DOUBLE TROUBLE: Tonganoxie softball earns twinbill sweep thanks to bevy of 2-base hits; THS baseball also wins
Shawn F. Linenberger/Staff
Tonganoxie High softball coach Stephanie Wittman talks to some of her players, including Sage Isaacs (16), during a doubleheader against Spring Hill. Isaacs accumulated 14 strikeouts in a 7-3 extra-inning victory Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Paola.Deuces were wild Tuesday for the Tonganoxie High softball team in a Frontier League doubleheader at Paola.
THS earned 2 victories in the sweep, thanks large part to a slew of doubles.
In Game 1, with the game tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh, Paola threatened to end the game in regulation with a runner on third and one out. But THS forced an infield fly and then Sage Isaacs got a strikeout for the final out of the inning.
THS then responded in the top of the eighth. Abby Clarkson and Emerson Maslak scored back-to-back RBI doubles and then Jordyn Vorbeck connected for a 2 RBI double. That made the score 7-3 and THS wouldn’t look back. Sage Isaacs made quick work of the Panthers in the bottom of the eighth. She finished with 14 strikeouts, two of which came in that final inning.
Paola rallied with a run in the bottom of the seventh and forced extras in Game 1, but there would be no rallies in Game 2.
The defensive battle eventually turned into double trouble for Paola.
Savannah Booker connected for a double in the top of the fifth before Mariah Herrera and Kylie Vandervoort also notched doubles. Clarkson then scored Vandervoort with a bloop single to right as THS built a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh — all with 2 outs — Vandervoort doubled and then scored on a Santi Garcia double. Clarkson then drove in Garcia on a double of her own.
Farrah Halsa pitched a gem in Game 2 as well. She allowed no runs and 6 hits. She also had 9 strikeouts and gave up a walk. Isaacs allowed 3 earned runs on 8 hits and gave up 3 walks while getting those 14 strikeouts.
THS improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in Frontier League play. Paola fell to 2-8 overall and 0-3 in Frontier League play. PHS started the season 2-0 after identical 16-0 victories against Highland Park, but have now lost eighth straight.
League standings traditionally have counted the first meeting between league teams as a conference game and any subsequent meetings as non-league games.
Next up for THS: single game Thursday at Louisburg (3-5 and 0-3) and doubleheader Tuesday vs. Bonner Springs (4-4 and 2-2).
Linescores
Game 1
Tonganoxie 000 102 04 — 7 13 0
Paola 001 001 10 — 3 8 4
Game 2
Tonganoxie 000 030 2 — 5 9 1
Paola 000 000 0 — 0 6 2
THS BASEBALL GETS FRONTIER LEAGUE VICTORY
Tonganoxie High baseball defeated Paola, 7-5, on Tuesday.
THS improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in Frontier League play, while Paola dropped to 7-3 and 1-1.
Next up: Thursday at Louisburg (5-2 and 1-1) and Friday vs. Basehor-Linwood (4-3 overall and 3-1 in United Kansas Conference play).