3 Topeka-area softball teams punch ticket to state tournament
Contenders for the softball state titles in Kansas were decided this week with Rossville, Shawnee Heights and Washburn Rural going to represent the Topeka-area schools.
With the state tournament taking place next Thursday and Friday, here's what you need to know for the state tournaments.
Kansas high school softball state tournament information
Who: Winners of the regional softball tournaments that took place the week of May 15.
Where: 6A: Arroca Ball Park, Lawrence, Kansas 66045. Gates will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday.
5A: Wilkins Stadium, Wichita, Kansas 67208. Gates will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday and Friday.
4A: Salina South High School, Salina, Kansas 67401. Gates will open at 3 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. on Friday.
3A: Twin Oaks Complex, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
2-1A: Green Sports Complex, Pratt, Kansas 67124. Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday.
Cost: General admission tickets will cost $10 and are available online or in person via cash or credit depending on the venue policy.
3 Topeka-area softball teams are headed to state
6A
Washburn Rural
As the No. 3 seed in its regional, Washburn Rural (19-3) would defeat No. 14 Wichita Southeast (5-15) in game one, 17-0, followed by a 6-0 win over No. 11 Haysville Campus (8-14) in the regional title game, 6-0.
At state, Washburn Rural will be the No 4 seed, taking on No. 5 Shawnee Mission North (18-4) at 1 p.m. Thursday.
The winner of that game will face the winner of No. 1 Olathe Northwest (22-0) and No. 8 Free State (10-12) in the semifinals at 11 a.m. Friday with the championship match at 5 p.m. and the consolation match at 3 p.m.
5A
No. 6 seed Shawnee Heights (15-7) would emerge as the Regional 3 title winner, beating No. 14 De Soto (7-15) in the regional title game, 3-0, to advance.
They would defeat No. 11 St. James Academy (8-13), 4-3, in the semifinal game.
At state, Shawnee Heights will be the No. 8 seed, taking on No. 1 Bishop Carroll (21-1) at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Awaiting the winner will be the victor of No. 4 Eisenhower (17-5) and No. 5 Spring Hill (17-5) at 11 a.m. Friday in the semifinals with the title game taking place at 5 p.m. and the consolation match taking place at 3 p.m.
3A
No. 2 seed Rossville (17-4) got a rivalry win and a trip to state with a regional matchup against rival Silver Lake.
First, Rossville defeated No. 7 Atchison County (7-12) in its first game, 15-0, followed by a 4-0 win over No. 6 Sabetha (8-12) in the semifinals.
In the regional title game and a playoff edition of the War on 24, Rossville would take down top-seeded Silver Lake (20-3) in a 4-1 win to earn its second trip to state in a row.
Rossville enters as the No. 6 seed, taking on No. 3 Columbus (21-2) in the first round at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The winner of that game faces the winner of No. 2 SE of Saline (21-2) and No. 7 Burlington (15-6) at 11 a.m. Friday in the semifinals with the title game taking place at 1:30 p.m. and the consolation game taking place at 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: 3 Topeka-area softball teams earn state tournament berths
