KHS catches win in season opener

Kingfisher won its softball season opener last Monday, but dropped to 0-1 in its district the next night.

The Lady Jackets dropped Okarche 9-1 at home to start the 2021 campaign, despite managing just four hits.

The hits were timely, however, including back-to-back two-run singles by Merrin Evans and Jodie Hill in the third inning to break open the game.

Hill’s hit pushed KHS to a 7-0 lead. Evans, who scored on the play, made the lead stick in a five-inning run-rule.

The left-hander worked around seven Okarche hits and didn’t allow a run until the fifth inning.

That was an RBI single by Emma Stover, but Evans retired the next batter to end the game.

Evans walked two and struck out four.

KHS got two first-run innings off Okarche’s Karsyn Vallerand.

Taylor Mills and Natalie Dick both walked and eventually scored. Dick crossed home on Mya Dewberry’s RBI groundout.

Evans walked and scored in the second and the Lady Jackets took advantage of a walk, a hit batter and a single by Dewberry to set up Evans and Hill for their RBIs.

Mills added an RBI double in the fourth and later scored.

Mills, Dick and Evans scored two runs apiece in the game.

Mackenzie Schneiter had three of Okarche’s hits and scored the team’s lone run.

Vallerand was saddled with the loss. She walked six batters and struck out two.

The Lady Jackets appeared to be in line for their second straight win as they traveled to Chickasha the following night. Freshman

Kynli Boeckman belted a solo home run to give them a 5-4 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

However, the Lady Chicks erupted for 10 runs in the bottom half of the frame to run away with a 14-5 run-rule victory.

The loss dropped KHS to 0-1 in 4A-4.

The Lady Chicks jumped on Kingfisher early as Aubrey Hicks sent a three-run homer over the left-field wall in the bottom of the first inning.

KHS clawed back into it in the third as Dick and Dewberry collected back-to-back hits, then scored on Evans’ two-run single.

Evans was pushed home by Hill’s RBI hit.

After Chickasha scored once in the bottom of the third to reclaim the lead, the Lady Jackets tied it in the fifth when Dewberry doubled and later scored.

Boeckman’s first career homer gave KHS more momentum, but it was shortlived.

Chickasha scored 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth before KHS could record an out.

The Lady Chicks had 10 hits in the inning.

Evans was dealt the loss. Kingfisher did manage 13 hits.

Dewberry was 3 for 3 and scored twice.

Mills, Evans and Hill had two hits apiece. Evans also scored twice.

KHS took part this weekend in the Woodward Tournament.