EUFAULA PAGE – FEBRUARY 2025 presented by Bank of Eufaula
HOOPS HOMECOMING ROYALTY
The Ironheads celebrated the coronation of Kate Pippenger as the 2025 basketball queen before the Ironheads fans putting a perfect finishing touch to the evening with a pair of wins over Kellyville. Queen Kate was crowned by Ironhead senior Maddox Bridges along with senior attendant Maddie Ballard escorted by Dresden Chiles. Also part of the basketball royalty are junior attendant Lauren Gray and escort Jentry James, sophomore attendant Briley Gragg and escort Logan Plant, freshman attendant Leah Green escorted by Baylor Bohnannon along with flower girl Ferren Stockton and crown bearer Mavrix Bridges.
The Class 4A Ironheads honored the homecoming festivities with a 51-46 victory for their fifth consecutive win in the boys game after Queen Kate and her teammates defeated Kellyville 52-28.
OKLAHOMA’S BEST
Eufaula seniors Carson Luna and Bryan Lynn continue to receive postseason honors. An offensive lineman who is committed to play collegiately at East Central University, Luna was named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State football team while his Ironhead teammate Bryan Lynn was named to the OCA Class 3A All-Star by Class lineup at linebacker.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME
The spring season for the Ironheads will have familiar faces on the diamond as nine players with game time experience will put on the Ironheads uniforms anchored by the leadership of six seniors. Hayden Robinson (SS/P) and Carson Luna (1B/P) enter their fourth season in the lineup along with Dawson Hughes (3B/P), JP Hicks (OF/P), Richie Beaver (OF) and Connor McAlister (DH/1B) as the foundation of this year’s senior leadership. Head coach Josh Luna expects top level results from a trio of juniors including Kase Bell (Mid INF/P), Luke Hodgins (OF/P) and Jax Williams who will be behind the plate at catcher.
“We have a great mix of veteran experience and young talent that will be key to our success this season,” said coach Luna while checking the lineup card whose team posted a 16-14 record last spring. “We’ve moved up to Class 4A this spring, that alone will demand we get good innings from our five guys on the mound. Hayden will be our number-1 on the bump but we’ll need good innings from everyone. I’m expecting our lineup, top to bottom to be able to put the ball in play with the bat and get some power from Connor, Carson and JP to move runners around the bases.
Eufaula is scheduled to open the 2025 season on March 3-4 against Berryhill.
SLOWPITCH SOFTBALL READY TO SWING THE BAT
The Lady Ironhead look to use the success of the fall fastpitch campaign that included a state tournament ticket and turn the veteran leadership and skills into a winning season in this year’s slowpitch softball schedule. Head coach Ryan Green, now in his ninth year as skipper welcomes a trio of seniors back to the diamond for their final campaign including Kate Pippenger (SS/Rover), Kadie Jo Tidwell (OF/INF) and Maddie Ballard (1B). “Effort and attitude have been a staple for us for a while now and these three take a lot of pride in those to attributes giving us a chance to compete in every game,” said Green.
A mix of underclassmen also boast of skills and determination as Makayla Harjo (P, Jr.) returns for a third season on the bump along while Rayleigh Peterson (2B, Jr.) will solidify the middle defense as well as sophomores Abby Box, Briley Gragg and Hannah Beaver add their own skills to the Lady Ironheads lineup.
Defense and situational hitting will be key to our success against our competition that will once again be in Class 5A this spring,” said Green. “We’ll have to hit the ball in gaps and look to string together multiple hits up and down the lineup to move runners around the bases.” Eufaula opens the 2025 slowpitch schedule on March 5 at home against Okay.
