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SAMANTHA SPEARS | SOUTHWEST CHRONICLE
ELGIN — Power hitting and precise pitching has kept the Elgin girls softball team undefeated so far with a 5-0 mark, including three run-rule games.
The Lady Owls have notched wins against Comanche, Altus, Lawton Eisenhower, Lawton MacArthur and Marlow. The largest margin of victory occurred Aug. 15 when Elgin swept past Lawton MacArthur 19-0. The Lady Owls led 10-0 after the first inning.
Elgin will play Lawton Eisenhower on Aug. 21 before traveling to Guthrie Aug. 24 for a doubleheader between two solid Class 4A teams. Guthrie has qualified for the state tournament the past two years and is a favorite to make its third trip to the state tourney in 2023 while also winning the district title.
However, Elgin may have something to say about that with a solid core of young players, including Kelby Carter, Kynli Garrett, Kamber Crow, Ella Melton, Aubrey Dacus and Deziree Monoessy. Monoessy is 3-0 on the mound while Crow is undefeated at 2-0.
“The series (with Guthrie) will be a big test,” Elgin head coach Levi Garrett said. “I’m excited about this team. Most of these girls have grown up playing with my daughter so I’ve seen them progress for the last several years. These younger players are not playing that young.”
Meanwhile, Elgin’s hitters are showing power throughout the lineup with five homeruns.
“This team is pretty special barring any injuries or something weird,” Garrett said.
Garrett and Davis are freshmen while Carter, Crow, Melton and Sarriyah Mcintosh are sophomores. The 16-member team has only one senior and two juniors, which is a sign Elgin should be a powerhouse for the next few years.
Elgin finished last season with 27 wins before losing two straight games in the regional tournament.