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By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Thursday night’s doubleheader sweep was due to a complete team effort from Topeka High baseball in both games.
Topeka High’s starting pitching posted an impressive performance, allowing the offense plenty of time to inflict some damage against Hayden.
Dillon Mitchell toed the slab in High's Game 1’s 6-4 victory over the Wildcats and Nathan Plankinton started in the 12-0 decision in the nightcap at Hummer Sports Park.
Topeka High's baseball team huddles up after Thursday's 6-4, 12-0 Centennial League doubleheader sweep over Hayden. [Photo by Isaac Deer/TSN]
Mitchell’s six innings of work gave him enough time to strike out 11 batters, allowing two hits and one run. Mitchell has been on a hot streak on the bump, recording 26 strikeouts over his last two games.
“My off-speed is working well and my fastball has a little more zip on it this year than previous years,” Mitchell said. “My main goal is that I’m pitching to weak contact. The more weak contact I can get with my pitches, the deeper I can go into games.”
Plankinton pitched a complete-game shutout while striking out four batters and giving up just a single hit.
“I got the job done with my fastball,” Plankinton said. “It wasn’t my best day, but I did enough to help my team get the win. I felt like the day was pretty good, but I definitely could have done better.”
Topeka High coach Cody Miller was pleased his pitcher's work.
“Our two guys that pitched today are capable of having days like they did today,” Miller said. “They can both throw off-speed pitches whenever they want to for strikes. When you can do that, it really keeps hitters off-balance. They both had their good stuff today.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, both Topeka West and Washburn Rural would have loved to have the 2022 city boys tennis championship all to itself.
But West coach Kurt Davids and Rural coach Kevin Hedberg had a strong inkling that Thursday's tournament at Kossover Tennis Center would turn out exactly like it did, with the Chargers and Junior Blues finishing the day as co-city champions.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu won the city No. 1 singles title Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping Rural win a share of the city team title. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West's Ian Cusick (left) and twin brother Miles won their second straight No. 1 city doubles title Thursday, helping West share the city team title with Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
West and Rural went one-two in all four divisions, winning two titles apiece, as both teams finished with 28 points. Shawnee Heights finished third as a team with 18 points.
"Kevin and I had talked about this and it went exacly as both of us had expected,'' said Davids, whose Chargers won their second straight city title. "We both had wishes for other things to happen, but we knew what was probably going to happen.''
Hedberg, who was coaching in his final city meet, agreed.
"(Kurt) and I were talking last night and we figured out we had three options,'' said Hedberg, who will retire at the end of the season. "One of us was going to win by one or we were going to tie.''
Topeka West's tennis team poses for a team picture after sharing the city team championship with Washburn Rural Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's tennis team poses for a picture after sharing the city team championship with Topeka West Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural claimed both singles titles, with senior Mason Thieu taking an 8-2 win over Topeka West's sophomore James Maag in the No. 1 final and senior Mason Casebeer taking an 8-1 win over West sophomore Caden McGee in the No. 2 championship match.
Topeka West turned the tables in doubles competition, with juniors Ian and Miles Cusick claiming the No. 1 championship with an 8-1 win over Washburn Rural's Kyler Knudtson and Nick Luetje and junior Carter Cool and senior Gavin Chavez taking the No. 2 title with an 8-3 win over Rural seniors Kiyoon Park and Zach Willingham.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Four Shawnee County teams earned spots in the latest Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association girls state rankings.
Washburn Rural, currently 9-2-0, is ranked No. 2 in Class 6A while Shawnee Heights, 9-1-0, is No. 8 in 5A.
Both Hayden and Cair Paravel Latin are ranked in 4A-1A, with Hayden (7-2-1) No. 3 and Cair Paravel (9-3-0) No. 5.
KHSSCA COACHES POLL
WEEK 5
Records as of April 27
CLASS 6A
1. Blue Valley West 7-1-0
2. Washburn Rural 9-2-0
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Silver Lake freshman pitcher Kendra Cook has been named the Dan Key Farmers Insurance Girls Athlete of the Week. [Submitted]
KENDRA COOK, Silver Lake
Cook a freshman pitcher, threw a seven-inning no-hitter in a 7-0 second-game Mid-East League victory at St. Marys last Thursday.
Cook allowed one walk and struck out five against the Bears.helping the Eagles complete a doubleheader sweep.
Seaman senior Mason McConnaughey threw a no-hitter in last Tuesday's 3-0 Centennial League win over Junction City. [Submitted]
MASON McCONNAUGHEY, Seaman
A senior pitcher, McConnaughey threw a complete-game no-hitter in Seaman's 3-0 Centennial League road victory over Junction City last Tuesday.
McConnaughey recorded 15 strikeouts against the Blue Jays and did not allow a walk. Mason backed up the Junction City no-no with a 3 inning run rule no hitter in his next outing vs. Emporia.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
City swimmers and divers tuned up for next week's city championsips with a dominating performance in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium, capturing wins in 10 of 12 events.
Topeka West senior Kadence Jeffries and Seaman sophomores and Avery and Tauren Walz all won a pair of individual titles while Washburn Rural's Makenna Pritchard was also an individual winner.
Jeffries won the 200-yard free style by more than 11 seconds in 1 minutes, 58.56 seconds and the 500 free by 15 seconds in 5:12.79.
Avery Walz won the 200 individual medley in 2:13.26 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.62 while Tauren Walz won the 50 freestyle in 25.88 and the 100 butterfly in 1:02.73.
The Walz sisters both won four gold medals on the day, swimming on the Vikings' winning 200 free relay in 1:43.93 and the 400 free relay in 3:47.35.
Avery and Tauren teamed with the Grace sisters, freshman Joslynn and senior Gabby, on both winning relays.
Topeka West senior Kadence Jeffries won the 200 individual medley and the 100 freestyle in Thursday's Topeka High Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Avery Walz earned four gold medals, including a pair of individual wins, in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
Seaman sophomore Tauren Walz captured four gold medals, including a pair of individual wins, as the Vikings finished third as a team in Tuesday's Topeka West Invitational. [File photo/TSN]
Pritchard won the 100 freestyle (55.62) and teamed with Mara Bare, Kiersten Harris and Taryn Lemke to win the 200 medley relay (2:00.42).
Washburn Rural used its depth to win the team title by a commanding 501-313 margin over Bishop Miege while Seaman was third with 295 points.
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL
