High school softball notes
Class 6A
Maize (19-3) —The Eagles, who won their first 12 games, last went to the 6A tourney four years ago when they finished second. Their top six hitters have a combined 13 homers. Laura Seeman has five homers, while Abby Furstenberg has a team-high .525 batting average. Maize has depth at pitcher with Katlyn Kern and Lindsey Vitale.
Wichita Northwest (21-1) — On a 21-game win streak, Northwest is led by P Mac Millspaugh, who has four perfect games, 139 strikeouts and a 0.78 ERA in 63 innings. P Kelsey Berlin had a 0.53 ERA. C Alex Millspaugh has a .578 batting average, while freshman LF Kaci Copeland hits a team-leading .607. Berlin has a team-high 34 RBIs and five homers.
Class 5A
Arkansas City (18-3) —After one year away, the Bulldogs return to the 5A tourney. They won 5A in 2007 — beating Friday's first-round opponent Bishop Carroll in the title game — and were third in 2008. Sophomore shortstop Kelsey Stewart has made an oral commitment to Florida.
Bishop Carroll (18-4) —Carroll has solid pitching in Megan Wilson, who has 109 strikeouts, and a deep lineup with a .480 team batting average. Kelsey Jones hits a team-high .612 with three homers, 24 RBIs, while Erica Hampton is hitting .508 with 27 RBIs. Carroll's losses are to 6A qualifiers Maize and Northwest.
Newton (15-7) —The Railers opened the season 3-5 then won 10 straight during a 12-2 stretch. 2B Jenna Rangel hits a team-high .515 and has 22 stolen bases. 3B B.B. Dymnioski has nine doubles, four homers, while C Erin Boston has 34 RBIs and a .475 batting average.
Class 4A
Buhler (15-8) —Buhler was 1-21 in 2008 and then won nine games in 2009. Buhler, which allowed one run in three regional games, is led by P McKenzie King (207 strikeouts) and has a strong lineup that includes Christi Reese, Stephanie Patterson and Kimberly Patterson.
Mulvane (20-3) —P Taylor Parsons has a 0.93 ERA, averages eight strikeouts per game, has one perfect game, 11 shutouts and five one-hitters. Top hitter Kyleen Condon is out with an injury, but Stephanie Wilson hits .412, Parsons .360 and Taylor Bell .380. Mulvane did not commit an error during three regional games (19 innings).
Class 3A
Hillsboro (22-1) —The Trojans won their first 18 games and are led by P Courtney Weber and P Franny Gotsch. Offensively Hillsboro is led by Stephanie Sanders (.533 batting average, 10 doubles), Tena Loewen (.475, 24 stolen bases), Taylor Nikkel (.410, seven doubles, three triples, three homers, 24 stolen bases) and Krista Reimer (.456, eight doubles).
Medicine Lodge (22-1) —The top-seeded Indians are led by P Montana Bailey, who has a 1.44 ERA and 136 strikeouts. Kelli Traffas leads with a .531 batting average, one of five players hitting over .450. Ali Rogers has 18 stolen bases.
Class 2-1A
Inman (16-7) —Inman, which finished second in 2007, has two solid pitchers in Mishaun Pfannenstiel and Taylor England. Courtney Reimer hits a team-high .446, while Pfannenstiel hits .400 with 18 RBIs and 10 extra-base hits.