By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After knocking off Nickerson and Smoky Valley in the Lyons quarter and semifinals on Tuesday, the Southeast of Saline softball team returned to finish the job against 2-seed Hoisington in the regional final.
SES quickly found themselves in a real battle but thanks to timely hitting and stellar pitching, the Lady Trojans emerged victorious, knocking out the Cardinals by a final score of 2-0.
With this win, Southeast moves to 21-2 on the year, improves their run differential to +259, and most importantly, punches their ticket to the 3A state tournament in Manhattan next week.
This game was a true pitcher's duel between two of the best in the state in Lexi Jacobson, and Jordyn Boxberger, who combined to allow just one earned run on nine total hits without a single walk issued on either side.
Fortunately for the Lady Trojans that earned run belonged to them as they plated two in the third, which proved to be the difference when all was said and done.
Jacobson tossed seven complete innings giving up just three hits in the shutout, and had Hoisington reeling with ten strikeouts on the day.
At the plate, it was the two and three-hole hitters who played the heroes, as Maddie Harris and Brielle Ptacek collected the hits that brought in the two SES runs in that critical third inning.
Now, the Lady Trojans will turn their attention to a return to Manhattan, where this group will look to make a run at a 3A state championship.
Action from the Twin Oaks Sports Complex will begin on May 25th, for continuing coverage of Lady Trojan softball, stay tuned to the Salina Post.