Siblings help team finish second at USSSA tourney
Tonganoxie’s Lindsey Himpel and Lauren Himpel helped the Kansas City Lasers softball team to a second-place finish at the World Series Fast Pitch Tournament, sponsored by U.S. Sports Specialty Association.
The tournament was July 24-30 at Mid-America Sports Complex in Shawnee.
The Lasers, a 16A team, were one of 60 teams from 14 states competing in the tournament. The Kansas City squad went 3-0 in pool play where they won five straight games and eliminated all four Texas teams that were in the tourney.
The Lasers’ only two losses were to the Omaha Quakes Black from Nebraska in the winners bracket finals and the tournament championship. The Lasers finished the tournament 9-2. Their overall record was 52-13.
Lauren Himpel was named big hitter of the tournament.
Other Tonganoxie High players competed in the tournament. Jenna Nehl played for the Kansas City Blasters, while several THS players played for the Tonganoxie Braves. Those two teams tied for 49th at the tournament.
In the 18U tournaments, Tonganoxie’s Shannon Carlin played for the Lansing Lunatics in the 18 “M” division. Her team finished 13th, while Sarah Flaherty played for the Kansas City Hawks, who placed 33rd in the 18 “A” division.