Nationals bound

Sports

Related Photos

Special to The Duncan Banner

July 14, 2009

Zappers peaking at the right time

Michael Pineda The Duncan Banner Tue Jul 14, 2009, 12:11 AM CDT

MARLOW — Softball has forged a group of athletes from the Southwest into one of the top youth teams in the state.

The Oklahoma Zappers, a 12U team, is set to begin pool play in the IFA National Tournament in Broken Arrow this week after finishing as the state runner-up in the “B” State Tournament in Ardmore. It has been a long journey for the team that has played 61 games this year. After a strong showing at state, it appears as if the team is peaking at the right time.

“We were in a valley before we went to state,” coach Kim Kizarr said. “I was wondering if they were burned out because we had played so much. We had a team meeting and talked about state. We really came together and played well.”

The team has been together since last fall when it played at Chickasha and in several tournaments. After taking time off for basketball, the team came back together in March and began preparing for a busy spring and summer.

The team has played the majority of its tournaments in the Oklahoma City area while seeing action in the 14U age group in league action at Hines Park.

“We were playing older girls that were bigger and stronger,” Kizarr said. “We played a lot of different positions during the league. We are preparing these girls for junior high and high school ball.”

The team is made up of girls from Marlow, Duncan, Empire, Central High, Lawton and Sterling. The team was the vision of Kizarr, whose daughter carpooled with some of the other players on the team to play competitively in Oklahoma City. Rather than continue to carpool, Kizarr felt that a collection of players from southwest Oklahoma could be competitive at the state level.

Over the course of the year, the team has come together, making strides in its on-the-field performance in addition to bonding as a team.

“We struggled catching fly balls,” Kizarr said. “Most of the team came up from 10U and that is the biggest jump in softball. We had our peaks and valleys but our confidence improved.

“We talked a lot about the team and I think that is a lot of what is missing in ball today. We have really grown as a team. They are out there picking each other up.”

The Zappers peaked in time to put together a strong run at the state tournament and it has carried over. The team finished league play at Hines Park on a strong note and has been putting in the time preparing for the tournament, scrimmaging against the Marlow J.V. this week.

“We kind of got a second wind,” Kizarr said. “I would definitely love to play like we played at state this week.”

Suiting up for the Zappers are Sara Hawkey, Kyleigh Turpin, Kaylee Jennings, Sierra Quinn, Kaytlyn Kizarr, Laurie Ann Derrico, Shelby Elroy, Berkley Faulkner, Gigi Wall, Tory Nations and Abbey Warren. The team is coached by Kizarr, Scott Wall and Bettie Wall.

Text Only

Sports

WELL STATED
Britton Scott and Kelsey LeValley didn’t earn titles at the state tennis tournament like they hoped to, but they can rest assured they will still get a chance to end their high school careers on a high note.
Scott and LeValley were among the eight players selected to the Girls’ West All-State Tennis Team, which was announced Wednesday. They will take on the East team on July 24 at the University of Tulsa.

May 24, 2012 2 Photos
Under new management
Sometimes, change can be a good thing. For the Marlow Outlaws football team, this season is gearing up to be full of it.
After a disappointing 1-9 finish to the season, which included six losses by 10 points or less, there was a change of command for MHS.
On April 20, Rob Renshaw, who had spent the past six seasons at Putnam City High School as the offensive coordinator, was named the official head coach of the Outlaws.

May 23, 2012 2 Photos
Laying the foundation
Last season, the Velma-Alma Comets had a nightmare start to their year.
After losing its first five games, along with star running back Checotah Lynn to a knee injury, V-A was looking at an unthinkable losing season.
However, the Comets rebounded to win six straight games and earn second place in district, eventually reaching the second round of the playoffs before falling to Minco 51-18.
Monday evening saw the Comets hard at work on Edgar Martin Field as they try and build upon the success of 2011.

May 22, 2012 2 Photos
Blowout is as big as ever in 35th year
The driving range has seen an increase in popularity, the putting green is getting more use and the course professionals are devoting more of their days to giving lessons.
With the 35th Annual Blowout Tournament this weekend at the Duncan Golf and Tennis Club, it isn’t a time to be rusty.

May 22, 2012
First Impressions
Even before the rooster could finish his morning crows Monday, the Central High football team was hard at work at Broncho Stadium.
Enthusiasm was high and the pads were clapping as 18 CHHS players hit the field for the first time in 2012.
This marked the first official practice under head coach Andy Claborn, who takes over a Bronchos squad that narrowly missed the playoffs in 2011 with a 5-5 record.

May 21, 2012 2 Photos
Scramble helps send Stevens to Pinehurst
Thanks to his performances in U.S. Kids Golf tournaments in Oklahoma City, Caden Stevens earned a spot in the World Championships.
Thanks to his fellow Stephens County residents, he will get to go.
Fifty-six players took part in the Team Caden Classic scramble on Saturday at Twin Oaks Golf Club. Between them and sponsorships from 11 local businesses, around $2,800 was raised to help send Stevens to Pinehurst, N.C., where he will compete at the storied golf resort against some of the best 7-year-olds in the world.

May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Cards win Jess Welch title
Even though Duncan experienced a slight shower Sunday morning, it wasn’t enough to halt the final day of the Jess Welch Memorial Tournament at Abe Raizen Park.
In the championship of the 10-&-under division, it was an all-Duncan final between the Cardinals and Yankees, both of which survived semifinal matchups against teams from outside of Stephens County to advance earlier in the day.
Four runs in each of the first three innings proved to be too much for the Yankees to handle as the red birds took home the championship with a 15-0 victory in four innings.

May 20, 2012 2 Photos
Area players shine at All-Star game
If fans attending Saturday night’s 23rd annual Southwest Senior Bowl at Cameron Stadium were looking for a friendly exhibition game amongst the players, they got just the opposite.
But, through all the chaos and controversy, the players representing Stephens County turned in solid performances, with Comanche’s Johnny Heath and Duncan’s Daniel McCoy scoring touchdowns on the evening.
In the end it was Heath’s South team coming away with the 26-14 victory over the North.

May 20, 2012 2 Photos
DHS girls' coach McClung resigning
Andrew McClung verbally accepted the position of girls’ head basketball coach at Cache High School on Thursday, and he said he plans to give Duncan his official resignation on Tuesday.

May 19, 2012
Waurika names Edelman head football coach
At a meeting in April, the board of education voted to rehire Glenn Howard as a teacher and assistant coach for the 2012-13 school year. At that time, Danny Edelman was also rehired as head coach in the football program, which will be moving to the eight-man level in the 2012 season.

May 19, 2012
More Sports Headlines

Sports

Search Results

Related Photos

Nationals bound

Zappers peaking at the right time

How far will the Oklahoma City Thunder go in the NBA playoffs?

Site Map

Contact Us