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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
In between a season-opening doubleheader sweep over two-time defending Class 6A state champion Topeka High and Tuesday's Centennial League twinbill against Emporia, Washburn Rural's softball team had a full 10 days off.
But there was not a hint of rustiness displayed by the Junior Blues, who rolled to a 14-0, 15-0 sweep over the Spartans on Rural's home field.
Washburn Rural senior star Emmerson Cope had two home runs, eight RBI and combined for a no-hitter in Tuesday's 14-0, 15-0 Centennial League sweep over Emporia. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Senior Kaci Bath rounds the bases for an inside-the-park home run in Washburn Rural's 15-0 second-game win over Emporia. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Washburn Rural senior Piper Titsworth pitched a no-hitter in a 15-0 second-game win over Emporia and also had a pair of doubles and two RBI. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/Special to TSN]
Rural coach Liz Stover said she didn't necessarily welcome the long layoff, but was happy with how the Junior Blues handled it.
"It would be nice to kind of get started with the season and just get on a roll, but I think the girls did a good job working hard at practice and staying ready,'' Stover said. "We just tried to keep (practice) light, keep it fun but also tried to focus on little things
"I think we were focused and ready to go. We came out and did our job and I was real happy with it.''
Washburn Rural, 4-0 overall and in the league, set the tone for the day in the bottom of the first in the opener, when Rural's second hitter, senior Emmerson Cope, hit a two-run homer, part of a six-run inning for the Junior Blues.
Rural also got run-scoring singles from senior Piper Titsworth and freshman Henley Rapp and a RBI sacrifice fly from senior Alyssa Mastin.
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By Rick Peterson
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural volleyball star Brooklyn DeLeye is one of 20 athletes selected by USA Volleyball for the 2023 Girls U19 NORCECA Pan American Cup roster.
Washburn Rural volleyball star Booklyn DeLeye has been named the USA Volleyball U19 team for the Pan Am Cup. [File photo/TSN]
Twelve players from the 20-player roster will be chosen to compete at the Pan American Cup on May 7-15 in Ciudad de Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico.
The team will train April 30-May 6 at the Anaheim (Calif.) National Team Training Center.
Minnesota women’s head coach Keegan Cook will serve as the U19 team’s head coach.
A 6-foot-2 outside hitter, DeLeye was named the Gatorade Kansas Volleyball Player of the Year for the second straight season last fall after leading the Junior Blues to a 45-1 record and the Class 6A state championship.
Washburn Rural advanced to the state volleyball tournament four straight seasons during DeLeye's career, posting first, second, third and fourth-place finishes.
As a senior DeLeye amassed 457 kills and 324 digs while posting a .503 kill percentage and a .341 hitting percentage. She also recorded 81 assists, 64 service aces and 21 blocks.
A MaxPreps.com first-team All-American, DeLeye, who will play collegiately at Kentucky, concluded her prep volleyball career with 2,090 kills.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Lailah Benz
LAILAH BENZ, Shawnee Heights
Benz, a sophomore midfielder, recorded a three-goal hat track for Shawnee Heights in last Tuesday's 5-0 non-league girls soccer victory over Ottawa at the Bettis Family Sports Complex. Benz helped lead the T-Birds to a 2-1 start to the 2023 season with their second straight win.
Bethany Druse
BETHANY DRUSE, Seaman
A senior, Druse, the defending Class 5A 800 meters champion, posted individual wins in the 1,600 and 800 in last Thursday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational track and field meet at Washburn Rural and also anchored the Vikings' 4x400 relay team to a come-from-behind victory. Druse won the 1,600 by more than nine seconds in 5 minutes, 37.00 , won the 800 by more than 10 seconds in 2:25.28 and helped Seaman win the 4x400 relay in 4:20.01.
Alexis Fredrickson
ALEXIS FREDRICKSON, Washburn Rural
Fredrickson, a senior, opened her senior track and field season with two wins and two runnerup finishes in last Thursday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational at Washburn Rural. Fredrickson won the 100-meter dash in 14.00 seconds and the 200 in 28.26 while also finishing second in the 400 (62.0) and the pole vault (8 feet, 6 inches). Fredrickson was a three-time Class 6A-5A state medalist and two-time state team champion for Rural's wrestling team.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2023 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
GIRLS
100 METERS
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 12.37
Marshall, Topeka High 13.17
Ross, Silver Lake 13.49
Steiner, Seaman 13.62
Randa, Hayden 13.81
200 METERS
Nichols, Shawnee Heights 25.88
Brooks, Topeka West 26.00
Rezac, Rossiville 27.63
Marshall, Topeka High 27.65
Wise, Silver Lake 27.76
400 METERS
Brooks, Topeka High 59.74
Hillebert, Hayden 60.74
Fredrickson, Washburn Rural 62.00
Rezac, Rossville 63.08
Foster, Rossville 63.89
Returning senior state champion Bethany Druse of Seaman is the Shawnee County leader in the girls 800 and 1,600. [File photo/TSN]
800 METERS
Druse, Seaman 2:25.28
Foster, Rossville 2:33.78
Farmer, Silver Lake 2:34.46
Heston, Seaman 2:39.07
Liedtke, Shawnee Heights 2:44.95
- Details
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
NOTE: Top.Sports.news will compile a weekly track and field honor roll for Shawnee County high schools throughout the 2023 season. Coaches are asked to email updated times and marks or any corrections to Rick Peterson at
BOYS
100 METERS
Dunshee, Hayden 10.94
Rollenhagen, Silver Lake 11.08
Heiman, Silver Lake 11.23
Murph, Topeka High 11.28
Peoples, Topeka High 11.35
200 METERS
Cochran, Seaman 22.70
Rollenhagen, Silver Lake 22.79
Murph, Topeka High 23.06
Berry-Briggs, Shawnee Heights 23.08
Mack, Topeka High 23.55
400 METERS
Schrickel, Hayden 51.09
Terry, Washburn Rural 52.95
Benz, Shawnee Heights 53.02
Roeder, Topeka High 53.25
Chooncharoen, Washburn Rural 53.41
Shawnee Heights junior Jackson Esquibel (3) is the Shawnee County leader in the 800 and 1,600 meters. [File photo/TSN]
800 METERS
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 2:05.09
Anderson, Seaman 2:05.59
Johnson, Washburn Rual 2:07.92
Stuke, Seaman 2:10.22
Dial, Washburn Rural 2:10.62
1,600 METERS
Esquibel, Shawnee Heights 4:29.61
Njoroge, Topeka West 4:29.84
Dial, Washburn Rural 4:39.16
Wilkie, Topeka West 4:55.15
King, Washburn Rural 5:00.00
Topeka West senior Lenny Njoroge is the Shawnee County leader in the boys 3,200-meter run. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
3,200 METERS
Njoroge, Topeka West 9:34.11
Jowers, Seaman 10:23.75
Fink, Washburn Rual 10:34.34
Wilkie, Topeka West 11:01.38
Carter, Shawnee Heights 11:16.39
