Lakin softball edges Scott City

Lakin, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Two teams that came in to Tuesday’s 3A Regional quarterfinal not only split the regular season series, but also entered with identical records at 10-10. It was also fitting that they also were the middle two seeds. Lakin would take advantage of Scott City errors, and make a great play to end the game with the tying run in scoring position, and hold off the Lady Beavers 4-3. The Lady Broncs advance to Wednesday’s semi-final round.

Lakin would never trail, adding a run in the bottom of the first on a throwing error to make it 1-0. It wouldn’t be tied until the third inning, when it was Scott City getting an RBI hit batter by Tori Ford that scored Aspyn Nix from third. The tie would be short lived, as Makennah Hernandez hit an RBI double that scored Talyn Beltron to give the Lady Broncs a 2-1 lead. Ashlynn Smith would give them a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on an error. Scott City battled back though in the top of the fifth inning. Ford would sacrifice fly in Amber Latta from third, and on the throw to third, Ella Rumford would take advantage of the error to tie the game at three. The score remained tied until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Smith scored on a Lady Beaver error.

Scott City had one final chance with a two-out rally. A double followed by a walk put two runners aboard. When it looked like Aspyn Nix would drive home the tying run, Jaya Esquibel made a great diving catch to her left to give the Lady Broncs the 4-3 win.

Makennah Hernandez would have the lone RBI for Lakin. Four different players had at least one hit. They had one error. Hernandez went all seven innings in the circle, giving up three runs on six hits, and had 13 strikeouts. Lyndi Rumford would take the loss for Scott City, giving up an unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts. Jacelynn Buffington started the first 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs, one earned on three hits. Tori Ford drove in two runs, while Lyndi Rumford and Aspyn Nix each had two hits. The Lady Beavers ended up with six errors.

In the play-in game, Southwestern Heights knocked off Hugoton 17-8. The other quarterfinal games saw Colby defeat Southwestern Heights 14-4, Goodland upend Cimarron 9-2, and Holcomb stop Sublette/Satanta 10-7. The Cowgirls were the six seed and the Lady Longhorns were the seventh seed.

Wednesday’s semi-finals feature Colby against Lakin at 3 pm, Goodland against Cimarron at 4:30, with the championship game at 6.

Erin Myers Postgame