Liam KeatingTopeka Capital-Journal
TOPEKA — Last spring provided a state championship for Rossville and state tournament runs for several other Topeka-area teams.
And now a new softball season is here. Each team is ready to write its own story with a title in its hands come late May.
Let's take a look at each Topeka-area program entering the 2024 campaign.
Hayden
Hayden is coming off a tough season where they finished the year with a 6-14 record. The Wildcats fell to Eudora in the opening round of the regional tournament to close out the season.
This year, Hayden brings back Ava Delgado, who was named to the All-Centennial League first team. The senior hit .397 last season to lead all-returning players. Delgado finished with 25 hits and scored 16 runs last season.
Highland Park
The Scots return to the field after a tough season that saw them finish the year with a 3-10 record. Last year, Highland Park’s season finished in the first round of the regional tournament as Spring Hill defeated them 17-0.
There are some players that return with varsity experience for Highland Park. Asia Brooks, Koralee Jones and Makayl Cadet are a few to watch for the Scots this season.
Rossville
The 2023 season was a magical year for Rossville as they hoisted the ultimate prize in late May. The Bulldogs won the Class 3A State Championship with their 21-4 record. Head coach John Nitsch shared that younger talent has excited him in the early portion of the season.
Brooke Springer, Kerrigan Foster, Leni Lewis and Adyson Henry are some of the younger talent that Nitsch suggested have impressed in the opening weeks. With the younger talent pushing for time on the field, players from last year’s state team are equally ready to run it back.
Kinsey Perine, Emporia State commit, Hailey Horton, Highland Community College, and Haskell commit Nagos Hale are a few players that the Bulldogs will be relying on to play well. Katie Spielman, Emma Mitchell, Hailey Horton and Kinsley Porter are more players with championship pedigree.
High school baseball: Outlooks for every Topeka-area team this spring
Seaman
The Vikings finished last season with a 13-9 record last season. Seaman’s season came to an end against Spring Hill in the regional tournament.
A talented roster does return for Seaman this year. Paige Glasgow, Rosalie Schneider and Kaelyn O’Rourke will be key pieces for the team. Glasgow and O’Rourke were named to the United Kansas Conference’s first team. Schneider was named to the all-conference second team.
Shawnee Heights
The Thunderbirds are coming off of an excellent season that saw them reach the Class 5A State Tournament and secure third place. Shawnee Heights concluded the year with a 17-8 record.
This season, many players return from last year’s roster. Alaryce Millard and Grace Proctor are back after being named to the United Kansas Conference’s first-team awards list. Taylor Brees is also back after she and Proctor were placed on the Class 5A All-State second team.
“We have a lot of returners from last year's third-place team. And everyone is hungry to build on the success we had last year as a team,” Shawnee Heights head coach Tara Griffith said. “There has been and will continue to be a lot of competition for playing time.”
Silver Lake
There are a lot of expectations for a successful season for Silver Lake this year. The Eagles went 20-3 last year with their season coming to a close against rival Rossville in the regional championship game.
The Eagles bring back senior duo Avery Wende, who is committed to Washburn, and Hutchinson Community College commit, Kaibryn Kruger.
Wende threw 58 strikeouts last season and finished with an earned run average of 1.448. Kruger, an outfielder, hit .400 from the plate and recorded 14 stolen bases.
“We have several returning starters and a good group of freshmen joining the team,” head coach Nick Hamilton said. “With a good group of seniors and juniors expectations are high but most important this group will be competitive and a fun group to watch.”
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Topeka High
The Trojans finished last season as the regional runner-up. They concluded the season with a 10-12 record and they will look to play better in head coach Shane Miles’ sixth season.
Hailey Shaeffer, McCall Beall, Amirah Gibbs and Delany Murphy are the group of seniors that Miles shared will be important pieces to his roster. The Trojans will also look to juniors Montgomerie Freel and Jo Benning along with sophom*ore Taimane Isaia to produce on the field.
“Just excited to start the season and see how we progress and get better as the season moves along,” Miles said.
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Topeka West
This is the second season under head coach Matt Gilbreath. In his first year, the Chargers went 8-13 and had their season come to an end in the opening round of the regional tournament.
Topeka West is hoping for more especially from their senior class that has plenty of varsity experience. Aniyah Foster, Anaya Bradley, Brooklyn Alexander and Heaven Webber highlight the group that will try to improve upon last year’s record.
“Defense has the potential to keep us in some games against the leaders of the UKC,” Gilbreath said.
Washburn Rural
The Junior Blues will have a new head coach at the helm of the roster this season. Joy Marie Galliart brings 22 years of coaching experience from the Tulsa, Oklahoma area to the capital city.
Galliart will have a host of talent that returns for Washburn Rural. The Junior Blues went 21-4 last season and reached the Class 6A State Championship game for the second consecutive season.
Reagan Chapman, Henley Rapp and Makayla Ekis are a few of the players that highlight this deep roster. Chapman and Rapp were both Class 6A All-State selections.
“I have been pleased with the first few weeks of practice,” Galliart said. “The girls have done a great job of adapting to the coaching change and are working hard to adjust to a new style and new philosophies.”
Liam Keating covers high school sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at Lkeating@gannett.com.
