By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
WICHITA -- Thursday's Class 5A state softball quarterfinal didn't turn out the way Seaman wanted or the way longtime Vikings coach Jay Monhollon wanted to end his coaching career.
Seaman junior Kaelyn O'Rourke turned in a gutsy complete-game pitching performance in Thursday's 3-2 nine-inning loss to Maize South in the Class 5A state tournament. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Seaman senior second baseman Gracie Moe throws out a Maize South baserunner in Thursday's Class 5A quarterfinal. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
But Monhollon knows his seventh-seeded Vikings gave it their all in the heartbreaking 3-2 nine-inning loss to second seed Maize South Thursday at Wichita State's Wilkins Stadium.
"That's what I shared with the girls is that everybody gave their best effort and that's a tough lesson in life,'' Monhollon said. "Even in life you're going to find out that even when you give your best effort sometimes that desired outcome doesn't come true for you.
"The young ladies are great daughters, great friends and they're going to bounce back and do well. These girls have a lot of character.''
The game was tied at 2-2 from the bottom of the fourth inning on before junior Sophie Stockam, who went the distance for the pitching victory, delivered the walkoff single to push Maize South (26-3) into Friday's 1 p.m. semifinal. Seaman finished its season 22-7.
Seaman took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth when junior Anna McLaughlin delivered a two-run single, but Maize South pulled even in the bottom half of the inning when junior Cameron Moses singled in two runs.
Stockam and Seaman junior pitcher Kaelyn O'Rourke matched zeroes in the circle over the next four innings take the game into the eventful ninth inning.
The Vikings got runners to second and third with one out but Stockham recorded a strikeout and a popout to get out of the inning.
O'Rourke recorded a pair of outs in the bottom of the ninth before a rare catcher's interference call put Maize South in business.
"It was another opportunity and that makes a difference in giving a free pass versus somebody earning it,'' Monhollon said.
Sophomore Kiley Thornquist followed with a single to move the go-ahead runner to third before Stockam delivered the game-winner.
Seaman senior Rosalie Schneider makes a play during Thursday's 3-2 nine-inning loss to Maize South in the quarterfinal round of the Class 5A state tournament. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
Seaman sophomore Aubrey Warren takes a cut at a pitch during Thursday's Class 5A quarterfinal game against Maize South. [Photo by Selena Favela/Special to TSN]
It was a brutal end for the Vikings and Monhollon, who is retiring and coached his final game at Seaman.
"The ladies created a lot of memories over the last 20 years at Seaman High School, but my heart's hurting for them right now,'' Monhollon said. "I just wish it was different. As adults you always want your kids to be happy, safe and competent and fell short today.''
Daniel Ruda, Monhollon's assistant coach the past decade, has been tapped to take over as the Vikings' head coach next season.
"Daniel will do amazing,'' Monhollon said. "He's got a lot of energy, he's got a lot of vision and he'll put his own fingerprint on the program, which he should do.''
Maize South will face No. 3 seed Bishop Carroll (25-4) in Friday's semifinal at 1 p.m. following the 11 a.m. contest between No. 1 Spring Hill (27-2) and No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas (24-4).
The championship game will be played at 5 p.m., following the 3 o'clock third-place game.
