Humboldt High’s Lady Cubs are seeded No. 7 in the 2011 Kansas Class 2-1A State Softball Tournament. Brackets were released late last week.
“The two teams I wanted to stay away from early in the tournament were Udall and Wabaunsee,” said Brad Piley, Lady Cub head coach.
Guess what? Humboldt drew second-seeded Udall (21-1) in the opening round Friday. And Wabaunsee (13-10) is in the same side of the bracket.
“Both programs have strong state tournament tradition. Now, after talking to the one team that has beaten Udall, I believe our girls have a good opportunity to get past the opening round,” Piley said.
Humboldt (13-10) takes on Udall High’s Eagles at 5 p.m. Friday on Field B of Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia. Teams win and advance in the first round or lose and go home.
There will be a send-off for the Lady Cubs at noon Friday in front of Humboldt High School.
The Lady Eagles have a solid Class 2-1A state tournament tradition also. They are back after missing the tournament in 2010.
Humboldt was runner-up in the state tournament in 2009. Four of the Lady Cub starters were on that team. Humboldt had gone three straight years to the tournament.
Last year’s runner-up Spearville (22-1) is top seeded in the 2011 tournament. Spearville and Wabaunsee, which is seeded sixth, are the only teams returning from last year’s tournament.
Brookville-Eli Salina (20-1) is seeded No. 3 and is in Humboldt’s side of the bracket.
The No. 4 seed went to Jayhawk-Linn (17-5), Valley Falls (14-9) was fifth seeded and Salina-Sacred Heart (11-12) is the eighth seed.
“The girls were excited to get back to the state tournament. They wanted to prove that they could do it, too, after that group that had gone four years to state,” Piley said.
The Lady Cubs were 7-12 a year ago and lost in the semifinals of the regional tournament. They were all coming back this season.
As this season progressed, Piley said he saw senior Melissa Davidson develop into a solid pitcher for the Lady Cubs, the defense play consistently and the team’s hitting become better toward the end of the season.
Davidson, who played first base on the state runner-up team, was converted to pitcher this season.
“Her confidence has grown and she has become a good pitcher. She is keeping the ball low in the zone,” Piley said.
“She’s not overpowering but she’s not walking a lot of batters. She’s getting batters to hit a lot of ground balls and our defense has been steady behind her,” Piley said.
Davidson and center fielder Taylor Fitzmaurice are the only seniors on the team.
“It’s awesome to win a regional championship and get back to state,” Davidson said. “We’re more experienced this year and play solid defense.”
Morgan Morris is Humboldt’s freshman catcher. Juniors Kylee Carson, first base, Taylyn Wells, second base, and Hannah McCall, shortstop, played in the state tournament in 2009.
Freshman Kayle Riebel is the starting third baseman and Haley Riebel, also a freshman, starts in the left field.
Junior Kindahl Young is the right fielder. Sophomore Julie Seibert is the designated player, hitting for Haley Riebel.
2011 Kansas Class 2-1A
State Softball Tournament
Trusler Sports Complex
Emporia
Friday
(1)Spearville (22-1) vs. (8)Salina-Sacred Heart (11-12), 5 p.m. Field A
(4)Jayhawk-Linn (17-5) vs. (5)Valley Falls (14-9), 7 p.m. Field A
(2)Udall (21-1) vs. (7)Humboldt (13-10), 5 p.m., Field B
(3)Brookville-Eli Saline (20-1) vs. (6) Wabaunsee (13-10), 7 p.m., Field B
Saturday
Spearville-Sacred Heart winner vs. Jayhawk-Linn-Valley Falls winner, 10 a.m., Field B
Udall-Humboldt winner vs. Eli Saline-Wabaunsee winner, 10 a.m., Field A
Third place game, noon, Field B
Championship game, 1 p.m., Field A
Lady Cubs hit stride, headed to state
