By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Shawnee Heights' softball team, which has won the last three Class 5A state tournaments that were contested, moved a step closer to yet another state berth Wednesday at Gahnstrom Field, but now will have to wait a couple of days to get an opportunity to finish that quest.
Despite persistent rain showers, the T-Birds were able to finish off a 14-4 six-inning regional semifinal victory over Lansing, but the championship game between Shawnee Heights and De Soto was pushed back to 1:30 p.m. Friday at Gahnstrom due to continuing rain and wet field conditions.
"We would have loved to have finished it off tonight, but this is rough right here," Shawnee Heights coach Tara Griffith said.
"I think the girls are just excited to still get to play together. They understand this is not ideal weather to play in and Friday looks a little better."
Shawnee Heights freshman Alaryce Adams-Millard (right) is congratulated by sophomore Addison Bryant after she hit a second-inning home run in Wednesday's 14-4 5A regional semifinal win over Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Heights, which improved to 17-4 on the season, had to wait out a slight rain delay before scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the semifinal by way of the 10-run spread rule.
Now, after getting past one United Kansas Conference rival, Shawnee Heights will face another UKC foe on Friday, with 10-11 De Soto advancing to the championship game with a 9-4 win over Pittsburg in Wednesday's first semifinal.
The Heights-Lansing game was halted for a few minutes in the midst of a Lansing mini-rally, but after numerous discussions, umpired made the decision to play on.
Shawnee Heights senior pitcher Mykala Johnico and her teammates got out of the top of the sixth after allowing just one run and the T-Birds then put together a big inning of their own to put the Lions away.
Lansing took a short-lived 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but Shawnee Heights tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run from freshman Alaryce Adams-Millard and scored four runs in the third and fourth innings to take control.
Shawnee Heights senior Taylor Hawkins (right) had a three-run home run and a two-run double in the T-Birds' 14-4 regional semifinal win over Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Taylor Hawkins drove in two runs with a third-inning double and junior Deja Gardenhire and sophomore Addison Bryant delivered run-scoring singles.
Lansing scored two runs in the top of the fourth, but Hawkins hit a three-run home run in the bottom half of the inning.
Shawnee Heights senior pitcher Mykala Johnico pitched a four-hitter with seven strikeouts in Heights' 14-4 regional semifinal win over Lansing. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Johnico limited Lansing to four hits on the night while recording seven strikeouts.
"They've got some big swingers on their team and we were able to somewhat keep them off balance," Griffith said. "Mykala did a great job."
Junior Abbie Schulte had a pair of doubles for Shawnee Heights.
Shawnee Heights swept a pair of UKC games from De Soto in the regular season, taking 11-0 and 22-9 wins.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL SOFTBALL
Semifinal
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 14, LANSING 4
Lansing (8-13) 010 201 -- 4 4 3
Shawnee Heights (17-4) 014 414 -- 14 12 1
Solomon and Foster. Johnico and Bryant. W -- Johnico. L -- Solomon. 2B -- Lansing: Foster 2, Wessel. Shawnee Heights: Schulte 2, Hawkins. 3B -- Lansing: Gray. HR -- Shawnee Heights: Hawkins.
