By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural softball is heading to the Class 6A state tournament for the fifth straight season after hardly breaking a sweat in its 17-0 victory over Wichita Southeast and 6-0 win against Campus to become regional champions at Gahnstrom Field on Wednesday evening.
Washburn Rural softball hoists its Class 6A regional championship trophy after Wednesday's 6-0 win over Campus. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior star Emmerson Cope pitched a complete game in Wednesday's 6-0 Class 6A regional win over Campus. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Washburn Rural sophomore Naudia Wech is congratulated by coach Liz Stover as she rounds the bases on a home run. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
After falling just one run short in the Class 6A state title game against Topeka High a season ago, Washburn Rural (19-3) is back in the tournament with its group of returners desperate to avenge that heartbreak.
They had a regular season to play and two regional games to get back to the spot they wanted to be in, but it was fine for them, even with them taking on their challenges one day at a time.
“This all feels amazing, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids to work with,” Washburn Rural coach Elizabeth Stover said. “Everything about them makes this (win) super rewarding. I know it’s a program initiative every year; it’s our goal to make it to state. So we punched our ticket, and we’re overjoyed.”
Stover has been on the Washburn Rural coaching staff since 2018, being a part of the last five state tournament runs. With this being her last year as the head coach for the Junior Blues, it feels sweeter for her to make one last run with the team.
“Personally, it feels really wonderful,” Stover said. “I can’t say enough about this senior class and the people that they are with everything they brought to the table. The whole team has done above and beyond what I’ve asked them to. So I’m really thrilled to be with this group, and I’m glad we’re riding it out with them.”
Terrific pitching has contributed to the program’s state-bound success over the last half-decade. In the 2023 campaign, senior Nebraska signee Emmerson Cope and senior Piper Titsworth have been lights-out in the circle.
In the regional tournament, Titsworth pitched the shutout in the three-inning win in Game 1, while Cope pitched the two-hit, 11-strikeout shutout in Game 2..
“I felt really relaxed this game,” Cope said. “It was definitely mindset over everything. I know that if I’m in the circle that nobody is going to beat me but myself. I want to have a really strong mindset. I don’t want to play tight; I just want to relax and let everything fall in place.”
Cope and the Junior Blues were highly motivated going into Wednesday afternoon’s regional. They had more juice coming into this tournament, limited their distractions, but were fueled by people that doubted the program.
“It was great to win again,” Cope said. “This is the third year in a row for me. Obviously, we didn’t have that (chance) freshman year (COVID-19 cancelation). It means a lot being able to be out there and compete with my best friends and win a regional championship. I’ve seen a lot of Tweets and stuff around that we’re not the favorite this year. So it feels really good to still be able to prove people wrong.”
That chip on Washburn Rural’s shoulder was evident early as it crushed the softball all over the turf.
It took Washburn Rural two offensive innings to end Wichita Southeast’s season in the first contest to advance to the regional championship.
On the second pitch in the bottom of the first inning, Cope hit a solo leadoff homerun that opened some eyes immediately.
“Obviously, with my leadoff at-bat, I wanted to get things going,” Cope said. “I wasn’t expecting a home run, but I’m glad that I got it started like that.”
After Titsworth got on base with a walk and freshman Reagan Chapman reached base on an error, sophomore Layla Collins drove in both of them with a double to give the Junior Blues a 3-0 lead before people found their seats.
Sophomore Naudia Wech wasted no time bringing Collins home after she launched a two-run home run, the second Washburn Rural home run of the inning, to boost the Junior Blue lead to 5-0 in the first inning.
Cope and Wech’s home runs certainly helped Washburn Rural seal the deal in just 19 minutes, with five more runs being added on after Wech’s longshot.
“Honestly, before I went up to the plate, I knew that all I had to do was pick my pitch,” Wech said. “I was just looking for something I could make mine. When I got the home run, I knew immediately that’s something I’d wanted. It was nice to just see it go.”
Washburn Rural showed mercy near the end of each of the two offensive innings, intentionally getting out after Wichita Southeast didn’t have much of anything go right on defense.
Titsworth didn’t have to struggle much in her three-inning no-hitter and her offense putting up 17 runs on the board.
“I think what has helped us is just being there for each other as a family,” Wech said. “I feel like everybody on this team has their ups and downs. We always pick each other up and let each other know everything is okay. So winning like this was special. What makes a team a team is knowing mistakes happen, and this game is built on failure; we are just fortunate.”
The 17-0 win didn’t last an hour, but Washburn Rural did have time to catch its breath with its 30-minute intermission before the regional championship against Haysville-Campus.
Like the semifinal, Washburn Rural jumped to a fast offensive start in the regional championship.
The Junior Blues ran out in front with a three-run inning thanks to a Chloe Carlgren RBI and a two-run triple by Wech. Washburn Rural added another run in the third inning from an error committed by Campus.
While Campus would put up more of a fight than Wichita Southeast did, the Colts couldn’t time Cope’s pitches and were swinging out of their cleats to keep up.
Cope faced 26 batters while throwing 90 pitches in a a complete seven innings, giving up a pair of hits, a walk and striking out 11 batters.
“She’s just a phenomenal athlete no matter what,” Stover said. “She lights up the room. Just even with her leadership, it’s irreplaceable. I’m really proud of her, and to be a small part of that journey is amazing. Just everything she’s brought to this program is big shoes to fill for the next season. I’m proud to be with her.”
Cope drove in the last run of the regional championship offensively and pitched the final three outs to send the team back to its fifth straight state tournament.
“I was really proud of them,” Stover said. “I love their discipline at the plate and everything that they brought to the ball. The pitching was just outstanding. Sure, there are going to be things to work on, but we got a week before state.
“We just needed to keep the momentum rolling. The whole goal that we’ve had this year is one, it’s great to be at state, but the goal is to be the best team at state when we get there. So I think that we are well on our way, and now we’re just ready to bring a good game next week.”
Washburn Rural (19-3) will compete in the Class 6A state tournament at the Arrocha Ball Park in Lawrence beginning next Thursday.
“In the back of our minds, we want to be back in that spot,” Cope said. “We want to get our redemption. But I think (we should) not overdo it, and controlling the things we can control will be able to get us back in that spot.”
REGIONAL SEMIFINAL
WASHBURN RURAL 17, WICHITA SOUTHEAST 0
Wichita Southeast 000 – 0 0 3
Washburn Rural (11)6x – 17 10 1
W – Titsworth. L – Jimenez. 2B – Washburn Rural: Collins, Bath. 3B – Washburn Rural: Collins. HR – Washburn Rural: Cope, Wech.
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
WASHBURN RURAL 6, HAYSVILLE-CAMPUS 0
Haysville-Campus (12-10) – 000 000 0 – 0 2 3
Washburn Rural (19-3) 310 020 x – 6 8 2
W – Cope. L – Baker. 2B – Washburn Rural: Rapp, Bath. 3B – Washburn Rural: Wech.
