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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The Washburn and Emporia State softball teams battled to a standoff in Saturday's final doubleheader of the regular season while individually the day belonged to Ichabod senior first baseman Jaden LaBarge.
Washburn senior Jaden LaBarge had four home runs and eight RBI in Saturday's twinbill split with ESU. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn senior Jaden LaBarge is congratulated by her teammates after hitting her third home run in Saturday's 8-0 first-game win over ESU. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
LaBarge, who was one of six Ichabods honored between games on Senior Day at Gahnstrom Field, hit three home runs in as many at bats in Washburn's 8-0 five-inning first-game win and added a fourth homer in the second game, a 4-2 eight-inning Emporia State victory.
In the opener LaBarge tied a school record with her three home runs and seven runs batted in.
In the first inning, LaBarge connected on her first long ball of the day, scoring fellow seniors Alexis Tanguma and Kaylee Wagner.
When LaBarge came up in the third inning, after a single from Wagner, LaBarge hit another round-tripper as Washburn stretched its lead to 5-0.
LaBarge's third at-bat of the day was a homer down the left-field line, scoring Wagner, as Washburn went up 7-0.
The Ichabods closed out the run-rule win when Erin Boles and Dalaney Anderson both walked and then Maddie McGee's hit scored scored Ashley Gaughan, who entered as a pinch runner, for the eighth run of the day and the 8-0 win.
LaBarge's three home run game was the first by an Ichabod since Taylor Zimmerman had three at Lincoln on March 4, 2016. It was only the fourth time in program history an Ichabod had a three-homer day.
Her seven RBI tied a school record and was the first seven RBI game since Taylor Kirk had seven at Lincoln on March 3, 2018. Saturday was the eighth time an Ichabod drove in seven in a single game.
Junior Sadie Walker pitched a four-hitter in Saturday's 8-0 first-game WU win over ESU. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
In the pitcher's circle, junior Sadie Walker improved to 15-8 while scattering four hits and striking out two in the win.
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By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
LAWRENCE -- Friday’s Leitel Legacy Invitational Track Meet, hosted by Lawrence Free State, included 23 teams from across Kansas with five local schools participating - Hayden, Shawnee Heights, Seaman, Topeka West and Washburn Rural.
Seaman junior Ryin Miller won the 3,200 and 800-meter runs Friday night at Free State. [File photo/TSN]
Ryin Miller continued her undefeated season with a season-best 10:17.74 in the 3,200 meters. It was the 29th best time in the United States this season.
“I was pretty happy with the race and have progressively built on each race. I’m trying to peak where I’m supposed to peak, which is the goal this season,” Miller said.
Miller’s second race of the day was in the 800 meters where she finished first in a time of 2:11.65, setting another season-best and also the 64th best time in the United States this season. Miller has her mind on an even faster time.
“I’ve been trying to break 2:10 this season and hoping that at some point this season, I’ll get there,” Miller said.
The Washburn Rural boys and girls swept the 4x800-meter relay races.
Rylee Ismert helped Washburn Rural's girls win the 4x800 relay Friday night at Free State. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Isaiah Terry helped Washburn Rural win the boys 4x800 relay Friday at Free State. [File photo/TSN]
The girls -- Emily Graf, Payton Fink, Brooklyn Nolte and Rylee Ismert -- posted a season-best time of 9:35.40, while the boys -- Brooks Kehoe, Ben Buesing, Draden Chooncharoen and Isaiah Terry -- won in a time of 8:05.48.
Hayden senior Jensen Schrickel won the long jump and 400 dash Friday at Free State. [File photo/TSN]
Senior Jensen Schrickel of Hayden had two first-place finishes, in the 400 meters and long jump. He ran the 400 in a personal-best time of 48.30 seconds and had a season-best jump of 22-6 in the long jump.
Senior Molly Worley of Washburn Rural finished first in the high jump with a personal best of 5-4.
Washburn Rural sophomore Eve Luea had a personal-best throw of 107-11 in the discus to finish third.
Junior Morgan Ray of Washburn Rural won the girls javelin with a personal best of 133-9, which is the 44th best in the United States this season.
Other local highlights:
- Senior Bella Reid of Hayden finished third in the 100-meter hurdles in a time 16.57 seconds.
- Washburn Rural sophomore Christian Hartman-Babb finished second in the 100 meters with a personal-best time of 10.94 seconds.
- Freshman Henry Laubach of Washburn Rural finished third in the 3,200 meters in a personal-best of 9:41.18.
- Washburn Rural’s girls 4x100-meter relay team finished third with a time of 51.10 seconds.
- Seaman senior Jaida Stallbaumer placed third in the 300-meter hurdles in a season-best time of 48.44 seconds.
- Junior Liam Morrison of Washburn Rural finished second in the 300-meter hurdles in a season best time of 40.05 seconds.
- Seaman junior Brody Anderson finished third in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:20.34.
- The girls 4x400 meter relay team from Seaman finished third in a time of 4:08.88.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University baseball used a six-run fifth inning to take Game 1 of the final regular-season series against Newman 8-2 on Friday evening.
Topekan Cooper Carlgren picked up the pitching win in Friday's 8-2 Washburn MIAA win over Newman. [Photo courtesy of Washburn Athletics]
The Ichabods will go for the series win on Saturday with first pitch at 2 p.m.
Before the game there will be a ceremony on the field to rename the WU facility Falley Field at Steve Anson Stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m.
After a scoreless first inning it was the Jets (10-31 overall, 6-25 MIAA) who got on the scoreboard first with a one-out solo home run in the second inning.
The Ichabod (24-24, 16-18) offense got two triples in the first three innings, first from Connor Scott then Jett Buck.The second came from Buck in the third inning with two outs. Jackson Mervosh followed with a double to score him and tie the game.
Washburn Rural product Cooper Carlgren started on the mound for the Ichabods and after the second inning run he settled in with scoreless third and fourth innings, combining for four strikeouts in the two frames.
After a scoreless fifth from Carlgren, Washburn loaded the bases on a hit batter, walk and single by Hayden Priest. Mervosh continued to drive in runs, doubling into right center to score two more. Easton Bruce traded places with him, doubling to right to make it 5-1. Darian Duhon made it a six-run inning, blasting a home run to right and add two more runs.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Hayden star senior pitcher and cleanup hitter Cooper Grace was asked after Friday's Centennial League doubleheader against Junction City what he gets most excited about -- a dominating performance on the mound or a big hit at the plate.
Hayden senior Cooper Grace turned in a banner performance in Friday's doubleheader sweep over Junction City. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Grace went with option No. 3 -- success as a team.
"I get excited when you get a big win to be honest with you,'' Grace said. "That's kind of the ultimate thing that I care about.
"It's fun to have some individual goals for myself, but as a team, I get excited about the wins.''
Grace achieved all three of those goals, Friday, allowing just three hits and striking out 12 in 6 2/3 innings in the first game and stroking two doubles and a triple in the nightcap as Hayden improved to 12-0 overall and 6-0 in the league with a 6-0, 3-2 sweep over the Blue Jays (6-10, 1-5).
"I know it's a cliche, but you've just got to play them one at a time,'' Hayden coach Bill Arnold said. "I felt like all our pitchers today did a really good job, but we've got to clean some stuff up.''
In the opener, Grace gave up just three singles and struck out every hitter in the Junction City lineup at least once before senior Liam Annand came on in relief to record the final out and preserve the shutout.
Junction City junior starter Conrado Gomez shut out Hayden over the first four innings, but the Wildcats broke the game open with a five-run fifth, sending 10 hitters to the plate in the inning.
Hayden got a two-run single from senior Brady Heinen and a run-scoring single from Annand while the Wildcats also scored a pair of runs on Blue Jay wild pitches.
Hayden sophomore shortstop Mason Becker (left) throws out a runner in Friday's doubleheader sweep over Junction City. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Hayden added its final run in the sixth when sophomore shortstop Mason Becker doubled and came around to score.
Senior Jett Wahlmeier got the pitching start for Hayden in the second game and picked up the win, shutting out the Blue Jays over the first four innings and working into the fifth before being relieved by junior Connor Hanika.
Hayden jumped on top in the first when Becker singled and scored on a Grace triple.
The Wildcats added a run in the third when junior Aiden Roberts singled, stole second and scored on a Heinen sacrifice fly and scored their final run in the fourth when Grace doubled and scored on a single from junior Kade Mitchell.
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By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University softball will wrap up the 2025 regular season on Saturday, hosting Emporia State in a 1 p.m. Senior Day doubleheader.
Seniors Mariah Wheeler, Alexis Tanguma, Jaden LaBarge, Kaylee Wagner and Ellington Hogle along with student assistant coach Riley Stephens will be honored between games.
Washburn senior catcher Kaylee Wagner (left) is congratulated by her Ichabod teammates after hitting the go-ahead home run in last Friday's 10-7 win over Central Oklahoma. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Ichabods (30-19 overall, 12-10 MIAA) split a doubleheader with No. 5-ranked Central Oklahoma last Friday in their only action of the week.
Emporia State is 29-21 this season and 9-13 in the MIAA after sweeping Newman on April 19 in Emporia.
The Ichabods are in sixth in the MIAA standings entering the final weekend, two games behind Central Missouri for fifth.
The 2025 MIAA Championship Tournament bracket will be announced on Saturday at the conclusion of all games. The top 10 in the final standings qualify for the single-elimination tournament which will be hosted by Fort Hays State April 30-May 4.
Washburn junior pitcher Sadie Walker is ninth in the nation in games started (26), 11th in appearances (33 ) and 38th in shutouts (4) while also ranking 47th in strikeouts (47).
Jenna Sprague is seventh in the nation with five saves.
