Wildcats fall to Paola on Senior Night, prepare for regionals

Louisburg catcher Matt Madison prepares to tag a runner out at home plate Tuesday during the Wildcats’ home finale against Paola at Lewis-Young Park.

It wasn’t the way the three Louisburg seniors wanted to go out from their home ballpark. 

A.J. Drew, Trevin Lohse and Matt Madison were honored Tuesday during their Senior Night doubleheader against Paola, and unfortunately for the Wildcats, the Panthers got the best of Louisburg in both games.

Paola used a big seventh-inning to pull away for a 15-9 victory in Game 1, and then held off the Wildcats’ rally in the nightcap for a 13-9 victory at Lewis-Young Park.

“I thought we swung it pretty well,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “The guys came out swinging and really put the pressure on. Things just got away from us in the field, but it was good to see our guys compete until the last out.”

The Wildcats suffered a tough blow in the opener. With the game tied at 8-all going into the seventh inning, Paola broke it open with seven runs in the frame.

Louisburg (10-10) held an 8-4 lead in the fourth inning, but the Panthers scored four in that frame to tie it. In all, Paola took advantage of eight Louisburg errors as five of those 15 runs were unearned.

Lohse had a big day at the plate for the Wildcats as he led the team with three hits and 3 RBIs, including a double. Junior Brandon Doles also had three hits with an RBI, while junior Kolby Kattau had two hits and a pair of RBIs.

Madison had a double and a run driven in, while Cade Driskell and Declan Battle also had RBIs for Louisburg.

Lohse also started the game for Louisburg and Kattau came in for relief. Between the two of them, they struck out nine batters.

Paola’s Dalton Picek came in for relief and got the victory, but he also had a pair of home runs and a double to lead the Panthers to a win.

In the nightcap, Paola got out to a quick start as it led 12-3 after five innings. The Wildcats did try to mount a comeback with two runs in the sixth and four more in the seventh, but ran out of outs.

George Reichart and Doles led the Wildcat bats with two hits each. Drew also had a double and 3 RBIs to his line.

Mack Newell drove home a pair of runs and Driskell also had an RBI single.

Despite the losses, it was a night to remember the three Wildcat seniors and their time with the program.

“Those seniors have been great for the program,” Larson said. “They have really got us going in the right direction and provided some great leadership for the younger guys.”

Now the Wildcats are focused on the postseason when they will travel to Topeka tomorrow for the Class 4A regional tournament. Louisburg will face off with Ottawa in the first round at 1 p.m.

If the Wildcats advance, they will play the winner between Holton and Hayden in the championship game. 

“The guys are really excited about regionals,” Larson said. “I think we can come out under the radar and hopefully do some damage.”