Roof homers propel Lady Jackets
KHS gets two shutout wins Thursday to rebound from Elk City defeat
KINGFISHER JUNIOR infielder Reese Roof hit a home run in the first inning of both of Kingfisher’s wins Thursday at the Highway 81 Classic. She’s the fourth Lady Jacket to hit at least one homer this year. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug. com
ADLEE FRIESEN connects with this pitch during Kingfisher’s loss to Elk City. Friesen’s double in the sixth inning drove home the Lady Jackets’ only two runs of the game. [Photo by Russell Stitt/www.stitt.smugmug.com]
In 31 games during the 2023 softball season, exactly one Lady Jacket hit a home run.
Adlee Friesen, then a freshman, accounted for both homers for Kingfisher High School.
It’s safe to say that’s not the case this season.
Junior Reese Roof blasted shots over the fence in both of Kingfisher’s games Thursday at Pioneer to lift the Lady Jackets to a pair of wins in the Highway 81 Classic.
Batting second as Liliana Garramone was out with an injury, Roof hit a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning during Kingfisher’s 10-0 victory over Timberlake.
The second game proved to be a case of deja vu as the right-hander once again hit a solo homer in the bottom of the first against Ponca City JV. KHS went on to win that one 11-0.
The Lady Jackets had two more pool play games on Friday against Pioneer and Okarche before wrapping up the tournament Saturday (all after press time of this edition).
Thursday’s wins were a bounce back after Kingfi sher saw its 10-game win streak come to an end Tuesday.
Elk City scored in each of the first four innings to hand the Lady Jackets a 7-2 defeat on their home field.
The District 4A-1 loss dropped Kingfisher to 2-2 in the district while Elk City remained undefeated on the season (13-0 overall, 3-0 in district).
The Elkettes got to starter Kinlee East early with three hits and three runs in the top of the first inning.
Elk City added another run in the second and one in the third before East was relieved by Lily Voth.
Voth gave up two fourth-inning runs as Elk City built a 7-0 lead, but the freshman settled down to hold the potent Elkette bats scoreless over the final three innings.
Kingfisher knocked on the door of scoring against Elk City ace Aubrie Pogue multiple times, but finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth.
Shelby Davis’ leadoff walk and Kendall Farrar’s single put two on base for Friesen.
The sophomore was robbed of a hit in her previous bat thanks to a diving catch in left field.
This time there was no robbing as Friesen sent her double to the gap to score two runs.
East and Voth later reached base to load them up for Roof and Roof nearly emptied them with a hit down the line, but the ball crept just foul.
Pogue was able to sit down Roof to get out of the inning without further damage and KHS didn’t threaten in the seventh.
Pogue gave up six hits and struck out nine for the Elkettes.
Voth and East combined for six strikeouts with Voth earning four of them.
East had little trouble with Timberlake in Thursday’s opener. She allowed the Lady Tigers just one hit in the four-inning run rule.
She struck out six batters.
East also went 3 for 3 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored.
Addison Johnson went 2 for 2 with a pair of RBIs and runs scored as well.
Voth and Ryan Scammahorn combined for the three-inning shutout against Ponca City JV.
Voth pitched two innings, gave up one hit and struck out one.
Scammahorn struck out one batter without surrendering a hit in her inning of work.
KHS had just two at-bats in the game and collected 12 hits.
Roof, Addy Brueggen, Voth and Davis had two hits apiece.
Davis drove in three runs while Kendall Farrar had 2 RBIs.
The two wins improved KHS to 12-2 on the season.
Roof is the fourth Lady Jacket to homer so far this season, joining Friesen, Farrar (2) and East.
Johnson also has a home run in a JV contest.