By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Seaman Vikings swept a softball doubleheader with Shawnee Heights at Lake Shawnee Friday, holding on to win the first game, then blasting away in the second.
“We asked our kids today to have a standard of excellence,” said Seaman coach Jay Monhollon. “When you do that, everybody’s got to buy into that standard. When that happens, that expectation creates positive feelings and you’re able to do your job for the team.”
Seaman senior Jersey Jellison hit a home run and a pair of doubles as the Vikings closed out a twinbill sweep over Shawnee Heights with a 12-1 second-game win. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Seaman junior Kaelyn O'Rourke (5) picked up the first-game pitching win against Shawnee Heights with clutch relief help from sophomore Addison Sibley. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The first game wasn’t won without some tense moments for the Vikings.
After mounting an 8-2 advantage early, Seaman watched the T-Birds begin to steadily chip away. Shawnee Heights rallied in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to narrow the deficit to 8-6.
The T-Birds would get no closer in the final inning. Relief pitcher Addison Sibley shut down the threat in the bottom of the seventh to close it out.
“All I’m doing is just pitching the ball,” Sibley said of holding off the surging T-Birds. “My defense has got my back and is making those great plays behind me. We weren’t nervous.”
Monhollon wasn’t surprised that Shawnee Heights rallied in the first game. He also was not surprised that his Vikings rose to the occasion.
“That’s a great hitting team over there, and we just focused on, 'What’s our next best action?’ ” Monhollon said.
“We work a lot on the mental game and do some things to put our kids in a disadvantage and let them overcome it. And then we work on how to control our emotions. You can’t compete and be at your best if you’re on the emotional stage.”
Seaman took the first game while registering just one extra-base hit as opposed to five – including two home runs – for Shawnee Heights.
Using the first game as a warmup, Sibley dominated the T-Birds in the second game. She surrendered just one run on six hits over five innings to lead the Vikings to a 12-1 win.
Seaman senior had a pair of doubles in the Vikings' 12-1 second-game win over Shawnee Heights on Friday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Three Vikings crossed home plate in the top of the first inning, followed by five more in the top of the second. With a big lead, Sibley settled in.
“My teammates really relieved me with that first inning,” the sophomore said. “I just did my job and they did their job.”
“She did a great job of establishing what she does and not trying to be anybody else,” Monhollon said of Sibley. “She knows her strengths and works within that frame.”
The Vikings made up for a lack of power in the first game with six extra-base hits in the second contest.
Jersey Jellison led the hit parade with a home run and two doubles.
The Vikings improved to 15-6 with the doubleheader sweep of a quality Class 5A foe, as well as a crosstown rival.
“We don’t look at our opponent, because that’s disrespecting the game,” Monhollon said. “We go in with the attitude that every opponent is amazing. That’s what we have to do to be at our best.”
The Vikings will host De Soto and Leavenworth next Monday and Tuesday before closing the regular season at Piper on Thursday.
“We all feel great about this,” Sibley said. “We’re ready to take this one home and be ready for next week.”
Shawnee Heights senior Alaryce Millard hit a first-game home run in the T-Birds' 8-6 loss to Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Shawnee Heights, which dropped to 14-6, closes its season by hosting Piper on Tuesday.
SEAMAN 8, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 6
Seaman 012 500 0 — 8 9 1
Shawnee Heights 200 121 0 — 6 8 1
O’Rourke, Sibley (5) and McConnell. Proctor, Millard (3), Proctor (4), Mohan and Habig. W — O’Rourke. L — Proctor. 2B — Seaman: Smith. Shawnee Heights: Bowman, Schmidt. 3B — Shawnee Heights: Miller. HR — Shawnee Heights: Millard, Proctor.
SEAMAN 12, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 1
Seaman (15-6) 360 21 — 12 16 1
Shawnee Heights (14-6) 000 10 — 1 6 1
Sibley and McConnell. Millard, Mohan (2), Fisher (3) and Habig. W — Sibley. L — Millard. 2B — Seaman: Jellison 2, Glasgow 2, Neil. HR — Seaman: Jellison.
