HEADED TO STATE
Kingfisher coach-pitch team wins regional, 10U squad is runner-up; both qualify for state
REGIONAL CHAMPS – The Kingfisher Jackets recently won the OK Kids coach pitch regional tournament hosted at Briscoe Park. The win advanced the team to this week’s state tournament. Team members are, from left: front row, Hunter Voth, Hudson Deterding,
STATE BOUND – Kingfisher’s 10-under baseball team finished as regional runner-up and qualified for the OK Kids state tournament this week. Team members include, from left: front row, Ty Stephenson, Steel Snodgrass, Luke West, Brady Calamateo, Hunter W
Kingfisher’s 8-under coach-pitch baseball team is headed to the state tournament.
The Jackets last weekend dominated an OK Kids regional tournament hosted at Briscoe Park to punch their ticket to state.
They’re not the only Kingfisher team advancing to the final weekend of summer ball.
Kingfisher’s 10-under team also qualified for state after finishing as the regional runner-up.
The coach-pitch Jackets secured the regional championship Saturday with a 14-1 win over Elk City in the title game.
It wrapped up a regional in which the Jackets outscored four foes by a combined 55-8.
They begin play Thursday in the state tournament, which is being held at Clinton’s Acme Brick Park.
The state tournament features a pair of eightteam, double-elimination brackets. Two teams will advance from each bracket to Saturday’s semifinals and state title game.
Kingfisher is in the Red bracket and plays Vian at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Other teams in the Red bracket are Apache, Davis, McAlester, Hobart and Clinton.
Blue bracket teams are Fletcher, Byng, Shawnee, Elk City, Stigler, Luther, Poteau and Arapaho.
Kingfisher opened its regional tournament with a 17-4 victory against Weatherord last Thursday.
The Jackets came back Friday to beat West OK Legends 15-2 and then beat Alva Gold Sox 9-1.
The latter victory put Kingfisher in the driver’s seat.
The Elk City Firefrogs made their way through the consolation bracket and needed two wins over Kingfisher to win the regional.
It didn’t happen as the Jackets dominated the first matchup.
Team members are Hayes Hardison, Jax Johnson, Kruz Meyer, Gage Kusik, Press Pearson, Hunter Voth, Hudson Deterding, Braydn Lack, Kolton Cline and Cooper Myers.
Coaches are Heath Myers, Quinton Cline, Jeff Johnson, Zac Meyer and Jason Lack.
The team enters the state tournament with a 35-7 record.
The 10-under team played its regional in Cushing.
After a loss in their second game of the tournament, the Jackets clawed their way back into the championship.
Needing two wins, the Jackets fell short as they were defeated 4-2 by the Stigler Bullets.
It was Stigler that sent Kingfisher into the consolation bracket.
After Kingfisher opened the tournament Wednesday with an 18-2 win over Chandler, it was knocked off 7-4 by the Bullets.
Kingfisher came back Thursday with a 28-0 victory over Morrison.
On Friday, the Jackets continued to advance with a 7-3 victory over their friendly rivals from Okarche.
Kingfisher then secured its spot at state Friday night by defeating Guthrie 6-4 to move into the championship round.
The 10-under state tournament is being played in Sallisaw and began Tuesday.
Kingfisher is part of the Blue bracket and played the Sallisaw Bombers on Tuesday night (after press time).
Other Blue bracket teams are Merritt, Stillwell, Cameron, HBT Sluggers, Porum and Fletcher.
The Red bracket consists of Stigler Reds, Shawnee, Stigler Bullets, Latta, Sayre, Purcell, Ada and Sallisaw Cowboys.
Kingfisher team members are Kale Stephenson, Brady Calamateo, Ty Stephenson, Steel Snodgrass, Dexton Townsend, Jensen Stewart, Luke West, Kyle Meadors, Zac Russell, Hunter Waeger and R.J. McCarty.
Coaches are B.J. Waeger, Kyle Stewart, Blake Stephenson and Mark Snodgrass.
Kingfisher is 19-9 entering the state tournament.