SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
Both the McPherson Bullpups and Inman Teutons advanced to their respective state semifinals with quarterfinal victories Thursday.
Class 4A — McPherson 10, Circle 1
SALINA, Kan. — A six-run sixth inning powered the No. 1 McPherson Bullpups to a 10-1 victory over No. 8 Circle in Thursday’s Class 4A softball state semifinal at Salina South High School.
The win improved the Bullpups to 29-0 on the season, while Circle ends their season at 20-9.
After leading 4-1 in the sixth inning, Carmin Pavlovich’s two-run single sparked the outburst, followed by a three-run home run from Addison Chapman and an RBI double by Haely Hagemann that helped put the game out of reach with a six-run frame.
McPherson took an early lead in the first inning when Addie Herrera grounded into a double play that still allowed a run to score. Circle tied the game at 1-1 in the third on a Logan James RBI double to center.
The Bullpups regained control with a two-run fourth, scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI single down the left field line by Ava Romero to make it 3-1.
Chapman went the distance in the circle, earning the win, allowing just four hits and one run. She improved her record to 14-0 on the season. She struck out four and walked one. Circle starter Whitney Wilbur took the loss, giving up four runs, three earned, on three hits in 4 1/3 innings.
McPherson tallied 10 hits in the win. Chapman drove in three runs, while Pera Bauer went 2-for-3 to lead the team in hits. Pavlovich and Bauer each swiped multiple bases, as the Bullpups racked up eight stolen bags.
Harlee Fowler, Ava Tunnell, James, and Harley McLaughlin each had one hit for Circle. James drove in the Thunderbirds’ lone run.
The Bullpups will play on Friday at 11 a.m. against No. 4 Clearwater.
Circle - 001 000 0 - 1 4 1
McPherson - 100 216 x - 10 10 1
W: Chapman. L: Wilbur.
Class 2-1A — Inman 7, St. Mary's Colgan 6
PRATT, Kan. — No. 2 Inman is headed back to the Class 2-1A state softball semifinals after a dramatic 7-6, walk-off win in eight innings over No. 7 St. Mary’s-Colgan on Thursday at the Green Sports Complex.
The win improved the Teutons to 23-1 on the season, while the Panthers end their season with a 16-12 mark.
Making their second straight state appearance and fifth overall, the Teutons built an early 5-0 lead through two innings before St. Mary’s-Colgan rallied.
The Panthers, down to their final two strikes in the top of the seventh, surged ahead 6-5 on a go-ahead two-run home run to straightaway center by Bella Ascanio, the same player Inman’s Lyla Levin was dueling in the circle.
But Levin, who gave up the homer, immediately answered. She led off the bottom of the seventh with a double off Ascanio, then came around to score the tying run on a clutch RBI single through the left side by Taylor Froese.
After a scoreless top of the eighth, Levin stepped to the plate once more with the winning run at third and delivered, her fifth hit of the game, a single to right that sent Inman into the semifinals.
Levin was outstanding on both sides of the ball, going 5-for-5 at the plate and earning her 16th win of the season in the circle. She scattered 11 hits and allowed three earned runs across eight innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Froese went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including the game-tying hit in the seventh. Maddi Parsons added two hits, and the Lady Teutons also turned a key double play defensively.
Colgan's Ascanio gave up 13 hits and seven runs, six earned, with six strikeouts and three walks over 7 2/3 innings.
St. Mary’s-Colgan got multiple-hit efforts from Katie Duncan, Kara Osborn and Brooklyn Barrows, while Ascanio and Kylee Kretchmar each drove in two runs.
Inman will play in the semifinal on Friday at 11 a.m. against No. 3 Leon-Bluestem.
St. Mary's Colgan - 004 000 2 0 - 6 11 1
Inman - 320 000 1 1 - 7 13 1
W: Levin. L: Ascanio. HR: Ascanio (7th inning off Levin, 1 on, 2 outs)