By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Salina Central’s first state softball run in over two decades was ended on Thursday, as the Lady Mustangs fell 5-3 to the Pittsburg Lady Dragons.
A fourteen-inning spectacular between Maize South and Topeka-Seaman stalled the start of this contest until early evening, but once it started, it was a back-and-forth affair that did not disappoint.
This contest had the mark of a true pitcher’s duel early, with neither side scoring until the fourth inning.
Central got on the board first when Harper Turpin scored Ellie Riekhof, but Pittsburg quickly answered in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth, the Lady Mustangs again pulled ahead, this time on a Charlotte Gordon RBI that brought in Lily VanZant, but again the Lady Dragons responded, this time with interest, scoring two of their own to take a 3-2 lead.
Paityn Bernt didn’t allow that to last long, doubling in Riekhof to tie the game at three in the top of the sixth, but Pittsburg kept the back-and-forth going, plating two runs on a throwing error forced by a pressure bunt.
This time, the lead would hold, as Central went four up three down in the top of the seventh.
Despite a disappointing end to their campaign, the Lady Mustangs are exceptionally young, and after rising through the ranks so quickly, should be primed to contend again next season.
Central concludes the season at 21-8 while Pittsburg, now 26-2, moves on to the semis to battle either St. Thomas Aquinas or Shawnee Heights.