BASEBALL: Sequoyah survives after wild day at regionals

From a heartbreaking walk-off loss to a thrilling extra-inning redemption, Sequoyah baseball experienced both agony and triumph in a dramatic doubleheader Thursday.

The Eagles dropped their Class 3A Regional 10 tournament opener in Valliant in gut-wrenching fashion, falling 4-3 to Sequoyah Tahlequah after surrendering two runs in the bottom of the seventh — including the game-winner on a steal of home.

However, they bounced back in the consolation bracket, outlasting Roland 9-6 in 10 innings behind late-game heroics to keep their season alive.

SEQUOYAH 9, ROLAND 6 (10 INN.)

After watching a four-run lead evaporate in the seventh inning, Sequoyah baseball answered with an emphatic statement in extras.

And it started with its heartbeat at the plate.

Dylan Burks ripped a go-ahead single in the top of the 10th, and Ryker Peters followed with a two-run double, propelling the Eagles past Roland 9-6 in the Class 3A Regional 10 consolation bracket Thursday evening at Valliant.

Sequoyah (17-12) bounced back from a walk-off loss earlier in the day to Sequoyah Tahlequah by collecting 13 hits, stealing 12 bases and turning two double plays to keep its postseason hopes alive.

Ryder Smalley led the charge with a 3-for-5 performance, including a triple in the sixth and the leadoff single in the 10th that sparked the decisive rally. Peters finished with four RBIs and three hits, including the knockout blow — a two-RBI double to left that made it 9-6.

The Eagles took early control in the third when Peters’ two-run single plated Burks and Cade Ogden for a 2-0 lead. After the Rangers tied the game in the fifth, Smalley tripled and scored in the sixth before Ogden added an RBI single to make it 4-2.

Sequoyah seemed in full control until Roland rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh, fueled by five walks, a hit batter and a passed ball that tied it at 6.

However, the Eagles’ bullpen was clutch when it mattered. Smalley struck out four in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, and Ogden closed the door with four strikeouts across two shutout innings to earn the win.

Offensively, Burks, Derek Cole and Ogden all had two-hit nights, and the Eagles drew 11 walks as a team, setting up scoring chances in nearly every frame. On the base paths, Sequoyah was relentless, swiping 12 bags, including two each from Burks, Smalley, Ogden and Cole.

SEQ THLQ 4, SEQ CLRM 3

With the game hanging in the balance, Sequoyah Claremore watched a one-run lead unravel in the most chaotic fashion imaginable.

Sequoyah Tahlequah stole home to tie the game and then scored the walk-off on a sacrifice fly just two batters later, stunning the Eagles with a 4-3 defeat Thursday in the opening round of the Class 3A Regional 10 tournament at Valliant.

The Eagles had led since the top of the sixth inning, when Burks roped an RBI double to put them ahead 3-2.

However, the bottom of the seventh told a different story.

A lead-off walk and a steal set the stage for Talon Vaughn, who scored on a gutsy steal of home to tie it. Then Crayton Sapp moved to third on the same play and scored the winning run moments later on a deep flyout by Alden Jones.

It was a heartbreaking end for the Eagles, who out-hit the Indians 5-4 and played error-free defense.

Burks was a force all game, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two stolen bases and an RBI. He also drove in the Eagles’ first run on a steal of home in the second. They extended their lead to 2-0 in the third when Braxton Watkins delivered an RBI single to center.

Starter Clayton Miller gave the Eagles a strong start on the mound, allowing just two earned runs and striking out four in four innings. Watkins took over in the fifth and held the lead until the fateful seventh, despite giving up no hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Kade Sanders drove in two runs for the Indians in the bottom of the third to tie it at 2, answering the Eagles’ early scoring. From there, the teams battled through tense middle innings until the Indians’ late heroics.

Despite the loss, the Eagles showed grit and discipline at the plate, drawing six walks and stealing seven bases. Smalley reached base twice and handled a team-high 10 chances in the field without an error.