Cline’s heroics steals win for Yellowjackets

Kingfisher not only got its first district baseball sweep of the season, but did it in dramatic fashion.

Sophomore Kaden Cline stole home to give the Jackets a 3-2 victory in eight innings Tuesday over the visiting Clinton Red Tornadoes.

Matched with Monday’s 12-8 victory at Clinton, the Jackets improved their District 4A-4 mark to 3-9 as they moved into fifth place.

The Jackets nearly wasted the gem thrown by Cooper Henley as the righthander gave up just four hits.

The junior surrendered two runs in the top of the third inning, but nothing before and nothing after.

The Jackets got one of those runs back in the bottom half of the frame as Cline’s RBI single brought home Brett Calamateo.

It was Cline and Calamateo again striking in the fifth as the the former’s hit brought home the latter to tie it up.

After giving up the runs in the third, Henley only allowed one hit the rest of the game, including in the top of the eighth when he retired the Reds in order.

The Jackets were immediately in business in the bottom of the inning as Trypp Lack led off with a double.

Cline was intentionally walked and Henley moved both baserunners over with a sacrifice bunt.

The Reds then chose to intentionally walk Carter Stephenson to load the bases.

The Jackets attempted a squeeze, but Lack was thrown out at home on Sloan Merrill’s bunt back to the pitcher.

That brought Jagger Braun up to the plate and the sophomore looked at a first-pitch ball.

He didn’t see a second pitch as Cline bolted for home during the pitcher’s wind-up and beat the throw to the plate.

Cline and Calamateo combined for five of Kingfi sher’s seven hits and all three runs.

Calamateo, a freshman, was 3 for 4 with the two runs scored.

Cline finished 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.

Lack and Abe Prieto delivered Kingfisher’s other hits.

Henley struck out 10 batters over his eight innings of work and allowed only three walks.

The Jackets had offensive explosions in the first and seventh innings of Monday’s road win.

They scored six in the first and then five in the top of the seventh.

Chace Cooper was 2 for 3 with a pair of RBIs.

Lack and Cline also delivered two hits and scored two runs apiece.

Calamateo got on base three times - a hit and two walks - and scored each time.

Henley, Lack, Braun and Prieto had 1 RBI each.

After being staked a sixrun lead in the top of the first, Lack gave up four runs on three hits, a walk and a Jacket error in the bottom of the frame.

But the sophomore settled in and scattered four runs over the next six frames.

Only five of Clinton’s runs were earned.

Lack struck out five while giving up 10 hits.

The district wins were part of three straight victories for the Jackets dating back to the previous week.

They had a stretch of four wins in five games before dropping a 13-1 decision to Guthrie on Thursday.

They entered this week with a 6-19 overall record.