By Chuck Reherman
Sports Editor
MUSTANG -When it has come to Bedlam on the Diamond, Yukon has not had much luck in recent years.
The Millerettes used the long ball to change all that Tuesday night.
Yukon took the initial lead on Makenna Johnson’s three-run home run and used a pair of round trippers from A.J. Rayburn to propel the Millerettes to a 10-5 win over the Lady Broncos in Mustang, spoiling MHS’ senior night.
The Millerettes, 22-8, handed the Lady Broncos, who are the 6A-1 district champs, their eighth loss of the season. MHS will host a regional tournament (the Millerettes, who finished third in 6A-2, will go on the road) and the teams have a chance to meet again in the state tournament.
The Millerettes used home runs from Johnson and Rayburn to open a 5-1 lead through two innings before the bedlam set in.
Mustang rallied to make it a 5-4 game in the third, but YHS came up with key hits in the fourth and sixth innings to open a 9-5 lead. Rayburn’s solo home run off the foul pole in the top of the seventh inning put a cap on the game.
“That was a fun win and it was a big win,” Millerette head coach Katy Hoke said. “I loved the excitement and enthusiasm the girls had the whole game. Half of them won’t have their voices tomorrow, but those are fun, intense games. I don’t know if my heart can take many of those games though.
“There is never enough of a lead in this type of game,” Hoke said. “And, it is better coming down here and winning than going home with a loss. Now, we just have to concentrate on winning the regionals.”
The Millerettes had a solid night on the defensive side, with only one inning, the third, with a pair of mistakes.
Mustang scored three runs in the bottom of the third on a Landry Garza RBI double, two errors and a sacrifice fly by Logan Picklemeier.
“We had some really good defensive plays, but we did have a few misses,” Hoke said. “But, they stayed through it, they continued on and didn’t let it totally take them out of the ball game. They wanted the next play, got it and made it.
“We made smart plays tonight and plays that did get us out of trouble,” she said. “We weren’t quite as aggressive at times making throws in from the outfield. But, then the next inning, we made some big time plays from the outfield.”
The Millerettes extended their lead in the top of the fourth inning on a pair of RBi doubles, 7-4. After walks to Rayburn and Johnson, Kaylee Witte doubled to drive in the first run of the inning.
Ashlyn Bruce followed with a double to drive in the seventh run of the game.
Mustang did make it 7-5 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Kaitlyn Peters.
But, again, the Millerettes put together a rally to score two more runs and open a 9-5 lead. Johnson had drawn a walk and an intentional walk to Bruce put runners at first and second.
With two out, Jordan Schlarb singled to plate a run. Maddie Montgomery reached on an error that scored the ninth run for the Millerettes.
Rayburn put the capper on the game in the top of the seventh. She drove the first pitch down the left field line that nailed the foul pole for the solo home run.
“I felt I was in a groove tonight and they gave me some pitches to hit,” Rayburn said. “It is very, very good to come down here and win on their field and their senior night.
“We needed this win,” she said. “We were kind of down, so this win was really great for us. This gives us a little more focus and momentum going into the regionals, especially after beating a team that won a district title.
“I felt we played a really great game. Even the ones in the dugout did a great job cheering. That gave us a little extra energy when they are loud like that in the dugout.
“This gives us a lot of momentum going into the post-season to get a win like this under our belt.”
The Millerettes opened the game with the long ball as Johnson drilled a three-run home run of the Lady Broncos’ top pitcher. Hannah Hurtz had walked to open the game and Brooke Mathis laid down a bunt, then reached on an error.
Johnson took a 2-1 pitch from Landy deep to centerfield for the home run.
Leading 3-1, the Millerettes again went deep, this time from Rayburn. Hurtz had reached on an error before Rayburn drilled her home run over the centerfield wall on the first pitch.
“It was a good overall night for us and it was a good win to come down here and beat a team the caliber of Mustang,” Hoke said. “I thought we attacked the ball on offense and had production from everyone at the plate,
“Defensively, they played behind Kaylee (Bradley),” she said. “Kaylee threw a good game and it was just a really good win overall.
Rayburn led the Millerettes with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with three runs batted in. Witte was 2-for-4 with one RBI and Bruce was 2-for-4 with one run batted in.
YHS will play in the Oklahoma Christian SDhoot-out out Saturday. Yukon plays at 6 p.m.
