KHS sweeps Bridge Creek in 4A-2 opener

Kingfisher’s goal of a district championship in baseball got off to the best possible start last week.

The Jackets swept Bridge Creek in a 4A-2 double-header Monday at Homier Field. The games were to be played at Bridge Creek Monday and Kingfisher on Tuesday.

However, Sunday night rains down south and the prospect of more bad weather statewide Tuesday prompted the two-game slate here.

And, in both contests, the Bobcats had no answer for KHS pitching.

Ian Daugherty picked up the win in the 3-0 opener and then Creighton Bugg did the same in a 15-0 run rule in the nightcap.

Daugherty surrendered just one hit and struck out eight batters in his 6 1/3 innings. Cole Crosswhite was on the mound for the final two outs and struck out another Bobcat while earning the save.

The Jackets got all the necessary run support in the bottom of the fourth when Will Taylor’s single up the middle scored Caleb Dick and Clayton Abercrombie.

Chase Gustafson tacked on another run in the fifth with a single to score Zach Goodwin.

Meanwhile, Daugherty was mowing down batters and the few who did reach base also met their demise.

Catcher Logan Rutledge threw out two Bridge Creek base runners attempting to steal second base and ended the game by picking off a runner too far off first base.

Gustafson, Abercrombie and Taylor had Kingfisher’s only hits of the game.

The Jackets accounted for eight hits in the final contest, but didn’t need many.

Thirteen of Kingfisher’s runs were unearned as the Jackets took advantage of six Bridge Creek errors.

KHS posted nine runs in the first inning, almost exclusively on errors, passed balls and wild pitches.

The exception was a run-scoring triple by Crosswhite.

He finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored.

Goodwin drove in three runs and scored twice.

Keaton Abercrombie scored twice and drove in a run.

Taylor scored three times and also had an RBI while Gustafson was responsible for two RBIs.

Bugg, meanwhile, was in complete command.

He struck out 10 batters over five innings while scattering six hits and walking one.

The wins improved Kingfisher’s overall record to 5-0.