Plainview wins regional over KHS

Kingfisher’s hopes of pulling off a two-game sweep in a 4A softball regional on Friday were quickly dashed.

Host Plainview plated six runs in the top of the first inning and thwarted Kingfisher’s comeback attempts to claim an 8-1 victory in the regional championship.

The win advanced Plainview to this week’s super regional.

The loss ended Kingfisher’s season with a 25-10 record.

“Regionals is not where we thought or wanted this season to come to an end, but we have a great group coming back that will be ready for the challenge next season,” coach Morgan Dutton said.

This was Dutton’s third season at the helm of the program.

The team went 14-17 in 2023 and was 23-9 last year.

Senior outfielder Jancee Matthews and catcher Shelby Davis have been with Dutton each season. Second baseman Reese Roof joined the program when moving here last year.

“These seniors will be hard to replace,” Dutton said. “They have helped our program grow in the right direction.”

This year’s team finished 7-5 and finished third in a competitive District 4A-3 and had a shot at second place, which meant hosting a district, in the final week of the regular season.

But Bethany got that runner-up spot - and the right to host - by knocking off the Lady Jackets in that final week. The Lady Bronchos eventually won their regional last weekend.

The Kingfisher finish meant a trip to Plainview for a regional. The Lady Indians were second in their district behind Lone Grove.

The home team downed Kingfisher 5-1 on Thursday. That was sandwiched by two Kingfisher run-rule wins over Pauls Valley, the second of which eliminated the Lady Panthers and gave Kingfisher another crack at Plainview.

But the Lady Indians were game.

They belted four hits, took advantage of some KHS miscues and a bit of bad Lady Jacket luck to pounce early.

The Lady Jackets tried to rally in the bottom of the second.

Shelby Davis was hit by a pitch, Callie Blair reached on an error and Liliana Garramone delivered a bunt single in successive at-bats.

Garramone’s single led to Ryan Scammahorn, a courtesy runner for Davis, scoring a run.

Adlee Friesen was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out.

But, Plainview got two strikeouts to get out of the jam.

A pair of KHS errors and a bloop hit by Plainview led to two more runs in the fourth, pushing the lead to 8-1.

But Kingfisher again loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, this time with nobody out.

Davis was again hit by a pitch, Blair reached via error and Garramone singled to get the bases full of Lady Jackets.

Friesen then shot a line drive up the middle. Unfortunately for KHS, the Plainview shortstop was able to snag the ball and double up Kingfisher at second base in one motion, effectively shooting down the rally.

Garramone was 2 for 3 and accounted for most of Kingfisher’s hits.

Friesen singled in the seventh inning.

KHS struck out seven times in the game.

Kinlee East started for KHS, but was relieved by Kennedy Stewart.

The latter pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs. None of them was earned.

She struck out three batters without a walk.

The development of Stewart, a freshman, was one of several areas of growth Dutton saw this season that gives her optimism for 2026.

“I am very proud of how the girls worked this year,” Dutton said. “They had a ton of success in a really tough district and we saw growth from several athletes and had several step up in big time moments.”