By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The SES softball season came to an unfortunate end on Friday at the hands of Smoky Valley as the Trojans fell 9-5 in the regional semifinal.
Southeast battled hard but couldn’t survive a flurry of early runs by the Vikings, ending their season at 15-5.
Smoky Valley took the momentum of their win over Halstead into this game, scoring two runs in the first and second and four in the third to take an early 8-1 lead.
SES was able to get on the board again with two runs in the third, one in the fourth and one more in the fifth, but were silenced in the sixth and seventh, falling to the Vikings 9-5.
The Trojans outhit their opponent 13-6, but left a number of runs on the basepaths and committed five costly errors in the loss. Only two of the Vikings nine runs were earned.
In the regional final later that evening, Smoky Valley was eliminated by Haven, who will advance to the state tournament next week.
Southeast will graduate two seniors in Dorothy Ann Sparacino and Kennedy Gottschalk this offseason, but will return most of the roster for what should be an exciting 2022 season.
For more on SES Trojan athletics stay tuned to the Salina Post.