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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
SILVER LAKE -- For the second straight year, Rossville’s softball team will be dancing in the Class 3A state tournament after a 4-0 regional semifinal victory over Sabetha and a 4-1 championship win against Highway 24 foe Silver Lake on Thursday afternoon at Silver Lake.
Rossville softball celebrates its Class 3A regional championhip after Thursday's 4-1 win over Silver Lake. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Rossville's softball team celebrates after earning a return trip to the Class 3A state tournament. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
The Bulldawgs knew they had an uphill battle on Thursday, but they also knew that they were one of the best teams in Class 3A for a reason. Class 3A No. 1-ranked Silver Lake took a doubleheader sweep against Rossville during the regular season on the same field they played in the regional championship.
Facing the same team twice is hard, but going toe-to-toe with a rival school for a third time is daunting. In this case, Silver Lake couldn’t overcome Rossville’s sudden surge of energy going into the regional championship game.
“It feels very sweet to come back and get them,” Rossville coach John Nitsch said. “We’re still not hitting the ball that we’re capable of hitting, but the pitching and defense was solid and kept us in it. The defense and pitching are good enough to really keep us in any game. Today, we were good enough to get by.”
Rossville catcher Hailey Horton agreed with Nitsch’s statement on the joyous feeling of avenging their losses against its deepest foe.
“It feels amazing getting the win this time after those two losses earlier this year,” Horton said. “Beating (Silver Lake) in regionals to go to state is just amazing. We had the energy to start out the game because this game meant a lot to us. We knew we could do it, and we believed in each other. We really wanted to beat them.”
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Cair Paravel Latin girls soccer team took a big first step toward a return to the Class 4-1A state tournament by beating Eudora 4-0 Thursday at Bettis Sports Complex to claim a regional championship.
Cair Paravel sophomore Zahra Friess (3) is congratulated by teammates Trinity Childs (12) and Hemi Duehring (18) after scorinng the first goal in Thursday's 4-0 regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel junior Katherine Keys scored a goal for the Lions in Thursday's 4-0 Class 4A-1A regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Cair Paravel soccer poses for a team pictue after Thursday's Class 4A-1A regional win over Eudora. [Photo by Todd Fertig/TSN]
Awarded a bye for compiling the best record in the 4-1A East regional, the Lions had to win just one game to advance to next week’s quarterfinals. The Lions took down the Cardinals with quick striking offense and a solid defensive effort.
“We maybe started off a little slower than I would like,” Cair Paravel coach Doug Woolery said “Maybe (Eudora) was playing tough and made us look slower. But once we hit a groove, we started combining more. I thought we played better with possession and passing and movement in the second half.”
Sophomore Zahra Friess broke the ice at the 23:11 mark of the first half, scoring off a long pass. Then it was freshman KellyAnn Chada who contributed on the Lions’ three remaining goals. She recorded two assists on centering passes from the right wing in the first half. Midway through the second half she weaved through the Cardinal defense for an insurance goal.
“She could probably play anywhere on the field,” Woolery said of Chada. “She really helps us out on the wing. She’s got such great ball control, the ability to either take the shot or cross the ball in. She’s continually improving and seeking to improve.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
There have been times this season where it's been a challenge for Washburn Rural's soccer team to put the ball in the back of the net.
But with a solid defense and one of the state's premier goalkeepers in senior Hailey Beck, it doesn't take a scorefest for the Junior Blues to be successful.
Washburn Rural celebrates its Class 6A regional championship after Thursday's 3-0 win over Derby at McElroy Field. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
And on Thursday night, senior Mackinly Rohn's goal late in the first half and Rural's two second half insurance goals were more than enough to give the 13-4-1 Junior Blues a Class 6A regional championship with a 3-0 shutout at McElroy Field and a berth in next Tuesday's Class 6A quarterfinals.
"Hailey Beck, she's as good of a goalkeeper as we've ever had at Washburn Rural,'' Junior Blues coach Brian Hensyel said. "That's probably 12 shutouts this season and they're not shutouts where she stands back there and does nothing. She makes plays and every time Derby had a good chance tonight, the two or three times they did, she shut them down.
"So if you get a couple of goals you feel pretty confident with her back there. She's got a lot of experience and is a really good player and the defense has been good.''
Senior Mackinly Rohn is congratulated by Brooklyn DeLeye and her Washburn Rural teammates after scoring the game's first goal in Thursday's 3-0 win over Derby. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural had multiple scoring opportunities go awry in the opening half, but Rohn scored the only goal the Junior Blues would need with just 2:03 left in the half.
"I think it was important to get our energy up and get our confidence rolling,'' Rohn said. "We kept having chances but it just wasn't going in the net and that one before half really got us going through the second half.''
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Local sports icons Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite will be back in Topeka June 30 to host the second annual Big Kev Give Back Camp, a one-of-a-kind dual basketball/football camp on fhe campus of Washburn University
Both Weems and Wilhoite graduated from Highland Park and Wilhoite was a standout at Washburn and Weems at Missouri State before both players went on to long-time professional careers.
Weems and Wilhoite, who were inducted into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, will be joined by many other special guests to host the camp, in conjunction with Washburn, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The June 30 camp, open to athletes 9 through 17, is named in honor of Kyle's late father, Kevin, a former Washburn University basketball player, who had a big impact on the athletic careers of both Weems and Wilhoite.
Athletes will have the option between all-day basketball or football camps or can split their time between half-day basketball and football camps. Athletes wishing to split their time between football and basketball are encouraged to attend the football camp in the morning session.
The cost of the camp is $20 and athletes are encouraged to register online at www.wusports.com. Go to the list of Washburn Football Camps and scroll down to the Big Kev Give Back Camp. Those interested in attending the camp can also go to www.bkgiveback.com and click the signup link.
The football portion of the camp will be held at Yager Stadium while the basketball camp will be held in Lee Arena.
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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural softball is heading to the Class 6A state tournament for the fifth straight season after hardly breaking a sweat in its 17-0 victory over Wichita Southeast and 6-0 win against Campus to become regional champions at Gahnstrom Field on Wednesday evening.
Washburn Rural softball hoists its Class 6A regional championship trophy after Wednesday's 6-0 win over Campus. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior star Emmerson Cope pitched a complete game in Wednesday's 6-0 Class 6A regional win over Campus. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Washburn Rural sophomore Naudia Wech is congratulated by coach Liz Stover as she rounds the bases on a home run. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
After falling just one run short in the Class 6A state title game against Topeka High a season ago, Washburn Rural (19-3) is back in the tournament with its group of returners desperate to avenge that heartbreak.
They had a regular season to play and two regional games to get back to the spot they wanted to be in, but it was fine for them, even with them taking on their challenges one day at a time.
“This all feels amazing, and I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids to work with,” Washburn Rural coach Elizabeth Stover said. “Everything about them makes this (win) super rewarding. I know it’s a program initiative every year; it’s our goal to make it to state. So we punched our ticket, and we’re overjoyed.”
Stover has been on the Washburn Rural coaching staff since 2018, being a part of the last five state tournament runs. With this being her last year as the head coach for the Junior Blues, it feels sweeter for her to make one last run with the team.
“Personally, it feels really wonderful,” Stover said. “I can’t say enough about this senior class and the people that they are with everything they brought to the table. The whole team has done above and beyond what I’ve asked them to. So I’m really thrilled to be with this group, and I’m glad we’re riding it out with them.”
