Area state softball capsules

CLASS 6A

Free State

Coach: Lee Ice.

Record: 20-2.

How they got here: beat Lawrence, 11-0; beat Campus, 1-0.

First-round game: vs. Olathe Northwest, 17-5, 3 p.m.

Key players: None submitted.

Worth noting: Firebirds captured the Class 6A state title last year. ... Quarterfinal game is rematch of last year’s championship game, which Firebirds won 8-3. ... Tatum Clopton pitched perfect game in regional championship game and lone run came on Georgia Rea solo home run in the sixth. ... Only losses came to fellow 6A qualifier Washburn Rural and Blue Valley Northwest.

CLASS 5A

Emporia

Coach: Troy Chapman.

Record: 15-6.

How they got here: beat Pittsburg, 14-0; beat Basehor-Linwood, 6-2 (9 innings).

First-round game: vs. Carroll (20-2), 3 p.m.

Key players: Brynn Riley, sr., P; Paige Thomas, jr.; Mya Chapman, jr.; Drue Davis, jr.; Payten Redeker, jr.; Kaylee Thomas, so.; Elleana Bennett, fr.; Rylea Harris, fr.; Grace Gilpin, fr.

Worth noting: Spartans making first state appearance since 2005. ... Team only has one senior and starts four freshmen and a sophomore. ... Spartans started the season 6-0, including a rare sweep of Seaman.

CLASS 4A

Clay Center

Coach: Dawn Richter.

Record: 19-1.

How they got here: beat Nickerson, 10-0; beat Clearwater, 4-3.

First-round game: vs. Paola (16-6), 7 p.m.

Key players: Clara Edwards, so., P; Kylie Rosenow, jr., C; Erin Hammel, sr., 2B; Hailey Franson, jr., SS; Gracie Fief, jr., 3B; Janae Shivers sr. OF; Jaycee Shurle, fr., OF.

Worth noting: Tigers have qualified for state the past three years and were state champions in 1997. ... Tigers were undefeated going into state last year before getting upset in quarterfinals. ... Tigers were undefeated North Central Kansas League champions this year and only loss came to Rock Creek, 4-3. ... Edwards is 16-1 with a 0.43 ERA and 181 strikeouts, while also hitting .557 with team-high 20 RBI. ... Tigers are hitting .340 as a team. ... Fief is hitting .394 with 19 RBI, while Schurle is hitting .396 with 18 RBI. ... Hammel has driven in 16 and Franson 15.

CLASS 3A

Holton

Coach: John Deitrich.

Record: 19-2.

How they got here: beat Maur Hill, 16-0; beat Pleasant Ridge, 10-2; beat Jefferson West, 7-1.

First-round game: vs. Colby (17-4), 5 p.m.

Key players: Bailey Flewelling, jr., SS; Gracie Gallagher, fr., P/OF; Grace Utz, so., C; Addy Degenhardt, jr., OF; Jewel Lutz, jr., P/OF; Kinleigh Rhodd, jr., 3B; Savy Booth, jr., OF.

Worth noting: Wildcats placed fourth at Class 4A Division II state tournament last year and also have state appearances in 2010, 2003 and 1996, each ending in quarterfinals. ... Widlcats were undefeated Big Seven League champions. ... Only losses came to 5A Topeka West and 6A Olathe North, each by one run. ... Flewelling is hitting .529 with 9 HRs. ... Utz leads team with .573 average and has 3 HRs. ... Gallagher (.462), Degenhardt (.474) and Lutz (.455) are all hitting over .400. ... Lutz is 6-0 and Gallagher is 11-2.

Silver Lake

Coach: Nick Hamilton.

Record: 19-4.

How they got here: beat Santa Fe Trail, 8-1; beat Osage City, 3-1; beat Burlington, 5-2.

First-round game: vs. Beloit (17-2), 7 p.m.

Key players: Abby Pressgrove, sr., P; Hallie Hay, sr., 1B; Lexi Cobb, jr., CF; Daryn Lamprecht, jr., C; Taylor Burkhardt, jr., 3B; Ellie Hogle, so., SS.

Worth noting: Eagles are defending Class 3A state champions and have won four titles since 2013 and 13 overall. ... Hamilton in first year as head coach, replacing Mark Workman. ... Eagles were Mid-East League champions with 9-1 mark and swept fellow 3A qualifier St. Marys. ... They also split with 2-1A qualifier Oskaloosa. ... Hogle (.468), Burkhardt (.436) and Cobb (.429) are all hitting better than .400. ... Hay has 9 HRs and 26 RBI and Lamprecht has 5 HRs and 35 RBI. ... Pressgrove is 18-2 with 1.51 ERA and 124 strikeouts.

St. Marys

Coach: Laura Rezac.

Record: 19-3.

How they got here: beat Hiawatha, 6-1; beat Marysville, 4-0; beat Rock Creek, 8-3.

First-round game: vs. Kingman-Norwich (20-3), 7 p.m.

Key players: Josie Harrison, sr., P; McKenna Mayhew, so., OF; Brenna Mulligan, jr., 3B; Reagan Hurla, sr., SS.

Worth noting: Bears qualified for state for the first time since 2009 and program has eight state titles, the last coming with back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009. ... Two of three losses came to fellow 3A qualifier Silver Lake (1-0, 4-0) and other came to Rossville (5-4). ... Harrison is hitting .455 with 6 HRs and 33 RBI and also is 12-1 with 0.73 ERA and 164 strikeouts. ... Younger sister Jordan Harrison is 7-1. ... Mulligan is hitting .402 and Mayhew is hitting .389, both driving in at least 16 runs.

CLASS 2-1A

Burlingame

Coach: Creighton Winters.

Record: 12-7.

How they got here: beat Lyndon, 9-5; beat Lebo-Waverly, 5-3; beat Northern Heights, 6-5 (8 innings).

First-round game: vs. Oskaloosa (21-2), 5 p.m.

Key players: Graci Masters, so., P; Daelyn Winters, fr., SS; Megan Giffin, so., 3B; Kenna Masters, fr., 2B; Emma Tyson, fr., OF; Katie Shaffer, so., OF.

Worth noting: Bearcats earned first trip to state in program history, edging Northern Heights in eight innings for regional title. ... Only two seniors and no juniors on roster and Bearcats start eight freshmen and sophomores. ... Masters is 12-7 with 3.90 ERA and 91 strikeouts and also leads the team in hitting at .536 with 17 RBI. .. Winters is hitting .415 and has 16 RBI and 19 stolen bases. ... Giffin and Tyson each have two homers with Giffin also driving in 20. ... Shaffer has 14 stolen bases. ... Bearcats dropped doubleheader to quarterfinal foe Oskaloosa in season-opener, 6-0 and 5-4.

Oskaloosa

Coach: Lisa Braun.

Record: 20-2.

How they got here: beat Atchison County, forfeit; beat Wabaunsee, 10-7; beat Mission Valley, 9-7.

First-round game: vs. Burlingame (12-7), 5 p.m.

Key players: Paige Lowe, sr., 3B; Megan Miller, sr., 1B; Regan Curry, so., SS; Reese Curry, so., 2B; Sophia Rockhold, so, C; Ellie Stember, so., P/OF.; Asa Kesinger, so., P

Worth noting: Bears were Northeast Kansas League champions for the eighth straight year, going 10-0 in league play. ... Bears have qualified for state in 3A or 2-1A six of the last eight years, taking second in 3A in 2018 and fourth in 2016. ... Regan Curry leads team with .685 average, 8 HRs and 41 RBI. ... Lowe is hitting .484 with 5 HRs and 29 RBI, while Rockhold (.462), Reese Curry (.455) and Miller (.441) are all over .400. ... Miller has 4 HRs and Curry and Rockhold have three each. ... Stember is 8-2 with 70 strikeouts. ... Kesinger is 7-0 with 23 Ks. ... Bears split with 3A qualifier Silver Lake and knocked defending 2-1A champion Wabaunsee out in regional semifinals. ... Bears swept quarterfinal foe Burlingame in season-opening doubleheader, 6-0 and 5-4.