Eufaula’s Rayleigh Peterson was unstoppable at the plate, going a perfect 4-for-4 to help lead the Lady Ironheads to a dominant 8-1 victory over Stilwell in the championship game of the Checotah Softball Tournament on Thursday.
With the win, Eufaula completed a perfect 3-0 run at the tournament and improved to 14-6 overall on the season.
Peterson’s bat was on fire. She singled in the first, third, and sixth innings, and roped a double in the fifth, capping off a brilliant all-around performance.
“We were very effective at the plate, pitching and on defense. The team played well and we’re getting better with each game. I’m very proud of how we performed today,” said Eufaula head coach Ryan Green.
The Lady Ironheads wasted no time getting on the board. A leadoff double from senior Jadence Efurd in the first inning set the tone, scoring the first run. Eufaula tacked on more in the third, thanks to Peterson’s RBI single and a two-run double play that pushed the score to 3-0.
Makayla Harjo picked up the win in the circle, tossing five shutout innings and allowing just four hits and two walks. Danielle Rollins came in for relief and closed the game without giving up any additional runs.
Stilwell starter Aspyn Cochran went the distance but struggled with Eufaula’s relentless offense, surrendering eight runs on 14 hits while striking out three and walking five.
Briley Gragg and Leah Green each tallied multiple hits, and Kadie Jo Tidwell showed great discipline at the plate, drawing two walks. Eufaula also flashed the leather with a slick infield double play and zero errors.
For Stilwell, Katelyn Wilson led the charge with two hits, and Ava Swafford went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Despite the loss, the Lady Indians played clean defensively, committing no errors.
Ironheads dominate tournament from start to finish Game 1: Eufaula 5, Muldrow 0 Eufaula opened the tournament with a shutout win over Muldrow. Senior Kadie Jo Tidwell went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Peterson was 2-for-3. Raci Summerland added a 2-for-2 effort with a pair of RBIs, and Harjo went 2-for-3. The team combined for 12 hits and flawless defense.
Game 2: Eufaula 7, Oktaha JV 4 After falling behind early, the Lady Ironheads exploded for six runs in the third inning to surge ahead. Raci Summerland sparked the offense with a tworun double, and the bats didn’t slow down from there. Harjo went the full seven innings in the circle, giving up four runs on eight hits, striking out two, and walking four.
With a perfect tournament performance, Eufaula is finding its rhythm just in time for the heart of the season. With hitters like Peterson and Summerland leading the charge and strong showings from Harjo in the circle, the Lady Ironheads are poised to be a force down the stretch.
