Concordia's Softball Season Ends in Extra Innings Regional Tournament Loss to Winfield

Going into extra innings, the Winfield Vikings were able to post four runs in the top of the eighth inning on their way to earning an 8-4 win over Concordia in the semifinals of the 2022 Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 4A Regional Softball Tournament in Andale on Tuesday, May 17th.

Winfield advanced to the Class 4A Regional Softball Tournament Championship Game where they fell to the Andale Indians, 10-0.  Andale, which won their first round game over Wellington 13-3, has qualified for the 2022 Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 4A State Softball Tournament in Salina.

The loss ends Concordia's season at 11-8 overall.

Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, Concordia rallied for three runs to capture their first lead of the ballgame.

Junior Right Fielder Shaelin Giersch led off the inning with a stand-up double to left.

Freshman Center Fielder Kenlee Williams followed with an RBI double to left, scoring Giersch.

After Sophomore Brecklynn Bonner flew out to left, Sophomore Callie Parker tripled to right, scoring Williams to tie the game at 3-3.

Parker then scored on a passed ball to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.

Winfield Junior Shortstop Crosby Curtis recorded an infield single to lead off the top of the seventh.  Curtis, who scored three runs in the contest, stole a base and advanced on a passed ball before being brought home on a sacrifice fly by Senior Haley Sparks to tie the game again at 4-4.

The Panthers were retired in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Junior Catcher Callie Ledford opened in the top of the eighth with a triple to left.

After Mikayla Konrade reached on a bunt, Freshman Left Fielder Addison Samms drove in two runs with a single to center.

Two batters later, Sophomore Pitcher Lauren Howerton drilled a one-out, two-run home run in left-center field, giving the Vikings the 8-4 lead.

Concordia failed to answer in the bottom of the eighth to suffer the loss.

Panther starter Hanna Acree went all eight innings.  She recorded 13 strikeouts in the loss, ending the year with 93 strikeouts on the season.

The Panthers had 5 hits in the game and left 5 runners on base.