By Audrey Dodgen/Staff Writer

Lynetta Keller’s softball squad will enter its final game of the season Thursday, having won three of their last four games.

The home finale comes on the heels of a split with 6A Moore and a sweep of Norman North. The final game of the season will be a rematch with the Norman North squad.

The Indians opened last night’s doubleheader in Moore with a 3-1 loss to the Lions. Junior Tana Ramsey took the loss for El Reno, pitching an entire game.

After the setback, the Indians rallied behind pitcher Bre Carpenter for a 6-2 win.

“In that second game, we finally connected with the ball a little bit, got the ball into play and put runners on base,” Keller said.

Timberwolf sweep

The Indians overcame their hitting inconsistency in their only match-up of the previous week, a pair of wins over Norman North High School. El Reno scored early and often in both games of the double-header, winning 14-0 and 9-1.

“In Norman, we hit the ball well. Really well. We just made adjustments to the pitchers,” she said.

“Every pitcher is different, and we have to be able to adjust to how they’re throwing. That comes with experience. The more experience you have at the plate, the more you'll get used to the pitchers.”

Given their recent success against the Timberwolves, Keller said she expects her team to play well, but to maintain their intensity.

“I was very satisfied with the way we played against Norman North. We had really good baserunning, and only a few mental errors,” she said.
“I hope they keep the same intensity, do the same things to win.”

The final game will end Keller’s first full year as the Indians’ head coach, and will mark their third season of play this year: fall fastpitch, spring slowpitch and summer fastpitch.

“We are improving every game. I was talking to some of the parents, and they acknowledge it's nice to see them improve, and to seem them (the players) not swing at bad pitches. That kind of discipline comes with more play,” she said.

Among the team’s improvements, she said, is their style of base running.

“They are aggressive, the way I want them to be. If they get thrown out, it's my fault and they understand that. We have put a few little tricks in, and now that they've had some success, they're more comfortable and willing to try it,” she said.