Published: May 10, 2008 10:20 pm            

Solid 25-win season for SHS

No. 8 Stillwater came up nine outs shy of a berth in the Class 6A State Tournament.

The Pioneers’ 25-14 campaign ended with a 6-2 loss at No. 3 Broken Arrow in the final game of a Regional Tournament last week. SHS was up 2-1 going into the fifth inning of the game, which followed its 11-0 five-inning run-ruling of the Tigers in the day’s first game.

In that contest, junior pitcher Korbin Kenmore threw a no-hitter, using just 55 pitches and allowing only one ball to reach the outfield.

“We’ve had some awfully big wins but I’ve never, with all the great pitchers we’ve had, I’d never witnessed a perfect game,” said coach Gary Gardner, who resigned following the season. “That outing has to go down as one of the greatest outings in my 11 years.”

The coach totaled a 302-133 record (.694) in 11 seasons guiding the program, but resigned from his coaching and teaching duties so he could pursue other business interests.

“I support him,” said senior left fielder Grant Field, who hit .389 this season. “He was a good coach. He is just ready to move on.”

Added junior catcher Kale Gaden, “Not only did he make me a great athlete, but he helped me become a better person as a whole. I really appreciate everything he’s done for me and the team.”

Gaden finished tied for third with another junior, Michael Patman, with a .375 batting average. They are two of the reasons Gardner said next year’s club could succeed under a new coach.

“I think they have a chance to have a very good year,” said Gardner, though he noted depth issues are always a concern for Stillwater. “They return two of the top pitchers in Korbin Kenmore (6-4, 3.1 ERA) and (sophomore) Daniel Cassel (4-2, 4.8 ERA). (Junior) Shaun Brinker was a late bloomer but he went 3-0 (with a 2.2 ERA). I expect him to fill in some areas.

“(Sophomore) Griffith Roark was a solid infielder. … They have some guys coming back that will give them a chance to be competitive. They will have some holes to fill after graduating 10 seniors.”

One of those graduating, right fielder Austin Dean, hit .491, which is the best average anyone had in Gardner’s 11 seasons. That means he bested MLB All-Star Matt Holliday and first-round draft pick Josh Fields.

The team claimed the inaugural Centennial Conference title, outperforming the likes of No. 4 Enid and No. 11 Sand Springs.

“That was one of our major goals,” said Gaden, calling that the season highlight. “For Coach Gardner leaving, winning the conference for him, that was one of our biggest goals.”

Gardner said he also considered it the highlight and “something I’ll always remember.”

“My resignation had nothing to do with the season or the outcome,” he added. “We had a very good season. If you win 25 ballgames, you have a very good year. I’m happy I was able to go out with a great senior class and a good year.

“It would have been nice to go out after the State Tournament but it didn’t work out that way.”

        

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