Louisburg junior Lola Edwards battles a Bishop Miege player for possession Thursday during the Class 4-1A regional title game at Wildcat Stadium.

For the first half of the Class 4-1A regional championship game against Bishop Miege, Louisburg found itself in a dogfight with the six-time defending state champion.

The Wildcats were down just a goal at halftime and had another 40 minutes to try and pull off the upset.

Unfortunately, Bishop Miege had another ideas. 

The Stags scored five goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half and handed the Wildcats a 6-0 defeat to end their season.

“We fought and got them out of their game and had a really good first half,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “I don’t know if all the conditioning in the world would allow you to play two halves the way we did. 

“The first 12 minutes of the second half were just like a blur. We were able to do some things in the first half that allowed us to have success, but they sat some girls in different places in the second half that made it more difficult for us to release and go forward. They are a very talented team that I wish we didn’t have to see this early in the postseason, but that is the way it happens sometimes. Very proud of my team though.”

It was a scoreless through the first 15 minutes of the match, before Miege hit a shot from 15 yards out that sailed just off the fingertips of goalie Macy Lemke.

Louisburg had its fair share of chances in the first half, as well.

Off a pair of corner kicks from Adyson Ross, sophomore Rowan Yows had two shots on target, while junior Lexi Hampton also had shots on goal.

The match stayed a 1-0 lead for Miege at halftime, before the Stags caught fire and the Wildcats didn’t have an answer. Miege scored in the opening minute of the second half and would score four more times in the following 12 minutes.

“It is an emotional thing for our girls,” York said. “It happened against Spring Hill where they scored a bunch of a goals in a short amount of time. We didn’t get tired, but I think we were emotionally out of it after they scored the first couple in the second half. Miege has some fast girls, so I think after the first couple of goals in the second half, we were just chasing and we probably got tired legs after that.

“I think both teams were pretty aggressive, and I think the first half we made them a little uncomfortable. They have speed and a lot of talent, and for the first half, I think we held them in check a little bit.”

The loss ended the Wildcats’ year with a 13-5 record, as they also had to say goodbye to five seniors in Ross, Brianne Kuhlman, Tehya Harvey, Bree Gassman and Brylee Diederich. However, it was a season filled with plenty of positives.

“It was a wonderful season,” York said. “The attitude was good, the comradery was good, and even after losses, the girls were always ready to go to work the next day in practice. That is just a tribute to who the girls are and what this program is, and it is wonderful. As coaches, it is easier to coach a team that all gets along and works really hard. You can’t ask for a better group of girls. It was a lot of fun.”

Louisburg senior Carter Stuteville watches a tee shot during a tournament earlier this season.

COFFEYVILLE — The Louisburg golf team was already competing in one of its tougher tournaments on the season last week at the Class 4A regional.

The weather just made it even more difficult.

The tournament was delayed due to storms, and when they finally got the all clear to play, the golfers were still trying to dodge rain showers. 

Not much seemed to go right for the Wildcats, who saw their season come to an end at the Coffeyville Country Club course.

Louisburg finished seventh in the team standings with a 392 and none of the Wildcats were able to qualify individually. It broke a streak of three straight years of qualifying as a team.

Independence won the regional title with a 324, while Chanute and Coffeyville-Field Kindley also qualified for state with a 364.

Three Wildcat seniors played their last tournament for the team and all three led Louisburg on the day.

Nick Lancaster finished 20th overall with a 95, which included four pars. Carter Stuteville was 24th with a 97 and four pars, while Jackson Olson shot a 98.

Sophomore Sam Frederick and junior Cole Mysnted each carded a 102, which was good for 28th overall. Sophomore Josh Holtzen had a 114 and took 41st.

Field Kindley’s Zachary Becker won the regional title with a 78 on his home course.

Louisburg junior Megan Quinn led the Lady Cats with 3 RBIs in their 7-6 loss Tuesday to Ottawa in the Class 4A regional semifinals.

OTTAWA — Halfway through its regional semifinal game with Ottawa, the Louisburg softball team was right where it wanted to be.

The Lady Cats, the No. 13 seed, had a five run lead on No. 4 Ottawa and they were primed for an upset. However, Louisburg couldn’t quite pull off the victory.

Ottawa scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to get the 7-6 walkoff win over Louisburg at Orlis Cox Sports Complex in Ottawa.

“We started the game the way we needed to in order to give ourselves a chance to win,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Ottawa is always a solid, fundamental team. Throughout the whole lineup, we executed so many things really well. Girls were not only laying bunts down when they were called, but placed them perfectly in order for the defense to have to make a play. 

“Our base-running caused chaos for them. We had girls hit the ball hard. Our pitching was on point and our defense was perfect for about five or six innings. We played really solid softball for most of the game. We made a couple errors at the wrong time.”

The Lady Cats jumped out to a big lead as they scored a pair of runs in the first inning. Junior Ashley Moreau scored on a steal of home to start the game and then Megan Quinn singled home Jenna Cauthon to make it a 2-0 contest.

Louisburg added two more runs in the third to make it a 4-0 game when Moreau scored on an Ottawa error, then Cauthon scored on a sacrifice by Quinn.

Olivia Fercho crossed home plate in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Rylee Hickey to give the Lady Cats a 5-0 lead in the top of the fourth.

Ottawa started to chip away at the lead with two runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game.

Louisburg took the lead right back in the top of the seventh. The Lady Cats had the bases loaded, and Quinn hit a sacrifice fly to score Moreau and the Lady Cats found themselves three outs away from a regional championship appearance.

“Right before we went to hit in the top of seventh, you could tell the girls were ready for the challenge,” Chapman said. “We got bases loaded quickly and were able to scratch one run with sac fly, but just couldn’t finish getting the others home. Ottawa threw a girl who slowed it down on us, and that has kind of been our weak spot — being able to adjust, sit back and wait on it to barrel up a ball.”

Ottawa led off the seventh with a triple by Brooklyn Hadl and scored on a single from the next batter. With one out, and runners on first and second, Ottawa hit a hard ground ball and the runner from third was able to score to seal the win for the Cyclones.

Moreau finished with three hits to lead the Lady Cat bats and also scored three times. Quinn had a team-high 3 RBIs, while junior Izzy Moreland had a pair of hits, including a double.

Moreland started the game for Louisburg and allowed three earned runs in five innings and struck out two.

The Lady Cats ended their season with a 7-14 record, but it was one that saw several positives despite their ups and downs.

“The girls wanted this one and you could see it on their face afterwards,” Chapman said. “I think as a softball culture, with club ball and all that, the emotions of losing a ball game are rarely there because there’s always ‘another game.’ For us, it hurt. That one was tough because you could tell how badly the girls wanted that game, especially with how we started. 

“As tough as this one was to swallow, this loss gave our program hope because of how we played. We showed what we are capable of doing. We have a lot of potential and when we play up to it, these girls are capable of great things on the diamond. I’m excited for what is in store for Louisburg softball.”

Louisburg catcher Danny Napier tags out a Paola runner after centerfielder Declan Battle threw the strike home Tuesday during the Class 4A regional tournament at Benedictine College.

ATCHISON — Just a few days after playing its rival, Paola, to end the regular season, the Louisburg baseball team saw the Panthers again and the stakes were much bigger.

Louisburg and Paola squared off in the Class 4A regional semifinals Tuesday at Benedictine College in Atchison. Just like their previous meetings, it was a battle.

Unfortunately for Louisburg, its season came to a close after the Panthers scored two runs in the fifth and that was all they needed to hand the Wildcats a 2-0 loss.

“The guys were ready to play and played well,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “Paola is a great team and just had a little bit better day than us. The Frontier League is always loaded and it’s never ideal drawing a league school in the first round.”

A week prior, the two teams squared off in Louisburg for a doubleheader and each team took a game in which they combined to score 30 runs.

This showdown was a little different. It was a pitcher’s dual from the start and the Wildcats got the performance they were hoping for from their starter, Corbin Hamman. The Louisburg senior pitched 4 2/3 innings and gave up just one earned run and struck out three.

Sophomore Alex Saad came in for relief and didn’t gave up a run in 2 1/3 innings and struck out two.

The Wildcats had a tough time stringing hits together against Paola starter Keaton Matlick, who pitched a complete game and stuck out eight.

“Corbin threw really well all day,” Larson said. “He kept them off balance and they really had to scratch for runs. Paola’s pitcher was really good as well. He kept us off the base paths and made it difficult to get guys into scoring position.”

Louisburg was able to get base runners as the Wildcats worked four walks and tallied five hits, but couldn’t string many hits together.

Declan Battle, Luke Schultz, Bristol Barbour, Jackson Howard and Jackson Kush each had a hit for the Wildcats.

Each team had runners on through four innings, and Paola nearly took the lead in the top of the fourth, but Battle threw a runner out from centerfield to keep the game scoreless.

Paola took advantage in the top of the fifth as the Panthers plated a pair of runs, including one on a squeeze play and another on a steal of home.

Louisburg had two runners on in the sixth, and another runner in the seventh, but the Wildcats couldn’t take advantage.

“The guys never gave up and fought until the last pitch was thrown,” Larson said. “That was how this team was all year and why we had so much success throughout the season.”

The Wildcats, who finished with a 13-8 record, had their first winning season in nearly 15 years. Louisburg had .500 record two years ago.

Although the Wildcats will return a majority of this season’s team, they did have to say goodbye to four seniors in Hamman, Kush, Cade Driskell and Kaleb Carter.

“This season showed what we can do,” Larson said. “It will be difficult to replace these four seniors, but I think we have some great pieces coming back that we can continue building on and take the next step.”

Louisburg’s Dana Mattison swims the freestyle leg of the 200-yard medley relay earlier this season. Cadence Weichert, Sabra Brueggen, Janie Harth and Mattison qualified for state in the medley and freestyle relays.

OSAWATOMIE — Louisburg sophomore Sabra Brueggen has already qualified for state in several events this season.

Now her Louisburg teammates will get to experience that with her.

Brueggen, along with Janie Harth, Cadence Weichert and Dana Mattison, qualified for state in the 200-yard medley relay on May 3 during the Osawatomie Invitational. The Wildcat quartet took second and they qualified for their second relay on May 10 during the Independent League Championships. 

Harth, Brueggen, Weichert and Mattison finished second at the ILC meet in the 200 freestyle relay in a time of 1:54.37, which earned them spot at the state meet.

“It was absolutely thrilling to slide both relays into the state line-up,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said “The girls work hard in practice and it’s so nice to see the results of that hard work.”

The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg team finished third overall in the league competition with 270 points. Fort Scott won the league crown with 431.

The team had plenty of highlights from the meet, including a second place finish in the 200 medley relay, and league championship finish for Brueggen in the 50 freestyle in 26.29 seconds.

Brueggen also went on to finish second in the 100 freestyle in 57.07 seconds, while Mattison was second in the 500 freestyle in 6:46. Weichert was third in the 200 freestyle in 2:33.

Now the team will split off for the Class 5-1A Kansas State Swim and Dive Championships this Friday and Saturday in Topeka.

Along with the two relay spots, Brueggen qualified for state in six events, but is only allowed to compete in two. She chose to compete in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

Those were the same two events she competed last year, where she came home with a medal. She medaled fifth the 100 backstroke a year ago, and just missed a medal by one spot in the 50 freestyle.

“We didn’t know how this season would go for Sabra coming off injury, so we are so proud of all her hard work both in and out of the pool to return to state with such a big statement,” Argeropoulos said. “She qualified in six events this season and had her pick for state. We feel she has chosen wisely and put herself in a great position to take the medal stand on Saturday.”

The Class 5-1A state meet will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka. Prelims will take place on Friday, with the finals starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Louisburg juniors Hailey Sword and Ellery Allen were all smiles following Sword’s goal in the first half of Tuesday victory over Chanute.

When the regional brackets were announced late last week, Louisburg saw it would face a familiar first round opponent.

The Wildcats hosted Chanute on Tuesday in the Class 4-1A regional semifinal, and just like earlier in the season, it was the same result. 

Louisburg scored 10 goals en route to a 10-0 victory over the Blue Comets, who just completed the program’s inaugural season. That win set up a different kind of opponent for today’s regional championship.

The No. 3 seed Wildcats go from facing a winless Chanute team, to squaring off with No. 6 Bishop Miege — a team that has won six straight state championships.

It will obviously be a different kind of game in today’s regional title match, as the Wildcats try to reach the state tournament.

“We know this will be a big challenge for us, but is it impossible, of course not,” Louisburg coach Ben York said. “It will take our best effort to get it done and I think the girls are up for the challenge. The coaches have watched a lot of film and we will put together a game plan. Hopefully the girls will come with a great attitude and put together a good performance, and will see what happens.”

Against Chanute, the Wildcats found the back of the net early and often as junior Lola Edwards and senior Bree Gassman each had a pair of goals to lead the Louisburg scoring.

Edwards got the scoring started with a goal three minutes into the match, and then followed it up with a shot from 20 yards out to make it a 2-0 contest.

Then a pair of Wildcat defenders got into the scoring column. Junior Ellery Allen blasted a shot from just beyond the 18, then minutes later, junior Hailey Sword got a goal of her own to make it 4-0.

Freshman Mena Fercho and sophomore Rowan Yows added scores in the final minutes of the first half and the Wildcats took a 6-0 lead.

Gassman opened the second half with a pair of quick goals and senior Adyson Ross followed it up with a score to make it 9-0. A Chanute own goal ended the match early.

Louisburg junior goalie Macy Lemke earned the clean sheet as the Wildcats picked up their fourth straight shutout.

The Wildcats (13-4) will host Bishop Miege at 5 p.m. today for the regional championship at Wildcat Stadium. The first 125 student will get in free with a valid student ID. There will also be a tailgate that begins at 4 p.m. that features a couple different food trucks.

The Louisburg boys track and field team cruised to a league title with 152 points and won five individual events Thursday at the Frontier League meet at Baker University.

BALDWIN CITY — The last two seasons, the Louisburg boys track and field team has found itself on the state podium — which included a state championship in 2021. 

During that time, however, one thing has been missing from the Wildcats’ accomplishments — a Frontier League title.

The Wildcats got that on Thursday during the Frontier League meet at Baker University. Louisburg finished as league champions with 151 points, which was 52 points ahead of runner-up Eudora.

“It was my first time as head coach that the boys have won the league track meet, as we have been second the last two years,” Louisburg coach Andy Wright said. “So, it was great to get that done as a team. We had awesome weather, and we took advantage to put together a good outing, with great competition and some new PR’s.”

Some of those personal records came thanks to Mason Dobbins. He was a part of two school records and he earned three gold medals on the day.

Dobbins, who tied the school high jump record two weeks ago at Wellsville, got it all to himself at league. He cleared 6 feet, 7 inches to win the high jump and broke the previous record held by Dennis Sack (91) and Jason Burk (98).

After clearing 6-3 and securing the league crown, Dobbins asked the height be raised to 6-7 and he cleared it on the first attempt.

“I have been wanting to own the high jump record for years and for me to finally accomplish my goal feels surreal,” Dobbins said. “I feel like I have more in the tank, so higher heights are to come.”

Dobbins also joined Caden Caplinger, Colyer Wingfield and Ashton Moore in the 4×100-meter relay and the Wildcat team broke the school record for the second straight week. The Louisburg quartet won the league title in 43.06 seconds

“I think we have a group of fast and hardworking athletes that are willing to do anything to win,” Dobbins said. “We definitely can, and will, get faster.”

The Louisburg senior won his third event of the day in the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.86 seconds to complete a banner-day on the track.

Senior Nathan Vincent also had a successful day in the throws, especially the javelin. Vincent, who is a two-time state medalist in the event, recorded a personal-best throw of 194-1 to take the top spot in league.

Vincent also went on to finish runner-up in the discus with a season-best throw of 149-6, and in the shot put with a mark of 49-1.5.

“With Nathan injured at the beginning of the season, we didn’t know what he would be able to get back to,” Wright said. “He has put in the work and it’s paying off.”

In the pole vault, Caplinger won the league title after he cleared 14-6 and sophomore teammate Cooper Wingfield was right behind him. Wingfield also cleared 14-6, but was second on number of misses.

Senior Nathan Apple recorded two personal best times in the hurdle events and finished with a pair of runner-up finishes. He was second in the 110 hurdles in 15.05 seconds and second in the 300 in 39.58 seconds.

In the distance races, the 4×800-meter relay of Hunter Heinrich, Myles Vohs, Blaise Vohs and Jerynce Brings Plenty finished as a league runner-up in 8 minutes and 29.07 seconds.

Brings Plenty also went on to finished third in the 1,600-meter run in 4:34 and fourth in the 3,200 run in 10:17. Junior Noah Cotter took sixth in the 1,600 (4:55) and seventh in the 3,200 run (10:38).

Blaise Vohs went on to take fifth in the 800 run in 2:06, while Colton Blue was seventh in 2:10.

In the sprints, senior Ethan Ptacek was fourth in the 400 dash in 51.89 and Heinrich was fifth with season-best 52.74. Caplinger took fifth in the 100 dash in 11.34 seconds.

The 4×400 relay of Heinrich, Blaise Vohs, Colyer Wingfield and Ptacek took fourth in 3:33.

In the field events, senior Cade Gassman finished runner-up in the high jump after he cleared a season-best 6-1 and senior Isaiah Whitley was sixth at 5-11.

Colyer Wingfield took fifth in the long jump at 20-6.75, while Jacob Brown was fifth in the pole vault at 11-6.

Senior J.R. Rooney had a strong day in the shot put as he finished third with a toss of 48-2.75.

Louisburg will now focus on its most important meet of the year — the Class 4A regional. The Wildcats will compete at the regional meet Friday at Shawnee Mission North, where the top four finishers in each event will qualify for state next week in Wichita.

“We are excited to get to the second of the big three meets,” Wright said. “Our regional is going to be very competitive. They have been working for this all season, and we need to put it all together at the right time. I believe that we are up for the challenge.”

Other results are:

200 dash: Cade Gassman, 17th, 25.23

800 run: Leo Martin, 19th, 2:26

1,600 run: Martin, 8th, 4:59.30

Long Jump: Isaiah Whitley, 8th, 20-0.75; Myles Vohs, 15th, 17-10

Triple Jump: Colyer Wingfield, 9th, 38-6; Trey Myers, 10th, 36-8.25

Shot Put: Jaymes Melton, 9th, 42-0.25

Discus: J.R. Rooney, 8th, 120-11; Ben O’Bryan, 10th, 113-9

Javelin: Tasen Ellison, 10th, 129-0; Brecon Klugman, 16th, 124-8

Louisburg senior Emma Lohse won the 100 and 200-meter dashes Thursday during the Frontier League meet at Baker University. Lohse also helped the 4×100 relay to a new school record.

BALDWIN CITY — Emma Lohse blazed the Baker University track Thursday during the Frontier League Invitational.

Lohse came away with three league titles, including a record-breaking performance in a relay. The Louisburg senior won the 100-meter dash in 12.61 seconds and later captured the 200 dash crown in 26.18.

“Being a league champ in both the 100 and 200 was a feeling I won’t forget,” Lohse said. “Not only does getting first tell me that I was competing at my best during that time, but that I had to put in the work to earn my placings that day.”

Lohse, along with Mackenzie Rooney, Suzanna Dansel and Kendall Crossley, broke their own school record in the 4×100-meter relay for the second week in a row. They won the league title in 49.84 seconds.

“After I finished running my leg in the 4×1, I looked at the time and saw a 49 and I turned around to see Mackenzie running towards me with the biggest smile on her face as did I,” Lohse said. “It was the best feeling knowing that we competed so well. This group of girls is so special to me, even though they are all younger, they know how to compete with the people we run against.”

As a team, the Lady Cats also shined at the league meet as they finished third in the team standings, with 107 points and were just 2.5 points behind Spring Hill for second. Eudora won the league crown with 131.5 points.

“With the strength of our league, getting third as a team is an awesome accomplishment,” Louisburg coach John Reece said. “Our girls are learning to compete in the moment and not letting outside, uncontrollable factors keep them from performing at their best for that day.”

Dansel and Rooney also picked up a pair of league runner-up finishes to help lead the Lady Cats.

Dansel, a freshman, took second in the 100 dash in 12.76 seconds and later finished fifth in the 200 dash in 27.13.

Rooney, a sophomore, ran a personal best time of 48.70 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles and took second. She also ran a personal best in the 100 hurdles and took third in 17.08.

Junior Kate Frederick also scored points in the the hurdles as she finished fifth in the 100 (17.84) and 300 (53.51) with a season-best time in both.

Another junior, Emma Vohs recorded a pair of third places finishes — one in a sprint and another in a distance race. Vohs took third in the 400 dash in 1:03 and also finished third in the 1,600 run in 5:48.

Junior Maddy Rhamy also earned points for the Lady Cats as she was fifth in the 3,200 run in 13:57. Crossley finished sixth the 400 in 1:05.

Louisburg also scored in two other relays. The 4×400 team of Rooney, Crossley, Lohse and Vohs took fifth in 4:17, while Erin Apple, Rhamy, Vohs and Delanie Tally took sixth in 11:09.

In the field events, junior Maddy Carpenter-Ross had a strong performance in the pole vault. She took league runner-up honors after she cleared 10 feet, 6 inches.

Senior Emma Prettyman scored points in all three throws, including a third place performance in the discus with a throw of 118-5. Prettyman was also sixth in the javelin at 107-10, and seventh in the shot put at 34-6.

Junior Katie Elpers finished fourth in the javelin with a toss of 112-8. Freshman Kenna Lohse recorded a personal best in the shot put with a mark of 36-7 to take fifth overall.

The Lady Cats will now focus on the Class 4A regional meet that will be held Friday at Shawnee Mission North. The top four finishers in each event will qualify for state next week in Wichita.

“There is excitement, but also a sense of taking care of business attitude,” Reece said. “If we compete within ourselves, and not let outside uncontrollables bother us, we will do awesome. We have the opportunity to qualify in up to 13 events, which is exciting to think about. Regardless with our regional being so stacked, if the girls get out of our region to state, they will do well in Wichita.”

Other results are:

800 run: Nova Ptacek, 12th, 2:46; Delanie Tally, 13th, 2:48; Erin Apple, 14th, 2:49

1,600 run: Ptacek, 10th, 6:14; Ellie Davis, 14th, 6:33

Discus: Kenna Lohse, 15th, 86-6

Javelin: Lohse, 11th, 92-9

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week eight of the spring sports season, sponsored by Landmark National Bank.

EMMA LOHSE, SENIOR, TRACK AND FIELD

Louisburg senior Emma Lohse blazed the track at the Frontier League Invitational last Thursday at Baker University. Lohse won three league titles, including a record-setting relay performance, as the Lady Cats finished third in the team standings. Lohse won the 100-meter dash in 12.61 seconds and also won the 200 dash in 26.46 seconds.

Lohse then joined the 4×100-meter relay of Mackenzie Rooney, Suzanna Dansel and Kendall Crossley, who broke their own school record they set just a week prior. The Wildcat quartet won in a new school record time of 49.84 seconds.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the spring season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners:

Week 1: Rowan Yows

Week 2: Sabra Brueggen

Week 3: Danny Napier

Week 4: Corbin Hamman

Week 5: Megan Quinn

Week 6: Lexi Hampton

Week 7: Mason Dobbins

Members of the Louisburg softball team surround junior Izzy Moreland at home plate after she hit a 2-run walk-off home run last Tuesday against Paola. Moreland also pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts.

Through seven innings, Louisburg junior Izzy Moreland put together her best pitching performance of the season last Tuesday against Paola.

Moreland had just completed seven innings and gave up just one run to the Panthers as she struck out 11. Despite that, the Lady Cats were still down a run with three outs remaining.

As it turned out, Moreland had a pretty good day with the bat as well.

After Addy Stohs singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, Moreland hit a 2-run walk-off home run to give the Lady Cats a 2-1 victory over the Panthers and end a 3-game losing streak in the process.

Inclement weather prevented the two teams from finishing the doubleheader last Tuesday, but the second game was played Friday and Paola got the split as it handed Louisburg a 3-1 setback.

The Lady Cats finished their season with a 7-13 record as they enter the Class 4A regional tournament as the No. 13 seed.

Moreland recorded her best all-around performance of the season on the mound as she gave up just the one run in the third inning, and Paola held on to that lead until the bottom of the seventh.

With Stohs on first, Moreland hit a high fly ball to right field that hit the top of the fence and bounced over. That sent her teammates running out of the dugout to meet her at home plate.

Prior to that inning, the Lady Cats had trouble getting anything going as they had just three hits up until that point. Those came on singles from Moreland, Megan Quinn and Ashley Moreau.

Louisburg’s makeup contest was very similar to the opener as it was a low-scoring affair. Paola got two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Cats scratched a run across in the sixth when freshman Delaney Nelsen scored after Moreland grounded out on a fielder’s choice. However, that was the only run the Lady Cats would get.

Louisburg had five hits, including two from Nelsen and a double from Moreau. Moreland and Brynley Bauer each had singles.

Ultimately, it was the mistakes that hurt the Lady Cats as they committed five errors and all three Paola runs were unearned.

Quinn started the game for Louisburg as she gave up four hits in four innings and struck out four. Moreland pitched the final three innings and had a pair of strikeouts.

Louisburg will now begin postseason play today as the Lady Cats square off with No. 4 Ottawa at 4:30 p.m. at the Orlis Cox complex in Ottawa. The winner of that game will play the winner of Holton/Rock Creek for the championship later in the day.