DIAMOND DAZE: Dewey takes quarterfinal decision but falls in close semifinal battle.

(Note: Dewey High's state softball championship quest ended Friday afternoon in a 6-2 loss to North Rock Creek in the Class 3A semifinals in Oklahoma City. North Rock Creek grabbed a 2-0 lead in top of the first. Dewey tied it up, 2-2, in the bottom of the fourth on Briley Davis' two-run homer. But, North Rock Creek rallied to score two in the sixth and two in the seventh to eliminate Dewey just one game shy of playing for the program's first state crown since 1994. More semifinal details are planned in next Tuesday's sports pages.)

Between 1984 through 1994, Dewey High School softball loomed in monolithic magnificence. During that golden stretch, the Lady Doggers captured seven state championships in 11 seasons.

And, in the non-championship years, extending through the late 1990’s, Dewey often appeared in the state final.

But, following the arrival of the new millennium, Lady Dogger softball tumbled from its lofty height as one of the consistency ultra-elites to riding on the ebbs and tides of competitiveness and rebuilding.

But, the Lady Doggers are back this year in the conversation as a bona fide state power.

On Thursday, they knocked off Perry High School, 4-2, in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

This is the third-straight season Dewey — which is coached by alumnus Niki Keck — has appeared in the state tourney, the longest-such streak since 1997-99. Dewey’s only appearance in state since then — prior to 2019 — had been in 2002.

In the 2019 and 2020 state quarterfinals, Dewey came up just short and came home — broken-heartedly — early.

But, the Lady Doggers finally broke through the quarterfinal barrier this year, thanks to a combination of pinpoint pitching by Briley Davis, a defense that excelled in the clutch, and timely offensive contributions.

Whether it be a pressure-laced hit, a stolen base, a bases-loaded walk, and so on, the Lady Doggers did what they needed to do individually in order to celebrate collectively.

Leading hitters included Katie Wright with three singles and Gabby Higbee and Kaleena Downing with two hits each.

Maybe Smith, Downing and Savana Mill drove in one run apiece.

Meanwhile, Davis snapped off a 74-pitch gem in the pitching circle, averaging just 10 pitches per inning.

She scattered six hits, allowed one earned run, walked none and struck out one.

Davis had to live on the ragged end of tension the entire way. 

“We were one swing away from really busting it open early,” Keck said. 

Through the first six innings, the score was knotted 1-1, which added growing significance to each pitch.

Dewey’s offense finally put together a rally in the seventh to score three runs and provide Davis a bit of breathing relief.

In the top of the seventh, Makenna Smith led for Dewey by ripping a single. McKenna Hagan came up next and also singled, followed by a walk to Higbee to load the bases.

Maycee Smith then reached on an error that brought home Makenna Smith to break the tie.

Downing stepped to the plate next and earned a walk that forced home Hagan with what would be the winning run.

Moll then contributed with a sacrifice fly to plate Higbee to put Dewey up, 4-1.

Perry made a desperate comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh but produced just one run.

“This was a great game to be a part of,” Keck summarized.