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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Silver Lake stormed through the first two rounds of the Class 3A state softball tournament, but the Eagles ran into powerhouse Frontenac in the championship game Friday.
A dejected Silver Lake softball team lines up to congratulate Frontenac after the Raiders' 3-0 win in the Class 3A championship game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Silver Lake softball coach Nick Hamilton talks to Eagles pitcher Kendra Cook during Friday's 3-0 loss to Frontenac in the Class 3A title game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The bats that produced 22 runs in the first two games went silent in the finale as the Eagles fell to Frontenac 3-0, silenced by the Raiders’ defense behind star pitcher Avery Johnson.
In their semifinal game, the Eagles blasted top-seeded Holcomb 12-2.
Silver Lake capitalized on three Longhorn errors to plate three runs in the second inning. Senior Makenzie McDaniel blasted her second home run of the tournament in the fifth inning. The Eagles continued to add on. They scored in every inning of the game except the first.
Silver Lake junior pitcher Kendra Cook turned in a dominating performance in the Eagles' 12-2 semifinal win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Pitcher Kendra Cook cruised through the first six innings against Holcomb, striking out seven and surrendering just one run.
But in the championship game, Silver Lake managed just six singles and no walks against Johnson, who benefitted from brilliant defensive plays behind her.
“They made the plays,” said Silver Lake coach Nick Hamilton. “Their shortstop (senior Annie Lee) made a lot of good plays. We just had trouble finding the gaps. We got a little antsy there trying to make some plays. That’s just part of the game. But I won’t ever fault anyone for trying hard.”
Frontenac claimed its fourth state title, finishing the season 28-2, losing only to rival Columbus and a team from Bentonville, Ark.
“They play in a good league down there and they play in a good regionals,” Hamilton said of Frontenac. “That’s what happens. When you play the best, you’re going to get better. They definitely brought it today.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- No track athlete ever goes into a state meet knowing exactly what is going to happen.
Shawnee Heights senior Jackson Esquibel (2) clocked a time of 9:21.31 Friday morning to win his second straight Class 5A 3,200 meters state title. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But Shawnee Heights senior distance star Jackson Esquibel knew one thing for sure about Friday morning's Class 5A 3,200 meters -- that he wasn't going to make it easy for any of the other 15 competitors.
"I always say, if someone wants to beat me they've got to beat my best because it's not going to be given, you've got to earn it,'' said Esquibel after he captured his second straight 3,200 championship in a time of 9 minutes, 21.31 seconds at Cessna Stadium.
"That's one thing about this sport that I find really true is that everything is earned, nothing is given, so going out today was about trying to start the weekend off strong and I'm just glad I got the victory.''
Esquibel, who also won the 5A state cross country title last fall, said he decided before the race, run about 8:30 a.m. in windy conditions, that he wasn't going to press the issue before it was 'go time.'
"Coming here to Wichita yesterday I kind of saw the weather was going to be a little windy,'' said the Kansas State signee. "So today I was just trying to tell myself to be patient and then Lap 5 I kind of decided, 'Alright, I can make a gap.' And then Lap 7 was just guts and Lap 8 was just finish through whatever I had.''
Although his 9:21 wasn't a personal record, Esquibel had no complaints after winning by just under five seconds over De Soto junior Vance Krudwig (9:26.22) while Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior Daniel Enriquez was third (9:27.21).
"Of course you want to run in the 19s because that's what I did last year and I've done it two or three times, but I think today, knowing that the pace went out a little slower than 4:40 I was pretty happy with the effort at the end of it,'' he said. "And down the home stretch I gave a little smile and that was nice.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Right up until the final out at first base, retiring Shawnee Heights baseball coach Ryan Schmidt believed he and his T-Birds could find a way to play another day.
Shawnee Heights senior Jayden Holly (right) celebrates with sophomore teammate Cam Floberg after scoring the tying run in Thursday's Class 5A quarterfinal against Spring Hill. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
But Shawnee Heights couldn't quite complete their late-game rally, dropping a 5-2 Class 5A quarterfinal decision to Spring Hill Thursday at Wichita State's Eck Stadium, officially ending Schmidt's 25-year run as the T-Birds' head coach.
"I'm very proud of them and all Shawnee Heights baseball players for that matter,'' said Schmidt, who was a part of four state titles at Heights (two as head coach, two as an assistant). "It's been a really special career and I'm just proud of everybody.''
No. 5 seed Shawnee Heights, which finished its season 13-12, fought back from a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the first to tie the game in the second.
Senior Jacob Malcom tripled and scored before senior Joe Reynolds singled into right field and went all the way to third on a Spring Hill error, allowing senior Jayden Holly, who had reached on a fielder's choice, score the tying run.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Thursday's Class 5A state softball quarterfinal didn't turn out the way Seaman wanted or the way longtime Vikings coach Jay Monhollon wanted to end his coaching career.
Seaman junior Kaelyn O'Rourke turned in a gutsy complete-game pitching performance in Thursday's 3-2 nine-inning loss to Maize South in the Class 5A state tournament. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Seaman senior second baseman Gracie Moe throws out a Maize South baserunner in Thursday's Class 5A quarterfinal. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
But Monhollon knows his seventh-seeded Vikings gave it their all in the heartbreaking 3-2 nine-inning loss to second seed Maize South Thursday at Wichita State's Wilkins Stadium.
"That's what I shared with the girls is that everybody gave their best effort and that's a tough lesson in life,'' Monhollon said. "Even in life you're going to find out that even when you give your best effort sometimes that desired outcome doesn't come true for you.
"The young ladies are great daughters, great friends and they're going to bounce back and do well. These girls have a lot of character.''
The game was tied at 2-2 from the bottom of the fourth inning on before junior Sophie Stockam, who went the distance for the pitching victory, delivered the walkoff single to push Maize South (26-3) into Friday's 1 p.m. semifinal. Seaman finished its season 22-7.
Seaman took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth when junior Anna McLaughlin delivered a two-run single, but Maize South pulled even in the bottom half of the inning when junior Cameron Moses singled in two runs.
Stockam and Seaman junior pitcher Kaelyn O'Rourke matched zeroes in the circle over the next four innings take the game into the eventful ninth inning.
The Vikings got runners to second and third with one out but Stockham recorded a strikeout and a popout to get out of the inning.
O'Rourke recorded a pair of outs in the bottom of the ninth before a rare catcher's interference call put Maize South in business.
"It was another opportunity and that makes a difference in giving a free pass versus somebody earning it,'' Monhollon said.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
No. 2 seed Hesston had no answer for Hayden junior pitching ace Cooper Grace in Thursday's opening round of the Class 3A state baseball tournament, with the No. 7-seeded Wildcats advancing to Friday's state semifinals with a 2-0 victory at Tointon Family Stadium.
Hayden junior pitching standout Cooper Grace threw a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts in the Wildcats' 2-0 win over Hesston in the Class 3A state tournament. [File photo/TSN]
Grace fired a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts and just two walks as 16-12 Hayden advanced to Friday's 1:15 p.m. semifinal to face No. 6 seed Hoisington (16-10), which upset No. 3 seed Sabetha, 3-1.
Grace was in control from the outset, with no Hesston player reaching second base as Grace only faced 24 batters.
Offensively Hayden was paced by senior Kyren Waggoner, who went two for three in the game, including a triple to open the second inning before scoring the game-winning run.
Sophomore Kade Mitchell knocked in the winning run in Hayden's 2-0 Class 3A state tournament victory over Hesston. [File photo/TSN]
Two batters after Waggoner's triple, sophomore Kade Mitchell singled to right field to drive Waggoner home.
In the top of third after freshman Mason Becker singled, Grace helped his own cause when he knocked a double off the center-field wall to score Becker, who went two for four on the day.
