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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Friday night was all about celebrating Seaman High baseball and many of the people who have helped make the Vikings one of the most successful programs in Kansas history.
Seaman inducted nine players, two coaches and the school's first-ever state championship team as part of its inaugural 2021 Hall of Honor class Friday in the school auditorium.
"We're here tonight in a celebration of so many people that have impacted a great (Seaman) community -- a great high school, a great program and all the players and coaches that have put in so much time and effort and dedicated so much of their life to making this program what it is today,'' said Steve Bushnell, longtime Seaman baseball coach and the school's current athletic director.
Steve Bushnell (standing), who coached Seaman to nine state baseball titles, talks about Hall of Honor inductee Ben Carlson Friday night at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The first two coaches in program history, the late Duane 'Blackie' Melvin (1986 and '87) and Phil Loomis ('88-'98), were inducted into the Hall of Honor as well as longtime program contributor Dan Carlson, the 2000 team that won the first of the Vikings' nine state championships, and former Seaman standouts Ben Carlson (class of 2006), Chris Carlson (class of 2002), Eric Cheray (class of 2011), Ryan Colombo (class of 1986), Rick DeHart (class of 1986), Robbie Rea (class of 2009), Chad Rodriquez (class of 1992), Richard Thomas (class of 1989) and Ryan Zeferjahn (class of 2016).
Players and coaches for the 2000 team that beat Hays 12-9 in the state championship game incuded Larry Kelly, Jeff Kurdziel, Travis Northup, Ryan Brooks, Derek Child, Charlie Dillon, Michael Hansford, Austin Hanson, Nick LaBin, Nick Butler, Chris Carlson, Steve DeForest, Kyle Edwards, Ryan Heston, Chris McCulloch, Adam Schroeder, Chad Brown, David Duckworth, Mark Simoneau, Richard Thomas and Bushnell.
"We were just a band of brothers and it just goes to show you that from where you start to where you finish, that's two different seasons and we definitely finished the right way,'' Chris Carlson said of the 2000 championship team. "I was proud to be part of an unbelievable team.''
Seaman Hall of Honor inductee Chris Carlson shares the stage with the softball teams he coaches during Friday night's ceremonies. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
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Topeka High senior Ja'Neysha Hendricks has signed a letter of intent with Tabor College after leading the city in assists this past season. [File photo/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High senior Ja'Neysha Hendricks signed a women's basketball letter of intent with Tabor College Thursday at High.
Hendricks, the Trojans' 5-foot-7 point guard, helped Topeka High advance to the Class 6A state tournament three straight seasons, including second-place state finishes as a sophomore and this past season. High advanced to the 6A semifinals Hendricks' junior season before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
As a senior Hendricks led the city in assists, averaging 4.5 a game.
Hendricks will be joining a Tabor College program that posted a 19-8 record in 2020-21.Tabor, located in Hillsboro, advanced to the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship game.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Nic Simons knows that his Shawnee Heights girls soccer team still has work to do, particularly on the offensive end.
But a 4-0 home victory over United Kansas Conference foe Leavenworth Thursday night and a 7-2-1 record overall are proof that the young T-Birds, who have just five seniors, are headed in the right direction.
Leavenworth senior Audry Barnes (15) battles Shawnee Heights sophomore Kalyn Walter for the ball in Thursday's United Kansas Conference soccer match. Walter scored a goal in the T-Birds' 4-0 win. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights struggled much of the night to capitalize on scoring opportunities, but got the only goal it would need on a shot from freshman Ariana Smith with 9 minutes, 58 seconds left in the first half.
"When we played these guys last time they really stifled us the first half, similar to how they did tonight,'' Simons said. "But we broke through with that early goal and it seemed like we played a little bit more relaxed once we got that goal.''
The T-Birds went through another long dry spell after Smith's goal, but heated up late in the match, scoring their final three goals over a span of 9 minutes to put the Pioneers away.
Sophomore Lily Martin made the score 2-0 with 14:40 remaining and sophomore Kalyn Walter scored 2:28 later before sophomore Isabelle Sanchez tacked on the final goal with 5:40 remaining.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High's softball team continued its dominating undefeated season Wednesday at Emporia, rolling to a 10-0, 27-8 Centennial League sweep over the Spartans.
Trojan junior NiJaree Canady and sophomore Quincy Smith combined on a no-hitter in the first game, with Canady striking out 13 and issuing four walks before Smith came on to pitch the seventh inning, striking out two.
![Topeka High junior NiJaree Canady combined for a no-hitter and hit a pair of home runs and a double in the Trojans' doubleheader sweep over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]](/images/aa-images/NiJareeCanadypitching.jpeg)
Topeka High junior NiJaree Canady combined for a no-hitter and hit a pair of home runs and a double in the Trojans' doubleheader sweep over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
Topeka High senior Zoe Caryl had nine hits, five extra-base hits, and 12 RBI in Wednesday's doubleheader sweep over Emporia. [File photo/TSN]
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman junior Gavin Wilhelm shot a one-over-par 73 to finish second in Wednesday's Seaman Invitational at Village Greens Golf Course, leading the host Vikings to a third-place team finish in the 11-school event.
Wilhelm finished four strokes behind Blue Valley junior Eoin McLaughlin, who shot a three-under 69 to lead the way as the Tigers won the team championship by a 303-317 margin over Blue Valley Northwest.
Seaman finished third with a four-man score of 326, while Shawnee Heights finished fourth as a team, just a stroke behind the Vikings.
