For the second straight year, the Oklahoma State Senate has proven why it is, in every way, the “upper chamber” by rallying to defeat the House in a 13-7 win at the SBC Bricktown Ballpark. The Senate was able to overcome a House lineup that somehow managed to send its best hitters to the plate every inning.
An early lead by the Senate was fueled by Republican Leader Glenn “Coffee Can” Coffee’s triple into the left-field corner.

“Honestly, that one could have been a home-run but by the time Coffee rounded third he was pretty much decaffeinated,” said head coach Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City.

The Senate jumped on top 3-0 and led 4-2 until the representatives, by some fluke, scored five runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. Senators, however, rallied with two runs on a mammoth base hit to right field by former major leaguer Randy “Bass-O” Bass, D-Lawton, to cut the margin to 7-6.

It looked like the House might hold on for the win until the Senate mounted a bi-partisan rally in the bottom of the eighth to score seven times to nail down the 13-7 final tally.

Myers said one of the most dramatic plays was by Sen. Richard “Racehorse” Lerblance who suffered a pulled hamstring while running to first.

“He went down hard, but luckily the House shortstop overthrew the ball and Lerblance literally crawled to first. Our fans gave him a standing ovation.”

Coach Myers said that was just one example of how his players put a lot of blood, mostly type A, sweat and tears into the game.

“We definitely had our share of boo-boos—cuts, scrapes, pulled muscles and bruised egos, but we sucked it up and kept on going,” Myers said.

On a more serious note, Myers said the event was an excellent way for members to come together and build camaraderie as well as help raise money for a good cause. Donations collected from this year’s event will go to help the family of long-time Senate staffer Ron Henderson who recently lost his battle with cancer.

As far as predictions about next year, Myers said there was no question about it—the Senate would definitely win again.

“We rock. We roll—there was a lot of rolling actually, maybe more than rocking. But we will prevail again next year. The only thing that’s not in our favor is the fact that all of us will be one year older.”

For more information contact:
Senate Communications Office- (405) 521-5774