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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University senior Andrew Beckler tied for second among 84 competitors in the NCAA Division II National Golf Championships in Palm Beach Springs, Fla., the highest national tournament finish by an Ichabod in program history.
Washburn finished 12th as a team, falling short of advancing to the eight-team match play bracket.
Beckler shot a 3-over-par 75 at the PGA National Resort in Wednesday's final round to finish the tournament with a three-day total of 6-over-par.
Washburn senior Andrew Beckler tied for second place in the NCAA Division II Golf Championships, putting together rounds of 73, 74 and 75. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
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By KYLE MANTHE
TopSports.news
With a trip to the Class 6A regional championship game on the line Wednesday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex, Washburn Rural’s baseball team combined a stellar pitching performance with surging bats in the middle innings to advance with an 8-0 win over Wichita Heights.
With the win, Rural earned a berth against Dodge City in the final, which was delayed due to inclement weather in the third inning and postponed until 4 p.m. Friday at Bettis.
Hunter Jones led the way on the mound for the Junior Blues in the semifinal game, striking out 13 Wichita Heights hitters while only giving up four hits and allowing a walk and no runs in six-plus innings.
“The curveball was working a lot today, they only had one hit I think all day off of the curveball, so I just wanted to attack that in the zone,” said Jones.
The senior right-hander threw six and a third scoreless innings before being relieved to manage his pitch count. Jones was replaced by fellow senior Alex Blum, who recorded allowed a single but recorded two straight strikeouts to finish the game.
Most of the game was played in a steady drizzle, but Jones had no problems from his perch on the mound.
“I am perfectly fine in anything, just give me the ball and I will throw it,” Jones said.
Washburn Rural senior Hunter Jones delivers a pitch in the Junior Blues' 8-0 6A regional win over Wichita Heights Wednesday. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/TSN]
Washburn Rural Coach Jay Mastin agreed.
“I don’t think it did (have any impact), and we have been able to get on to a little bit of turf to practice the last couple of days,” Mastin said.
The Junior Blues' bats were quiet the first two innings, with Rural being held scoreless, and Mastin credited Jones for holding the Falcons in check early on.
“We got off to a slow start offensively, and him throwing up those zeros early and continuing on was key to allowing our offense to have some time to get settled in,” said Mastin.
In the third Rural got on the board, with senior Brady Patterson, driving in senior Davan Brady, who tripled to begin the inning. Rural added another run to make it a 2-0 game through the third.
“Brady Patterson had a few nice hits today to start things off and Davan got a couple of doubles and swung the bat real well,” said Mastin.
Washburn Rural senior Hunter Vondemkamp (10) celebrates after scoring a run in Rural's 8-0 regional win over Wichita Heights. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/TSN]
Rural blew the game open in the fourth inning, scoring five runs. The Junior Blues got a two-run triple from senior Hunter Vondemkamp, who scored himself on a throwing error.
The Junior Blues added another run in the fifth inning to extend their lead to their final eight-run advantage.
The win added to Rural’s 10-game winning streak to finish off the regular season, with the last loss coming on April 24 to Olathe West.
The championship game got underway between the Junior Blues and Dodge City but was cut short after less than three complete innings due to rain.
CLASS 6A REGIONAL BASEBALL
Semifinal
WASHBURN RURAL 8, WICHITA HEIGHTS 0
Wichita Heights (6-15) 000 000 0 -- 0 5 3
Washburn Rural (16-5) 002 510 x -- 8 11 0
W – Jones. L – Kelly. 2B – Washburn Rural: Brady 2, Taggart. 3B -- Washburn Rural: Vondemkamp.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2021 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Reed, Topeka West 12.2
Hillebert, Hayden 12.69 (12.6)
Brooks, Topeka West 12.6
200 METERS
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 25.98
Reed, Topeka West 25.99
Brooks, Topeka West 26.53
Hillebert, Hayden 26.82
Ingram, Washburn Rural 27.1
400 METERS
Rottinghaus, Shawnee Heights 57.87
Reed, Topeka West 57.94
Foster, Rossville 59.91
Bray, Washburn Rural 62.82
Rottinghaus, Silver Lake 63.59
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:19.20
Carter, Washburn Rural 2:23.64
Wagner, Washburn Rural 2:24.63
Foster, Rossville 2:24.94
Bird, Washburn Rural 2:29.23
Seaman sophomore Bethany Druse (right) leads Shawnee County girls in the 800 meters and ranks No. 2 in the 1,600. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: TopSports.news plans to compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2021 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 10.36
Rezac, Rossville 10.68
Renfro, Silver Lake 10.90
January, Shawnee Heights 10.92
200 METERS
Smith, Shawnee Heights 21.85
Rezac, Rossville 22.03
Richardson, Highland Park 22.28
Renfro, Silver Lake 22.50
January, Shawnee Heights 23.04
400 METERS
Arnold, Shawnee Heights 51.68
Myers, Shawnee Heights 53.35
Blankenship, Topeka High 53.69
Kaniper, Silver Lake 53.75
Rochford, Hayden 53.76
800 METERS
Mitchell, Washburn Rural 2:03.69
White, Washburn Rural 2:06.35
Adams, Hayden 2:06.53
Stuke, Seaman 2:06.66
Kaniper, Silver Lake 2:07.01
Hayden junior Tanner Newkirk is the Shawnee County leader in the boys 1,600 and 3,200 meters this spring. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' softball team, which has won the last three Class 5A state tournaments that were contested, moved a step closer to yet another state berth Wednesday at Gahnstrom Field, but now will have to wait a couple of days to get an opportunity to finish that quest.
Despite persistent rain showers, the T-Birds were able to finish off a 14-4 six-inning regional semifinal victory over Lansing, but the championship game between Shawnee Heights and De Soto was pushed back to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Gahnstrom due to continuing rain and wet field conditions.
"We would have loved to have finished it off tonight, but this is rough right here," Shawnee Heights coach Tara Griffith said.
"I think the girls are just excited to still get to play together. They understand this is not ideal weather to play in and Friday looks a little better."
Shawnee Heights freshman Alaryce Adams-Millard (right) is congratulated by sophomore Addison Bryant after she hit a second-inning home run in Wednesday's 14-4 5A regional semifinal win over Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Heights, which improved to 17-4 on the season, had to wait out a slight rain delay before scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the semifinal by way of the 10-run spread rule.
Now, after getting past one United Kansas Conference rival, Shawnee Heights will face another UKC foe on Friday, with 10-11 De Soto advancing to the championship game with a 9-4 win over Pittsburg in Wednesday's first semifinal.
The Heights-Lansing game was halted for a few minutes in the midst of a Lansing mini-rally, but after numerous discussions, umpired made the decision to play on.
Shawnee Heights senior pitcher Mykala Johnico and her teammates got out of the top of the sixth after allowing just one run and the T-Birds then put together a big inning of their own to put the Lions away.
Lansing took a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but Shawnee Heights tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run from freshman Alaryce Adams-Millard and scored four runs in the third and fourth innings to take control.
Shawnee Heights senior Taylor Hawkins (right) had a three-run home run and a two-run double in the T-Birds' 14-4 regional semifinal win over Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Taylor Hawkins drove in two runs with a third-inning double and junior Deja Gardenhire and sophomore Addison Bryant delivered run-scoring singles.
Lansing scored two runs in the top of the fourth, but Hawkins hit a three-run home run in the bottom half of the inning.
Shawnee Heights senior pitcher Mykala Johnico pitched a four-hitter with seven strikeouts in Heights' 14-4 regional semifinal win over Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Johnico limited Lansing to four hits on the night while recording seven strikeouts.
"They've got some big swingers on their team and we were able to somewhat keep them off balance," Griffith said. "Mykala did a great job."
Junior Abbie Schulte had a pair of doubles for Shawnee Heights.
Shawnee Heights swept a pair of UKC games from De Soto in the regular season, taking 11-0 and 22-9 wins.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL SOFTBALL
Semifinal
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 14, LANSING 4
Lansing (8-13) 010 201 -- 4 4 3
Shawnee Heights (17-4) 014 414 -- 14 12 1
Solomon and Foster. Johnico and Bryant. W -- Johnico. L -- Solomon. 2B -- Lansing: Foster 2, Wessel. Shawnee Heights: Schulte 2, Hawkins. 3B -- Lansing: Gray. HR -- Shawnee Heights: Hawkins.
