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Wylbe Roberts makes the pitch as a Marlow runner is leading off of first base. Glenn Price • The Madill Record
MADILL – There was some bright sunshine, but the wind was blowing in from center field for a beautiful Saturday afternoon for baseball. But, the Marlow baseball team came to town and run-ruled Madill by a score of 10-0.
This was Marlow’s third run rule game of the season so far and they have a 3-1 record. Their only loss so far was to 6A Westmore 6-5 in extra innings. They are a quality team and have a great baseball heritage as evidenced by last season when they lost to Atoka (5-4) in the 3A Championship game.
Wylbe Roberts was the starting pitcher and went one and two-thirds innings giving up eight hits and seven runs to the strong hitting Marlow squad. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two. Case Coble came on in relief in the second inning and pitched 3 and one-third innings giving up five hits and three runs. He also didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.
Austin Lewis, Bret McDaniel and Roberts collected hits for Madill with McDaniel legging out a double.
The loss brings the season record to 0-4. The Wildcats play Byng twice before the Madill/Whitesboro Tournament which starts next Thursday, March 12.
Coach Thompson Background
His collegiate experience is included in the story about the Ardmore game, but he was a very good player at OSU from 1970 to 1974. He started as a freshman which was the first year that freshmen were eligible to play on the varsity.
Thompson was born in Norman and six brothers and two sisters. As Thompson said, “We all played sports all the time.” Two other brothers played baseball, one at OU and one at Southwestern. One wrestled at OU.
Thompson has a long career in both coaching and school administration at numerous schools. He spent one year at Hobart and then moved to Ardmore where he as an assistant football coach and was the Head Baseball Coach for nine years there. He was the Okeema Principal and then the Marietta Principal and Athletic director for nine years. He eventually went back to Norman as the Athletic Director for nine years.
Thompson was an All-State catcher in 1969 for Norman High School. There were some Major League teams interested in him both from high school and in college. The Cincinnati Reds showed some interest in him early in his OSU career, but he stayed with the program.
“I moved into the area to help my daughter out a little,” said Thompson. “She is an Assistant Principal at Ardmore. Then this coaching job opened up and I expressed my interest. It’s a good fit for me right now. I know that Mr Case and Mr. Stafford are good people and I’m enjoying coaching. These are good kids here that work hard. I enjoy it here.”