Outfielder Blake Ryans (left) from Amber-Pocasset and Brad Hoskins (right) from MacArthur — two North All-Star teammates — scramble for a loose ball in right field during Monday’s All-Area Classic at Cameron University’s McCord Field. Hoskins had two hits in his high school finale before signing with Randall University later this week.
All-Star week ended on a high note on Monday night.
After being rained out on Sunday, the All-Area Baseball Classic delivered an exciting game involving seniors from all over Southwest Oklahoma. The South team rallied for a 10-6 win over the North at Cameron University’s McCord Field, but winning wasn’t the main objective for the 41 athletes from 30 different schools — it was about having fun.
Fletcher coach Jared King, who managed the North team, said the game provided plenty of interesting aspects.
“It’s nice to give some of the seniors who aren’t playing anymore another game to play,” King said. “Obviously you want to win, it’s hard to not want to win, but having fun and just getting them out there and getting them one more rep is the main thing. I had fun coaching kids who aren’t the kids I’ve been coaching the past four years.”
Here are some highlights from the exhibition contest:
Garcia leads South
With so many rotations occurring to ensure everyone got some playing time, even the best players can have a tough time finding a rhythm. That wasn’t a problem for Jayden Garcia, though.
The Cache product, who played for the South, saved a stellar performance for his final high school appearance, smacking three hits — all singles — to go along with two runs scored.
“I felt like it was a good way to wrap up my senior year,” Garcia said. “Hopefully it’s not the last baseball game I play. It was fun getting to play one more time with Landen (Abbott) and against a bunch of players from other schools.”
Garcia’s first hit of the night came as the leadoff in the first inning with the North already holding a 2-0 lead. The hit was the first of five in the frame for the South, and Garcia was brought home by Big Pasture’s Jayce Clem as part of an RBI single that tied the game.
Garcia’s Cache teammate Abbott gave the South the advantage shortly after, driving in Clem with a single to make the score 3-2, but the North eventually grabbed the lead back in the third inning.
After suffering three-straight scoreless innings, the South found itself desperate for a much-needed a spark, and Garcia provided just that.
He led off the fifth with another single, a hit that seemingly gave his team the momentum for good, as it was the first of several hits over the next two innings in which the South scored seven runs.
Abbott also had an impressive game, finishing with a stat line of 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base and 1 run scored.
“It felt pretty good to get out there again,” Abbott said. “I played with some old travel ball teammates, and it was good to see them. I just had a lot of fun. It was more fun than a regular season game because there wasn’t as much pressure put on you to win the game.”
Elgin duo impresses in loss
Elgin representatives Jaken Snider and Jacob Dawson treated the capacity crowd at McCord Field to a pair of impressive performances on both the mound and at the plate despite the North coming up short on the scoreboard.
With the North trailing 3-2 in the third, Snider blasted a double, which was the only multi-base hit of the game, to left field, scoring Hayden Savage of Amber-Pocassett to tie things up. He then scored on a sacrifice fly from MacArthur’s Trey Longacre, putting the North back on top for the moment.
Snider, who was fresh off winning a state title and earning an OCA All-State selection, said it was a satisfying way to close out his senior season.
“It felt good,” Snider said. “Just being out here playing feels good.”
Snider also recorded an RBI in the sixth with a sac fly to score Kamden Urban of Mt. View-Gotebo, as well as a single in the eighth.
Meanwhile, Dawson showed what his arm is capable of, showing tremendous poise from the mound. He pitched the most of any player, completing three innings with five strikeouts to only one hit.
The lone hit against Dawson came in the third inning when Caleb Hutson of Chattanooga smacked a single to left field before reaching second on a throwing error.
“It just felt good being able to play some more baseball,” Dawson said. “It was great to get out here with these guys who also love baseball and just go out there and have fun.
“We didn’t have many pitchers, and I asked coach if I could keep going, and he let me, so I went out and pitched as long as he let me.”
Hoskins delivers before signing day
Brad Hoskins was one of MacArthur’s top hitters this season during their run to a second-straight state tournament appearance, and his bat got hot once again for the All-Area game.
Hoskins finished with two singles in three at-bats, showing exactly why he claimed a .320 batting average this year. In his one visit to the plate that didn’t result in a hit, he reached first on a fielder’s choice.
“I was just relaxed today,” Hoskins said. “I just came out here and played the best game I could. It was great coming around and making new friends while playing the game you love — it’s easy.”
Hoskins plans to sign a letter of intent to play college baseball at Randall University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at First Baptist Church Lawton.
No ordinary game
Being a coach isn’t always easy, but when faced with leading a group of players they are unfamiliar with, Duncan coach Erik Hughes, who coached the South, and King excelled in making the All-Area game a success.
Despite the vast number of athletes participating in the game, neither team held practices this week. Both Hughes and King met most of their players for the first time during warmups.
That can make things difficult for any coach, but they found a way to keep everyone happy in a fun-filled environment.
“In games like this, it’s about making sure the kids get equal playing time and equal at-bats,” Hughes said. “We just wanted to make the environment fun for them in the dugouts. To be around a lot of good kids from different schools and learn where their schools are and where their towns are, stuff like that is pretty fun.
“The kids played hard and had fun while doing it. That’s the most fun part. You wish your kids would play like this during the season — relaxed and fun. That’s probably the most rewarding thing about it.”