Daugherty hunts Bobcats with bat
Grand slam highlights KHS senior’s big day at plate in district sweep
KINGFISHER’S Ian Daugherty had seven hits and 9 RBIs - including a grand slam - in two games Thursday to help the Jackets to a sweep of Bridge Creek to open the playoffs. He also earned a win on the mound in the second game of the night as the Jackets a
KHS SENIOR Tate Taylor prepares to lay down a bunt during a game early last week. Taylor was instrumental Thursday in his team’s bi-district sweep of Bridge Creek which advanced the Jackets to the regional tournament. [Photo by Chris Simons/www.simon-sp
Ian Daugherty was already batting over .400 for his senior season.
Thursday’s performance made that average even shinier.
The senior had seven hits and 9 RBIs in two games as Kingfisher swept Bridge Creek in a Class 4A bi-district baseball series at Homier Field.
The wins advanced the Jackets to this week’s regional tournament, likely at Blanchard, as they vie for a second straight state tournament appearance.
Daugherty entered the bi-district with a .411 average to lead KHS, but it didn’t take him long to improve on it.
He collected two run-scoring hits in the first inning alone as Kingfisher won the opener 16-0 in five innings.
The Jackets started the game with a triple from Tate Taylor and RBI single by Cade Stephenson and a run-scoring double by Daugherty before the Bobcats could record an out.
Then, with two outs in the frame, the Jackets posted eight more runs, including a Daugherty RBI single.
He added a two-run double in the second and ended up 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs.
KHS collected 16 total hits.
Taylor was 3 for 3 and scored three times while Mason Snider also had three hits to go with a pair of RBIs and two runs.
Stephenson drove in three runs and scored three times.
That made it easy sailing for Brady Friesen on the mound.
The left-hander gave up only two hits and struck out eight while walking only one batter.
While the opener started with a KHS flurry, the series clincher ended with one.
The Jackets scored eight runs in the top of the sixth to earn a 13-3 run-rule victory in six innings.
Up just 5-3, the Jackets scored a run when they started the inning with Snider being hit by a pitch, two Bobcat errors and a Stephenson walk.
That also loaded the bases for Daugherty, who kindly sent the second pitch of the at-bat over the center field wall for a grand slam.
That gave KHS some breathing room, but it put the game away as two runs later scored on a Caleb Dick sacrifice bunt and another on a double from Snider.
Snider ended 2 for 2 with two runs and the RBI.
Daugherty was 3 for 4 and drove in five runs. His batting average after the two games jumped to .457.
He also got the complete-game win as he surrendered two hits and two earned runs over the six innings.
Daugherty struck out nine and walked one.
He was given a 5-0 lead after two innings.
T.J. Parker’s sacrifice bunt in the first inning generated two KHS runs.
The Jackets added three more in the second on RBI hits off the bats of Friesen, Taylor and Daugherty.
Kingfisher enters the regional with a 21-9 record.
The Jackets will play Clinton in the regional opener (time and day not determined at press time).
Clinton swept Pauls Valley 5-0 and 12-2 in its bi-district Thursday.
Chickasha will also join the regional as it defeated McLoud 8-5 and 10-0.
Blanchard and Anadarko hadn’t played their bi-district at press time. Blanchard won District 4A-3 and is 23-4 overall. Anadarko was 1-20 entering the playoffs.
One team will advance from the regional to the state tournament.
KHS qualified for state in 2019 and reached the semifinals for the first time in program history. The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.