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By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

The Washburn University softball team will open its 55th season on Friday, playing five games over three days in the Mardi Gras Classic in Youngsville, La.

Junior pitcher Sadie Walker is a top returner for Washburn University's softball team, winning 20 games last season for the 37-17 Ichabods. [File photo/TSN]

Friday's Jan. 31 start date is the earliest the Ichabods have started a season since Feb. 1, 2019.

"We're all ready,'' said senior first baseman Jaden LaBarge. "We're all antsy and ready to go. We're all excited and a little nervous, but it's a good nervous and we're ready to get at it.''

Ichabod coach Brenda Holaday agreed.

"From a coach's standpoint I think our kids are prepared and ready to go,'' Holaday said. "We have a lot of room to grow. We have a lot of new players and we're at that point where I think we've grown as much as we can in practice and now we need to go play and be able to kind of re-access and also be in live action and play at the speed of the game to grow.''

Washburn is coming off its sixth NCAA appearance in program history last season, finishing the year with a 37-17 record.

The Washburn Ichabods secured their 19th season with at least 30 wins last season and their fourth under Holaday.

Hitting the 30-win mark for the third straight season is the longest streak since the Ichabods won at least 30 games in six straight seasons from 2002-07.

The Ichabods graduated five seniors off last year's team, including former All-Americans and program record-setters Jaycee Ginter and Marrit Mead, but Washburn returns a strong nucleus, including five seniors. The WU roster also includes six juniors, one sophomore and nine freshmen.

"I think we have a very good chance of getting very far with this team,'' LaBarge said. "We're already very well inter-connected and get along very well and are very close and family, so I think we have a good chance.''

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By JUSTIN BURKHARDT

TopSports.news

The Class 4A No. 3-ranked Hayden Lady Wildcats entered Emporia rolling hot, getting off to a 9-0 start to the season and looked to continue that streak Friday against against the Lady Spartans.

Senior Millie Ramsey led undefeated Hayden in Friday's 56-16 Centennial League win over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]

Senior Brylee Meier scored 14 points in Friday's 56-16 Hayden win over Emporia. {File photo/TSN]

The Wildcats would get off to a big start led by their starting five, featuring four seniors and one freshman.

Hayden would take an 18-7 lead after the first quarter and went on to build a 37-7 halftime advantage over its Centennial League rival, led by seniors Milie Ramsey and Brylee Meier.

It would be all Wildcats from there on out as Hayden would roll to a 56-16 win over the Lady Spartans, which had three freshmen in its starting five.

“They are a very improving team, so it was nice that we came out and didn’t overlook them because we beat them big already this year and its natural for you to kind of take it easy,'' Hayden coach Carvel Reynoldson said. "But we didn’t and I was proud of our girls for that.”

The Wildcats got big nights again from both of their 6-foot seniors, with Ramsey leading all scorers with 17 points and Meier add another 14 points.

“It’s big, we’re a pretty balanced team and having them to go in the paint and their ability to shoot the ball is obviously big strengths for us,” Reynoldson said.

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By JUSTIN BURKHARDT

TopSports.news

Hayden boys basketball entered the Baldwin Invitational coming off a 3-point loss to Manhattan and was looking to get something started as they would face defending Class 3A state champ Wellsville in Round 1.

Sophomore Mason Becker led Hayden with 20 points in Saturday's 63-49 win over Baldwin as the Wildcats captured the tournament title. [File photo/TSN]

The Wildcats topped the Eagles 63-50 and never looked back, rolling to a 74-34 win over Augusta in the second round and capping their tournament run with a 63-49 win over host Baldwin, No. 4-ranked in Class 4A, in Saturday's finale.

Baldwin would have nothing for the Wildcats as the championship game was all Hayden.

The Wildcats would go up 14-8 after the first quarter and roll behind their sharp shooting 5-foot-11 sophomore guard Mason Becker,  who would finish the night with 20 points while shooting 5-6 from 3-point range.

“I really love our group, I am not surprised at all with Mason,'' Hayden coach Dwayne Anthony said. "Earlier in the year we were coming off some football legs, is what I call it, and I saw how my guys played and worked with each other. I knew it was a matter of time before the ball goes into the basket.''

Senior James Kuta (3) scored 19 points to help Hayden top Baldwin 63-49 in the final of the Baldwin Invitational. [File photo/TSN]

Junior Connor Hanika (5) scored 15 points in Saturday's 63-49 Hayden win over Baldwin. [File photo/TSN]

Hayden would also get a huge night from their two post players in 6-3 senior James Kuta and 6-4 junior Connor Hanika, who would have 19 and 15 points respectively.

“I am not surprised with Kuta, he has been creeping at the door, he does so many of the hard work things for us,'' Anthony said. "He rebounds, rebounds, rebounds, and is starting to get settled into his offensive game where he puts those right back in the hoop.”

“I thought I played hard,'' Kuta said. "I missed a couple layups, but I also made a lot and just hard defense all over, and I made sure I got the rebounds when I could and do whatever I could to help our team win today.”

“Kuta is a big time player, he does all the dirty work and tonight had some big time threes,'' Becker said. "But Kuta is a hard worker and with him and Hanika down low, it is tough to stop.”

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