By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
Sophomore Lydia Dreher starred on Seaman’s Senior Night, guiding the Vikings to a United Kansas Conference doubleheader softball sweep of Shawnee Heights Tuesday, bolstering her team’s chances of a high seed come playoff time.
Lydia Dreher (center) celebrates with Aubrey Warren (left) and Kennedi Kitzman (3) celebrate during Seaman's doubleheader UKC softball sweep over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Vikings overcame a slow start to pull away from the T-Birds 14-3 in the first game.
The hosts trailed for most of the second contest, but Dreher came to the rescue late in Seaman's 8-6 win.
In the first inning of the opening game, the T-Birds plated two runs off Dreher without recording a base hit. But Dreher settled down, working around six scattered hits to hold the visitors to just one run the rest of the way.
Dreher’s effort was enough to give the Viking offense time to kick in. Seaman strung together eight hits and plated nine runs in the third inning. The Vikings added three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to trigger the mercy rule.
“It was definitely stressful for a little bit, but me and (catcher) Claire Watkins always make jokes and keep things lighthearted and funny, so it’s always easy for me to get out of my head in those situations and just rely on my teammates,” Dreher said of the opener. “I know they’ll make plays. Once we scored nine, it took the pressure off and made it like we were just playing to have fun.”
Between games, Dreher wiped away a few tears as the Vikings celebrated its six seniors.
“They have been so inviting to me ever since I stepped onto the field as a freshman,” Dreher said. “They’re just so welcoming and such good people and good teammates. They mean a lot to all of us.”
The Vikings fell behind again in the second game, trailing 6-1 in the top of the third frame. Seaman coach Daniel Ruda summoned Dreher to relieve pitcher Easton Beightel. Dreher worked out of a jam in the third, then held the T-Birds to just two harmless hits over the next four innings.
“Easton was doing a good job, but then they started getting on time, so we needed to make a change and (Dreher) kept the scoring to a minimum,” Ruda said. “Lydia had a great day. We know what kind of pitcher she is. She’s been our ace all year and works out of jams, doesn’t ever seem to get rattled.”
Senior Aubrey Warren had two doubles and a triple in Seaman's Senior Night sweep over Shawnee Heights. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Vikings clawed back from the 6-1 deficit, plating four runs in the bottom of the fourth, sparked by a triple by senior Aubrey Warren. They then tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
After Warren singled to start the sixth inning, Dreher provided the dramatics. She blasted a drive over the center field fence to put Seaman up 8-6.
“(Dreher) came up to the plate and had the big hit,” Ruda said. “She’s such a strong hitter. You know it’s only a matter of time until she gets ahold of one.”
“This was definitely a good win for us,” Dreher said. “I think we went into it a little bit nervous, but we figured it out and we were really getting hyped in the dugout, and it got to be a lot of fun.”
Seaman improved to 17-6 and strengthened its position among the top teams in the Class 5A West bracket. With just a few opportunities left, every game is critical, Ruda said.
“Tomorrow, we finish up a doubleheader with Washburn Rural from a rainout, and Washburn Rural is one of the top programs in the state. They always are. So we know that it’s going to be tough,” Ruda said. “But we’re kind of treating every day now as that playoff game because if we take care of business, we still have a chance to host some games. There’s a lot of movement right now on the West side.”
GAME 1
SEAMAN 14, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 3
Shawnee Heights (12-9) 200 100 -- 3 6 4
Seaman (16-6) 009 032 -- 14 14 1
Fisher, Ellenburg (3) and Graves. Dreher and Watkins. W -- Dreher. L -- Fisher. 2B -- Shawnee Heights: Euwer, Abney. Seaman: Thompson, Glasgow, Dreher, Warren.
GAME 2
SEAMAN 8, SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 6
Shawnee Heights (12-10) 123 000 0 -- 6 11 1
Seaman (17-6) 100 412 x -- 8 12 0
Ellenburg, Fisher (6) and Graves. Beightel, Dreher(3) and Watkins. W -- Dreher. L -- Fisher. 2B -- Shawnee Heights: Barajas, Hummer. Seaman: Dreher, Warren. 3B -- Shawnee Heights: Cooper. Seaman: Warren. HR -- Seaman: Dreher.
