Fletcher Gold turns away Kingfisher

SALLISAW—Fletcher Gold had to weather a last-inning Kingfisher ‘Jackets threat that was finally squashed when Zeke Herrin fanned three batters to end the game and preserve a 4-2 victory that sent the Wildcats into Thursday’s winner’s bracket finals in the OK Kids 10U State Tournament.

Fletcher Gold will take the field today to face the winner of Wednesday’s late game between Shawnee M-Pac and Vian Wolverines tonight at 8 p.m. with the winner moving within one victory of claiming the Red Bracket title and advancing to the single elimination semifinals. The bracket play matches the winner of the Red Bracket against the runner-up from the Blue Bracket Saturday at 11 a.m., while the Blue champion faces the Red Bracket runner-up at the same time. The two semifinal winners play for the title at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Fletcher’s other team in the 10U State Tournament, the White Wildcats, kept their hopes alive by beating Weleetka Outlaws, 9-3 in an elimination game in the Blue Bracket.

Fletcher Gold turned away Kingfisher in the bottom of the fifth as Herrin got off to a rough start in the bottom of the fifth, hitting the first batter he faced and walking the second to bring the winning run to the plate. A passed ball made it a 4-2 Fletcher lead as the outcome remained in doubt.

Coach Hayden Herrin made a visit to the mound, his son quickly chalked up two strikeouts. The Wildcats intentionally walked the Kingfisher leadoff batter and Herrin took little time ending the game, throwing three straight fastballs to end the game.

The Wildcats spotted the ‘Jackets run but they came back by scoring three runs in the top of the third. Clayton Jenkins doubled, moved to third on an errant pickoff throw as Boston Wilson reached on a walk. Jenkins scored on a balk and Wilson took third on a ground out before Silas Weishaupt reached base on an error putting runners at the corners. Maddox Maahs drove in the second run with a ground-ball out and an infield single pushed the Fletcher lead to 3-1.

After a scoreless fourth, Herrin doubled to open the fifth, stole third and scored the final Fletcher run on a ground out by Weishaupt.

For the second day the defense was flawless behind pitchers Landon Avila and Herrin. Avila got the win allowing one hit, one earned run and fanning five. Herrin worked the final two innings for the save.

Fletcher White stays alive

Fletcher White pounded out eight hits while scoring in each of the four innings to dump Weleetka to extend its stay for another day.

TJ Acker’s club scored two runs in the first, second and third innings and added three runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Curtis Wilson and Efrain Garcia rapped two hits each while Camden Acker drove in two runs and stole seven bases as the Wildcats stole 17 bases, four by E. Garcia.

Coach Acker used three pitchers in the game with the win going to Jase Acker who worked 3 1/3 innings allowing three hits and one earned run. He fanned six and didn’t walk a batter. Carter Stafford pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing one hit and giving up two runs and Cash Harris worked 1/3 inning.