Jackets wrap up district with Clinton sweep

A sweep last week over Clinton secured Kingfi sher fourth place in the District 4A-3 standings.

The Jackets beat Clinton 9-4 on the road Monday, then returned home Tuesday to deliver a 12-2 run-rule victory.

That pushed KHS to a 5-7 district mark, finishing behind champion Elk City (12-0), runner-up Bishop McGuinness (9-3) and third-place Weatherford (9-3).

In the road win, freshman Kaden Cline went the distance as he struck out seven Red Tornadoes over seven innings.

He gave up eight hits and four walks.

Cline also received some good early support as the Jackets plated five runs in the first two innings.

Eli Johnson’s single in the first drove in Cline and Bryce Cockayne pushed home Tanner Parker with a sacrifice fly.

Cline helped himself in the second with an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch.

Clinton made its biggest push with three runs in the fourth, but the Jackets added cushion with four runs over the final two innings.

That included additional RBI singles from both Johnson and Parker.

Those two were joined by Hunter Delozier in collecting three hits apiece.

Kingfisher struck early in Tuesday’s win with a seven-run first.

It was capped by a grand slam off the bat of freshman Carter Stephenson.

His blast scored Cockayne, Trypp Lack and Jett Braun.

Cline also had an RBI double in the inning.

That was more than enough for Dallen Barton, who threw all five innings and allowed just five hits and one earned run.

The senior right hander struck out five without walking a batter.

Offensively, Delozier added two hits and two runs while driving in another for KHS.