By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' run to a Class 5A regional softball title had to wait a couple of days, but once the T-Birds were finally able to get on the turf Friday at Washburn University's Gahnstrom Field, it took them very little time to get the job done.
Chomping at the bit to play after the two-day delay, Shawnee Heights put United Kansas Conference rival De Soto away with a 10-run first inning and needed just three innings to earn its eighth straight trip to state with a 15-0 rout.
"The girls came out ready to go today and I'm just really impressed with how they showed up,'' Shawnee Heights coach Tara Griffith said.
Shawnee Heights celebrates after winning a Class 5A regional softball title Friday with a 15-0 win over De Soto. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Shawnee Heights, which will take an 18-4 record into next week's state tournament at Wichita, had swept De Soto in impressive fashion in the regular season, but Griffith said her team didn't take anything for granted in Friday's rematch.
"These girls don't assume anything,'' Griffith said. "They're very humble and what I think is really cool about them is the fact that they are so humble, so they knew that they would have to have a really good game and they showed up and they focused and they've been focused since basically Day 1.
"I think the girls were excited to play (Wednesday), but it was crummy, crummy weather so it was good to have finally a nice day after the week that we've had. It was a beautiful day for some softball, which was awesome.''
After turning in a gutsy performance in Wednesday's rain-soaked 14-4 six-inning semifinal win over Lansing, T-Bird senior pitcher Mykala Johnico was also happy to see better conditions Friday and took advantage with a three-inning no-hitter and four strikeouts.
"It's always good to play on a day like today, where it's nice and cool,'' Johnico said. "It was a perfect day to play softball and it was really fun today.''
Shawnee Heights sent 15 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first, with junior Deja Gardenhire stroking two doubles in the inning and senior Taylor Hawkins hitting a three-run home run, her second three-run homer in the regional tournament.
"I had a slump for a couple games," Hawkins said. "But I'm glad I'm back."
Heights had 14 hits before the game ended in the bottom of the third by way of the 15-run spread rule, with every starter hitting safely.
Hawkins and Gardenhire both had three runs batted in, while Olivia Morgan, Adysen Burghart, Ariah Durkes and Abby Schulte all had two RBI.
Shawnee Heights has won the last three 5A state tournaments that have been contested and has put together another banner season with almost a completely new lineup.
"We're really young, but they're such a good team," Griffith said. "They just love each other and they cheer for each other. They're a true team and I'm not saying our other teams weren't, but this is a true team together and it's amazing to see."
Shawnee Heights is slated to open its state bid at Wichita State's Wilkins Stadium next Thursday. Official seeds and game times will be set this weekend.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL SOFTBALL
Championship
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 15, DE SOTO 0
De Soto (10-12) 000 -- 0 0 3
Shawnee Heights (18-4) (10)32 -- 15 14 0
Reynolds and Sterling. Johnico and Bryant. W -- Johnico. L -- Reynolds. 2B -- Shawnee Heights: Gardenhire 2, Newberry, Adams. HR -- Shawnee Heights: Hawkins.
