College softball catcher reaches to tag a runner sliding into home plate

Bixby Softball Fights On at the 6A Regional in Broken Arrow (October 8, 2026)

By BixbyMerch.com · October 8, 2026

Good morning, Bixby. Friday nights belong to football around here, but this Thursday belongs to Spartan softball. Bixby's fast-pitch team is still alive at the Class 6A regional in Broken Arrow, and winning the regional is the only way to keep the season going to the state tournament.

Where things stand

Bixby is one of four teams in Class 6A Regional 3, hosted by Broken Arrow. The other teams in the bracket are Broken Arrow, Westmoore and Putnam City North. The bracket is double elimination, and only the regional winner advances to state.

The Spartans kept their season rolling on Wednesday with a 17-0 win over Putnam City North, according to the West Metro Sports scoreboard for Regional 3.

Thursday's path at Tiger Park

Here is how the OSSAA bracket lays out the final day of the regional:

  • Game 5, noon: Bixby, as the winner of Wednesday's Game 3, faces the loser of Wednesday night's Game 4.
  • Game 6, 2:00 p.m.: The Game 5 winner plays the Game 4 winner.
  • Game 7, 4:00 p.m.: Played only if necessary.

OSSAA notes that regional times can be adjusted to avoid conflicts, so check the bracket or Spartan social channels before you head out. Regional tickets are $8.00 plus a $1.40 fee online or $11.00 at the gate, and each day of the regional counts as its own session.

The standard to beat

The host is a tall order. Broken Arrow, coached by Randall King, entered the regional at 32-0 after going unbeaten through the fall, according to the Tulsa Dispatch. That is the kind of challenge that makes postseason softball worth the drive down the road.

Two Spartans to know

Klein Vann, pitcher. In her Bixby Athletics spotlight this summer, the freshman pitcher said the toughest part of pitching is staying out of her own head. "I have to remind myself that every pitch is a new pitch and to stay confident in my ability," Vann said. She credits Jordy Bahl-Frahm as an inspiration for her composure on the mound.

Mackenzie Howard, catcher. Howard has played softball since she was 10, and she told Bixby Athletics that the most important part of catching is keeping bad moments from affecting the team's attitude. She hopes to play in college and possibly study psychology. Vann called Howard the team's most vocal leader.

The Spartans are led by head coach John Suttmiller with assistant coaches Rebecca Rickelman and Tonya Standley.

If the Spartans punch their ticket

The Class 6A state tournament is set for Thursday through Saturday, October 15 to 17, at Firelake Ball Park in Shawnee. State tickets are $11 plus a $1.55 fee online or $14 in cash, and the online ticket link opens Monday, October 12, at 9:00 a.m. on OSSAA.com. One tip for families: steel cleats are not allowed at Firelake.

The timing works out, too. Bixby Public Schools lists Thursday, October 15, as a no-school fall break day.

Bleacher-ready Spartan gear

October softball means chilly evenings in the stands. Browse our Softball and Spartan Gear collections, grab a blanket for the bleachers, and check out For Moms and For Dads at BixbyMerch.com. First-order welcome: use code BIXBY10 at checkout for 10% off your first order.

Go Spartans.

Photo: Marist and Army college softball at West Point (not a Bixby game), U.S. Military Academy photo via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Sources

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