Manhattan ? Once again, the pitcher was the hero for McLouth High at the Class 3A state softball tournament.

Pitcher Sam Farris struck out 13 Riverton batters in the state consolation game Saturday. And she capped her big day by knocking a game-winning double that scored junior Lezley Lawson in the bottom of the eighth for a 1-0 victory.

Lawson, in Friday’s first-round game, struck out 17 and had an RBI single for McLouth’s other 1-0 victory, which was against Herington-White City.

But Saturday afternoon belonged to Farris. She struck out the side in three different innings. It was a fitting end for Farris, who was a senior this year.

She will play at Washburn next season, but in her final game in a McLouth uniform, Farris helped MHS to its highest state finish – third place – in the eight-year history of the softball program.

“It feels pretty darn good,” Farris said about the victory.

It was a much better emotion than the one the Bulldogs felt after the semifinal game Saturday morning against Thomas More Prep-Marian of Hays.

MHS lost its first game of the year to TMP-Marian, 5-0. The Monarchs (24-1) went on to defeat Wichita Independent, 2-0, for the championship. TMP-Marian won its second straight state title – last year the Monarchs won 4A before moving down a class this year.

McLouth finished the season at 22-1. Along with Farris, Abby Annis and Stacie Stauch were the only seniors on this year’s team.