TOPEKA — The first day of regional action provided wonderful theatre for sports fans around the capital city on Tuesday.
Multiple Topeka-area high schools punched their tickets to the state baseball and softball tournaments. The first round of regional soccer play kicked off, too.
Here’s a breakdown of everything that happened on Tuesday night:
Topeka High Baseball back-to-back state tournament berths
The Trojans punched their ticket to the state championship after defeating Derby 2-1 in the regional championship. This is the second consecutive season that Topeka High has made the state tournament. Last year, they reached the state tournament for the first time since 1947.
Topeka High scored its two runs in the third inning. Drayden Acosta hit a line drive double to score Dominic Delgado and Isaiah Kincade to give Topeka High a 2-0 lead. The Panthers scored their lone run in the sixth inning which came off of two defensive errors by the Trojans.
Despite the turn of momentum late in the game, Topeka High’s Nathan Plankinton shut the door on their opponents. His pitching was unstoppable all evening. He threw 6.2 innings of work and allowed five hits and struck out six batters. Hank Stamper came in to close the game with a strikeout to send Derby home and deliver the regional title to Topeka High.
“I was pitching my game. If you would have seen me before the game, I was so fired up,” Plankinton said. “I knew the outcome of this game before it started. I knew what I was going to do. They didn’t know who I was so I had to prove it to them.”
It wasn’t an easy title for the Trojans. Their first round game against Wichita East delivered some headaches. The Blues Aces led 6-0 halfway through the game before Topeka High stormed back. Plankinton hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth inning to complete the comeback. Topeka High went on to win 9-6 to clinch a spot in the title game against Derby.
“The seniors really carried us in both game,” Topeka High head coach Cody Miller said. “These seniors threw every inning, every pitch today and they were just so huge. I am so proud of that class.”
Last year, Topeka High lost in the state quarterfinals to Derby. This year, they are looking to achieve much more. The Trojans will play in the Class 6A State Tournament beginning May 23. The games will be played at the University of Kansas’ Hoglund Stadium.
“We know what to expect, we know what to do,” Plankinton said. “We are gonna get a lot further this round. I believe it.”
Shawnee Heights baseball upsets top seed for regional title
It was a magical evening for the Thunderbirds as they claimed the regional championship. The Thunderbirds defeated No. 1 seeded De Soto 3-0 to win the title. Shawnee Heights failed to defeat De Soto in the two opportunities that they played in the regular season, but the Thunderbirds won the all important game on Tuesday.
Carson Garner hit a double to score Jacob Malcom in the fourth inning to give Shawnee Heights a 1-0 lead. The Thunderbirds built upon their scoring advantage to give them the victory. The offense did the trick, but the pitching and defense were on the mark. Ben Schaub pitched six innings and allowed just five hits and zero runs in the win.
Shawnee Heights defeated Leavenworth 3-1 in the semifinals to advance to the title game. Deacon Pomeroy pitched 6.1 innings and allowed five hits and one run while striking out 11 batters.
The regional title victory sends the Thunderbirds to the Class 5A State Tournament in head coach Ryan Schmidt’s final season. Shawnee Heights will play at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium on May 23.
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Hayden baseball wins regional championship
The Wildcats topped Osage City 10-7 to win the regional championship and advance to the Class 3A State tournament.
Hayden’s Cooper Grace finished with four RBIs and three hits in the championship game to lead the team. Grace’s solo home run in the fifth inning was a major highlight for the team. Easton Blosser earned the start and was credited with the win for Hayden. He pitched three innings and gave up two runs and five hits.
Hayden reached the championship game after defeating hosts Santa Fe Trail 6-3. Grace was close to flawless as he was the starting pitcher for Hayden. He threw 5.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits. Out of his 17 put outs, Grace struck out an incredible 15 batters. He even finished with a RBI and hit in the semifinal victory.
The regional title for Hayden pushes them to the Class 3A State Tournament. It will be held at Kansas State’s Tointon Family Stadium with play beginning May 23.
Photos:Topeka High baseball defeats Derby for regional title
Seaman baseball’s state tournament streak snapped
The longest state tournament appearance streak came to an end on Tuesday night. The Vikings had reached the state tournament for 19 straight seasons, which stands as a state record. The streak could not be extended as Seaman lost 3-2 to Eisenhower in the regional title game.
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Seaman’s opened the scoring with a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Zach Wilson singled on a bunt to score Bryer Finley. Wilson would then score off of a Kaiden Griffin bunt two batters later. That would be all the runs that Seaman could muster. Finley pitched admirably as he went 5.1 innings and gave up two runs and three hits in the game. He did strike out six batters, too.
The Tigers tied the game in the fourth inning and scored the go-ahead runs in the sixth inning thanks to a RBI double. The upset victory for Eisenhower sends them to next week’s state tournament.
Highland Park baseball falls in first round
Highland Park baseball’s season came to an end with a first round defeat in Tuesday’s regional tournament. The Scots lost 15-0 to St. Thomas Aquinas. Highland Park closed the season with a 7-15 record.
Photos:Seaman softball wins regional championship over Salina South
Seaman softball hoists regional title
The Vikings defeated Salina South 2-1 in the regional championship game to keep their season alive. Seaman, who hosted the regional bracket, played incredible defense and countered it with timely hitting.
Raegan McConnell hit a sacrifice fly to score Anna McLaughlin in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Seaman their 2-1 lead. The Cougars tied the game in the top half of the fifth inning before Seaman’s winner.
Kaelyn O’Rourke struck out Salina South’s final batter to highlight the win. O’Rourke was named the winning pitcher in the championship game and the first round matchup where Seaman defeated Salina Central 7-1.
The Class 5A State Tournament will begin May 23 at Wichita State’s Wilkins Stadium.
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Topeka High softball falls in regional final
The Trojans reached the regional championship game after defeating Wichita Heights 20-3 in the opening round. The season would come to an end for the Trojans as they lost 6-3 to Haysville Campus in the regional championship.
Jo’Mhara Benning hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give Topeka High a 2-0 lead. But, Haysville Campus scored six runs in the following two innings to give them a commanding lead and eventual win.
Tuesday’s Topeka-area regional soccer first round results
No. 1 Washburn Rural 10, No. 16 Haysville Campus 0
No. 11 Derby 2, No. 6 Topeka High 0
No. 3 Andover Central 10, No. 14 Topeka West 0
No. 7 Shawnee Heights 3, No. 10 Spring Hill 2 (OT)
No. 6 De Soto 10, No. 11 Highland Park 0
No. 5 Seaman 10, No. 12 F.L. Schlagle 0
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com.
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