By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
When Topeka High's Adisyn Caryl and Washburn Rural's Emmerson Cope square off against each other on the softball diamond they are rivals for two of the state's premier Class 6A programs.
But even when the juniors are on opposite sides of the diamond, Caryl and Cope are still, first and foremost, family.
First cousins Adisyn Caryl of Topeka High (left) and Emmerson Cope of Washburn Rural, both returning first-team All-Staters, will try to lead their teams back to the Class 6A state softball tournament in regional tournaments on Wednesday. [Submitted]
Adisyn's mother, Emily, and Emmerson's mother, Laura, are sisters, making Caryl and Cope first cousins. Emily Caryl adds to the family dynamic, serving as an assistant coach for Topeka High.
"My aunt will cheer for me and then my mom will cheer for Emmerson, even when we're playing against each other, so it's fun,'' said Adisyn Caryl, the Trojans' star shortstop.
Cope, Washburn Rural's star pitcher and first baseman, agrees.
"I really look forward to it because they're probably one of the best competitions I'm going to get during the high school season,'' Cope said. "And also because they're related to me obviously I'm very competitive and I want to be the one that comes out on top so it's always fun to play them.''
Topeka High junior Adisyn Caryl helped lead the Trojans to a perfect 25-0 record and the Class 6A state softball championship last season. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior Emmerson Cope has helped lead the Junior Blues to a 19-1 record and the top seed in the Class 6A West this season. [File photo/TSN]
Zoe Caryl, now a freshman at Illinois, teamed with Adisyn to help lead Topeka High to a perfect 25-0 record and High's first-ever 6A state championship last spring while Cope helped Washburn Rural reach the 6A state tournament.
The Caryls earned temporary bragging rights when they took a pair of wins over the Junior Blues last season, but Cope and Rural evened the score when they swept a Centennial League twinbill from the Trojans earlier this season, 1-0 and 8-1.
Even though she obviously wants to win, Adisyn said she also wants to see cousin Emmerson do well.
"One hundred percent, I'm always a fan,'' she said.
Both Adisyn and Emmerson will be looking to make it back to state when they host 6A regional tournaments on Wednesday.
Washburn Rural is the top seed in the West at 19-1 and will begin its postseason bid against 4-16 Campus at approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Rural softball complex.
With a win the Junior Blues will advance to the regional final to take on the winner of the first semifinal (2 p.m.) between Liberal (10-10) and Free State (10-10) at approximately 6 o'clock.
Topeka High, 17-3 on the year, is the No. 2 seed in the West and will host a regional at Hummer Sports Park, facing Wichita East (5-15) in a semifinal at approximately 5 p.m. Wednesday.
With a victory Topeka High will move on to the regional championship game to take on the winner of the 3 o'clock semifinal between Wichita Heights (10-8) and Dodge City (9-11).
Even though they're very busy with their own teams, Emmerson and Adisyn stay in touch during the season.
"I would say we're very close,'' Cope said.
"I don't have very many cousins, so since she's at my age and we play together (in club softball), we talk every day,'' Adisyn said.
Even during those rare times when Caryl and Cope play each other.
"I still talk to her,'' Adisyn said. "In the game I think it's different just because she's a pitcher and I'm going to have to face her but when she got a hit I was like, 'Good job.' ''
As soon as the high school season is completed Cope and Caryl will join forces for the nationally-ranked Aces.
"I do look forward to the summer,'' Cope said. "Ady and I play on the same team so it's always fun to have somebody that you're close with on the same team. She's always there for me when I'm going through a slump or if I need someone to pick up I know she's always going to be there because she's one of my best friends.''
"We grew up playing together, like T-Ball and everything up until like 10-(and under) and then (Emmerson) moved teams,'' Caryl said. "Then we've played together again since last year.''
And not surprisingly, any time the family gets together the topic of softball is sure to come up.
"Even during Easter we were watching softball on TV and we were talking about it and we were talking about club ball coming up,'' Caryl said.
"There's always something to talk about with softball, always gossiping, always asking about they are doing and what you did that week,'' Cope said. "Our whole family just kind of revolves around the topic of softball and that's fun.''
