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Created: 03 April 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

NiJaree Canady

NIJAREE CANADY, Topeka High

Canady, the reigning Kansas Gatorade Softball Player of the Year, opened her senior season last Thursday with an outstanding performance in the pitching circle and at the plate in Topeka High's 11-1, 6-1 doubleheader sweep over Topeka West. Canady, who has committed to Stanford, picked up the pitching wins in both games, striking out a total of 28 batters while allowing just two hits and two runs on the day. Canady hit a homer and doubled in the Trojans' first-game win.

Emmerson Cope

EMMERSON COPE, Washburn Rural

A junior, Cope pitched a five-inning perfect game and hit a three-run walkoff home run in Washburn Rural's 10-0 first-game softball win over Hayden last Tuesday, finishing with 11 strikeouts and four runs batted in. Cope, an All-Class 6A first-teamer last season, added a double in the Junior Blues' 8-1 win over the Wildcats in the second game.

 Parker Dunn

PARKER DUNN, Washburn University

Dunn, a senior right-fielder, went 4 for 4 with 4 runs scored and 5 runs batted in for Washburn's baseball team last Saturday as the Ichabods took a 15-4 victory over No. 4-ranked Central Missouri at Falley Field. Dunn hit a pair of home runs for Washburn, which handed Central Missouri its first MIAA loss of the season and ended the Mules' 19-game winning streak while snapping a three-game losing streak. 

Victoria Reed

VICTORIA REED, Highland Park

A sophomore sprinter, Reed made her debut for Highland Park with three individual wins in last Friday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational track and field meet at Washburn Rural. Reed won the 100-meter dash in 12.6 seconds, the 200 in 26.5 and the 400 in 60.4 seconds.

Tre Richardson

TRE RICHARDSON, Highland Park

Richardson, a junior, made his 2022 track and field debut in last Friday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational with three wins and a second-place finish. Richardson won the long jump with a best of 22 feet, 2 inches, took the triple jump win at 43-6 and won the 200-meter dash in 21.6 seconds. Richardson added a second-place finish in the 100 in 10.5.

Zach Sulzen-Watson

ZACH SULZEN-WATSON, Washburn Rural

A senior thrower, Sulzen-Watson opened his 2022 track and field season with a pair of wins in last Friday's Jerry Beardslee Invitational at Rural. Sulzen-Watson recorded a personal best with a throw of 52 feet, 5 inches in the shot put and added a win in the discus with a winning throw of 161-1 in the discus. Sulzen-Watson placed fifth in the Class 6A discus as a junior.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details

Created: 02 April 2022

By KYLE MANTHE

The Washburn Review

Washburn baseball rebounded from a three-game losing streak in just about the biggest way possible Saturday afternoon posting a 15-4 run-rule victory over No. 4 Central Missouri.

“We came out Friday night and gave some runs away, and we knew that if we would have kept it close we had some opportunities,” said Washburn coach Harley Douglas. “To go out and compete and do it the way we did and kind of flush what had been going on I thought it (showed) the resilience of this team.”

The Ichabods dropped Game 1 of the series 9-3 and fell behind 4-1 in Game 2 before scoring the final 14 runs of the game to end it early.

“Any time you got a chance to beat a team of that caliber and the scores that we had today that’s a pretty big accomplishment,” said senior Parker Dunn who had five RBI in the game. 

The Mules entered the day with a 19-game winning streak, including a perfect 18-0 MIAA record, which was snapped by a sterling starting pitching performance from sophomore Casey Steward and the hot bats of Washburn led by Dunn.

Washburn pitcher Casey Steward turned in a strong pitching performance Saturday as the Ichabods topped No. 4-ranked Central Missouri, 15-4. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Washburn celebrates a run Saturday's 15-4 MIAA victory over No. 4-ranked Central Misouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

“I think Casey did a really good job of settling in and giving us a chance to get that offense going. And then once we started going it just kept riding pretty well,” Douglas said. “When that happens you see this team is as good as anybody if we lock in and play.”

Early on it was the Ichabods who did damage first, with Dunn hitting a solo shot over the right-field wall in the first inning. That would be all of the scoring for Washburn in the first three innings.

Steward struggled with command early, hitting two batters in the second inning, both of which came around to score on doubles. A third run in the inning scored on a wild pitch.

A walk and another wild pitch put a runner on third in the third inning, with the run scoring on an error in the field to make it a 4-1 ballgame after three.

“At that point when we were down, you just got to think like, it’s a game, you got to go out there and have fun because that’s really all it is,” Steward said.

The Ichabods began their comeback in the fourth inning, scoring five runs on four hits. Two walks began the inning and sophomore Otto Jones made them count with a single, scoring one. Junior Cal Watkins was able to dash home on a groundout by senior Kros Bay.

Senior Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli continued his strong season with a home run into left field, giving Washburn the lead. Seniors kept swinging the bats as Dunn and Brett Ingram followed with back-to-back doubles to complete the five-run inning.

“We had a lot better bat speed at pitches in the zone throughout the lineup and a lot of guys played a big part in today’s game and I think that was the difference,” Dunn said.

Sophomore Connor Scott jumped on the second pitch he saw in the fifth inning for a leadoff home run. Two walks and a single from Watkins loaded the bases for Dunn who was hit by a pitch, scoring Watkins.

Two more runs were scored after an error by the Mules on a ball put in play by Ingram. Senior Zion Bowlin walked moving Ingram to second and Dunn to third.

Both scored on a single from Scott, picking up his second hit of the inning and putting Washburn up 12-4 after five.

Steward finished his day on the hill after a scoreless top of the sixth inning, allowing only one hit over his final three innings pitched and striking out a pair in the game.

“(I was) Just trying to trust my pitches and take it one pitch at a time and not try to think ahead, let my defense work a little bit,” Steward said. “As long as I can get ahead, stay ahead and just try to make them get weak contact, that is what I was focusing on”

The Ichabods loaded the bases with no outs to begin the sixth inning but a double play took one baserunner away before Dunn came up. He sent a 3-0 pitch over the right-field fence for his second home run of the day, fourth hit, and racked up five total RBI with the swing.

Senior Washburn Rural product Dalton Huggins came on to protect the 15-4 lead and did just that, striking out the side to complete the comeback, setting up a rubber match on Sunday.

“To be able to get today, and show that we are capable of playing with anybody in the country, that is what we have been trying to get our guys to understand and see,” Douglas said. “These are the games you live for, to try and go out and get a series win against a nationally-ranked team.”  

Dunn’s 4-4 day was aided by three hits and three RBI from Scott and three hits from Jones. Ingram also finished with two hits.

Steward picked up the win, moving to 3-0 on the year after giving up just three runs over six innings of work.

The win moved Washburn to 22-10 on the year and 13-6 in conference play with the series finale against Central Missouri at 1 p.m.

WASHBURN 15, CENTRAL MISSOURI 4

 Central Missouri (24-4) 031 000 0  – 4 4 1

Washburn (22-10)           100 563 x  – 15 14 2

WP – Steward (3-0). LP – Little (1-1). 2B – Washburn: Dunn, Ingram Central Missouri: Young, Pennington. HR – Washburn: Dunn 2, Clark-Chiapparelli, Scott.

Details

Created: 02 April 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Brenda Holaday is always looking for improvement, but after a slow start to the 2022 season the veteran Washburn University softball coach certainly can't complain with where her Ichabods are sitting with just 14 games left in the regular season.

The Ichabods wrapped up a 4-0 weekend Saturday with a 9-1, 8-4 MIAA sweep over Northwest Missouri State,  improving to 28-11 on the year (10-2 in the MIAA) and a perfect 18-0 at Gahnstrom Field while extending their win streak to eight games.

 "You think about it, you started out 2-6, so we're happy with where we are,'' Holiday said. "We just know how tough this conference is, and we know we'll have our hands full on the road next weekend, so it's just about continuing to get a little better every week.''

Washburn senior pitcher Raegen Hamm picked up the second-game win in Saturday's 9-1, 8-4 sweep over Northwest Missouri. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

 

Washburn scored four runs in the second inning, a run in the fifth and four in the sixth of the first game, cruising to the eight-run, run-rule victory.

In the second inning Ashton Friend and Kimi Patterson were hit by pitches in back-to-back trips to the plate, two of the eight times the Ichabods were plunked on the afternoon.

Washburn shortstop Autymn Schreiner waits for the throw to second Saturday as a Northwest Missouri player attempts to steal. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Autymn Schreiner singled to load the bases and then Maddie Stipsits was hit  to score Patterson. 

Marrit Mead then cleared the bases with a triple as the Ichabods went up, 4-0.

The Bearcats scored a run in the top of the third, but the Ichabods answered with a run in the fifth when Mead singled and then scored on a single up the middle by Jaycee Ginter.

The Ichabods finished off the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth as Rylee Seymour delivered a pinch-hit single followed by singles by Schreiner and Jaden LaBarge.

 After Ellington Hogle reached on a fielder's choice, Mead singled to score Schreiner and Paige Robbins ended the game with a single up the middle.

Mead, a Sante Fe Trail product, tied a career-high with four runs batted in, going 3 for 4 with a run scored. Schreiner had two hits and scored twice and Robbins drove in two.

Former Shawnee Heights star Ginter moved to 19-3 in the pitching circle, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out eight batters.

The Ichabods jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second game in the bottom of the first inning as Mead was hit by a pitch and then stole second.

After Robbins singled and stole second, Ginter doubled to left center field to score both Mead and Robbins.

Hadley Kerschen was hit by a picth and a single by LaBarge set up Patterson's single to center that scored Kerschen. The Ichabods sent nine to the plate in the inning.

After the Bearcats (6-29, 0-10) scored a pair of runs in the top of the second, Washburn came back with two runs on back-to-back doubles by Mead, Robbins and Ginter, putting the Ichabods up, 6-2.

Washburn scored two more runs in the third, taking advantage of a Bearcat error as Robbins' double to center scored Patterson and then Mead, who was hit, came around to score on a sac fly by Friend.

The Bearcats scored a solo run in the sixth on a solo home run by Lauren Gray.

Raegen Hamm pictched 41/3 innings and struck out six for WU, improving to 8-6 on the season while allowing an earned run and scattering three hits. Ginter came on to pitch the seventh inning.

Robbins finished with three hits for the Ichabods while Ginter drove in three runs and Robbins had two RBI.

Mead was 5 of 6 on the day with four runs scored and four RBI. Ginter also drove in four runs as did Robbins.

"We do a lot of things well,'' Holaday said. "We just have a new things we need to clean up for sure.''

The Ichabods will be in action next weekend with a road games at Fort Hays State on Friday and Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday.

First game

WASHBURN 9, NORTHWEST MISSOURI 1

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Details

Created: 02 April 2022

By ISAAC DEER

TopSports.news

After taking a narrow 1-0 loss in Game 1, Seaman got its bats going in the second game to take an 11-4 victory and earn a Centennial League split with Manhattan Friday at Optimist Field.

Game 1 was a pitcher's duel between Manhattan’s Cade Perkins and Seaman’s Bryson Vawter, with the Indians making a third-inning run hold up for the win.

Vawter, a junior, had a stellar day for the Vikings, allowing just four hits while striking struck out eight batters.

“I felt great today and I felt like things were going to go well early on,” said Vawter, who was making his second start. “In both games, I felt great. I’ve pitched six innings in both games and I think that my stuff is getting better, the more I pitch. Giving up two runs combined in my last two starts is pretty good for me.”

Perkins, meanwhile, would work a complete-game shutout for Manhattan. Perkins allowed just one hit and struck out 13 Vikings in his stellar season debut.

“Getting ahead in the count against Seaman was big for me tonight,” Perkins said. “Before the season, my goal was to always get ahead against batters and not fall behind in the count against anybody.

“With the bullpens and the practices that we have had, I felt like my pitch control is really good.''

The two starters from Manhattan and Seaman combined for 21 strikeouts, so the offense wasn’t lighting up the scoreboard.

Seaman and Manhattan were all tied up until Braden Dinkel hit a double in the top of the third, bringing one run home to break the 0-0 tie and giving the Indians the lead.

After Dinkel’s RBI, Vawter and Perkins would create headaches for the batters. Nobody had an answer for either starter after Dinkel.

“(Perkins) was just dominant today,'' Manhattan coach Luke Snyder said. “Cade was exceptional. He continues to get better with every outing. Today was great for us and him. The game took about an hour and 15 minutes so you knew that it was a well-pitched game by both sides.”

“(Perkins) and Vawter pitched great today,” Seaman coach Trent Oliva said. “Manhattan was able to get a couple of more hits than us at the end, but I thought our defense was pretty good. Our guys were competing well in the first game, we just weren’t able to come out on top.”

Game 2 was the exact opposite of game one.

The Seaman offense regrouped after by putting up 11 runs on the board.

“The topic in between games was being more aggressive at the plate,” Oliva said. I thought we did a pretty good job putting the ball in play in the second game. There is some room for improvement, but it was a good showing by our guys.”

Seaman’s offense was able to score at least one run in five straight innings, forcing Manhattan to go deep into the bullpen.

“We stubbed our toe in the second game,” Snyder said. “I think our guys understood that there was some disappointment in our defense. We were able to outhit (Seaman), but we had four errors. The errors are not a characteristic of how we normally play defense.”

The Indians started off hot in the first inning. Three straight singles from Dinkel, Perkins and Jaxon Vikander set up Manhattan for two runs.

Seaman would capitalize on Manhattan’s early defensive mistakes in the bottom of the first inning.

The Vikings collected a three-run first inning with two hits. Manhattan gave up three walks and an error which gave the Vikings the momentum. Seaman would also force a pitching change in the first inning.

From that point on, the Vikings controlled the game.

Dagen Brewer delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the second, giving the Vikings separation from the Indians.

After giving up two runs in the first inning, Maclane Finley found a rhythm on the mound to help the Vikings build on their lead.

“Our pitching and defense have been really good,” Oliva said. “Our pitchers have been able to do their job and throw strikes. The pitchers have been doing great throwing different types of pitches for strikes consistently. Our defense not giving up errors and our pitchers throwing good pitches will always give us a chance to win.”

Seaman was able to put up back-to-back one-run innings giving the Vikings a five-run lead before the fifth inning.

The Vikings put up four more runs in the bottom of the fifth. A double by Aiden Polter, four walks and an error would allow the Vikings to gain an 11-3 lead.

Manhattan would collect one run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from PJ Hughes.

Seaman (3-1) will play at De Soto (4-0) on Monday while Manhattan (1-1) will host Topeka High on Tuesday.

First game

MANHATTAN 1, SEAMAN 0

Manhattan 001 000 1 -- 1 4 0

Seaman     000 000 0 – 0 1 1

 W -- Perkins (1-0). L – Vawter (1-1). 2B -- Manhattan: Schartz, Dinkel.

Second game 

Manhattan 200 001 1 – 4 8 4

Seaman     321 140 X – 11 7 0

W – Finley (2-0). L – Horsman (0-1). 2B -- Manhattan: Bowles, Ginkle. Seaman: Vawter, Polter.

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