A-B ends Okarche softball run in Class A regional final

Okarche made a strong push in its Class A softball regional.

It just finally ran out of steam in the final stages.

The Lady Warriors knocked off No. 13 Drummond 3-2 Friday in an elimination game to earn a shot at Arapaho-Butler in the regional title.

That’s where the Lady Indians flexed their muscle to win 18-0 and advance to the state tournament.

Okarche’s season ended with a 22-13 record.

After opening the regional Thursday with an 11-3 loss to host and fourthranked Arapaho-Butler, the Lady Warriors fired back that evening to oust Apache 11-5 and set up Friday’s game with Drummond.

The Lady Bulldogs never quite figured out Lawson Geheb, who surrendered five hits and two unearned runs while striking out seven batters.

Those two runs came in the top of the third inning and gave Drummond a onerun lead.

Okarche managed to tie it up in the next inning as Bella Hufnagel singled home Katie Parham, who led off the inning with a hit.

Then the Lady Warriors reclaimed the lead in the fifth.

Geheb drew a two-out walk, then raced home on Parham’s double for what proved to be the game winner.

Drummond loaded the bases in the sixth, but Geheb got a strikeout to get out of the jam.

The Lady Bulldogs got the tying run to third base in the seventh, but Geheb again ended it with a strikeout.

Parham had three of Okarche’s five hits in the game as she scored twice and drove in one.

Callie Cramer and Hufnagel had the other two hits.

Cramer’s single in the first inning scored Parham for Okarche’s initial run.

That win meant Okarche would need to beat the host team twice to advance to state.

Rested and ready, Arapaho- Butler took an early 1-0 lead, then steadily built on it in the five-inning win.

Geheb, Parham and Cramer each had a hit for Okarche.