Led by a 14-strikeout performance by senior pitcher Avery Brawner and a three-run double by Paige O’Neal in the fourth inning, the Haven Wildcat softball team advanced to the Kansas Class 3A state semifinals.
The Wildcats posted an 8-4 quarterfinal round victory over Baxter Springs Monday at Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia.
No. 2-seed Haven (28-2), making its first trip to the state tournament since 2023 and its 11th overall, will play No. 3 Silver Lake (26-4) in the semifinals at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Kansas Arrocha Ballpark.
Silver Lake (26-4) defeated Colby 10-0 in the quarterfinals.
Haven scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, three in the fourth in the fifth and two in the sixth. Haven had 10 hits and Baxter Springs committed five errors.
Baxter Springs scored two runs in the top of the third inning and two in the seventh off eight hits and one Haven error.
Brawner had two hits, including a double. Haven also got two hits each from Aubree Nikkel, Mayzie Warden and Calie Hunninghake. Sierra Yoder drove in two runs.
Warden, Hunninghake and Brawner each scored two runs. Hunninghake had a stolen base.
In other Class 3A state quarterfinal games, No. 1 Southeast of Saline defeated No. 8 Lakin 7-0 and Jefferson West defeated Frontenac 4-2.
Southeast of Saline (25-1) will play No. 5 Jefferson West (22-6) in the 11 a.m. semifinal game Wednesday at the University of Kansas Arrocha Ballpark.
The third-place game for Kansas Class 3A will be played at 3 p.m. Thursday at Arrocha Ballpark and the championship game is at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Arrocha.
Frontenac finished the season with a 21-5 record, Colby finished 21-7, Baxter Springs finished 17-11 and Lakin finished 15-13.
