Johnson has big outing against PCW
Junior strikes out 14, collects three hits as Jackets take 2 of 3 in Shed Classic
ELI JOHNSON delivers a pitch during last week’s win over Putnam City West. The right-hander struck out 14 batters in the complete-game effort. He also collected three hits at the plate. [Photo by Chris Simon/www.simon-sports-photos.smugmug.com]
Two wins highlighted Kingfisher’s weekend as the Yellowjacket baseball team gets ready for the home stretch of the season.
KHS defeated Putnam City West 7-6 on Thursday and Pauls Valley 14-7 Saturday in The Shed Classic being held at Homier Field.
The victories surrounded a 13-6 setback to Guthrie on Friday.
In the defeat, Eli Johnson belted a two-run home run in the top of the third inning to give the Jackets a 2-1 advantage.
The Bluejays tied it up in the bottom half of the inning, then scored nine in the fourth to pull away.
The loss snapped a threegame win streak for the Jackets.
The last win in that streak came the day before thanks in large part to Johnson’s right arm.
The junior struck out 14 batters in the victory over the Patriots.
Still, the Jackets had to sweat it out.
Up 6-0 through four innings, Kingfisher gave up four runs in the fourth as the Patriots collected three hits, but also took advantage of two errors and two free passes.
The Jackets got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Coleman Gilles singled and later scored on an Isaiah Medellin groundout.
Turns out, they needed it.
The Patriots opened the seventh with a single and a triple.
After an RBI groundout, the Patriots were within a run.
But Johnson coaxed a groundout and a strikeout to end the game.
He surrendered six hits in the game and only three of PC West’s runs were earned.
Johnson was also 3 for 4 at the plate with an RBI.
Medellin and Gilles had two each. Tanner Parker drove in a pair of runs.
Saturday’s game against Pauls Valley got off to a rocky start when the Pan- thers plated three runs in the top of the first inning, thanks in part to two Jacket errors.
But KHS quickly took back the momentum with seven runs in the bottom part of the frame.
Bryce Cockayne started it with a bases loaded walk before teammates followed with three straight hits.
Bode Williams had an RBI single, Gilles a tworun single and then Chase Cooper a two-run triple.
Medellin later had yet another RBI triple to complete Kingfisher’s scoring in the inning.
Medellin finished 3 for 3 with a pair of RBIs and two runs sored.
Cooper drove in four runs with his two hits.
Williams also had two hits and two RBIs.
Williams survived the rough start by his defense to grab the win.
He gave up seven runs over five innings, but only one was earned.
Williams struck out four while surrendering six hits.
The Jackets were 9-11 entering this week’s district series with Elk City.