By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Stanford softball commit NiJaree Canady stole the show for Topeka High on the diamond in Thursday night’s doubleheader sweep over city and Centennial League rival Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park.
Canady pitched both ends of the doubleheader and recorded a combined 28 strikeouts (12 in Game 1 and 16 in Game 2), while allowing just two hits and two runs in 12 innings as Topeka High took an 11-1 win in the first game and a 6-1 decision in the nightcap.
“The defense behind me helped me out on a few plays that I needed help on,” Canady said. “Adisyn (Caryl) also had some nice backhanded stops that were nice for us as well and I thought that got the team going.
“I’m only good with the team that I have helping me along the way.”
Canady also hit a two-run home run and had a double at the plate for the Trojans.
“We know if (Canady) is healthy and throwing well, we will always have a chance,” Topeka High coach Shane Miles said. "She will always keep us in the game and will give us a chance no matter what. She’s a special athlete."
Topeka High softball coach Shane Miles talks to his Trojans after Thursday's doubleheader sweep of Topeka West at Hummer Sports Park. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
The defending Class 6A state champions boosted their winning streak to 29 games with Thursday's sweep..
“We ended the season 25-0 last year and we just want to keep that momentum from last year to this year going,” Canady said. “We’re 29-0 now and we just want to keep that rhythm and good chemistry going.”
Illinois softball commit Caryl had a stellar day at shortstop and had a three-run inside-the-park homer run in the bottom of the third as the Trojans overcame a 1-0 deficit in Game 2.
“A few key plays throughout the game got us hyped up and I was glad I was able to help the team with the hit in the second (game),” Caryl said. “We had a slow start, which isn’t what we wanted, but we just kept pushing through.”
Besides Caryl and Canady, Alesia Alvarez, Elysia Joyce and Quincy Smith were key contributors to the team’s combined 17-run doubleheader on Thursday night.
“I saw plenty of bright spots from our lineup today,” Miles said. “Some kids that don’t necessarily get as much attention as our other players pitched in today and were great for us. Having a complete team performance is always good.”
Topeka West struggled on defense in Game 1, but in Game 2 the defense played at a high enough level to keep up with the high-powered Trojans.
West's Jaya Miller shut down Topeka High for two straight innings before the Lady Trojans' offense came alive for six runs in two innings.
“The girls struggled in the first game, but picked it up pretty well in the second game,” Topeka West coach Gordy Ramos said. “Our defense played great in the second game. The hitting did struggle for us. We faced one of the top pitchers in the state. It’s a little tough for the girls to get caught up to (Canady) and the speed she throws with.
“It was good for us to get the look we did for today before next week.”
Topeka High (4-0) has outscored the opposition 47-2 in its first four games.
Miles admits that the early games have been far from perfect, but is content with the hot start. Topeka High’s next opponent on the schedule is Manhattan on Monday.
“We need to fix some of our mental mistakes before next week,” Miles said. “We had too many mental mistakes today. Being better at our situational stuff will help us next week.”
Topeka West (0-3) will host Junction City next Friday.
First game
TOPEKA HIGH 11, TOPEKA WEST 1
Topeka West 100 00 – 1 1 2
Topeka High 360 02 – 11 5 0
W – Canady (1-0). L – Sims (0-1). 2B – Topeka High: Canady, Alvarez. Topeka West: Benson. 3B – Topeka High: Alvarez. HR – Topeka High: Canady.
Second game
TOPEKA HIGH 6. TOPEKA WEST 1
Topeka West 001 000 0 – 1 1 2
Topeka High 003 300 X – 6 3 0
W – Canady (2-0). L – Miller (0-1). 3B – Topeka West: Sanchez. HR – Topeka High: Caryl
