BLHS dropped both games in its doubleheader with the Chieftains, 3-0 and 2-0.

“That’s the first time in a long time we’ve taken a doubleheader from Basehor-Linwood,” said THS coach Mark Mall.

THS pitcher Katie Jeannin fanned 20 Bobcat batters in the doubleheader. In game two, she struck out 12 and had five assists. The seven-inning game had 21 outs and Jeannin had a hand in 17 of those.

Tonganoxie had timely hitting in both games. Karley Bennett was 1-for-3 in game one, knocking in two runs in the top of the fourth. Laura Korb was 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs. Addie Heim had an RBI and a double, while Kim Newton went 2-for-3 with a double.

In game two, Andrea Korb led the team with a 2-for-4 performance, including a triple and 2 RBI.

Basehor-Linwood, though, hasn’t been its usual dominating self. That’s mainly because in January standout pitcher Courtney Reed suffered a torn ACL, a torn MCL and a torn meniscus during a basketball game.

The Bobcats did keep it close, as the Chieftains generated five runs in the doubleheader. The tight games were good for Tonganoxie, Mall said.

“It’s kind of tough winning those close games,” Mall said. “We could be anywhere from 11-1 to 7-5.”

Tonganoxie is sitting right on the median.

Winners of five straight, Tonganoxie is now 9-3 overall and 5-3 in the Kaw Valley League and heads to Perry-Lecompton on Thursday. The Chieftains also had an important doubleheader against powerhouse Santa Fe Trail on Tuesday in Tonganoxie. Results from those games will appear in next week’s Mirror. Mall said the Chargers are comparable to KVL leader Piper, which defeated the Chieftains 6-1 and 7-0 on April 9.

After losing to Piper, Tonganoxie responded by splitting a doubleheader with Mill Valley, winning a 10-inning game in the second contest.

THS then claimed a doubleheader sweep of Immaculata at Tonganoxie April 16 before sweeping Basehor-Linwood.

Against Immaculata, the Chieftains trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the fifth, but rallied with one in that inning and a seven-run outburst in the sixth.

“We didn’t come out well,” Mall said. “But luckily we didn’t run out of innings.”

Game two started in more productively, as Tonganoxie built a 10-0 lead and finished with a 10-2 victory.

The Chieftains hope the winning continues going into the postseason.

THS has just six more games before regionals come to Tonganoxie on May 17.

Softball notes

Junior varsity off and running

The Chieftain junior varsity team has also started the season well. Tonganoxie went 8-0 before dropping a doubleheader last week. With a doubleheader sweep against Lyndon on Monday, the team improved to 11-3. Their next competition is Thursday at Perry-Lecompton.

Leslie Foster is the junior varsity coach.

Tonganoxie awarded regional site

The Kansas State High School Activities Association recently announced Tonganoxie would be one of eight sites for this year’s 4A regional tournaments.

Atchison, Hayden, Hiawatha, Holton, Lansing, Jeff West, Perry-Lecompton and Tonganoxie will be at the regional May 13-16.

Hayden is the defending state champion.

Samuels hired as assistant

Merri Samuels is the newest addition to the softball staff.

Samuels, who was previously an assistant at Basehor-Linwood, is the Chieftains’ second assistant.

“She wanted to watch her daughter play,” Mall said.

Laura Samuels plays for Tonganoxie.

Box scores
Game 1
Immaculata 000 310 0 4
Tonganoxie 010 200 0 8

Game 2
Immaculata 000 020 0 2
Tonganoxie 202 600 x 12

Game 1
Tonganoxie 010 200 0 3 8 1
Basehor 000 000 0 0 3 1

Game 2
Tonganoxie 001 010 0 2 5 0
Basehor 000 000 0 0 3 1