Woodland secures state playoff berth, Cass eliminated

The Woodland softball team, led by pitcher Lainey Baker’s 16 strikeout, two-hitter, blanked visiting Hiram Thursday night 4-0 to secure a berth in the Class AAAAA state playoffs for the fourth straight season. Baker (7 IP, 0R, 2H, 1BB, 16K) retired 11 straight to begin the game and only allowed singles in the fourth and fifth innings. She then struck out the side in the sixth and ended the game with a pair of pop ups and a strikeout in the seventh.

Bella Carnes had three hits and stole a base for the Woodland offense. Kendyl Hardin added a pair of hits and scored a run. Hannah Miller drove in two runs with a hit and a ground out while Ansley Evans scored a run and had the other Lady Cats’ base hit. Cassie Jones and Michiah Hicks scored the other Woodland runs.

Woodland (18-10) will face Friday’s Kell/Hiram winner. One more Woodland win earns the No. 3-seed for the upcoming state playoffs.

CASS ELIMINATED WITH LOSS TO KELL

The Cass Lady Colonels had their season come to an end Thursday evening with a 10-0, six-inning loss to Kell in a Region 7-AAAAA tournament elimination game played at Woodland. Kell, who lost to Cass in the opening round of the tournament Tuesday 10-2, took a 4-0 lead through two innings Thursday and put the game away with a six-run sixth inning as they out hit the Colonels 15 to 6.

Rachael Lee (3 IP, 4ER, 8H, 1BB) started in the circle for Cass and suffered the pitching loss. Kylee Hembree (3 IP, 6ER, 7H, 3BB, 1K) retired the final nine outs.

Alexis Woods, Eryn Lee, and Ansley Hight had two hits each for Cass in the loss. The Lady Colonels season closes with a 13-17 record.