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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
In a season chock full of blowouts, Topeka High's softball team finally received, and passed, a test in Tuesday's Class 6A regional championship game at Hummer Sports Park.
The Trojans, who improved to 22-0, snapped a 1-1 tie with two fourth-inning runs and let star junior pitcher NiJaree Canady do the rest, with Topeka High pulling out a 3-1 victory over Centennial League rival Manhattan to advance to next week's 6A state tournament.
Topeka High junior pitcher NiJaree Canady celebrates with teammates after closing out Tuesday's 3-1 win over Manhattan in a Class 6A regional championship game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High's high-powered offense was limited to just three hits, but that was enough as Canady twirled a one-hitter and struck out 16 to key the Trojans' victory.
Star senior catcher Zoe Caryl had a triple, a run batted in and scored a run for Topeka High, while Adisyn Caryl and Elycia Joyce also had hits, Adisyn Caryl a run batted in and Mia Kelly two runs scored.
Zoe Caryl said Tuesday's tough test from Manhattan (12-10) was probably good for the Trojans heading into next week's state tourney at the Shawnee Mission District Softball Complex.
"I think it was good before we go to state,'' Caryl said. "We, I think as a whole, had very poor pitch selection this game, me included, so going into state where we're going to see movement pitches, where we're going to see teams that are going to bunt, where we're going to see teams that are going to put balls into play, I think it was good to see that now instead of it being sprung upon us in the next three games.
"A win's a win in the end, so I'll take it.''
Topeka High coach Shane Miles agreed.
"Having this close game really helped us,'' Miles said. "Does it make me nervous? Yeah, but it's going to do us good for the state tournament coming up because those games are going to be close, too, and those games are going to come down to one play or two plays.''
Topeka High junior pitcher NiJaree Canady pitched a one-hitter and struck out 16 in the Trojans' 3-1 win over Manhattan Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The key to Tuesday's win was the performance of Canady, who seemed to pick up steam as she went along.
"She did get stronger and that's kind of the tale of her tape,'' Miles said. "She kind of feels out the hitters her first time around and then she kicks it in another gear.
"She just gets stronger the more she throws.''
![Topeka High softball coach Shane Miles (right) presents the Class 6A regional championship trophy to his Trojans Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf]](/images/aa-images/TopekaHighjube.jpg)
Topeka High softball coach Shane Miles (right) presents the Class 6A regional championship trophy to his Trojans Tuesday night. [Photo by Rex Wolf]
Topeka High, which also made it to state in 2019 before losing the 2020 season to COVID, will compete in the state tourney next Thursday and Friday (May 27-28), with the pairings to be announced after all regional tournaments are completed.
CLASS 6A SOFTBALL REGIONAL
Championship
TOPEKA HIGH 3, MANHATTAN 1
Manhattan (12-10) 010 000 0 -- 1 1 1
Topeka High (22-0) 100 200 x -- 3 3 1
Goos, McGee (5) and Nitzel. Canady and Z. Caryl. W -- Canady. L -- Goos. 3B -- Topeka High: Z. Caryl.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Kadence Jeffries
KADENCE JEFFRIES, Topeka West
A junior, Jeffries posted a pair of dominating wins in last Thursday's Centennial League girls swimming championships, winning the 200-yard freetyle in 1 minutes, 54.18 seconds and the 500 free in 5:02.60, posting a career-best time in the 500. Jeffries, the 2019 state champion in both events, will compete in the Class 5A-1A state meet on Saturday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Monday's Class 5A boys golf regional at Cypress Ridge was a good day for the city conginent in general and for Shawnee Heights sophomore Alex Valdivia and Seaman's team in particular.
Valdivia shot 1-under-par 70 to win the individual championship by two strokes over United Kansas Conference champ Joey Langstraat of Basehor-Linwood while Seaman rode its depth to the team championship by a 324-328 margin over Shawnee Heights, which also earned a team berth for the 5A state tournament next Monday and Tuesday at Newton's Sand Creek Station Golf Course.
Seaman's golf team poses with its Class 5A regional championship trophy Monday at Cypress Ridge. [Submitted]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's girls soccer team got off to a slow start in Monday's Class 4A-1A regional opener, but finished fast, advancing to a regional final with a 6-0 romp past Ottawa.
It took the host Wildcats, now 10-7-0, nearly 15 minutes to get on the scorebord and nearly 25 minutes to add another score, but Hayden was in control 3-0 at the half and turned the game into a rout with three second-half goals.
Hayden junior Kate Roeder (right) gains control of the ball in Monday's 6-0 regional soccer win over Ottawa as Cyclone freshman Allie Dillon gives chase. Roeder had a goal and an assist in the win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Junior Riley Schmidtlein scored the only goal the Wildcats would need at the 25:18 mark of the opening half and sophomore Sloane Sims made the score 2-0 at the 15:06 mark before freshman Jill Lenherr put Hayden in command 3-0 with 8:27 left in the half.
Sophomore Briana Barnett scored a pair of second-half goals for the Wildcats, sandwiched around a score from junior Kate Roeder.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural boys golf coach Jared Goehring knows his Junior Blues will need to go lower at next week's Class 6A state tournament to challenge for a championship.
But the Junior Blues' performance Monday at Topeka Country Club was good enough to produce an impressive performance in its own right, with Rural completing a sweep of city, Centennial League and 6A regional championships.
Led by junior Luke Leonetti's runner-up finish and putting five players in the top seven places individually, Washburn Rural claimed the regional crown by a 322-328 margin over Free State.
Washburn Rural's golf team poses with its regional championship trophy Monday after winning the title by a 322-328 margin over Free State, [Submitted]
Leonetti shot a 78 to finish two strokes behind Free State freshman regional medalist Jack Randall, while Rural senior Tyler Higgins and junior Giles Frederickson tied for third with 81s and juniors Joe Morse and Turner Depperschmidt tied for sixth place with 82s. Senor Cole Kucera rounded out the Junior Blues' lineup with an 85.
"The guys had just enough in the tank today to cross another goal off our list that we set at the beginning of the season -- city champions, league champions and regional champions -- so it was a good enough day to get the job done,'' Goehring said.
"One thing to take away is we had six scores 85 or better. We've just got to some of those at the top a little bit lower. We've got to get some of those in the middle a little bit lower and then the guys towards the bottom of the lineup kind of did their jobs today, but I think all of these guys collectively top to bottom would say that they would love to have at least four to five shots back from their round today.''
