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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
LAWRENCE -- After winning a physically and emotionally demanding Class 6A semifinal game against Olathe Northwest, Washburn Rural’s softball team couldn’t overcome the exhaustion in a 10-0 loss to Olathe West in the 6A championship game on Friday night at Arrocha Park.
As Washburn Rural saw its season come to a close against Olathe West in the state championship, the Junior Blue dugout was filled with tears, smiles and hugs. The Junior Blues made it to the biggest game of the year for a second straight year, but couldn’t quite get over the hump after a very long tournament.
Washburn Rural senior star Emmerson Cope and JuniorBlues softball coach Elizabeth Stover exchange a hug after Friday' 10-0 loss to Olathe West in the Class 6A championship game. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural softball huddles up after receiving its second-place trophy in Friday's Class 6A state tournament. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural poses for a team picture with its Class 6A second-place trophy Friday at Lawrence. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The seniors leave Washburn Rural with a COVID-19 canceled freshman year, a first-round exit in the state tournament their sophomore years and back-to-back trips to the 6A state championship games their junior and senior years.
Washburn Rural coach Elizabeth Stover leaves the program after five successful years, the last two as head coach. Right out of college, Stover took a job that was a dream scenario for her. Stover is heading closer to home to take a job as Shawnee Mission South, but the legacy she left behind at Washburn Rural will be remembered by everyone involved.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better place to work right out of college,” Stover said. “This was my first place, and it was my dream job that just kind of fell (into) my lap. I didn’t realize where I was applying to when I first got out there. So just to have the opportunity from Ed Raines, Penny Lane, who was the one that hired me, and Charlie Nimz this last year (was great).
“And then all of the girls and their families to put their trust in me in the last five years has been just phenomenal. So I am really proud of that, and it’s been a great jumpstart to my career.”
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Shawnee Heights softball and sophomore pitcher Grace Proctor wrapped up a strong Class 5A state tournament performance Friday, with the eighth-seeded T-Birds rallying in the sixth innning to take a 2-0 win over Salina South in the third-place game at Wilkins Stadium.
Shawnee Heights sophomore Grace Proctor threw a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts in Friday's win over Salina South in the Class 5A third-place game. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Shawnee Heights sophomore Taylor Brees had the T-Birds' first hit and scored the game's first run in Friday's 2-0 win over Salina South. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
"It's definitely a surprise and it's a good surprise,'' said Shawnee Heights coach Tara Griffith, whose T-Birds only had two seniors on their 2023 roster.
Proctor twirled a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts for her second state tournament win while Shawnee Heights went 2-1 at state to cap a 17-8 season, with their lone loss a 4-3 decision to Goddard Eisenhower in a semifinal earlier Friday.
In Friday's third-place game, Proctor and Salina South senior Araceli Rivas hooked up in a pitching duel, with Proctor not allowing a hit until the bottom of the fifth and Rivas, who had 16 strikeouts, not giving up a T-Bird hit until the sixth.
Shawnee Heights broke through to do all of its damage with a two-out rally in the sixth, scoring both of its runs and collecting all three of its hits in the inning.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
Rossville rode the arm of Brinley Dyche to three wins in Manhattan Thursday and Friday, with the Bulldawgs claiming their first state softball championship since 2000 with a 2-0 win over Santa Fe Trail in the championship game.
Rossville celebrates its Class 3A softball championship after Friday's 2-0 win over Santa Fe Trail. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Brinley Dyche picked up all three pitching victories for Rossville in the Class 3A state tournament as the Bulldawgs captured their first state title since 2000. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
Rossville's softbal team poses for a picture after winning the Class 3A state title Friday in Manhattan. [Photo by Jesse Bruner/Special to TSN]
The Bulldawgs avenged a disappointing final day of the 2022 season. A year ago, Rossville lost one-run games in extra innings in both the semifinal and consolation rounds of the 3A tournament.
“It’s been 23 years since we’ve won one for the town, and it was much needed to get one back for them,” said third-year head coach John Nitsch. “Our goal was to get back here and finish it. I knew we were good enough to win it. We just needed to come finish it.”
“Last year we just didn’t perform the way we knew we could have,” said shortstop Kinsey Perine, who snared a line drive for the final out of the championship. “It just means everything that we came out this year and turned it on.
“Those are my best friends. I wouldn’t want to do this with anybody else. I am just so happy for each and every one of them.”
The senior Dyche pitched the Bulldawgs to a come-from-behind 6-4 win over second-seeded Southeast of Saline in the semifinal game Friday and despite bright sun and steamy temperatures, Dyche returned to the mound for the championship game an hour later and shut out fifth-seeded Santa Fe Trail to claim the 3A title.
Dyche was also credited with the 19-7 victory over third-seeded Columbus on Thursday, a win that was preserved by relief pitcher Kalei Hale.
“Brinley is just incredible,” Nitsch said. “She’ll just go toe-to-toe with anybody around. I’m going to miss having her out there next year. She’s a bulldog for sure.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Topeka West's Alesecio Batson went home disappointed after his state track and field debut as a freshman in 2022.
Topeka West sophomore Alesecio Batson soared to the Class 5A state title in the boys triple jump on Friday at Cessna Stadium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
On Friday Batson left Cessna Stadium as a state champion, jumping 48 feet, 4.25 inches to win the Class 5A boys triple jump as Batson and city rival Tre Richardson of Highlanf Park (46-5.75) went one-two in the event.
Even though he wasn't happy with his '22 state performance, Batson said it was a big help heading into his return to the state meet.
"It really helped me because I hadn't been in a lot of really big events like this,'' Batson said. "Last year coming here I came in with like a 43-5 as a freshman. I was really nervous, scared, the wind was blowing and I ended up jumping like a 39 and it was really bad.
"This year I came in and I had a really big boost of confidence because I had been here before and I was more confident now.''
Batson served notice on Friday's opening jump that he was going to be the man to beat and went on to go wire to wire for the win.
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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Rossville softball team needed a special relief appearance to advance to the Clas 3A state tournament semifinals for the second consecutive year, defeating Columbus 19-7 at Manhattan Thursday night.
Rossville junior Kinsey Perine, being congratulated by coach John Nitsch, had two doubles and a triple in the Bulldawgs' 19-7 Class 3A state win over Columbus Thursday at Manhattan. [Photo by Brent Mayock/
The sixth-seeded Bulldawgs jumped out to a 15-2 lead over the third-seeded Titans. But Rossville ran into tough sledding in the fourth inning, surrendering a five-run rally to Columbus. After the Titans roughed up the Bulldawgs’ starter and a reliever, Rossville coach John Nitsch turned to junior Kalei Hale to put out the fire.
Hale stepped into the fray having pitched just once before in a varsity game. She put down the three batters she faced in the fourth inning, permitting just one run on a wild pitch. She returned for the fifth with a slightly bigger cushion and retired the Titans, ending the contest in five innings.
“I never would have thought my first two pitchers would have come out and been that nervous and struggle a little bit,” Nitsch said. “But it’s nice when you’ve got another junior who is ready to go at any time. She was ready and threw a heck of a game tonight.”
With pitching a Rossville strength, Hale was an unknown commodity to everyone but Nitsch and the Bulldawgs.
“She carries herself well on the mound. I know she does,” Nitsch said. “She’s always been our number three, but she could pitch for a lot of other teams. We’re deep with pitching. I knew she had it in her and I told her, ‘When you get your time, it’s going to be in a big moment.’ ”
