The Flint Hills Stampede 16-and-under softball team placed third out of 16 teams at the ASA U-16 Gold Class State Tournament last weekend at Topeka.
The team ended the weekend with a 4-2 record.
The Stampede opened tournament play Friday night against the Wellington Impact and picked up its win by a score of 6-0. Taylor Rains pitched a complete game no-hitter, striking out 10 and walking three.
Ashley Cahoone provided the decisive hit in the fourth inning with a towering three-run home run to left field that put the game out of reach. Rains also went 3-for-3, with Erin Eidman going 1-for-2.
In Game Two on Saturday morning, the Stampede squeaked out a 3-2 win over the Newton Railers. Rains made the start, allowing one earned run and scattering three hits with seven strikeouts.
On offense, Gabby Bohrer led the way, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Brenna Riley, Rains, and Cahoone all went 1-for-2, and Megan Burton went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
In Game Three, the Stampede squared off against the Milan Sunflower Sluggers and lost in extra innings, 3-2.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Sluggers had the bases full with two outs down by one run. With a 1-2 count, the home-plate umpire called an illegal pitch on Rains, allowing the tying run to score.
The next hitter singled to left to win the game.
Rains picked up her only loss of the tournament, striking out eight and walking one. She allowed no earned runs in the contest and gave up three hits.
The Stampede was led by Rains offensively, as she went 2-for-3 with a double. Burton went 1-for-3.
Flint Hills followed its first loss with a 7-6, extra-inning victory against the Independence Lightning. Kelly Hannigan picked up the win in relief.
Hannigan shut down the Lightning in the sixth and seventh to help the Stampede to their third win. She struck out two and walked one, allowing only one hit.
In Game Five, the Stampede won a 5-3 decision over the Augusta Mudcats. Rains picked up her fourth win of the tournament, and Hannigan got the save. Both pitchers combined to only give up one earned run, striking out six and walking two.
Offensively, the Stampede was led by Brenna Riley, who went 2-for-2 and scored two runs. Robin Grokett and Burton also went 2-for-3.
In the Stampede’s final game, it lost to the Sluggers again by a score of 3-0. Bohrer got the start and the loss. Hannigan came on in relief and gave up one unearned run, striking out four and walking none. She allowed three hits.
Heather Duncan and Rains both went 2-for-3, with Rains contributing a double. Bohrer went 1-for-3.
In the tournament, the Stampede was led offensively by Rains, who went 10-for-18. Burton went 8-for-18, and Erin Eidman went 7-for-15.
In the circle, Rains posted a 3-1 record in 28 innings. She gave up nine hits, striking out 24 and walking five.
Hannigan pitched in three games, picking up a win and a save. She struck out six and walked three in 12 innings, giving up five hits.
The Stampede finished its season with an 18-18-1 record. The team took 3rd in the USSSA C National Tournament and third in the ASA State Tournament.
Earlier in the year, the Stampede finished second in the Council Grove Invitational and first in the Mike’s Tournament in Emporia.
This year’s team consisted of: Kayla VanVliet, Madison; Megan Burton, Americus; Gabby Bohrer, Emporia; Annie Jirak, Marion; Briana Talkington, Matfield Green; Brenna Riley and Heather Duncan, Saffordville; Kelly Hannigan, Strong City; and Robin Grokett, Erin Eidman, Taylor Rains and Ashley Cahoone, Cottonwood Falls.
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