Three slow pitch athletes in Atoka County were recently named to a Oklahoma Slow Pitch Coaches Association (OSSCA) All State team Caney’s McKinley (Mac) Wheeler and Kenna Barnes; Tushka’s Chanci Alford.
Wheeler and Barnes were named to the OSSCA Small School All State East team which consists of Class 2A, A and B while Alford was named to the OSSCA Middle Schools All State East team which consists of Class 3A and 4A. Both teams had 20 athletes named to the team.
Wheeler season stats - .642 batting average (86 for 134), .676 on base percentage, 32 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 77 runs batted in, 72 runs and 14 base on balls.
Barnes season stats - .355 batting average (39 for 110), .421 on base percentages, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 41 runs batted in, 21 runs and 14 base on balls.
“I firmly believe the work it took to accomplish being named to the all state team began when I moved back to Caney and began playing softball in the seventh grade. Being able to be on the same team as so many family members and friends was a great asset and pushed me to play harder,” Barnes said. Mac and I have been friends since eighth grade both on the field and off. I’m excited and sad at the same time knowing this will be our last game together. She’s one of a kind,” Barnes said.
Alford’s season stats - .533 batting average (65 for 122), .550 on base percentage, 15 doubles, 3 triples, 10 home runs, 6 base on balls, 43 runs batted in and 57 runs.
“Making all-state means to me that all the hard work that I have put in my entire life has paid off, even when I felt like I wasn’t improving I still always showed up and worked,” Alford said. My coaches have always pushed me and I’m so thankful for that. Not only my high school coaches but also my travel coaches, they would always say “school ball comes first” and I finally realized that school ball really is one of those things you can’t ever get back. I’m extremely thankful for Tushka coaches and everything they have taught me,” she added.
The all state games will be conducted on June 14 at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond. The small schools all state game is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the middle schools all state game is set to begin at 1 p.m.
Kenna Barnes and McKinley (Mac) Wheeler
Chanci Alford
