By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline softball season came to a close on Tuesday as the Lady Trojans fell to the hosts of this year’s Halstead regional.
The Dragons jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but SES was able to trim the deficit to one with a big run in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
Unfortunately for Southeast, a five-spot for the Dragons in the top of the sixth proved too much to overcome as Halstead hung onto a 9-3 semifinal victory before falling to Council Grove in the regional final.
“We were disappointed in the outcome but hopefully this makes us even hungrier next year,” SES head coach Pesha Ptacek said.
The Lady Trojan season concludes at a very respectable 16-6, extending a streak of eight consecutive winning seasons.
Southeast should be a force to be reckoned with again next year as the youthful squad retains almost all of their heavy hitters, including 100% of one of the most formidable pitching staffs in 3A.
“We are sad to lose our seniors but we’re excited to have nine starters, including all three pitchers in Brenna, Carly, and Lexi, back next year,” Ptacek said.
In the offseason, SES will say goodbye to graduating seniors Morgan Albrecht, Erica Francis, Meaghan Roths, Lydia Friesen, and Hannah Trimble, but should be primed to retool and run it back in 2023.
For continuing coverage of Southeast of Saline athletics stay tuned to the Salina Post.