Preps notebook: After missing out on league title, Baldwin soccer turns attention to postseason

photo by: File photo by Shane Jackson

Baldwin's Grady McCune pushes the ball up the field during a match against Spring Hill Tuesday afternoon at BHS on Oct. 22, 2019.

Considering what was on the line, it would have been easy for the Baldwin soccer team to be disappointed from its 1-0 loss to Spring Hill Tuesday afternoon at BHS.

Despite outplaying their opponent for much of the second half, the Bulldogs surrendered a late score in the regular-season finale. It prevented BHS from capturing a Frontier League title and could ultimately impact its postseason seeding.

During his postgame chat with his team, though, Baldwin head coach Matt McCune told his players to remain focused on the postseason.

“That’s the end of the first season, we have the most important season coming up,” McCune said. “I think this season we have proved that we can beat anybody in our region. I think they walked away with a little more confidence.”

But the fact that a Frontier League title was even on the line Tuesday night really shows how well the Bulldogs have reloaded after a stellar season in 2018. And it gives McCune plenty of confidence that Baldwin will respond in the postseason.

Despite losing seven starters from last year’s team that went to the regional championship, Baldwin has matched its regular-season win total from a year ago. The Bulldogs (10-5-1, 8-2-1 Frontier League) will also be a top-5 seed in the 4-1A East Region.

Much of Baldwin’s ability to remain a contender is a credit to a senior class that was actually honored Tuesday night. Matt Garber (goalkeeper), Jordan Barth, Tyler Wales, Tate Anderson and Caden Prather have all played key roles for BHS as seniors.

“They are not the most vocal group,” McCune said. “This group is all about business. In the offseason, they really did a great job of bringing everybody together.”

Baldwin senior Tyler Wales looks for a teammate to pass the ball to during a match against Spring Hill Tuesday afternoon at BHS on Oct. 22, 2019.

Junior Grady McCune, a two-time all-Frontier League selection, has had to play more forward this year out of necessity. He has 13 goals and 13 assists on the year already for the Bulldogs after notching four scores and 10 assists last fall.

That has been the theme of the season for BHS, however, as players have found a way to shine in more prominent roles. It is why a win on Tuesday would have been significant, especially since last year’s team didn’t win a league crown.

Spring Hill (4-8-2, 4-3-2) scored its lone goal with 3:13 remaining in the match, which came on a rebound off a corner kick attempt. Garber, who had made a number of brilliant saves on the day, couldn’t stop Spring Hill’s last attempt from sneaking in through the right side of the net.

Moments later, Wales hit the crossbar on a free kick attempt that could have evened things up. Baldwin had multiple good looks in the final 15 minutes that might have changed the final outcome.

Still, more significant hardware will be up for grabs in the coming weeks for Baldwin.

“I would rather make state, win regional championship than win (a) league championship,” McCune said. “(This loss) can get us refocused, which I think we need to do and push us over into the most important season.”

Lions suffer 4-2 loss

Lawrence High’s boys soccer team dropped a 4-2 decision to Olathe East Tuesday night at LHS.

The Lions jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first half before giving up three scores in the second half to suffer another Sunflower League defeat. LHS has now dropped back-to-back matches following a 0-0 draw with Free State in the City Showdown.

Lawrence (5-7-3, 2-6-3 Sunflower League) will play host to Olathe West at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the final game of the regular season.

Kaitlyn Hamilton nets milestone

Free State senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Hamilton, who is an Indiana State commit, surpassed 1,000 kills for her carer in the regular-season finale.

The Firebirds ultimately suffered a 3-1 road loss (25-16, 25-19, 25-21, 25-12) at St. Teresa’s Academy to conclude the regular season. FSHS only won the third set in a match that didn’t impact its seeding for the postseason.

Free State will travel to Wichita East for sub-state play on Saturday.

Sub-state brackets released

Area volleyball teams finally know their postseason fate, as sub-state brackets were released Monday afternoon. Both Free State (22-11) and Lawrence High (9-25) will be heading to Wichita East on Saturday.

LHS, the No. 13 seed, will take on No. 4 seed Wichita East at 2 p.m. Free State, which is the fifth seed, will face No. 12 Wichita North after that. The two winners will square off in the regional championship.

Eudora, a No. 3 seed, is the only area squad that will host a sub-state region. Eudora (23-13) will take on No. 14 Paola at 2 p.m. at EHS. No. 9 Baldwin (13-17) will face No. 8 Girard at Independence High School in the first round on Saturday. No. 11 Tonganoxie (13-19) is slated for an opening round matchup with No. 6 Chanute at Eudora High School.

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