ACE ON THE BUMP
Daugherty delivers shutout in 1-0 district win
KINGFISHER SOPHOMORE Ian Daugherty delivers a pitch during a game earlier this season. He threw a shutout in Monday’s 1-0 win over Elgin. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt. smugmug.com]
Ian Daugherty’s dominance on the mound came through in the clutch Monday to provide Kingfisher with a crucial district win.
The sophomore threw a two-hit shutout as KHS edged Elgin 1-0 on the road to stay unbeaten in District 4A-2 games.
With the tying run on second and the winning run on first, Daugherty coaxed a grounder out of Dayton Cappielo that Zach Goodwin scooped up at third and turned it into a game-ending double-play.
It ended a pitcher’s duel that saw a run scored in the top of the first inning before six-and-a-half innings of scoreless baseball.
The Jackets got the run on Keaton Abercrombie’s double that scored Brandon Williams, who was a courtesy runner for Daugherty.
Daugherty had earlier doubled, one of three hits in the inning for KHS.
However, Braden Moreland only allowed the Jackets four hits over the final six innings.
He struck out nine batters without a walk.
But he was dealt the loss because Daugherty was even more stubborn on the mound.
He gave up a single in the third inning, but not another hit until the leadoff batter of the seventh.
The right-hander, who has committed to play at Oklahoma State, walked two batters and struck out seven. He also worked around three Jacket errors.
After giving up the hit to Trevor Bianchini to start the seventh, Daugherty forced a groundout and then walked Levi Melbane.
Elgin’s hopes were short-lived, though, as Daugherty and Goodwin combined to end it shortly after.
The Jackets did manage seven hits of Moreland, two each by Abercrombie and Goodwin.
Crosswhite and Clayton Abercrombie also had base hits.
Daugherty is now 6-0 on the season, including 5-0 in his district starts.
He’s given up just two earned runs in 39 2/3 innings pitched for a 0.35 earned run average.
In 32 1/3 innings of district work, Daugherty has given up only one earned run, struck out 43 batters and walked nine. He has a 0.22 ERA in those games.
The win over the defending 4A state champ moved KHS to 24-2 overall and 8-0 in the district.
The Jackets have two district games remaining. The return trip by Elgin Tuesday (after press time) and then at home next Monday against Tuttle.