SALINA — The SEK Sluggers finished last weekend with a 7-1 record to win the state title at the 12U Class C State Tournament in Salina.
In game one of pool play, Hayley Bean took the circle for the Sluggers against the Detonators.
Bean pitched a strong game. She allowed one earned run and four walks, while striking out a pair.
“Our defense really stepped up behind Hayley with six putouts,” said coach Taylor Bailey.
Allie Furham led the team offensively with three RBIs with Hannah Jones also chipping in a pair of RBIs helping the team with a 14-2 blowout win.
In game two, Sluggers matched up with Kaboom. Amy Smith took the circle for SEK and allowed only one earned run and one walk. She struck out five batters.
The Sluggers rolled to a 5-2 win.
Jenna Curry provided the game’s biggest hit with a two-run home run.
“It was so relieving to see Jenna get that hit, she had been struggling lately offensively, but came through at the right time,” said Bailey.
In the first game of bracket play — the third game of the day for the team — the Sluggers pitched Bean again. Bean allowed one earned run and struck out four batters with only two walks.
Brianna Waggoner led the team by going two-for-two, and driving in three runs to help the Sluggers win, 13-1.
In game two of bracket play, they faced Kansas Heat. The Sluggers jumped out to a big lead early by scoring 12 runs in the top of the first inning.
“Our girls came out firing this game. Our sticks were hot and we were just pumped,” Bailey said. “When the (Heat) made a mistake, our girls were capitalizing on them with running the base.”
Amy Smith pitched against the Heat allowing six earned runs and six walks. Although Smith didn’t have her best pitching performance, she led the team offensively with three RBIs.
The Sluggers went on to beat the Heat 12-6, ending the day with a 4-0 record.
The Sluggers began Sunday by taking on the Salina Impact. The Sluggers turned Bean again to start off the day in the circle.
Bean allowed two earned runs while striking out five.
