By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Thanks in part to NiJaree Canady’s 23 combined strikeouts and a fifth-inning rally in the second game, Topeka High was able to sweep Monday's home Centennial League doubleheader against Manhattan at Hummer Sports Park.
With Monday's 2-1, 9-5 wins Topeka High extended its winning streak to 31 games.
“I’m pretty happy with the way things went, for the most part,” Manhattan coach Connie Miller said. “I was really pleased with the way things were going until the fifth inning in the second game. Our defense broke down in the second game, but we need to take the positives from tonight.”
Game 1 was a pitcher's duel between Manhattan's Kierra Goos and High's Canady.
“We knew this pitcher's duel was going to be a tough one,” Topeka High coach Shane Miles said. “When you have two of the best pitchers in the league, possibly the state, the game is going to be tight.”
Goos gave up four hits and two runs while fanning 12 batters.
“I just wanted to do everything I could to help my team win,” Goos said. “I knew I had to pitch as hard as I could because of who was on the other side. Nija is an incredible pitcher. She is someone special. I knew that I needed to come out and play my best.
“I am always going to try my best to put my teammates in the best position to win as many games as we can.”
While Goos was on another level in the opener, so was Canady. The Stanford commit pitched seven complete innings allowing just one hit, one run and recording 16 strikeouts.
“I felt pretty confident coming into today,” Canady said. “I knew we were going to have our work cut out for us against Manhattan. When your defense is as good as the one I have behind me, it gives me a lot of room to play my game. I am happy with the way things went today in the first game.”
The offense was slim until the latter portion of the game and it was the defense that made statements for both teams.
Goos no-hit the Trojans through three innings before Adisyn Caryl hit a line drive up the middle for Topeka High’s first base hit.
Topeka High got on the board when Carter Johnson laid down a sacrifice bunt that would score Quincy Smith.
Hitters didn’t have an answer for Goos and Canady as the 1-0 lead remained on the scoreboard until the seventh inning.
With one out to go Goos got the job done on offense, crushing a solo home run. The solo home run ended Canady’s no-hit bid and it gave Manhattan a chance to defeat the defending Class 6A state champions.
In the bottom of the seventh, Caryl got herself on base with an intentional walk, her second of the game.
Elycia Joyce then drove Caryl home with the game-winning run.
Canady took the circle again in the second game and this time she took on another solid pitcher, Jaden McGee.
McGee and Canady would hold each team to one run heading into the fourth inning. Before the fourth inning, Canady was able to leave seven runners in scoring position throughout the game, hanging on by a thread.
After seeing Canady for 11 innings, Manhattan was able to pick up on Canady’s pitches and was able to give her trouble in the top of the fourth.
Kaitlyn Gregoire would nail a two-run single giving Manhattan a 3-1 lead, putting Topeka High in a deficit for the first time this year.
After Gregoire’s single, Raegan Neitzel drove in two runs with a double. In a blink of an eye, Manhattan had a 5-1 lead.
When things were looking bleak, Topeka High didn’t fold.
Topeka High left-fielder Carter Johnson made a play that drastically changed the outcome of Monday night’s contest.
With the bases loaded, Gregoire hit a deep ball to the furthest corner of left field and Johnson was able to chase it down and make a catch that retired the side.
“It means a lot to me that I was able to make that catch and potentially save the game for my team,” Johnson said. “Being on a team that never gives up and always has faith in you is why I love being here.
“This game meant a lot to me.”
A defensive error by Manhattan in the bottom of the fifth gave Topeka High a run on the board and gave High a spark.
JoMhara Benning hit a two-run single and Johnson would follow that up by plating a run off a line drive single.
“We had a lot of girls who didn’t get playing time last year with the varsity team we had,” Miles said. “Some of the girls that don’t get to play very often, play a little more loose with less pressure.
“I’m proud of how this team competes.”
With Canady’s fourth-inning departure, Montgomerie Freel would come in to relieve Canady. Freel was able to hold Manhattan off and give Topeka High enough time to score some runs.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Caryl hit a two-run inside-the-park home run that gave Topeka High a 3-run lead.
A run-scoring double by Joyce in the bottom of the sixth would give Topeka High its four-run lead.
“A lot of teams being down by four runs would have just folded,” Miles said. “Our team took it one pitch at a time and one bat at a time, which was big for us.”
Manhattan wasn’t able to come back from the deficit and lost 9-5.
“We have a tough matchup with Washburn Rural on Friday,” Miller said. “We need to take some of the positives of this game and bring it into Friday.”
Manhattan (3-4) will host Washburn Rural on Friday, while Topeka High (6-0) will visit Seaman.
First game
TOPEKA HIGH 2, MANHATTAN 1
W – Canady (3-0). L – Goos (1-2). 2B – Topeka High: Smith. HR – Manhattan: Goos.
Second game
TOPEKA HIGH 9, MANHATTAN 5
W – Freel (1-0). L – McGee (1-1). 2B – Topeka High: Canady, Caryl, Joyce. Manhattan: Neitzel. HR: Caryl.
