TSnews

For the first time since 2017, the Campus Colts softball team is headed to the Class 6A State tournament.

The Colts swept through the Class 6A Haysville regional last Tuesday, downing Wichita South 15-0 in the semifinals before downing Topeka 6-3 in the championship game. The games were played at Two Rivers Youth Club in West Wichita.

“It is a great feeling anytime you are fortunate enough to make a state championship tournament,” Campus coach Doug Stanley said. “This season was a combination of a strong and deep senior class that provided great leadership and a talented freshman class.”

The Colts got regional play off to a blazing start with a total domination of Wichita South. Campus scored 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning and five more in the bottom of the third to end the game after three innings.

Those 15 runs gave hurler Ava Baker all the run support she’d need, as she tossed a no-hitter, striking out six of the 10 batters she faced. Only a second-inning walk kept her from a perfect game. Kylah Parson, Kamdyn Minnick and Emerleigh Cooper each had a pair of hits in the win, while Cooper and Minnick each drove in two runs.

In the championship game, Topeka scored twice in the top of the first inning to get the early lead, but the Colts answered back – and then some – in the bottom of the first to take the lead for good.

Madilyn Harris scored on a fielder’s choice for the first Campus run, then Londyn Ysidro singled home Alexis Butler to tie the game at 2-2. Lillian Clements connected on a base hit to score Parson with the go-ahead run, then Ava Strohm singled Ysidro to make it 4-2, followed by Minnick scoring when the cutoff throw was misplayed.

The Colts made it 6-2 in the bottom of the second inning when Parson singled in Cooper.

Those six runs gave Baker all the run support she needed, as she tossed a complete-game victory. She allowed three runs, five hits and three walks while striking out three.

Cooper had two hits in the win, while Parson drove in a pair of runs.

Campus (16-6) is the fifth seed at the Class 6A State tournament in Lawrence and will take on fourth-seeded Lawrence Free State Thursday in the quarterfinals. The winner faces either Derby or Olathe South in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday. The semifinal winners meet for the State championship at 5 p.m. on Friday, while the semifinal losers play for third place at 3 p.m. that day.

“Earlier in the season, I said the only team that beats this team is themselves,” Stanley said. “This team is solid in all aspects of softball. I still feel that way and they have a good chance to make some noise in Lawrence.”

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