Wednesday's regional wrap-up: Silver Lake softball wins championship on Kruger's walk-off
TOPEKA — Wednesday’s regional action featured some of the best softball in the state. One local team came away as a regional champion while three others saw their season come to an end.
One local baseball team had their season cut short, too. Here’s a breakdown of everything that happened on Wednesday:
Tuesday's regional wrap-up: Topeka-area baseball, softball teams win regional titles
Silver Lake softball wins regional title on walk-off
The highly anticipated regional championship game pitted No. 1 Silver Lake vs. No. 3 Santa Fe Trail. Many fans and pundits regarded this bracket as one of the hardest in the state with defending state champion No. 2 Rossville also featured.
The game came down to the final inning as Silver Lake edged Santa Fe Trail 1-0 on a walk-off.
In the seventh inning, Kira Lowrey nailed a line drive to right field which the Chargers’ defense could not corral. Lowrey sprinted all the way around the bases stopping at third to set up the Eagles’ beautifully.
“I told myself to relax and there was a lot of stuff going on. I know that I am good hitter,” Lowrey said. “I told myself that I am going as hard as I can. I am going to help my team as much as I can. It was the seventh inning, we had to get this.”
Two batters later, senior McKinley Kruger stepped to the plate. She took a ball on her first pitch and followed with a big swing. Head coach Nick Hamiliton called for a bunt and Kruger obliged.
She laid a perfect bunt down the first base line and Lowrey sprinted towards home to score the game-winning run.
“He trusted me to swing stand then he saw an opportunity to win the game and I am willing to do whatever it takes,” Kruger said. “I haven’t bunt very much this year. I have confidence in my bunting ability, it’s just harder against a tougher pitcher. I really had to hone in on where the ball was being pitched.”
The game culminated with this incredible play, but it was the pitching and defense that highlighted the game for both squads.
Silver Lake’s Kendra Cook and the Chargers’ Kaelee Washington duked it out in the circle all game long. Both pitchers went the full length of the game.
Cook allowed five hits and zero earned runs while she struck out six batters. Washington, who is signed with KU, allowed four hits and struck out 12.
“They just compete,” Hamilton said simply. “They sacrifice, so when this time comes, it means something.”
This senior class for Silver Lake continues to notch big time victories. Some members of the softball team helped the school win a state title in golf last fall and many were on the state championship winning basketball team. Victory is simply in this team’s DNA.
“During basketball, we really focused on letting go of the pressure and letting go of what everyone thinks about us and being ourselves. That really got us to go far,” Washburn University softball signee Kruger said. “If we have that same mentality going into softball state tournament, we are going to be just fine.”
With the win, Silver Lake advanced to the state tournament beginning May 23 at Envista Softball Complex in Topeka.
Softball season ends in regionals for defending state champion Rossville
Rossville lost their regional semifinal game to Santa Fe Trail 5-1 to end their season. The Bulldawgs could not repeat as state champions as their season concluded.
Rossville allowed five runs in the second inning. The bats were cold all game for the Bulldawgs. Brooke Springer hit a grounder which scored Kinsey Perine in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rossville’s Nagos Hale pitched a complete game and struck out four batters in the defeat.
Rossville wrapped up their year with a 19-4 record.
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Shawnee Heights softball falls short in regional championship
The Thunderbirds fell a game short of winning the regional championship. No. 6 Shawnee Heights was downed 14-3 to No. 3 Piper in five innings.
The Pirates bats were on the mark as they finished the game with 11 hits. Shawnee Heights was led by Grace Proctor, who finished with two hits and a RBI. Taylor Brees singled to left field which scored two runs for Shawnee Heights, too.
Shawnee Heights reached the championship game of the regional bracket by defeating No. 11 Turner 9-4 earlier in the afternoon. The Thunderbirds concluded their year with a 17-8 record.
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Highland Park softball's season ends in opening round
The Scots’ season came to a close with a loss in the opening round of regional play. Highland Park lost to No. 3 Piper 17-1 with the Scots finishing with an 8-16 record.
Washburn Rural baseball upset in first round
No. 6 Washburn Rural was upset in the first round of regional action. The Junior Blues lost 2-1 to No. 11 Haysville Campus.
The Colts scored both of their runs in the sixth inning via infield singles. Washburn Rural tried to mount a comeback with their lone run coming in the bottom of the seventh inning. Branton DeWeese hit a single to the outfield which scored Kaeden Fenton on the play. The game ended on the following at-bat with a fly out to left field.
The Junior Blues ended the season with a 13-10 record.
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Wednesday's regional wrap-up: Silver Lake softball wins title on walk-off
