Wildcats head to Class 2-1A state tourney
Three games was all it took to erase last year’s 2-18 season and a rough regular season in 2010.
Yates Center High’s Wildcat softball team came through when it needed to last week. The Wildcats won three games to capture their first Kansas Class 2-1A Regional Softball Championship and earn a trip to the state tournament.
“Getting that first win (11-0 victory over Altoona-Midway) was a big confidence boost for us,” said Kassy Reynolds, senior catcher and leading hitter for the Wildcats.
“We were playing at home in the regional and we finally started playing up to our potential.”
The Wildcats came from behind in their semifinal and championship games Saturday. The Wildcats clinched a berth in a state tournament for the first time since 2001.
Friday Yates Center (9-12), the eighth seed, challenges top-seeded Spearville (22-1) in the first round of the 2010 Kansas Class 2-1A State Softball Tournament. Spearville was the No. 2 seed in the 2009 state tournament but was upended by eventual champion St. Marys in the first round.
The Yates Center-Spearville game is at 5 p.m. Friday at Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia. the winner moves into the semifinals against the winner of the Chase County-Inman game.
“We’ve had great leadership by Kassy and Maggie German, our two seniors who have played three or four years with us. We’re also a young team which means we have a good core to build on,” said Kathe Hamman, YCHS head coach.
Yates Center took second in 1996 in the Kansas Class 3-2-1A state tournament, eventually losing to champion Silver Lake. The Wildcats played in three Class 3A state tournaments but did not place.
“These girls are playing with a lot of confidence right now. They’ve been through several rough patches this year and came together as a team,” Hamman said.
German said it came down to the fact her teammates had more desire and heart to win the regional games. German is the Cats’ shortstop
“We just wanted to win more. Everybody kept their heads up when we got behind and came out hitting the ball,” German said. “In games during the season, we wouldn’t have come back like that.”
On the mound Friday evening will be sophomore pitcher Daryean Estes, who pitched all three regional games for Yates Center.
“(The regional games) were very intense. Playing here at home with the crowd in the games with you, we just talked, had fun and pulled the wins out,” Estes said.
“I didn’t pitch much varsity last year and I knew I had to step up to help the team this year. I just go out and do my thing on the mound. My fastball and change up pitch are working very well right now.”
Hamman points to defensive improvement by the Wildcats as a big reason why the team is going to state.
“Early on we only had our top four hitters but now we’re getting hits up and down the lineup,” Hamman said. “The biggest asset for us is the fact the girls trust each other out there.”
KANSAS CLASS 2-1A STATE
SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
at Trusler Sports Complex, Emporia
Friday, May 28
First round—(1) Spearville (22-1) vs. (8) Yates Center (9-12), 5 p.m.; (2) Pittsburg Colgan (22-1) vs. (7) Wabaunsee (13-10), 5 p.m.; (4) Chase County (16-5) vs. (5) Inman (16-7), 7 p.m.; (3) Chetopa (20-3) vs. (6) Sylvan-Lucas-Luray (13-8), 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 29
Semifinals—Spearville—Yates Center winner vs. Chase County—Inman winner, 10 a.m.; Pittsburg Colgan—Wabaunsee winner vs. Chetopa—Sylvan-Lucas-Luray winner, 10 a.m.
Third place—Semifinal losers, Noon
Championship—Semifinal winners, 1 p.m.
