Win streak gone, but KHS responds

Kingfisher bounced back from its worst outing of the season to open the Highway 81 Classic on Thursday with a pair of wins.

And the Lady Jackets got to earn them at home.

The tournament - originally scheduled to be played in its entirety at Chisholm and Pioneer-Pleasant Vale high schools, was moved to Kingfisher and Okarche for its first two days.

With several inches of rain falling throughout the week, the two Kingfisher County schools’ turf fields were a proper alternative.

The Lady Jackets began their pool play Thursday morning - once more rain subsided - with a 12-4 victory over Ponca City JV in just three innings.

Adlee Friesen and Jancee Matthews drove in two runs apiece as KHS had just two trips to the plate.

Friesen also scored twice as did Callie Blair.

KHS had eight hits as Kendall Farrar collected two.

Kennedy Stewart pitched two innings and didn’t surrender a run. She struck out two and gave up two hits.

Matthews, a senior, made her first-ever appearance in the circle. She pitched an inning and also gave up two hits as well as the four runs. The first day concluded with a 9-0 win over Pioneer in five innings.

After being shutout in the first two innings, Kingfisher plated five in the third.

Farrar drove in two runners with a single and Kinlee East followed with a two-run triple before scoring on Addison Johnson’s RBI hit.

The four other runs came in the fourth, starting with a Friesen base hit to bring home Matthews.

Farrar doubled home two more and then scored when East slapped her second consecutive triple.

Reese Roof, Farrar and East had two hits apiece. East drove in four while Farrar had 3 RBIs.

Friesen, Roof, Farrar and Matthews scored two times each.

Kynlee Brunson pitched all five innings in the shutout. She only gave up three hits and struck out one batter.

The Lady Jackets were slated to play Blackwell and Hennessey on Friday to round out pool play (after press time of this edition).

Games on Saturday were scheduled to be played at Chisholm.

KHS beats McGuinness in district showdown Addison Johnson’s three-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the difference in Kingfisher’s 5-2 victory over Bishop McGuinness on Monday in a District 4A-3 home game.

The win moved KHS to 2-0 in district games.

With the synthetic turf field surrounded by mud after three inches of rain and a cool crisp in the air, KHS found itself trailing McGuinness 2-1 going into the bottom of the fourth.

Callie Blair gave the inning a promising start with a leadoff single, but two quick outs had the frame in doubt.

Reese Roof delivered a two-out single, then Kendall Farrar did the same as she legged out a grounder to beat the throw at first base.

The inning was kept alive and the game tied when Kinlee East’s hard ground ball was misplayed by the pitcher.

The bases were still packed for Johnson, who slapped a double to the wall to put KHS up three runs.

East made the lead stick as she pitched 2 2/3 relief innings for the win.

The junior gave up one hit, no runs and struck out two.

Brunson started the game and pitched 3 1/3 innings.

She gave up a leadoff triple to Mya Madu, who scored on a groundout, but didn’t surrender another run until the fourth.

Stewart pitched the final two outs of the fourth and into the fifth before making way for East.

The pitchers benefited from stellar plays by the defense, most notably Johnson, East and an extra- base-robbing catch in right field by Blair.

That trio was also big at the plate.

Johnson went 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs.

East was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Blair finished 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Farrar was 3 for 4 and scored once.

KHS entered Friday with a 14-2 record.

It had its 10-game win streak snapped Tuesday in a 9-1 loss at Elk City. That defeat dropped the Lady Jackets to 2-1 in District 4A-3 games.

They’ll return to district action Thursday at defending state champ Weatherford.