By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
The defending Class 6A state softball champions have punched their ticket back to the big dance after Topeka High rolled through their competition at Wednesday's regional tournament at Hummer Sports Park.
Topeka High made it look easy with a clean sweep against Wichita East and Dodge City by a combined 30-0 score.
High defeated Wichita East 16-0 in its semifinal and would go on to rout Dodge City in the regional final, 14-0.
Topeka High freshman Jo'Mhara Benning delivers a pitch in Wednesday's Class 6A softball regional at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka High senior NiJaree Canady had a big offensive day in Wednesday's Class 6A softball regional, knocking in nine runs. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
“Getting back to the state tournament was one of our goals,” Topeka High coach Shane Miles said. “We were able to do some damage tonight, which was good. I think we proved to ourselves that we play like we did today more often. I know our girls are playing well.
“I told our girls that we need to go 5-0. That’s all we need to do. Fight hard, play hard and win five games. We are 2-0 right now and all we need to do now is win the next three games. That is our goal and mindset right now. Win three games and we will achieve what every team wants to achieve, a state title.”
While the Trojans dominated their opponents in the regional sweep, they were also able to get a good look at two players who could step in at any time.
The freshmen duo of Jo’Mhara Benning and Montgomery Freel imposed their will in the circle on Wednesday night. Benning and Freel no-hit Wichita East in the first game and allowed just three total hits in the second contest. The duo also fanned 11 batters in a combined eight innings of work.
“The performance from both of them was great,” Miles said. “They are just freshmen. They are going to be great for this program for the next few years. Getting those two experience here where the stakes are the highest is only going to help them and this program. They still have some growing to do, but they looked good today.”
In the 30-run performance, the entire lineup would have an impact on the game. NiJaree Canady was in front of the line with nine RB while Alesia Alvarez and Amiah Cain each had four runs batted in.
In the first game, Topeka High was able to defeat Wichita East in less than an hour. The Trojans batted around nearly three times in just two offensive innings.
In the first inning, High was able to bring 11 runs home. Canady, Cain, Benning, Alvarez, Adisyn Caryl and Elycia Joyce all brought in runs in just the first inning. It was apparent at that point that Topeka High was going to run away with the game.
In the second inning, High brought in five runs with ease. McCall Beall would bring in two runs with a single to get the scoring started. Joyce would follow Beall with a run-scoring single of her own. Canady would hit a sacrifice fly and Freel would finish things off by walking home a run before intentionally getting out to end the inning at first base.
Benning and Freel would seal their combined no-hitter off in the third with a strikeout. Topeka High would advance to the regional championship.
Topeka High would face a Dodge City team that run-ruled Wichita Heights in their regional semifinal contest right before High’s contest with Wichita East.
Canady would bring excitement to the Trojan dugout right away as she plated in two runs with a triple that went all the way to the warning track in the bottom of the first. Alvarez would bring in one more run with a single before the inning concluded.
Alvarez would start the second inning the way her bat ended the first. The catcher would bring in two runs with a single. Joyce would plate in a run with a single after Alvarez’s crack of the bat. With a Benning sacrifice fly and a wild pitch, Topeka High would gain an eight-run lead.
Dodge City errors would load up the bases for the Trojans in the bottom of the third inning right away. Canady would drive in two runs while Beall and Calyn Michaelis would drive in one run each. They all put runs up on the board with singles.
Benning and Freel would complete another shutout and shut the door on Dodge City’s aspirations in the top of the fifth inning.
Topeka High would be back in the big dance once again.
Up next, the Class 6A tournament will begin on May 26th at the Shawnee Mission District Softball Complex.
Class 6A Regional Softball
Championship game
Dodge City (10-12) 000 00 – 0 3 4
Topeka High (19-3) 355 1x – 14 10 0
2B: Topeka High – Smith. 3B: Topeka High – Canady.
