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Runnerup Cleverdon paces three Shawnee County state golf medalists
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin senior Caleb Cleverdon finished second in Wednesday's Class 2A state golf tournament at Quail Creek in Winfield, pacing three local 2A medalists.
Cair Paravel senior Caleb Cleverdon finished second in the Class 2A state golf tournament with a 36-hole total of 149. [File photo/TSN]
Cleverdon shot a final-round 76 to finish with a 36-hole total of 149 while Humboldt's Connor Newman finished at 144 (71-73) to take the state title by five strokes.
Rossville senior Jack Donovon moved up from a tie for eighth individually after the opening round to finish fifth with a 155 total (79-76).
Cair Paravel sophomore Chase Hastert also earned an individual medal, finishing 17th at 166 (85-81) while Rossville's Austin Dohrman finished 42nd at 187 (89-98).
Washburn Rural senior Higgins Hawks narrowly missed a 6A medal at Firekeeper Golf Course, tying for 22nd with a 36-hole total of 153 (76-77)
Hawks finished a single stroke away from a state medal.
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Trojan softball holds off Tigers 5-4, advances to Class 6A semifinal
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- Topeka High used a defensive gem to hold off Blue Valley and advance to the semifinal round of the Class 6A state softball tournament, winning 5-4 Tuesday at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia.
Trailing 5-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Blue Valley put two runners on with no outs.
Topeka High sophomore first baseman Remi Cushinberry completes a potentially game-saving double play in the seventh inning of the Trojans' 5-4 Class 6A state quarterfinal game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Desperate to protect the lead, Topeka High third baseman Taimane Isaia smothered a hot smash, stepped on third and then threw across the infield for a dazzling double play, leaving the Tigers with just a runner at second.
It turned out to be the play of the game because Blue Valley’s next batter blasted a home run. Instead of tying the game, the Tigers still trailed by a run, thanks to Isaia’s defensive heroics.
“Funny thing is, I called timeout there, and I said, ‘Guys, we’re gonna get a groundball double play here,’” said Topeka High coach Shane Miles. “That was a huge thing because then you go from the tying run at the plate to now they’ve got to get some more batters up.”
“We’d been throwing inside the whole game, so I was close to the line,” Isaia said. “I was ready for that ball, and I knew in my head, ‘Ball first. Make the play at third first.’ What I didn’t expect was for my throw to go so high, but I got Remi (Cushinberry) at first and she’s got my back at all times.”
Junior pitcher Campbell Dawson went the distance for the win in Tuesday's 5-4 Topeka High Class 6A quarterfinal win over Blue Valley. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High softball celebrates Tuesday's 5-4 Class 6A quarterfinal win over Blue Valley after recording the final out. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Following the Tiger homer, Topeka High pitcher Campbell Dawson settled down to induce a game-ending flyout. Dawson went the distance for the Trojans, scattering nine hits. She worked around trouble in each of the first four innings before locking in. She set the Tigers down in order in the fifth and sixth frames. Miles stayed committed to Dawson even when Blue Valley rallied in the seventh.
“Campbell didn’t have her best stuff today, but she battled and battled and battled, and our girls made plays behind her,” Miles said. “It was her game.”
The Trojans capitalized on leadoff hits in the first and third innings with bunts and productive outs. Leading 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Topeka High’s Madilyn Poole delivered the big hit – a bases-loaded single to score two more runs.
“We had some very clutch hitting,” Miles said. “We put pressure on defenses, and we allow that defense to make errors. And that’s what we did today. Putting pressure with bunts and then getting key hits.”
Making their second consecutive trip to state, the Trojans improved on last season’s exit in the first round. They will face Gardner Edgerton at 3 p.m. Thursday at Wichita State University.
“This is amazing,” Isaia said. “People never expected us to be here. But we’re a hard-working team. We know all these teams want these games. These games are going to be hard back-and-forth. And I know my girls. At the end of the day, we’re gonna push through mentally.''
T-Bird baseball rides Cooper pitching gem to Class 5A semifinals
By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
EMPORIA -- A brilliant pitching performance, flawless defense and timely hitting propelled Shawnee Heights to the Class 5A state semifinals.
Shawnee Heights senior Brody Cooper hurled a complete-game two-hitter in Tuesday's 5-1 Class 5A state quarterfinal win over Kapaun Mt. Carmel. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The T-Birds blasted Kapaun Mt. Carmel 5-1 Tuesday at Emporia to get over the first-round hump for the first time in three tries.
Shawnee Heights pitcher Brody Cooper could not have been much more dominant in his final appearance as a T-Bird. The senior fired a two-hitter and struck out 10. Due to pitch count restrictions, he will not be available to pitch on Thursday or Friday, the semifinal and final rounds.
“My two-seam was moving a lot today, so it really made it hard for their righties,” Cooper said. “It being hot helped loosen me up a little bit. But I just couldn’t miss today. I felt great. I know the first run that they scored was not really earned, so I didn’t worry about that one.”
Shawnee Heights coach Jason Brown fought to control his emotions when describing the T-Birds’ quarterfinal performance.
“It’s mainly this class of seniors,” Brown said. “I’ve been around forever. So, watching them through the process, seeing some of them struggle a little bit when they’re freshmen – which all freshmen do at this level – and then seeing them come out here and just play free.
“We’ve got three or four guys that are seniors who have been playing varsity since their freshman year and haven’t (won a state tournament game). So, this makes me so proud.”
This group of T-Birds will play in the second round of the state tournament for the first time in their careers. They were bounced from the first round the past two years.
“In the last two years, we were in that same position,” Cooper said. “Got embarrassed (by Spring Hill) two years ago. And last year we lost it ourselves (against Hays). We just couldn’t let that happen again.”
Brown was as relieved as the players to be through the elimination game.
“First thing I told them, I said, ‘Hey boys, monkey’s off our back. Now we can just roll,’ ” Brown said. “Game 1 is always hard. We’ve been preaching it all year: ‘One at a time. One at a time. Go to regionals, it’s one game. Everybody’s 0-0. Records don’t matter. Who they play doesn’t matter. You just show up and do you.’ ”
The T-Birds will face St. James Academy Thursday at Wichita State University's Eck Stadium Happy as the T-Birds are to move on to Wichita, Brown believes there is more in store.
“I said, ‘It’s not over. This isn’t it. Your goal is Friday. We set these goals at the beginning of the season to get to Friday at Wichita. Let’s go get it.’ And I think they’re ready,” the coach said. “If we hit the ball like that, we take care of it and play defense, we could get a state title this year. I truly believe that.”
