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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Monday night’s Centennial League soccer matchup between Hayden and Topeka High was a defensive battle for 71:15 at Hummer Sports Park before junior Jill Lenherr knocked in the game-winning goal to give the Wildcats a 1-0 victory.
Both backlines provided tremendous resistance against the opposition. Still, in the end, freshman Carsyn Broxterman made a stellar pass to Lenherr for the goal, which spoiled Topeka High’s night late in the second half and gave Hayden the win.
“I was happy with the win even though I thought we struggled at times,” Hayden coach Klaus Kreutzer said. “Topeka High is a good team, and I thought we were able to create some good opportunities against them. We didn’t do well in taking care of those opportunities but having said that, (we) stayed with it and persevered in the end. We need to keep working.
“I think with Carsyn (Broxterman) passing the ball; it was a great look on her part and a great run on Jill’s part. Jill finished it well. A lot of times, you can get there and give it up to the goalkeeper, so the goal was satisfying.”
Freshman Lauren Borjon, who has split time between the pipes with freshman Kadence Watts this year, recorded the fourth shutout for the Wildcats this season. Borjon didn’t face immense pressure on Monday night but capitalized on the opportunities to help Hayden get the victory.
The Wildcats, who improved to 5-3-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the Centennial League, are a young squad that is learning on the fly quickly. Two out of its three losses were by a 1-0 margin, and the team hopes to continue building on the success they’ve experienced this season.
“Hopefully, we continue to build on the things that we’ve done well,” Kreutzer said. “We had a couple of tough games last week, and I hope we remember the good things we’ve done. Then, we’ll keep going from there.”
Topeka High (5-5-0, 0-2-0) has been plagued with injuries in the last two weeks. But, even with the lack of numbers, the Trojans are battling every time they step on the field, which is something Topeka High coach Derek Snook knows his team will do on a nightly basis.
“I’m pleased with the all-around effort despite having very few subs,” Snook said. “Hayden did what they needed to. They had opportunities, and we had very few. So I’m satisfied with the effort, just not some of the things that come with the effort. We’re missing passes, getting behind the defense and not following through on balls.
“The effort in the defensive third, the middle of the field and the attack were a little lacking. But the girls went out there and busted their tails. I’m hoping that getting people back will help us out. Unfortunately, we had another centerback banged up tonight. We will see if we can get healthy in the next couple of days and get after it again on Thursday.”
Hayden’s next contest will be a home match against non-league opponent Baldwin City on Thursday. Topeka High will get a home match on Thursday as well as they will host Centennial League rival Junction City.
HAYDEN 1, TOPEKA HIGH 0
Hayden (5-3-1, 2-1-0) 0 1 – 1
Topeka High (5-5-0, 0-2-0) 0 0 – 0
Goal – Hayden: Lenherr. Shutout – Hayden: Borjon.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Shawnee Heights girls soccer team hung with one of the state’s top Class 5A teams for more than a half Monday, but in the end, the T-Birds fell to St. James Academy 4-0 at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Shawnee Heights permitted just one goal for the first 45 minutes of the contest, hanging with the 9-2 Thunder. But the T-Birds struggled to get anything going at the offensive end. In fact, they failed to record a shot on goal throughout the contest, while the visiting Thunder hammered away with 10 shots on the Shawnee Heights goal.
Early in the second half, St. James added an insurance goal. Then midway through the second half, the visitors tacked on two quick strikes to create the final margin.
“Obviously, St. James is a really good team and they’re going to be one of the best teams in 5A,” said Shawnee Heights coach Kellen Griffin. “But eventually you’re going to have to go through one of them in the postseason. You might as well get used to playing them in the regular season, too.”
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
The Hayden and Rossville softball teams took turns with dominating games Monday on Senior Day at Hayden as the Wildcats and Bulldawgs battled to a non-league doubleheader split.
Hayden rolled to an 8-1 first-game victory behind senior pitcher Alyssa Droge's four-hitter and 10 strikeouts and sophomore catcher Keira Carswell's grand slam home run before Rossville junior Katie Spielman went the distance for an 8-0 shutout in the second game as sophomore Shyanne Haehn sparked the Bulldawg offense with three doubles, a single and three runs batted in.
Hayden is now 5-9 on the season and Rossville 11-3, with both teams winning three of their last four games.
Hayden was coming off a Centennial League sweep over Junction City and Wildcat coach Cody Reynolds thought his team could pull off a sweep Monday, particularly after the first-game win.
"I really thought we could come in here and win two games today, but I knew (Rossville) would be tough'' Reynolds said. "I was really, really happy to take that first game and I would have loved to take that second game but you can't win a ballgame if you don't score any runs.''
Monday was also a tale of two games for Rossville and coach John Nitsch was happy with how his Bulldawgs bounced back in the second game.
"Katie threw real well for us and we got some key hits when we needed it,'' Nitsch said. "We didn't get that the first game and it makes a little difference when you get the momentum going.
"They came out and took it to us the first game and we just didn't hit it very good the first game. You can't have that many strikeouts and expect to win games. You have to be able to put the ball in play and put the pressure on them a little bit to be able to make a defensive play. Hats off to their pitcher. She threw a heck of a game that first game.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
ALESECIO BATSON, Topeka West
Batson, a sophomore track and field standout, posted a victory in the boys triple jump in last Friday's Free State Barrier Breaker Invitational at Lawrence, jumping a winning distance of 46 feet, 8.25 inches for the Chargers.
EMMERSON COPE, Washburn Rural
A senior softball standout, Cope piicked up the pitching victory and also had a home run and a double in Washburn Rural's 14-4 first-game victory over Seaman last Friday. The Nebraska signee also helped the 12-2 Junior Blues complete the sweep with a 10-0 shutout in the second game.
ZAHRA FRIESS, Cair Paravel Latin
A sophomore, Friess scored four goals and was also credited with four assists in the Lions' 10-0 win over Kaw Valley Conference foe Kansas City Christian last Monday. Cair Paravel added a 10-0 league win over Kansas City-Bishop Ward on Thursday, improving to 9-1-1 with its eighth straight victory.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2023 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Dunshee, Hayden 10.89
Rollenhagen, Silver Lake 11.08
Heim, Washburn Rural 11.10
Thompson, Washburn Rural 11.15
Peoples, Topeka High 11.18
200 METERS
Peoples, Topeka High 22.60
Murph, Topeka High 22.64
Cochran, Seaman 22.70
Rollenhagen, Silver Lake 22.79
Schrickel, Hayden 22.91
400 METERS
Schrickel, Hayden 50.52
Roeder, Topeka High 51.60
Terry, Washburn Rural 52.02
Benz, Shawnee Heights 52.51
Roney, Washburn Rural 52.84
800 METERS
Moore, Seaman 2:01.89
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 2:05.09
Dial, Washburn Rural 2:05.41
Anderson, Seaman 2:05.59
Sutton, Shawnee Heights 2:05.91
1,600 METERS
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:23.37
Njoroge, Topeka West 4:24.12
Dial, Washburn Rural 4:33.13
Johnson, Washburn Rural 4:33.46
Jowers, Seaman 4:43.66
3,200 METERS
Njoroge, Topeka West 9:23.22
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 9:25.23
Johnson, Washburn Rural 10:02.87
Fink, Washburn Rual 10:17.98
Jowers, Seaman 10:19.72