Topeka High senior catcher Zoe Caryl hit three home runs and had seven RBI in the Trojans' doubleheader sweep over Seaman Friday. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka High senior catcher Zoe Caryl has spent a lot of time over the last couple of years waiting to play softball.
And with each at bat this spring, the Illinois signee is doing her best to make up for that lost time.
Continuing her torrid start to the 2021 season, Caryl went 4 of 5 Friday with three home runs, a triple and seven runs batted in as Topeka High improved to 8-0 on the year with a 6-3, 10-1 doubleheader sweep over Centennial League rival Seaman at Hummer Sports Park.
After having the '20 high school season canceled due to COVID-19, Caryl was sidelined again, this time by mononucleosis, last fall, making her even more eager to get back on the diamond.
"This fall I got sick and didn't get to play club ball and I got knocked out of cross country, I got knocked out of everything, and I've worked really hard to get back to where I was this last summer,'' Caryl said.
"I've been waiting for this. With COVID taking our season last year, I've been waiting for high school softball.''
Caryl had a triple and a two-run homer in the first game and hit two-run and three-run homers in the nightcap, with her three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth breaking open a tight 3-1 contest.
Caryl has been red-hot throughout Topeka High's first eight games and has drawn multiple intentional walks to take the bat out of her hands, which is fine with Caryl.
"I'll take it,'' she said. "Honestly, it's a sign of respect for me, and I get to be on base. I get to run the bases and I'm going to continue to help my team even if I'm not hitting the ball by running the bases and running hard.''
Topeka High junior NiJaree Canady picked up the pitching wins in both ends of Friday's twinbill, throwing a four-hitter and striking out 13 in the opener and combining with sophomore Quincy Smith for a four-hitter in the second game.
Canady pitched the first five innings in the second game, allowing all four Seaman hits and the Vikings' first-inning run while striking out seven. Smith retired all six hitters she faced, with a strikeout.
Trojan sophomore shortstop Adisyn Caryl, Zoe's younger sister, had a double in the first game and had two hits, including a triple, in the second game. Freshman McCall Beall also tripled for Topeka High in the second game.
Seaman senior shortstop Raigan Kramer, an Arkansas signee, had a single in the opener and went 3 for 4 in the second game with a pair of doubles.
Viking junior Skylar Duncan took the first-game pitching loss, giving up six hits with six strikeouts, while sophomore Aspen Burgardt took the loss in the second game.
Senior Callee Dempewolf had a two-run double for Seaman in the first game while Duncan also doubled in the opener.
Topeka High coach Shane Miles said Friday's twinbill was a good early-season test for his Trojans.
"It was a very good test,'' Miles said. "They swing the bats very well and they create a lot of havoc on the bases. They put pressure on us and they forced our defense to work, which we needed that. We needed to be in these type of ballgames to succeed at the end of the year.''
Topeka High will travel to Washburn Rural on Tuesday for a showdown between Class 6A powers while Seaman will host Topeka West next Friday.
FIRST GAME
TOPEKA HIGH 6, SEAMAN 3
Seaman 002 001 0 -- 3 4 1
Topeka High 320 100 x -- 6 6 0
Duncan and Addington. Canady and Z. Caryl. W -- Canady. L -- Duncan. 2B -- Seaman: Dempewolf, Duncan. Topeka High: A. Caryl. 3B -- Topeka High: Z. Caryl. HR -- Topeka High: Z. Caryl.
SECOND GAME
TOPEKA HIGH 10, SEAMAN 1
Seaman 100 000 0 -- 1 4 0
Topeka High 300 331 x -- 10 12 0
Burgardt and Addington. Canady, Smith (6) and Z. Caryl. W -- Canady. L -- Burgardt. 2B -- Seaman: Kramer 2. 3B -- Topeka High: A. Caryl, Beall. HR -- Topeka High: Z. Caryl 2.
