By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After defeating Nickerson 15-0 earlier in the day, the Southeast of Saline softball team picked up right where they left off, knocking off Smoky Valley 15-5 to secure their spot in the regional finals.
Just like their first victory of the afternoon, this game did not take all seven innings to complete, as the Lady Trojans slammed the gas and never looked back, wrapping things up neatly in five.
Southeast scored seven runs in the first, and three in the second, third and fifth, to collect their 17th win of the season to come by mercy rule.
The Lady Trojans managed this on the strength of an astounding 17 hits, as six different members of the lineup recorded a multi-hit game, with five driving in at least two runs.
Carly Commerford led the charge from the leadoff spot, picking up three hits in as many at-bats, bringing two runs in to score, and crossing the dish once herself.
In the circle, Bryna Baird and Lexi Jacobson combined for five innings without allowing a single earned run, but did see five come across to score for the Lady Vikings thanks in part to a pair of Southeast errors.
On the other side of the bracket both favorites won their quarterfinal matchups, with Hoisington defeating Lyons 11-1, and Ellsworth knocking off Ellinwood 11-0.
The better seed continued to roll through the semifinals as the Lady Cardinals knocked off the Bearcats 6-0 in Lyons, ensuring that Southeast will see a new opponent in the regional final on Wednesday.
First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 pm at Lyons High School.