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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden's baseball team didn't have the kind of regular season it's been accustomed to, but the Wildcats are back in a familiar place, headed to the Class 4A state tournament after a strong regional performance Tuesday at the Bettis Family Sports Complex.
Coming off a rare sub-.500 record in the regular season, the Wildcats turned in a solid performance Tuesday, taking a 14-2 five-inning win over Holton in the semifinals before riding a 3-hit pitching performance from senior Erick Teske to a 4-0 win over Louisburg in the championship game.
With the win over Louisburg the Wildcats advanced to the 4A state tournament next week (May 27-28) at Salina's Dean Evans Stadium.
Hayden, now 10-12, took control of the championship game with three runs in the top of the first and added an insurance run in the fourth while Teske limited Louisburg to three singles while striking out six and issuing just two walks.
Senior Ryan Graves went 3 for 4 with a run scored while senior Skyler Specht went 2 for 4 with a run batted in and a run scored.
Junior Gavin Arnold, senior Pete Harrod and senior Jake Gales also knocked in runs for the Wildcats.
Holton took a 2-1 lead over Hayden in the bottom of the first in the semifinal, but the Wildcats tied the game in the top of the second and scored three runs in the third, five in the fourth and four runs in the top of the fifth to take the 12-run win.
Senior Skyler Specht limited Holton to three hits and he also contributed a triple for the Wildcats.
Pete Harrod went 2 for 3 with four RBI and a pair of doubles while Teske went 2 for 3 with three RBI and Jake Gales went 2 for 4 with three RBI.
CLASS 4A REGIONAL BASEBALL
Championship
HAYDEN 4, LOUISBURG 0
Hayden (10-12) 300 100 0 -- 4 9 0
Louisburg (11-11) 000 000 0 -- 0 3 0
Teske and Rose. Lohse, Rockers (2) and Madison. W -- Teske. LP -- Lohse.
Semifinal
HAYDEN 14, HOLTON 2
Hayden 113 54 -- 14 10 3
Holton 200 00 -- 2 3 3
Specht, Bullock (5) and Rose. Mulroy, Dieckman (5), Jamison (5), Collins (6) and Bohnenkemper. W -- Specht. L -- Mulroy. 2B -- Hayden: Harrod 2. 3B -- Hayden: Specht.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
One of Class 5A's most impressive streaks continued Tuesday, with Seaman earning its 17th straight trip to the state tournament with a 7-1 championship-game win over Spring Hill at Seaman.
Seaman, which has won nine 5A state titles overall and two straight, trailed the visiting Broncos 1-0 before scoring the final seven runs to take control, improving to 19-3 on the season.
With the victory the Vikings advanced to the state tournament next Thursday and Friday (May 27-28) at Wichita State's Eck Stadium.
Seaman opened its day with a 15-0 semifinal victory over Kansas City-Washington as senior Kolden Howerton and junior Mason McConnaughey combined to throw a four-inning no-hitter.
The Vikings then got another pitching gem in the championship game, with seniors Kevin Mannell and Brady Stuewe combining to limit Spring Hill to just one hit, which came in the Broncos' final at bat.
Seaman junior Dagen Brewer had a home run and a double in the Vikings' 7-1 win over Spring Hill in Tuesday's 5A regional championship game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Spring Hill had taken advantage of a pair of walks and a Viking error to take a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but Seaman tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles from senior Andrew Kirmer and junior Aidan Polter and then took the lead in the fifth on a two-run homer from junior Dagen Brewer, his sixth of the season, and a run-scoring single from junior Braden Colley.
Brewer added a run-scoring double in the sixth as Seaman added three runs to take control.
Junior Maclane Finley and senior Cole Askew had run-scoring singles in the sixth.
Seaman senior Kevin Mannell picked up the pitching win in the Vikings' 7-1 win over Spring Hill Tuesday, clinching a 17th straight trip to the Class 5A state tournament. [File photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Mannell worked into the sixth and picked up the pitching win for Seaman before Stuewe came on to finish out the win.
Seaman had seven doubles and a triple in its semifinal win over Washington, with Finley doubling twice while Polter and Askew both contributed three-run doubles.
State pairings will be announced at the conclusion of all 5A regional tournaments.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL BASEBALL
Championship
SEAMAN 7, SPRING HILL 1
Spring Hill 001 000 0 -- 0 1 0
Seaman 000 133 x -- 7 12 2
Scrivner, Johnson (6) and Scoma. Mannell, Stuewe (6) and Kirmer. W -- Mannell. L -- Scrivner. 2B -- Seaman: Kirmer, Brewer. HR -- Seaman: Brewer.
Semifinal
SEAMAN 15, KC-WASHINGTON 0
KC-Washington 000;0 -- 0 0 3
Seaman 616 2 -- 15 12 0
Bidding and Tarwater. Howerton, McConnaughy (4) and Kirmer. W -- Howerton. L -- Biddings. 2B -- Seaman: Finley 2, Polter, Howerton, Vawter, Askew, Kirmer. 3B -- Seaman: Brewer.
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake's softball team stared elimination in the face in Tuesday's Class 3A regional tournament at Gahnstrom Field and lived to play another week.
The Eagles needed a last-inning rally to pull out an 11-10 semifinal victory over Santa Fe Trail before punching their ticket to next week's state tournament at Manhattan with an 11-6 championship-game over Oskalosa.
The semifinal went back and forth before Silver Lake, now 20-3, took the walkoff victory and the Eagles also fell behind 1-0 in the championship game before taking control with nine runs over their first three at-bats and holding off the Bears (18-5) the rest of the way.
"The first game put things into perspective that the season can end any time and we have to work for everything,'' Silver Lake senior shorstop Ellington Hogle said. "It was a little bit scary thinking that we were one out away from the season ending but we fought back.''
Silver Lake senior Ellington Hogle, (15) who had a three-run homer and a run-scoring double, is congratulated by freshman Hailey Horton during Tuesday's 11-6 win over Oskaloosa Tuesday at Washburn. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
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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.
- Details
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.
