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By KEVIN HASKIN
TopSports.news
Musings at the mid-month:
• The whole run, or limp, through March for KU really leaves me thinking.
• How is it the Jayhawks did not recruit depth? They should be stacked and of course, we’re all led to believe they are by recruiting rankings.
• Injuries, however, have really exposed the Jayhawks’ mortality this season.
• I’m not sure I’m picking them to beat Samford in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
• So there, Bill Self. Not that you need motivation but let’s see what you’ve got as a 4-seed.
• KU beat UConn and Houston, so upside exists. I’m just not seeing it right now, at least not consistently.
• Could it be the fourth time in the last five dance cards the Jayhawks failed to reach the second weekend?
• A disclaimer: They would have been the favorite in 2020 when the pandemic prompted the NCAA tournament’s cancellation. And, KU won it all in 2022.
• All the more reason to believe in Self when KU is a trendy pick to get upset.
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NOTE: Final 2023-2024 statistics for city girls basketball teams were compiled by Seaman girls coach Matt Tinsley after receiving reports from city coaches.
SCORING
Name, school Gms. Pts. Avg
Carter, Highland Park 19 343 18.1
Highland Park freshman Pearmella Carter averaged a city-best 18.1 points and 10.2 rebounds in 2023-2024. [File photo/TSN]
Vickery, Washburn Rural 25 388 15.5
Rayton, Topeka High 20 302 15.1
Ramsey, Hayden 21 312 14.9
Becker, Seaman 23 340 14.8
Gowan-Britt, Highland Park 16 217 13.6
Emmot, Shawnee Heights 22 297 13.5
Canfield, Washburn Rural 22 291 13.2
I. McGlory, Topeka West 21 277 13.2
Gragg, Seaman 21 261 12.4
Sandstrom, Hayden 26 320 12.3
Meier, Hayden 25 318 12.2
T. Stallbaumer, Seaman 24 276 11.5
Broils, Highland Park 16 155 9.7
Vega, Shawnee Heights 22 207 9.4
Marshall, Topeka High 20 188 9.4
REBOUNDING
Name, school Gms. Total Avg.
Carter, Highland Park 19 193 10.2
Bearman, Topeka West 21 213 10.1
Ramsey, Hayden 21 191 9.1
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball trailed No. 3-ranked Central Missouri four times on Sunday afternoon but battled back from all four to end the series with a 10-9 MIAA win at Falley Field.
Jett Buck (16) put Washburn ahead to stay with a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Ichabods topped No. 3 Central Missouri 10-9 in Sunday's series finale. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
A three-run Jett Buck home run in the bottom of the eighth that capped a four-run inning and clutch relief pitching in the top of the ninth pushed Washburn to its first win in the series, with the Ichabods improving to 14-10 overall and 9-5 in the MIAA.
Central Missouri (22-4 overall, 11-2 MIAA) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first, beginning the game with a double. A walk put another runner on base and a high-bouncing double in the outfield scored both runs to make it 2-0.
Trevor McCollum was hit by a pitch to lead off the Ichabod first and moved to third on a single by Payton McHarg. Cale Savage grounded into a double play that brought in the first run of the game for the Ichabods.
With the bases clear again Cash Jay doubled down the line in left field and was quickly brought home as Hayden Priest shot a single up the middle to tie the game.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
JORDAN ARMBRUSTER, Shawnee Heights
A senior, Armbruster earned TopSports.news All-Shawnee County second-team recognition as a junior and also earned All-United Kansas Conference second-team honors last spring.
EASTON BLOSSER, Hayden
Blosser was a frontline player for the 11-6 Wildcats last season and will be counted on to provide senior leadership for Hayden this spring. Blosser has signed a letter of intent to play collegiately at Central Methodist.
COOPER CAMPIDILLI, Silver Lake
A junior catcher, Campidilli was a first-team All-Mid-East selection last season after hitting .355 with 16 runs batted in for Silver Lake, which posted a 15-7 record last season. Campidilli also received TSN All-Shawnee County second-team honors in 2023.
AVERY CROSSWHITE, Rossville
Crosswhite, a senior, hit .365 last season for the 9-13 Bulldawgs with a .422 on-base percentage. Crosswhite had 27 hits with seven doubles, three home runs, 23 runs scored and 27 runs batted in. Crosswhite was a second-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick.
DAVID DOBBS, Seaman
A junior catcher, Dodge is being counted to play a key role this spring for Seaman, which is coming off an 18-5 record and a state-record 19th straight Class 5A state tournament appearance last spring.
Holden Finley, Seaman
HOLDEN FINLEY, Seaman
Finley, a senior, was a first-team TSN All-Shawnee County pick in 2023 after helping the 18-5 Vikings reach the Class 5A state tournament for a state-record 19th straight time. Finley also earned All-5A honorable mention from the Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches and was a second-team All-United Kansas Conference pick.
Matt Genrich, Topeka High
MATT GENRICH, Topeka High
A senior, Genrich was a second-team TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League selection last season after helping Topeka High post a 16-7 record and earn a Class 6A state tournament berth, the Trojans' first state tournament appearance in more than seven decades.
Cooper Grace, Hayden
COOPER GRACE, Hayden
Grace, a junior, earned TSN All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League first-team recognition last season and was a second-team Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches All-4A selection after helping lead the Wildcats to an 11-6 record.
Brady Heinen, Hayden
BRADY HEINEN, Hayden
A junior, Heinen was named the TSN Shawnee County newcomer of the year last season after helping Hayden post an 11-6 record. Heinen received All-Shawnee County honorable mention.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
After being swept by No. 3-ranked Rogers State and being no-hit for the first time in 478 games on Friday, Washburn University softball still didnt pick up a ton of hits on Saturday at Gahnstrom Field.
Senior Marrit Mead makes contact on her record-setting hit in Washburn's 3-0 second-game win over Northeastern State Saturday at Gahnstrom Field. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Marrit Mead is congratulated by Washburn third base coach Taylor Zordel after setting WU's career hit record with her 259th hit in the fifth inning of the Ichabods' 3-0 second-game win over Northeastern State. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
But the Ichabods came up with the big hits, including a milestone moment for senior Marrit Mead, as Washburn bounced back from Friday's losses to earn a 2-1, 3-0 MIAA sweep over Northeastern State.
Third baseman Mead, a former Santa Fe Trail star, tied Washburn's all-time hit record on Friday against Rogers State and took over the top spot by herself when she beat out an infield hit for her 259th career hit in the fifth inning of Saturday's second game.
Mead said she didn't realize she was on the verge of history this weekend.
"I knew coming into the season I was close but I haven't been tracking it game by game or anything like that,'' Mead said. "It's good to get it out of the way and know that it happened, but there's a lot of season left so hopefully a lot more hits to come, too.''
Mead said the hit record is something she'll probably come to appreciate more in the years to come after her playing days are behind her.
"I think it's something that right now it's such a great honor to have but you don't realize it because you're still playing and you're still doing all the things,'' Mead said. "Later it will hit you and you'll be like, 'Wow, I did that.' ''
