By TODD FERTIG
TopSports.news
The Shawnee Heights softball team reeled off 15 runs in each of its two games against Topeka West Tuesday, rolling to two mercy rulings at Hummer Sports Park.
The T-Birds exploded for nine runs in the first inning of the first game, making a statement that they had come to hit the ball all over the yard.
Senior Grace Proctor was the winning pitcher and hit a home run in Shawnee Heights' 15-0 first-game win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior Cianna Graves is congratulated by Shawnee Heights coach Tara Griffith after hitting a home run in Shawnee Heights' 15-0 first-game win over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Starting pitcher Grace Proctor and catcher Cianna Graves each blasted home runs in the first game that was called with a 15-run T-Bird lead after just three innings.
After rapping out 18 hits in just three innings in the 15-0 opener, the T-Birds added 14 more base hits in the second contest to win 15-2.
Taylor Brees (2) had three extra-base hits in Shawnee Heights' 15-0, 15-2 softball sweep over Topeka West. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
The T-Birds racked up 16 extra base hits on the day, three each by Proctor, Graves and Taylor Brees.
“If felt good,” Brees said of the offensive outburst. “We kind of expect that from ourselves now. If you would have asked me a few games into the season if I thought we’d be where we are now, I would have said, ‘No way.’ But we have worked very hard every day, and we’ve really bonded and gotten super close, and I think that’s definitely helped.”
Brees singled, doubled and tripled in the opener. She picked up another double in the second game. The Washburn University softball commit said she likes the direction the team is headed.
“Like I said, I was kind of nervous at the beginning, but now I’m really excited for postseason, and I think we can really make a run,” Brees said. “I think our offense kind of just depends on the day, but our defense is always solid. Our pitching is always solid. So we can always kind of depend on that.”
Shawnee Heights didn’t have to tax its pitchers on Tuesday. Proctor threw just two innings before giving way to Kaelyn Fisher for the third frame. The T-Birds let Haven Ellenburg work the entire second game. The offensive fireworks took the pressure off the pitchers.
“Our girls are hitting the ball really well right now,” said Shawnee Heights coach Tara Griffith. “They’re really seeing it, and they’re being very unself at the plate, taking what the defense is giving us. No one’s going for home runs, although we got a couple today. But everyone is just trying to hit line drives. I think that’s a huge part of being a team.”
The T-Birds improved to 15-4 with the two victories Tuesday. They are scheduled to face Blue Valley West on Thursday, with Seaman waiting next Tuesday.
“We’ve got some big ones coming up,” Griffith said. “So, it will be important for us to do some things there so we can get a good seeding for regionals.”
GAME 1
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 15, TOPEKA WEST 0
Shawnee Heights 915 — 15 18 0
Topeka West 000 — 0 1 2
Proctor, Fisher (3) and Graves, Samuels (3). TenEyck and Hall. W — Proctor. L — TenEyck. 2B — Shawnee Heights: Graves, Munoz, Richert, Harrington, Proctor, Miller, Brees. 3B — Shawnee Heights: Brees. HR — Shawnee Heights: Proctor, Graves.
GAME 2
SHAWNEE HEIGHTS 15, TOPEKA WEST 2
Shawnee Heights (15-4) 350 52 — 15 14 2
Topeka West (8-12) 002 00 — 2 2 4
Ellenburg and Graves, Blevins (3). White and Hall. W — Ellenburg. L — White. 2B — Shawnee Heights: Proctor, Graves, Brees, Miller, Hamilton, Fisher. Topeka West: Hall.
