Baseball ends season as regional runner-up

The Comanche baseball team came up just short of making the state tournament, falling to Bethel last Sunday in the championship game played at Metro Christian in Tulsa.

Though they came up just a little shy of their goal, it was one of the most successful seasons in several years. The Indians finished with a 27-14 overall record, the first 20-win season in several years. The last time Comanche baseball finished with a winning record was 2018 when they completed an 18-8 season.

The 27 wins was a 21-game improvement under new coach Jarod King. The Indians made a dramatic turnaround from their 6-19 record in 2021.

Comanche opened the regional tournament with a loss to Bethel and then fought back in the loser’s bracket Saturday to reach the championship game on Sunday. On Saturday, they eliminated host Metro Christian in the first game and then beat Davis later to secure their spot in the championship.

Friday

Bethel 14, Comanche 9

The Wildcats got ahead early and then held off a late rally by the Indians to get the win.

Comanche had scored at least one run in the first four innings, but still found themselves trailing 8-5 going into the fifth inning. After holding Comanche scoreless in the top of the fifth, Bethel scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 13-5 advantage into the sixth.

The Indians rallied for three runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 13-8 and then added another run in the seventh after Bethel scored another run in the bottom of the sixth.

Comanche had 13 hits in the game with Ian Essex and Dillon Ellis both going 3-for-4. Essex had a double, an RBI and three runs scored, while Ellis had a run scored and three RBI.

Landen Steele went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI and Gunner King went 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Brady Dobbins, Colby Shannon and Gabe Diaz also had hits in the game.

Owen Bigford took the loss on the mound for Comanche.

Saturday

Comanche 5, Metro Christian 4 (8 inn.)

The Indians and the Patriots had a thriller down to the wire before Landen Steele drove home the winning run with two outs in bottom of the 8th on an 0-2 count that scored Ian Essex from third.

Metro Christian led most of the game, scoring once in the top of the third and adding three more in the top of the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. The Indians got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth and then tied the game with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

The Indians once again got a solid performance from Essex at the plate. Essex went 3-for-4 with a run scored, two RBI and a double. Brady Dobbins went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Bryson Evans was 2-for-5 with an RBI; Gunner King, Steele and Colby Shannon all had one hit. Shannon scored twice and had a double.

Evans was the winning pitcher.

Comanche 14, Davis 10

A huge inning in the sixth kept the season alive for the Indians. Comanche trailed 7-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, but they exploded for 11 runs to take the lead for good.

Colby Shannon was perfect at the plate for Comanche, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI and a double. Bryson Evans and Dillon Ellis both went 3-for-4. Ellis scored three times and drove in three runs. Ian Essex and Gabe Diaz each had two hits and each had a double. Landen Steele, Brady Dobbins and Owen Bigford had one hit each.

The Indians pounded out 17 hits in the game.

Dillon Ellis was the winning pitcher for Comanche.

Sunday

Bethel 8, Comanche 5

Just as in the first game between the two teams, Bethel got out early and then held off Comanche late to get the win, which advanced the Wildcats to the state tournament.

After having the hot bats on Saturday, the offense cooled down for Comanche on Sunday as the Indians could muster just five hits in the game.

Bethel led 7-0 heading into the sixth inning with Comanche scoring its first run in the top of the sixth. The Wildcats answered with another run in the bottom of the sixth. The Indians then rallied for four runs in the seventh, but it would not be enough.

Gunner King went 2-for-4 to lead Comanche at the plate. Gabe Diaz, Dillon Ellis and Myles Ellis all had one hit.

Ian Essex took the loss on the mound for the Indians.