photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora softball team greets Jaiden Burris at home plate during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

Eudora — The Eudora Cardinals are returning to the 4A softball state tournament after two run-rule wins in the regional tournament on Wednesday.

“We had a lot of expectations going into here since we won the last three, so we knew what we had to do and came in here and got our job done,” catcher Reese Pattison said.

Eudora secured its spot at state with a 13-0 win over No. 9 Chanute in the regional championship. They had 12 hits and didn’t get struck out in the game.

“I’m excited for these kids,” Eudora coach Bill Finucane said. “It’s quite an accomplishment for them — it’ll be four years in a row that they’ve gone to state … and it’s well deserved. They’re a talented group, and they’ve worked really hard. They are a treat to coach.”

For the seven seniors, the win means a lot. They’re working to set a standard that continues after they leave.

“It’s something we don’t take for granted,” pitcher Sam Claire said. “We’ve gone all four years, but we’ve also worked our butts off to get there. It shows our hard work, and we’re all excited to show what we can do.”

To get to the regional championship, Eudora beat No. 16 Parsons 16-0 in four innings. It was important for the Cardinals to get the job done and not let little mistakes end a special season early. Finucane told the team to “play the games we know how to play and write your own script.”

Claire threw three innings and struck out eight batters with one hit and no walks. The Vikings put only three runners on base in the game. Claire allowed one hit at the top of the first before throwing three strikeouts.

The third strikeout was a special one: her 500th career strikeout with Eudora, which is a career mark that has only been hit a few times in the state. It’s a special moment for the future Kansas Jayhawk in her senior year, but she gives credit to the catcher who’s been with her the entire time: Pattison.

“Our bond is special,” Claire said. “She’s caught every single pitch in every inning I’ve thrown on this field. I think that shows how much we have each other’s back and how much she cares. Tonight, I did not throw my best, and (Pattison) made me look amazing. And I love her — we’ve done it together.”

“Catching someone as amazing as Sam makes my job easy,” Pattison added.

Katie Courter scored the first run in the bottom of the first. She hit a leadoff double before stealing third in the next at-bat. On a sacrifice fly, she ran home for the run. Courter was the only run of the inning.

Claire struck another three batters out in the second before the Cardinals scored seven runs. The team collected five hits, including two home runs from Jaiden Burris and Lexi Born. Born’s was a three-run homer, and Burris’ home run scored two runs. Lexi Brooks’ double later in the inning brought in the Cardinals’ eighth run.

At the top of the third, Claire added two more strikeouts to her total, and she threw the final out to first. Eudora scored five runs in the bottom of the third with three hits, three walks and an error. Born’s single brought in the first two runs, and Burris hit an RBI triple two at-bats later. Brooks reached on an error that brought home two more runs.

The Vikings put two runners on base in the fourth from errors as Olivia O’Toole pitched from the circle. Back-to-back outs closed the top of the inning, with the Vikings leaving both runners stranded in scoring position.

Needing two runs to win the game, the Cardinals scored three in the bottom of the fourth. Maddy Arnold hit a leadoff single, followed by a free base for Courter after being hit by a pitch. A wild pitch brought in the 14th Eudora run, and a walk-off home run from Pattison gave the Cardinals the 16-0 win.

Burris went 2-for-2 at the plate, including the homer. O’Toole and Born also had two hits. The Cardinals had 11 hits and four walks with one strikeout at the plate.

Against Chanute, Claire returned to the circle. In the top of the first inning, the Blue Comets put a runner on base with a walk but didn’t get anyone else on before a strikeout from Claire and a popout to Pattison closed the half-inning.

Courter flied out at the plate as the leadoff hitter, but the Cardinals rattled off three hits and put another runner on base after Pattison was hit by a pitch, scoring three runs. Burris doubled, bringing in two runs, and Claire’s single brought in the third. With two outs, Halle Hammes reached on an error that brought in the fourth run.

Claire threw two more batters out in the second, and Pattison caught another popout behind the plate. The Blue Comets did manage a leadoff single from Mylee Miller, but it was the only hit of the inning.

Eudora scored four more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Courter singled, and she stole second and third before scoring on a passed ball in the next at-bat. Claire doubled with two runners on base, which brought home courtesy runner Kaylyn Carpenter. Brooks followed up the hit with a single that brought Burris home, and Leslie Cundiff flied out, which gave courtesy runner Reese Bishop a chance to score a run after tagging up. A groundout ended the inning with Eudora up 8-0.

Neither team scored in the third, but both recorded a single. Miller walked at the top of the fifth, but Claire struck the next two batters out to close the half-inning. Burris tripled to start the bottom of the fourth, and Claire brought her home on an RBI single in the next at-bat. The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out, but the Blue Comets converted a fielder’s choice double play, which ended the inning.

Eudora retired the side in three at-bats in the fifth, which meant the Cardinals needed one run to win in five innings. Courter walked to start the inning, and Born singled in the next at-bat. The Blue Comets intentionally walked Pattison, which put Burris at the plate. As soon as Pattison walked, she knew Burris would close the game there.

“This happened sophomore year,” Burris said. “Ottawa walked Reese, and I came up and hit a home run. This time, I was actually like, ‘Why would they do that?’ But (at the plate), I wasn’t thinking about anything.”

Burris hit a grand slam on the first pitch and won the game 13-0 in five innings. She finished with three hits on three at-bats in the game and was 5-for-5 on the day.

Claire and Burris led the team in the game with three hits, and she pitched all five innings, allowing only two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. Courter and Born both had two hits as well.

The Cardinals pride themselves on being a loud dugout, which helps bring energy in their wins, but the team got an additional boost from the home crowd.

“In big events like this, the community really comes together, and I think that’s something really special about Eudora,” Claire said. “We can feel our support and the love, and I think that helps us settle down.”

With a 25-1 record going into the state tournament, the Cardinals will be one of the top seeds. The team has the talent and experience to win it all, and Finucane believes it’s only a matter of staying true to who the Cardinals are.

“Relax and play our game,” Finucane said. “I think we can play with anybody. It’s just a matter of getting there and doing what we do. I always say, don’t try to hit a six-run home run — you can’t. Just do the simple things, and we’ll be OK.”

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Katie Courter steps on home plate during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Olivia O’Toole slides safely into second base during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Lexi Born high-fives head coach Bill Finucane after hitting a home run during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Jaiden Burris connects with the ball for a home run during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Jaiden Burris smiles as she rounds the bases after a home run during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Halle Hammes rounds the bases during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Leslie Cundiff is pictured on defense during a game against Parsons on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Sam Claire pitches during a game against Chanute on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Lexi Born steals second base during a game against Chanute on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

The Eudora softball team huddles during a game against Chanute on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Halle Hammes makes a throw during a game against Chanute on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Sam Claire, left, talks with catcher Reese Pattison during a game against Chanute on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora shortstop Katie Courter fires over to first base after fielding a Parsons ground ball on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Eudora.

photo by: Kahner Sampson/Special to the Journal-World

Eudora’s Kaylyn Carpenter watches the play unfold after scoring against Chanute on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, during the regional championship in Eudora.