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By Todd Fertig
TopSports.news
The Seaman softball team’s white-knuckle ride Tuesday ended with a trip to the Class 5A state tournament next week.
The hosts of the regional playoffs dispatched Salina Central in the regional semifinal 7-1. Then the Vikings had to outlast Salina South in the final.
Seaman pitcher Kaelyn O'Rourke picked up the pitching win in both games as the Vikings won a Class 5A regional title at Seaman. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The Vikings risked their 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh by intentionally walking Salina South’s star hitter, which pushed the tying run to second base with two outs.
“We just wanted to make sure that somebody else beat us,” Seaman coach Jay Monhollon said of walking Salina South sophomore Paityn Fritz, who homered in the Cougars' 12-1 win in their semifinal game. “We decided that was best for our team.”
Seaman junior pitcher Kaelyn O’Rourke rose to the occasion, striking out the next batter to lock up the trip to state.
O’Rourke was the winning pitcher in both games. She threw four scoreless innings in the first game, striking out eight and surrendering just one hit.
O’Rourke gave up eight hits in the second contest but limited the Cougars to just one run in a scary fifth inning.
The junior gave up back-to-back doubles – both of which nearly left the yard – which tied the game at 1-1. But she settled down to escape the jam.
“In that situation, I just take a deep breath and reset and focus on the next pitch,” O’Rourke said. “There’s a lot of pressure, but I know that my defense has got my back.”
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Famers Kyle Weems and Michael Wilhoite will be back in Topeka June 21 to host the third annual Big Kev Give Back Camp, a dual basketball/football camp on the campus of Washburn University.
Both Weems and Wilhoite graduated from Highland Park and Wilhoite was a football standout at Washburn and Weems a basketball star at Missouri State before both players went on to long-time professional careers.
Weems and Wilhoite, who were inducted into the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, will be joined by many other special guests to host the camp, in conjunction with Washburn, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The June 21 camp, open to athletes 9 through 17, is named in honor of Kyle's late father, Kevin, a former Washburn University basketball player, who had a big impact on the athletic careers of both Weems and Wilhoite.
Athletes will have the option between all-day basketball or football camps or can split their time between half-day basketball and football camps. Athletes wishing to split their time between football and basketball are encouraged to attend the football camp in the morning session.
The cost of the camp is $20 and athletes are encouraged to register online at www.wusports.com.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Myles Alonzo
MYLES ALONZO, Topeka West
Alonzo, a senior golf standout, set a Topeka West school record with a 4-under-par 66 in Monday's Class 5A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge, winning the individual title by five strokes. A two-time 5A state placer, Alonzo has now won city, United Kansas Conference and regional titles entering next week's 5A state meet at Newton.
Audrey Appuhn
AUDREY APPUHN, Washburn Rural
The Washburn Rural sophomore swimming star posted individual victories in the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 12.08 seconds and the 500 freestyle in 5:18.23 and also swam on the Junior Blues' winning 200 medley relay (2:00.94) and 400 free relay (3:58.46) to lead the Junior Blues to their fourth straight Centennial League championship last Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Drew Fay
DREW FAY, Cair Paravel Latin
A sophomore, Fay posted a city-high fourth-place singles finish in Saturday's Class 3A-1A state tennis tournament in Prairie Village. A two-time state qualifier, Fay won his first two state matches on Friday before losing to two-time state singles champ Caleb Bartels of Kansas City Christian in the semifinals and to Charlie Gentile of Wichita Collegiate in the third-place match.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Veteran Hayden girls soccer coach Klaus Kreutzer wasn't pleased with his team's play in the first half of Monday's Class 4A-1A regional opener against underdog Mulvane.
"Needless to say, I wasn't very happy,'' Kreutzer said of the scoreless opening half. "We spent I thought 80, 90 percent in their half and had one good shot.''
Hayden sophomore Carsyn Broxterman (4) scored a pair of goals in the Wildcats' 4-0 regional win over Mulvane Monday at Hayden. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden senior Jill Lenherr (10) scored a goal Monday as the Wildcats improved to 10-6-1 with a 4-0 regional win over Mulvane. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the host Wildcats did what they could to improve their coach's mood in the second half, dominating things over the final 40 minutes to advance with a 4-0 win.
"They did a little better the second half, but still not to my satisfaction, but better than they had been,'' Kreutzer said.
The No. 7 seed in the West, Hayden failed to find the back of the net in a somewhat lackluster first 40 minutes, but it took the Wildcats only 2:23 of the second half to score the only goal they would need and Hayden cruised the rest of the way.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West golf star Myles Alonzo wasn't perfect in Monday's Class 5A regional tournament at Cypress Ridge, but darn near.
Alonzo carded a double bogey on hole No. 12 but that was his only blemish on the day as the senior carded what is believed to be a Topeka West school record with a sizzling four-under-par 66 to take medalist honors by a whopping five strokes.
Topeka West senior Myles Alonzo drops an eagle putt to finish off his 4-under-par 66 in Monday's Class 5A regional at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Topeka West senior Myles Alonzo reacts after sinking his birdie putt on the 18th hole of Monday's Class 5A regional at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"My putting was really good,'' Alonzo said. "I still missed some birdie putts, but oh well, I still had a great round. I can't complain about it. I hit my irons very well. I was 100 yards out and sticking it by the pin.''
Alonzo has now won four of his last six tournaments heading into next Monday's 5A state tournament at Newton's Sand Creek Station while Shawnee Heights qualified for state as a team with a third-place team finish and Seaman senior Zach Weir and junior Bradley Williamson qualified as individuals.
Alonzo hit a temporary stumbling block on his 12th hole after hitting his drive out of bounds, but followed with birdies on his next two holes and saved his best for last, driving the Par-4 No. 18 within about 12 feet and holing his putt for an eagle.
"Twelve, I was real confident in my driver and I'm like, 'OK, I'm going to play a nice fade here,' and I did not come across my body and it just went straight left and I was like, 'Oh no,' '' Alonzo said.
Alonzo's tee shot on No. 13 temporarily went out of bounds but bounced back into play and he took advantage of that break when he chipped in for a birdie.
Alonzo added a second straight birdie on the next hole and then provided his highlight of the day on No. 18 when his monster drive set up his eagle.
"I've never been on the green on a drive on that hole so mark that off the bucket list,'' he said.
Shawnee Heights poses for a team picture after earning a berth in the Class 5A state tournament with a third-place regional finish Monday at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Emporia won the regional team title by a 306-316 margin over Basehor-Linwood while Shawnee Heights garnered the final team berth with a four-man score of 322.
T-Bird sophomore Ayden Valdivia tied for fifth with a 77 to pace Shawnee Heights while senior Zack Hohman and Jasec Holladay tied for 10th individually with 81s and junior Logan Hahn rounded out Heights' top four with an 83.
Seaman senior Zach Weir and junior Bradley Williamson qualified for the Class 5A state tournament as individuals in Monday's 5A regional at Cypress Ridge. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Alonzo led the individual state qualifiers while Seaman's Weir tied for fifth with a 77 to punch his ticket to state and his Viking teammate, Williamson, tied for 13th with an 82 to earn his state berth.
A two-time 5A state medalist, Alonzo is brimming with confidence entering the final tournament of his high school career.
"If I just keep it up and how I played today, I should be fine,'' he said.
CLASS 5A REGIONAL GOLF
