McPHERSON, Kan. – The McPherson High School Varsity Softball team had two quads in a week, winning both games each day Tuesday, April 22 and Friday, April 25 to stay undefeated. The most exciting of which coming in a battle of 4A juggernauts between McPherson and Wamego in game two Friday, which saw McPherson walking off with a 3-2 win in an 18 inning battle.
“I’ve never been a part of a game like this,” Head Coach Daryl Hoelting said.
The game was a pitcher’s duel between McPherson’s Addie Herrera and Wamego star Peyton Hardenburger. Wamego struck first with two hits in the first to go up 2-0. The Bullpups countered in the bottom of the 1st with a Haely Hagemann two-run home run.
Nobody would score for almost 17 innings.
Herrera pitched the full 18 frames, allowing 10 hits, two runs, and striking out seven. She faced 68 batters and threw 206 pitches, 144 of which being strikes. “I’ve been part of a 14 inning game before, but I’ve never had a pitcher throw for 18 innings,” Hoelting said. “That’s incredible, especially with a team like [Wamego]. I’m proud of our team, but I can’t say enough about Addie Herrera.”
Wamego’s Hardenburger, the future Tennessee Volunteer, was replaced after 16 innings, but she allowed only two hits and had 35 strikeouts on the game.
McPherson had multiple opportunities to drive home the game-winning run, but it finally came into fruition in the 18th inning. Riley Whitfield led off the bottom of the inning with an infield single, then advanced a play later with a sacrifice bunt. After a fly out, Kynedi Huggard stepped up to the plate 0-6, striking out all six times. Huggard swung at the first pitch, driving a hard-hit ground ball to center field to score Whitfield, ending the game with a Bullpup victory.
Marathon game ends in walk off for McPherson!
Kynedi Huggard drives home Riley Whitfield to win it 3-2 in the 18th inning over Wamego.
Wamego pitcher and Tennessee commit Peyton Hardenburger pitched 16 innings and had *ahem* 35 strikeouts.
What a game! pic.twitter.com/UaHpthCqEH
— Lane Gillespie (@LaneGillPxP) April 26, 2025
“She’s been swinging the bat pretty good,” Hoelting said. “My hat’s off to her. I’m just elated.”
The McPherson baseball team and coaches stuck around to cheer on their classmates after their quad finished as the softball game entered the 14th inning. The softball team’s classmates either sat in the bleachers next to the third base dugout or stuck around past the outfield fence for the full view of the field.
Coach Hoelting said he and the softball team were excited about the support. “I though the baseball team brought a lot of energy to this game,” Hoelting said. “I tip my hat to the baseball team for coming over to show that love and support for us.”
McPherson defeated El Dorado 11-1 earlier in the day. The Bullpups also went 2-0 Tuesday, April 22 with a 7-1 victory against Rose Hill and a 5-0 shutout against Derby.
The team is still unbeaten at 22-0 on the season. The team will have much needed and deserved rest as they won’t be in action until Friday, May 9 for another quad.
