Girls Win First Four Games Before Finally Dropping Pair In The PV Tourney, And To Ada Monday
The Sulphur Lady Bulldogs opened the 2026 fastptich season with strong hitting and pitching to win their first four games before losing a trio of games, two of which came in last weekend’s Pauls Valley tournament.
Sulphur launched the season last Monday, Aug. 10 with a high-scoring, 14-10 win at Tishomingo over the Lady Indians, then came home two days later on Thursday to beat Davis, 14-2, in the Murray County rivalry series.
With no rest and facing blazing hot temperatures Friday and Saturday, the team trekked to Pauls Valley for a round of games in that meet, winning three and losing two.
The Lady Dogs (5-3) faced off at Ada on Monday, losing 9-3, then came home on Tuesday to battle Byng. The Lindsay Leopards offered a final test this week on Thursday.
A eight-game, first week slate offered its challenges to the local girls, but they came through with excellent performances, said head coach, Heath Gilbert.
“We had a little bit of a rough summer with getting everyone settled into their new positions, but we came out the first week of the season ready to go,” said Gilbert. “We played unbelievably well coming out of the gate. Lots of people in new positions and freshman getting opportunities to play early.”
Gilbert said he and his team are excited for the new season.
Sulphur slugger Zoli May slams this pitch to the outfield in a game last week. PHOTO BY BLAKE SEALE
“There are still lots of ways we can get better but we are excited to get this season rolling,” he said. “Playing five games on Friday and Saturday in 101 degrees kind of wore us out. Hopefully, we come out on Monday and continue our success.”
Sulphur began the season in a scoring fest, trimming Tishomingo, 14-11, as Zoli May led the team with three hits in four at bats.
All total, the Lady Dogs collected 16 hits with Tish getting 14 in the season opener.
Other hits in the game came from Destry Muck with a solo homer and Hattlie Stiffler with a single and a run scored.
The Lady Dogs took control of the game in the seventh, scoring eight runs to take a 14-9 lead with Muck delivering a big blow with a single driving in two runs.
Other big hitters for Sulphur included Cheyenne Ruth and Addy Johnson with three hits each, while May stole five bases.
Kensley Rochelle got the win for the Lady Dogs.
Sulphur followed that with an impressive, 14-2 win over the rival Davis Lady Wolves last Thursday.
Muck blasted three hits in three at-bats in that game, including a double and single in the first two innings, to lead the Lady Dogs. Other leading hitters for Sulphur included Cheyenne Ruth, Burch, Stiffler, Johnson and Kensley Rochelle.
Ruth got the win for Sulphur, giving up one hit and two nonearned runs.
The Lady Dogs blasted 13 hits in the win.
Sulphur opened the Pauls Valley tournament with a 5-0 loss to the Marlow Lady Outlaws, a team they would go on to beat later in the meet for a third place win.
In the second game at Pauls Valley, May drove in four runs on two hits including an inside the park grand slammer as the Lady Dogs pounded Western Heights, 15-1, Sulphur scored 10 runs in the second inning to put the game virtually out of reach. Other hitters for Sulphur included Jordyn Johnston, Addy Johnson, and Stiffler, all with singles, and Muck with a double. Ruth got the win for the Lady Dogs on the mound.
Sulphur followed that up with a down-to-the-wire win over Dickson in game three, beating the Lady Comets, 5-4, as Kabree Little hit into a fielder’s choice to score a walk-off win.
Sulphur had pulled ahead in the game in the bottom of third when Stiffler singled, scoring three runs. Stiffler led Sulphur hitters with two hits in two at bats.
Rochelle earned the win for Sulphur, scattering out five hits over three innings, and striking out two.
Sulphur avenged their earlier loss to the Marlow by scoring a 4-2 win over the Lady Outlaws in game four of the tournament in a blazing hot Saturday afternoon game.
Ruth earned the win for Sulphur on the mound and went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead the Lady Bulldog hitters.
The Lady Dogs opened the game after Haley Stevens singled to score a run, then added another run in the third on Ruth’s single.
Sulphur closed out the tournament with a 5-0 loss at the hands of Kingfisher Lady Yellowjackets, then dropped a hard fought duel to Ada on Monday, 9-3.
