Details

Created: 30 March 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Obviously, Washburn Rural baseball coach Jay Mastin will be looking for improvement as the season goes along, but Mastin didn't have much to complain about after Tuesday's season-opener, with the Junior Blues rolling to a doubleheader sweep over Centennial League rival Hayden.

The visiting Junior Blues took a 14-5 win over the Wildcats in the first game and took a 15-1 decision in the second game.

"I thought we did a pretty good job tonight,'' Mastin said. "We hit a lot of balls hard, we were aggressive running the bases and got some good innings out of some guys today.

"It's the first time we've been on a baseball field and seen live pitching in a week and a half, two weeks, so it was good.''

Washburn Rural senior Ty Weber (45), sophomore Kyle Walker (6) and the Junior Blues celebrate a run during Tuesday's season-opening doubleheader sweep over Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Washburn Rural took control of the opener in the first two innings, scoring two runs in the first and four in the second to stake senior starting pitcher Carson Rosen to an early 6-1 lead. Hayden scored a run in the bottom of the first.

The Junior Blues added three runs in the top of the fourth and a run in the sixth to open up a 10-1 advantage before Hayden pushed across four runs in the bottom of the sixth after Rosen left the game.

Rural scored four more runs in the top of the seventh and the Junior Blues shut down Hayden in the seventh, ending the game with a double play.

Senior Ty Weber, who missed virtually his entire junior season with an injury, doubled twice in the first game while sophomore Kyle Walker was also credited with a double.

Rosen picked up the pitching victory.

Washburn Rural got off to another quick start in the nightcap, with Weber, the third batter of the game, crushing a three-run home run. The Junior Blues would score four in the first and added two runs in the second and a run in the third to open up a 7-0 lead through three innings.

The Junior Blues, who qualified for the Class 6A state tournament last spring, pushed across eight more runs in the top of the fourth to take a 15-0 lead before Hayden scored its lone run in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run from junior Braydn Rose.

The game was stopped at that point due to an approaching storm.

Junior Zach Sharshel picked up the pitching win for Washburn Rural in its 15-1 second-game victory Tuesday at Hayden. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]

Junior Zach Sharshel was the starting and winning pitcher for Washburn Rural, 2-0.

The Junior Blues have several veterans in their lineup, but Mastin was also pleased with the play of several newcomers against Hayden.

"We've got a handful of guys that are playing varsity baseball for the first time and a lot of those guys had success today, either at the plate or on the mound,'' Mastin said.

Hayden fell to 1-2 on the season.

The Wildcats opened their season on Monday against Nemaha Central, taking a 13-7 win in the first game. The second game was suspended due to darkness entering the bottom of the seventh, with the Thunder holding a 12-10 advantage. The game will be completed at a later date.

 

 

Details

Created: 30 March 2022

By KYLE MANTHE

The Washburn Review

Just like the temperatures, Washburn women’s tennis has heated up as the season moved from winter to spring.

After a seven-match losing streak in the middle of the season, the Ichabods have bounced back with three straight victories after a 6-1 home decision over Rockhurst University on Tuesday.

Washburn coach Kirby Ronning credits the turnaround to the athletes' perseverance and refusal to give up.

“I think that they did a good job of not letting it effect them and just making the adjustments that they needed to,” Ronning said. “For our girls to get some momentum going in their third win in a row was really good.”

The windy weather did not slow Washburn down as they moved to 7-8 on the year, winning the last two matches with a combined score of 13-1.

Doubles partners Marta Torres (left) and Svea Crohn congratulate each other during Washburn's 6-1 women's tennis win over Rockhurst Tuesday. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

“A lot of players put in extra work, which I think helped with confidence,” said junior Svea Crohn. “Confidence doesn’t come overnight, you have to put in the work and practice and I think everybody has been doing better at that.”

Doubles play began with a clean 6-0 sweep from sophomore Maja Jung and junior Kinsey Fields in the second position.

That was followed by a 6-1 win from freshmen Isabella Martensson and Lara Schmid at No. 1.

Crohn and sophomore Marta Torres got a 6-1 victory to finish the sweep as the Ichabods claimed the match's first point.

Washburn's Maja Jung returns a shot in Tuesday's 6-1 dual win over Rockhurst on Tuesday at Washburn. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

In singles play Torres was first to finish her No. 1 match, winning in two sets. Jung was not far behind with a two-set victory of her own, losing only four combined games along the way from the second position and putting the Ichabods up 3-0.

Crohn completed Washburn’s sweep to four points, with yet another two-set victory in the No. 3 match.

“I think I adjusted pretty well personally (to the wind),'' Crohn said. "I think it’s especially important to keep the right mindset to stay calm and just make one more ball than the opponent.''

With the match decision in hand, Martensson fell in her No. 4 match in two sets, which would be the only point the Hawks would claim in the match.

In the fifth position, Schmid was steady en route to a two-set victory of her own, winning 6-2, 6-3. Sophomore Cadence Lynn finished off the scoring for the women with another two-set victory, with the second going into a quick tiebreaker.

“I didn’t think we were playing bad during that streak, it was a streak with tough competition. I think the girls just knew that they were starting to play better, the confidence was eventually going to come,” Ronning said. “Getting one I think really fueled their confidence and then just starting to take off from there.”

The win moves Washburn to 5-2 at home, and 4-1 at the Washburn Tennis Complex outdoor courts.

“I think we all feel pretty good with having a three (match) winning streak,” Crohn said on the goals moving forward. “Just keep doing what we are doing, working on our confidence, practicing that and putting in the extra work,” Crohn said.

Next up for the Ichabods is a trip to Bolivar, Missouri to face Southern Arkansas University in a neutral-site match Saturday.    

WASHBURN 6, ROCKHURST 1

Individual Results

Doubles

No. 1 – Martensson/Schmid, Washburn def. Jankowska/Limauge, Rockhurst 6-1

No. 2 – Fields/Jung, Washburn def. Dudic/Isgett, Rockhurst 6-0

No. 3 – Crohn/Torres, Washburn def. Dabbah/Lentisco, Rockhurst 6-1

Singles

No. 1 – Torres, Washburn def. Vukcevic, Rockhurst 6-2, 6-3

No. 2 – Jung, Washburn def. Limague, Rockhurst 6-3, 6-1

No. 3 – Crohn, Washburn def. Jankowska, Rockhurst 6-3, 6-1

No. 4 – Lentisco, Rockhurst def. Martensson, Washburn 6-1, 6-3

No. 5 – Schmid, Washburn def. Dudic, Rockhurst 6-2, 6-2

No. 6 – Lynn, Washburn def. Dabbah, Rockhurst 6-2, 7-6 (1)

Details

Created: 29 March 2022

By KYLE MANTHE

The Washburn Review

Tuesday was a windy day at the Washburn Tennis Complex for a ranked men’s match between No. 11 Washburn and No. 28 Rockhurst.

“I thought out kids did a really good job of adjusting to the conditions; it was really, really tough out there today,” said Washburn coach Kirby Ronning. “For our guys to just continue taking care of business is really positive.”

The weather was no worry for the Ichabods who claimed a 6-1 victory over the Hawks, giving Washburn three straight wins.

Six points is the most the Ichabods have picked up in a match since their 6-1 victory Feb. 26 over the University of Illinois Springfield.

Each point is vital as the team aims to get back into the top-10 of the ITA rankings.

With the win Washburn moved to 13-2 on the season as the Ichabods get set for five straight matches on the road.

Doubles action began with a win for the Ichabods from the first position, with the No. 21 ranked duo of freshman Matthew Earle and sophomore Sebastian Pjontek taking a 6-2 win.

Washburn's Santiago Rendon celebrates a point in Tuesday's 6-1 men's tennis win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

Behind them sophomores Santiago Rendon and Miquel Perez picked up a spirited 6-4 win from the third position, making seven straight matches the pair has won and giving the team a 1-0 lead.

“It’s tough opponents and tough conditions, too much wind, but we managed to play and compete and that is what we are here for,” Rendon said.

Senior Raul-Alin Dicu and freshman Noah Neideck lost the No. 2 match 6-3, but the doubles point already belonged to the Ichabods as singles play began.

Freshman Tim Hammes, ranked No. 36 individually, had no trouble with his No. 3 match, winning in two sets to give WU a 2-0 team lead.

Noah Neideck (left) and Raul-Alin Dicu react to a point in Tuesday's 6-1 Washburn tennis win over Rockhurst. [Photo by Kyle Manthe/The Washburn Review]

Dicu, ranked No. 49 in singles, finished his No. 1 match next, needing three sets but coming away with a win to give Washburn a commanding 3-0 lead.

The only point lost in the match came in the No. 2 match with Perez falling in a 7-5 third set tiebreaker.

The Ichabods win was secured after sophomore Daniel Bird took a two-set victory, winning with scores of 6-3 and 6-1 from the fourth position. Pjontek finished his three set match from the sixth position next, winning the third set 6-4 to close it out.

“I think that’s something our guys have done a really good job of all year. They aren’t looking to the guy to their left or right, they are just taking it upon themselves to take care of business on their court,” Ronning said.

Rendon had the quickest match of singles play, but was the last to finish, as he dropped only one set-point on his way to a swift two-set victory to complete the 6-1 scoring.

“Doubles with Micky (Miquel Perez) we are really confident, we have won seven straight so we are very happy with that,” Rendon said. “In singles I lost the last match to SBU (Southwest Baptist University) so winning here today is very special for me.”

The win keeps Washburn a perfect 6-0 at home in Topeka, and 3-0 on the outdoor courts.

“A lot of these kids have been in college tennis for two, two and a half months and know what to expect in a lot of these matches, so there is not a lot of rookie lessons that they have to learn, it's just applying a lot of the stuff and they are starting to do a better job of that,” Ronning said.

The Ichabods will travel to Bolivar, Missouri to face Southern Arkansas University in a neutral-site match Saturday.

WASHBURN 6, ROCKHURST 1

Individual Results

Doubles

No. 1 – Pjontek/Earle, Washburn def. Harris/King, Rockhurst 6-2

No. 2 – Rodriguez/Keiner, Rockhurst def. Dicu/Neideck, Washburn 6-3

No. 3 – Perez/Rendon, Washburn def. Cequea/Sahagun, Rockhurst 6-4

Singles

No. 1 – Dicu, Washburn def. Keiner, Rockhurst 6-2, 4-6, 6-2

No. 2 – Rodriguez, Rockhurst def. Perez, Washburn 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5)

No. 3 – Hammes, Washburn def. Cequea, Rockhurst 6-1, 7-5

No. 4 – Pjontek, Washburn def. Sahagun, Rockhurst 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

No. 5 – Bird, Washburn def. Harris, Rockhurst 6-3, 6-1

No. 6 – Rendon, Washburn def. King, Rockhurst 6-0, 6-1  

Details

Created: 29 March 2022

By RICK PETERSON

TopSports.news

Playing for Washburn Rural for the first time since 2019, senior singles standout Mason Thieu turned in a dominating perormance Tuesday as the Junior Blues opened their season with a big day in Rura's Too Big Invitational at Kossover Tennis Center.

Thieu, who was a state placer as a freshman for Rural before competing out of state, went 3-0 on the day without dropping a game, winning the No. 1 singles championship. Thieu topped junior teammate Mason Casebeer 6-0, 6-0 in the final.

Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu makes a return in Tuesday's Too Big Invitational. Thieu won the No. 1 singles title without dropping a game. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Washburn Rural seniors Jiyoon Park and Zach Willingham captured the No. 1 doubles title, taking an 8-2 win over Olathe East in the championship match.

Washburn Rural seniors Jiyoon Park (left) and Zach Willingham won the No. 1 doubles championship in Tursday's season-opening Too Big Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]

Team scores weren't kept Tuesday, but the Junior Blues also won the No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles titles as Washburn Rural won four out of five divisions.

Justin Kruse ws the runner-up in the No. 2 singles division to pace Seaman 

TOO BIG INVITATIONAL

Individual results

Singles

No. 1 -- Championship: Thieu, Washburn Rural def. Casebeer, Washburn Rural, 6-0. Third: Magee, Topeka West, def. Wise, Gardner-Edgerton, 6-1, 6-1.

No. 2 -- Championship: Parrin, Salina Sacred Heart, def. Kruse, Seaman, 8-5. Third: Luetje, Washburn Rural, def. Prettejohn, Olathe East, 8-5.

No. 3 -- Championship: Nelson, Washburn Rural, def. Rundel, Washburn Rural, 8-2. Third: Wagnon, Seaman, def. Williams, Washburn Rural, 8-3.

Doubles

No. 1 -- Championship: Park/Willingham, Washburn Rural, def. Hanou/Blasi, Olathe East, 8-2. Third: Lorenzo/Matthews, Junction City, def. Byerly/Natarjan, Manhattan, 8-4.

No. 2 -- Championship: Labatos/Dodge, Washburn Rural, def. Arnold/Spiegel, Manhattan, 8-3. Third: Forssberg/LeBar, De Soto, def. Engel/Rutledge, Topeka West, 8-7, 7-5.