Lady Jackets hosting softball bi-district
After dust settled, KHS finished fourth in District 4A-1 to get home playoff games
KINGFISHER’S Mia Farrell, left, and Emma Lukasek take part in a pre-game ritual prior to a home contest earlier this season. The Lady Jackets host Bridge Creek over the weekend in a Class 4A bi-district for the right to advance to a regional tournament.
McLoud won just one district softball game all season long.
Boy did it benefit Kingfisher.
The Lady Jackets will get to stay home for a Class 4A bi-district series on Saturday (Oct. 3).
They’ll host Bridge Creek in a best-of-three series beginning at 2 p.m.
It’s the first time Kingfisher has hosted a bi-district series since the format was adopted.
The winner of the series will advance to a regional later this week.
Just a week ago, Kingfisher’s chances of hosting seemed unlikely.
A sweep of McLoud on Sept. 24 would have all but assured Blackwell a fourthplace finish in District 4A-1 and the right to host a bi-district.
However, after beating McLoud 13-3 in the opener, the Lady Maroons were upset 5-4 in the second game.
That, combined with last Thursday’s loss to Perkins-Tryon, gave Blackwell a 4-8 district record.
That’s the same district mark as Kingfisher and Bethany, forcing a threeway tie for that fourth spot.
None of the three teams had an advantage over the others in head-to-head as Kingfisher split with Blackwell and Bethany.
Bethany and Blackwell also split their series.
That brought the run differential in those six games into play.
Bethany beat KHS 4-2 and then the Lady Jackets returned the favor 8-6 to make that series even.
In the opener with Blackwell, Kingfisher won 4-1 before losing 2-1 a week later, giving KHS a plus-2 differential and Blackwell a minus-2 in that series.
Blackwell beat Bethany 10-7 and lost 17-15. Blackwell had a plus-1 in that series and Bethany minus-1.
Overall, KHS was plus-2 while the other two teams were both minus-1. That put Kingfisher in fourth place.
Due to its advantage in run differential in their series, Blackwell took fifth and Bethany was sixth.
Blackwell travels to Byng, which was fourth in District 4A-2.
Bethany goes to Plainview, which is 19-10 overall and was third in 4A-2.
“If McLoud doesn’t beat Blackwell in that game, we are probably sixth and headed to Plainview,” KHS head coach Danny Green said.
Instead, the Lady Jackets are at home.
Bridge Creek enters the series 16-11 overall. The Lady Bobcats were 4-8 in 4A-2.
If necessary, the teams will play all three games Saturday.
Cushing won District 4A-1 with an 11-1 mark.
Newcastle was second with a 10-2 record and Perkins-Tryon third at 8-4.
McLoud was last at 1-11.