HUMBOLDT — Two years removed from a team placing second at state, Humboldt High’s Lady Cubs are headed back to a state softball tournament.
The Lady Cubs claimed a 2011 Kansas Class 2-1A Regional Softball Tournament championship Tuesday in front of a home crowd. Humboldt hosted the tournament and beat Elk Valley 6-1 for the title.
Elk Valley defeated defending regional champion Yates Center High’s Wildcats 7-6 in a semifinal game. Humboldt drilled West Elk 17-8 in the other semifinal.
Humboldt (13-10) earned a berth in the 2011 Kansas Class 2-1A State Softball Tournament, May 27-28. The tournament seedings and pairings will be out later. The tournament is in Emporia.
Humboldt led top-seeded Elk Valley 1-0 through five innings. The Lady Cubs scored the run in the first inning then added two more runs in the sixth.
Melissa Davidson threw a no-hitter in the championship game for Humboldt. Elk Valley did score a run in the sixth. Davidson walked one and struck out five.
“Melissa pitched a great game. She kept the ball low in the (strike zone),” said Brad Piley, Humboldt head softball coach.
“The girls were excited about getting to go back to state.”
Humboldt scored three more runs in the seventh for the final 6-1 mark. Kylee Carson cranked out three doubles in the contest for the Lady Cubs.
Kayle Riebel had a single and two RBIs. Davidson and Taylor Fitzmaurice each had a single. Fitzmaurice had two stolen bases.
To reach the championship game, the Lady Cubs dispatched West Elk. They used an eight-run second inning to take the lead and keep it. They won the semifinal 17-8.
Davidson went the distance on the mound. She gave up eight hits, walked four and struck out seven.
Kayle Riebel had three singles and a double to lead a 16-hit attack by Humboldt. Taylyn Wells hit a blast over the left center field fence for a 230-foot, two-run home run.
Fitzmaurice hit three singles and Davidson had two doubles and a single. Megan Herder hit a single and a double plus drove in four runs.
Morgan Morris doubled. Kindahl Young and Haley Riebel each had a single.
There was no report from Yates Center on its semifinal game.
Lady Cubs win 2-1A regional title
