CLEARWATER, Kan. – Winners of four-in-a-row and 9 of 11, Buhler softball rode a wave of momentum heading into Tuesday’s Class 4A regional at Clearwater. The Crusaders used that momentum to edge out Pratt in the semifinals, 7-6.
Buhler tied the game at four, scoring three runs in the top of the third inning. Ella Thiessen smacked a single to center field with the bases loaded, driving in two runs. Faith Miller then scored on a sacrifice fly by Alexa Adame.
Buhler added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Lillie Horne tossed seven solid innings in the circle, scattering 10 hits, and allowing only three earned runs.
The win advanced Buhler to the regional championship game for the first time since 2011 and set up a meeting with Clearwater for the third time this season. Clearwater scored nine runs in the middle innings and ended Buhler’s season, 11-1.
The middle of the Indian lineup packed a punch as Elizabeth Tjaden, Kaylee Hampton, and Makena Hampton combined for seven hits and six runs batted in.
The Crusaders mustered only three hits in the game. Miller went 1-for-3 and collected an RBI. Horne walked twice and scored Buhler’s lone run.
Buhler finishes with a 13-15 record, earning the most wins in a season since 2010.
Baseball
In the Class 4A regional semifinals at Clay Center, Buhler baseball drew the host Tigers for a third time this season. A much closer affair than the previous two meetings, Clay Center came from behind to edge out the Crusaders, 4-2.
Buhler got on the scoreboard first, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Mitchell McDaniel stole a pair of bases and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dawsyn Valdois in the top of the fourth. In the fifth, Jared Miller walked and then scored on a double to deep left field by Jacob Miller.
Clay Center pushed its runs across in the fifth and sixth innings.
Valdois was great on the bump, matching Clay Center ace Cole Pladson. He limited the Tiger offense to just two runs on four hits over four and a third innings.
Buhler did get the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh inning when Dylan Scripsick walked with two outs. Pinch hitting in his very last at-bat as a Crusader, Jeffrey Neill put the ball in play, but flied out to center field to end the game.
