LHS softball falls 10-5 to Olathe North in opening round of 6A regionals
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
After scoring the game’s first run in the top of the first inning, the No. 13 seed Lawrence High softball team gave up five runs to host Olathe North in the bottom of the inning, paving the way for a 10-5 loss that ended the Lions’ season.
Fourth-seeded Olathe North, last year’s Class 6A state runner-up, actually built a 10-1 lead through four innings and put the Lions on the brink of being run-ruled heading into the fifth. As they had done all season, though, LHS used its fight, speed and never-say-die attitude to stay in the game.
With the its defense holding the Eagles scoreless for the final two innings, LHS plated two runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the seventh before O-North (17-4) recorded the game’s final out.
“There at the end, it was just let’s get the next person their last at-bat and you just never know what can happen,” LHS coach Steve Seratte said after the loss. “They fought, and we’re real proud of them.”
LHS (5-15) scored its five runs on just six hits, with junior outfielder Hailey Ramirez and junior Emmersyn Dye recording five of the six hits. That duo also scored five runs and Dye drove in two runs, as well.
Ramirez and Dye also combined for five stolen bases, on a day when LHS left six runners on base throughout the game.
Senior catcher Chayse Burghart, who hit third in the Lions’ batting order, recorded the only other LHS hit, a single that scored a run in the top of the seventh. She also drove in the Lions’ run in the top of the first, scoring Ramirez, who reached base on an infield hit, advanced to second on a bad throw and reached third on a sacrifice bunt.
“We knew that we were creating some problems for them at the top of the order,” Seratte said. “Like we did all season, though, we just struggled to get that timely hit and we gave up that one big inning.”
While Olathe North was building its lead, the Lions were oh-so-close to staying with them. LHS left runners stranded at second and third base in two of the first four innings, allowing O-North to build its lead.
Junior pitcher Maelee Folks pitched all six innings for LHS in the loss, giving up 13 hits and nine earned runs, with four walks and a strikeout. Olathe North shortstop Lailah Simmons hit two home runs on the day and was responsible for six of the Eagles’ nine RBIs.
“We just couldn’t generate enough runs to stay with them,” Seratte said. “But we fought to the end and I think we might’ve had them a little scared there late.”
The loss was the final game in the prep careers of LHS’s three seniors, Burghart, Emily Silvers and Layla Harjo. Seratte said that trio was a perfect representation of what this year’s team was all about.
“This group just had good, positive energy all season long and the three seniors that we’re losing were just the best teammates with the best attitudes that you could ask for,” Seratte said.
Olathe North 10, Lawrence 5
LHS 100 020 2 – 5 6 3
ON 512 200 X – 10 13 2
W – Mia Williams. L – Maelee Folks.
Highlights for LHS: Hailey Ramirez 3-for-4, 3 R, 3 SB; Emmersyn Dye 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 SB; Chayse Burghart 1-for-4, 2 RBI; Charlee Burghart RBI.
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
photo by: Chance Parker/Journal-World
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