Oklahoma
Oklahoma high school slowpitch softball: Top storylines, players to watch in 2026 season
The 2026 Oklahoma high school slowpitch softball season is upon us.
Programs with rich histories — such as Dale, Mustang and Washington — return to the field eager to add more hardware to their collection. Meanwhile, other teams like Deer Creek, Guthrie and McLoud continue to chase unfinished business and secure a first-state slowpitch title.
With the 2026 high school slowpitch season underway, here are a few notable storylines and 10 OKC-area players to watch:
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Top storylines
Mustang aiming to win second softball title of 2025-26 season. Lacy Darity and the Broncos were finally able to get over the hump last fall. After nearly a decade of competing deep into the postseason, Mustang won its first state fastpitch title since 2017. A thrilling 17-12 loss to Choctaw in the 6A slowpitch state title game last spring fueled the Broncos entering the fall. The Broncos have talent loaded through the roster and have opened the season undefeated at 6-0 while defeating teams by 10.5 runs on average. Stars such as Alexis Kierstead, Rylann Beeson and River Mount continue to shine this spring.
Washington looking to win third straight state softball title. There’s another team looking to add to its dominant championship streak. Fresh off of slowpitch and fastpitch titles in 2025, Washington continues to be one of the top softball programs statewide. Tylor Lampkins’ Warriors have opened the season 7-0 while shutting out its last five opponents in Class 5A. They’re chasing the program’s 15th state slowpitch title, powered by a star trio of Julie Hoehner, Emersyn Massey and Ava Salcedo, with Kelby Beller in the circle.
Can Dale pull off a repeat? 19th-year coach Andy Powell is no stranger to success. His Dale Pirates have dominated both 2A in fastpitch and 4A in slowpitch for the last five seasons. Dale has opened the season 5-0 and recently shutout Little Axe 23-0 in the opening week of the season. The team has one of the best batting lineups in Oklahoma. With stars such as Kinley Patten, Kinsley Hill, Teague Muncy and Heartly Snyder still on the roster, there’s a strong chance that Dale will be back competing in the state tournament in Shawnee this May.
Players to watch in the Oklahoma high school slowpitch season
Kandace Burnett, Jr., Southmoore: The Sabercats are fresh off a state tournament appearance a year ago and have made noise so far in 2026. They’ve jumped out to an 5-2 start thanks to Burnett’s efforts, who recently signed with Iowa State.
Payton Carrillo, Sr., Choctaw: The Yellowjackets have been one of the best teams in Class 6A since Carrillo arrived. She led Choctaw to its first-ever slowpitch state title in May after batting .736 at the plate with 35 home runs and 92 RBIs on 67 hits last season.
Boo Herber, Sr., Dale: A transfer from Carney, the South Carolina signee has been one of the best pitchers across the state and led Dale to a state tournament appearance in the fall.
Julie Hoehner, Sr., Washington: Hoehner has been one of the best hitters in the OKC-metro dating back to her junior season, helping spark a seven-game win streak for Washington to open the season.
Payton Jackson, Sr., Pryor: Jackson played an integral role as the lead-off hitter for Pryor in the fall and is back for me this spring. She hit .466 on the year with 46 runs scored, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases during the fastpitch season.
Alexis Kierstead, Sr., Mustang: Kierstead has guided the Broncos to the state tournament in each of her seasons at Mustang, yet again headlining their efforts at the plate.
Ryn McCormick, Jr., Guthrie: McCormick continues to shine for the Bluejays after leading the program back to the state tournament in the fall. She recently batted .333 a week ago with nine hits, six RBIs and three stolen bases.
Reese Poage, Sr., Mustang: The OSU softball signee spearheaded the Broncos’ efforts in the fall en route to a stat title and is one of the top batters in Class 6A again.
Ava Salcedo, Jr., Washington: Salcedo is off to a strong junior season and helped guide Washington to a Class 3A state fastpitch title in the fall.
Braylee Spence, Jr., Lone Grove: Spence stands as one of the best pitchers in the state after guiding Lone Grove to its fourth state championship in five years in the fall. This spring will mark Lone Grove’s first slowpitch season in program history.
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @thejordancdavis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
Oklahoma
Oklahoma lawmakers ask Supreme Court to let customers join ONG rate hike case
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — As an Oklahoma utility company seeks a multimillion-dollar rate increase, two Oklahoma state representatives are asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to give customers a voice.
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission is currently deciding on a $29 million rate increase for Oklahoma Natural Gas.
If approved, officials say it would mark the fourth rate hike the OCC has approved for ONG in the last four years and has led to an $128 million increase in customer bills.
Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, and Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, have filed an appeal with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, saying customers weren’t given a chance to participate in the case.
“The OCC has gone completely off the beam,” ONG customers Gann and Kevin West told the Supreme Court in their June 17 petition.
In the filing, they claim that the OCC set a March 27 deadline to intervene in ONG’s rate case but only set it after the deadline had already passed.
They say ONG’s customers weren’t notified about the case until late April.
“This case was rigged from the start to keep ONG ratepayers out,” said Gann. “The federal courts have said utility customers have constitutional due process rights – including a right to timely and adequate notice about these cases. We are asking the Supreme Court to uphold customers’ rights and require the OCC to change its rules to respect them. ONG ratepayers should be allowed to exercise their right to participate without being muzzled.”
The commissioners are expected to make a final decision on the $29 million rate increase later this year.
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ONG, the OCC, and the attorney general have 30 days to respond to Gann and Kevin West’s latest ONG appeal.
Oklahoma
Most Oklahoma voters didn’t cast a ballot during June’s primary election
Just 26%, or about one in four registered Oklahoma voters, cast a ballot in the race, according to an analysis of the results.
In total, 630,085 people weighed in on a state question to gradually increase the minimum wage. It was the only race open to Democrats, Republicans and independents, who weren’t eligible to vote in partisan races.
Democrats have typically opened their closed primaries to include independents, but failed to submit the paperwork for this year’s primaries on time. Some voters expressed frustration with the system on election day.
This year’s polls drew fewer voters than in 2018, the last time there was a similar gubernatorial race without incumbents. The election included a state question to approve medical marijuana, and 44% of registered voters cast ballots.
There are almost 1.3 million registered Republicans in Oklahoma, but the GOP race for governor only garnered about 400,000 ballots. Out of more than 613,000 registered Democrats, only about 172,000 voted in Tuesday’s election.
Even though general elections are usually better attended, Oklahoma’s numbers were also low during the 2024 presidential election. One report from the University of Florida rated Oklahoma’s turnout at the time as the lowest in the nation.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Adds OF Adi Hansen From Southern Idaho
NORMAN — Oklahoma softball’s transfer portal activity may have been fairly slow developing.
But now, as the portal window nears its end, the Sooners have started having success.
Oklahoma added outfielder Adi Hansen, a standout at the College of Southern Idaho for the last two seasons on Thursday.
Hansen’s announcement, made on Instagram, followed shortly after Middle Tennessee outfielder Macie Harter announced her commitment to the Sooners.
Hansen led the Golden Eagles with a .457 batting average in 186 at bats in 2026, with an eye-popping 82 runs scored and a school-record 62 stolen bases on 67 attempts.
Hansen had 17 games with two or more stolen bases this season and twice had four stolen bases in a game.
Hansen had four triples and 21 RBIs, drawing 23 walks.
She earned NJCAA first-team All-America honors, helping her team finish 43-13 with a NJCAA Division I Juco World Series appearance.
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In 2025, as a freshman, Hansen hit .401 with 36 stolen bases and 62 ruyns scored.
Hansen is a Logan, Utah, product.
Hansen and Harter join a group of outfielders that includes Kai Minor in centerfield and Ella Parker in right field.
The Sooners lost Abby Dayton to graduation and Kasidi Pickering to transfer after the season. Pickering will reportedly transfer to Texas Tech.
Oklahoma finished 52-10 last season, missing the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2015 after falling to Mississippi State in three games in the Norman Super Regional.
The Sooners have a strong incoming recruiting class and return a trio of pitchers — Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino and Allyssa Parker — as well as experienced hitters Kendall Wells, Gabbie Garcia, Nelly McEnroe-Marinas plus Minor and Ella Parker.
In addition to the departures of Dayton and Pickering, the Sooners also lost pitchers Sydney Berzon and Kierston Deal, first baseman Isabela Emerling, and second baseman Ailana Agbayani to graduation. Outfielder Tia Milloy, pitcher Berkley Zache and utility player Riley Zache also entered the transfer portal.
Oklahoma’s incoming class includes Edmond Santa Fe pitcher Keegan Baker, Lakewood, Calif., infielder Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Mililani, Hawaii, infielder Ori Mailo, Fullerton, Calif., pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch, Katy, Texas, pitcher EK Smith, and Mesa, Ariz., outfilder Payton Westra.
Mailo was with the Sooners this season, redshirting after joining the program a year early.
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