-strikeout performance in six innings Thursday afternoon against Booker T. Washington. Howe and the Class 5A No. 2-ranked Zebras toppled the Hornets, 5-2 and then completed the Metro Lakes Conference sweep Friday afternoon with a 6-4 victory. In Friday’s game, Howe blasted a solo home run to help ignite the Claremore offense. The Zebras (8-0) travel to Pensacola, Fla., for the Aggie Classic starting Monday. Claremore faces Good Pasture (Tenn.) at 4 p.m. TIM RITTER

    DSC_0051web.jpg
March 16, 2013

Hammerin’ Hollihan

Claremore’s senior right fielder smashes grand slam, 2 homers against BTW

Tim Ritter Sports Editor

CLAREMORE — Holy Cow!!!

What has gotten into Claremore senior right fielder Isaac Hollihan?

Hollihan’s third-inning grand slam in Thursday’s 5-2 win over Booker T. Washington proved to be the spark needed to keep Claremore on pace for an undefeated season in Metro Lakes Conference play.

After going down in his first at-bat against Booker T. Washington’s Evan Skaggs, Hollihan fell behind 1-2 in the count his second time around.

That fourth pitch, however, was not only a crowd-pleaser, but it was a ‘thing of beauty’ as it left Hollihan’s bat and soared over the Walmart sign in right field at Legion Field.

“At first, I didn’t think it was gone. I thought it was either a sacrifice fly ball or off the wall,” Hollihan said.

The feeling, though, was incredible, according to Claremore’s No. 5 hitter.

Hollihan’s grand slam was the first of his varsity career in a live game. The senior has belted out numerous bombs in practice, and even hit the only homer in batting practice at an Arkansas showcase this past fall at Baum Stadium in Fayettevile.

The timing of his grand slam, however, helped Claremore generate four runs in the third inning and take a 5-0 lead.

Hollihan said he was looking for another curveball down 1-2 in the count.

Skaggs delivered Hollihan a left-handed hook and the rest was history, including the Hornets starting pitcher’s day  on the mound.

Until Hollihan’s bomb, Skaggs had kept Claremore’s offense in check with one run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Hollihan added that he attributes his success at the plate to his coaches.

“Coach (Brent) Payne and Coach (Jim) Sherl have been working on my swing all season and sending me footage of my swings for me to study,” Hollihan said.

The lessons have paid off as Hollihan increased his home run total to three Friday with a pair of bombs in the Zebras’ 6-4 win at Booker T. Washington.

Claremore rode the momentum of starting pitcher Bryce Howe early Thursday afternoon, as the junior right-hander retired the Hornets in order with three-straight strikeouts.

Running his fastball across the plate in the high 80s, Howe was untouchable until the top of the third inning.

Claremore helped ease the pressure of Howe’s outing with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first and four more in the third to go ahead 5-0.

Howe helped his cause in the first with an RBI-single that scored leadoff-hitter Cole Weiesnbach from second base. Weiesnbach reached base on the walk.

After Howe retired the Hornets’ first five batters on strikeouts, Skaggs got a piece of Howe’s fastball and laced a grounder to shortstop (Cole) Weiesnbach, who fielded the ball and fired to first baseman Jacob Teague.

Skaggs, however, reached base after the throw from Weiesnbach to Teague was high.

Teague made up for the error moments later when he dove to his right and snagged a scorching ground ball off the bat of Bobby Cox for the unassisted putout that capped the top half of the second.

T.J. Wood got Claremore’s second hit of the game — a single between shortstop and third base and then advanced two bases on wild pitches from Skaggs.

Claremore’s inning, however, ended on Weiesnbach’s flyout to deep center field.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the third, the Hornets got their first runner on base when Seamus Ryan-Johnson tagged Howe’s breaking ball for a single to center field.

Claremore’s defense backed up Howe with strong play by third baseman Tyler Cagle to cap the inning.

The Zebras’ dramatic third inning pushed the margin to 5-0, and the Hornets chipped away with one run in the sixth and another run in the seventh.

Howe tossed six strong innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. He finished with 13 strikeouts on four hits with one walk.

“Right now, I believe that our success comes from playing as a team and not playing for ourselves,” Hollihan said. “We just find ways to win.”

The Zebras are 8-0 on the season and 4-0 in Metro Lakes Conference action.

 

Text Only
Sports
  • DSC_0047web.jpg Verdigris’ Hanslovan commits to ORU

    One of the biggest decisions of her upcoming senior year is finally behind Verdigris High School soccer standout Caitlyn Hanslovan.
    The four-year letterwinner and three-time Class 4A state champion forward announced Tuesday that she will commit to playing NCAA Division I soccer at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa.

    May 22, 2013 2 Photos

  • DSC_0209web.jpg RSU's Loy earns third-straight Academic All American honor

    Rogers State senior outfielder Katrina Loy was named to the Capital One Academic All-America College Division Softball Third Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • DSC_0202web.jpg Area players earn All-Region baseball awards

    The awards keep piling up for Verdigris High School graduate Blake Battenfield.
    After being named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Large East team earlier this week, Battenfield and numerous other players from Rogers County earned OCA All-Region accolades.
    Battenfield was joined by his teammate, Ryan Hurd, who was a senior outfielder/shortstop for the three-time Class 3A state champion Verdigris Cardinals.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • NAIA WORLD SERIES: No. 10 Hillcats fall to Lewis-Clark State, 6-1

    The 10th-seeded Rogers State baseball team struggled offensively in its first game at the Avista-NAIA World Series as the Hillcats fell to the host Lewis-Clark State 6-1 on Friday night at Harris Field.

    May 25, 2013

  • NAIA WORLD SERIES: No. 9 Missouri Baptist whips No. 8 Sterling, 8-3

    No. 9 Missouri Baptist blew the game open with a six-run third inning to win game one of the 2013 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series 8-3 over No. 8 Sterling (Kan.) Friday at Harris Field. The victory is the first-ever at the World Series for the Spartans.

    May 25, 2013

  • NAIA WORLD SERIES: The Master's outduels Northwood, 4-3

    Golden State Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year A.J. Work picked up his 13th win of the season, as No. 5 The Master’s (Calif.) held off a late surge by No. 4 Northwood (Texas) to earn a 4-3 win in the second game of the 2013 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series Friday afternoon at Harris Field.

    May 25, 2013

  • NAIA WORLD SERIES: No. 3 Embry-Riddle drops No. 6 York, 8-3

    No. 3 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) snapped a four-game World Series losing streak with an 8-3 win over No. 6 York (Neb.) in game three of the 2013 Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series Friday at Harris Field.

    May 25, 2013

  • NAIA WORLD SERIES: Northwood's Faulkner no-hits No. 8 Sterling

    Cody Faulkner tossed the fourth no-hitter in the 57-year history of the Avista-NAIA World Series, as No. 4 Northwood (Texas) eliminated No. 8 Sterling (Kan.), 1-0, Saturday morning at Harris Field. The no-hit bid is the first since 1992 when Rick Riddle of Wilmington (Del.) held Mount Olive (N.C.) hitless in 1992. The victory is the first-ever for Northwood at the World Series.

    May 25, 2013

  • NBA: Memphis 'Believes'

    The towels are showing up all around Memphis. They hang over neighborhood signs and even at a door to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

    The sentiment? Believe Memphis.

    May 25, 2013

  • BIG 12 TOURNEY: Sooners keep Red Raiders off the board

    Oklahoma has made a complete turnaround in the last two days. The squad that looked dominant early in the season has re-emerged at the Big 12 tournament. The Sooners (38-19) rolled to their second straight tournament victory, thumping Texas Tech (25-30), 8-0, Friday, and improving to 2-0 in the event.

    May 25, 2013