LEGACY COACH: Verdigris softball coach Keith reflects on former players Gibson, Zaferes winning national title with RSU

Jun. 4—School may be out, but Brian Keith never stops working.

Regardless of whether it is mowing, weed eating or conducting practices and scrimmages, there is always something to keep the Verdigris softball and baseball coach busy during the summer months.

However, those chores didn't keep him from following along with a pair of his former players making history.

Earlier this week, Verdigris alums Jaylan Gibson and Jackie Zaferes helped Rogers State softball win the Division II Women's College World Series national championship in Denver.

"Those are two great kids," said Keith, who kept up with the Hillcats' historic run via live stream and social media. "I've had a lot of great kids come through this program, but to see those two get to experience something like that ... that's something those two ladies are never going to forget. It was pretty exciting watching both of them be a big part of the success.

"I texted them back and forth after every game and wished them both luck. I followed them quite a bit during the year."

RSU (58-10) ended the season with a 10-game winning streak, which included a five-game sweep at the WCWS. It defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 6-5 and 6-1 in the championship series.

Gibson tallied three hits with four RBIs during the Denver trip, including a 2-RBI home run in Game 1 of the championship series against the Toros. She was also walked four times and scored three runs.

Gibson, a four-year starter at Verdigris from 2014-2017, was nearly perfect in the field as well with a fielding percentage of 0.92. She had four putouts and 10 assists on 15 chances while committing only one error.

"Jaylan was an all-stater here, and just the other day in camp we were in individual groups, and one thing I told the infielders, I said, 'Girls, you need to watch that third baseman at Rogers State,'" Keith said. "'She was a four-year starter for me and an all-stater.' She's one of the best defensive players I've ever had at the corner position. She is very impressive defensively. You seen some of the plays she made at third during that tournament; she was good. For four years she was really good for me, and I'm just glad to see her have the success she's had at the college level."

Zaferes, who played one season (2019) under Keith after transferring from Owasso, didn't record any batting or fielding stats during the WCWS, but she did score a run on a double from Makayla Bowman in Game 2 of the championship series.

It served as the penultimate run, giving the Hillcats a 5-1 lead in the sixth inning.

"I just wish I had her for four years," Keith said of Zaferes. "The one year I had, I really enjoyed coaching that young lady. She's a very impressive kid, and she's got a great work ethic. Her attitude is tremendous."

Of course, Keith's relationship with the duo extends beyond occasional good-luck texts.

Gibson still routinely takes advantage of the facilities at Verdigris, often asking Keith to unlock the indoor batting cages. The skills she used to register a .228 batting average this season with five home runs and 30 RBIs on 41 hits were forged and sharpened on the campus of Verdigris under the watchful eye of her high school coach.

Zaferes, though her time as a Lady Cardinal was brief, is a common sight at the Verdigris ballpark complex as well. After all, her younger brother Luke, who is entering his senior year this fall, plays baseball for Keith.

After helping the Cardinals to a 12th-consecutive state tournament appearance in 2022, Luke Zaferes was named to the 4A-5 All-District team as an outfielder.

"I keep up with them," Keith said. "I keep up with all my players when they're playing at the next level, just checking in on them and making sure everything is good for them."

Keith said he has coached multiple players who went on to play collegiately, but Gibson and Zaferes are the first to claim a national championship.

That is something worth being proud of for the tenured coach.

"As a coach, I relish being able to coach kids like that," Keith said. "To see them go on and have success at the college level makes me proud. I text both of them, and I texted (RSU coach Andrea Vaughan) before the semifinal game and wished her all the luck in the world with the opportunity they had in front of them.

"It was really impressive for the community of Verdigris."