By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Southeast of Saline softball season met a bittersweet end on Friday as the Lady Trojans fell in the semifinals to Rossville 6-4, and then to 1-seeded Haven in the third-place game 8-3.
This final pair of games brought Southeast’s overall record to 22-4, capping off a phenomenal 2023 campaign with a fourth-place finish at state.
Overall, SES won 17 of those games by mercy rule, including 11 shutout victories, and closed out the year with a run differential of +253.
In the semifinal against Rossville the Lady Trojans jumped out to an early lead thanks to a three-run first, but lost all three in the top of the fifth, with the Lady Bulldogs taking their first lead in the sixth.
SES battled back with one of their own in the home half but it proved to be too little too late as Rossville advanced to the 3A final, holding on for a 6-4 win.
In their third-place game with Haven Southeast found themselves on the other side of a 3-0 lead after one, but responded well to tie the game at three in the top of the second.
Unfortunately, those would be the last SES runs of the day as the Lady Wildcats rattled off five unanswered to take home third-place honors in Manhattan.
On the winner's side of the bracket, Rossville would win one more game, this time in 2-0 fashion over Santa Fe Trail, to claim a 3A state title in an unexpected 6-5 state championship matchup.
The Salina Post would like to thank everyone who followed along with our coverage of Southeast of Saline softball all season long and remind you to stay tuned for more news and updates on the Trojans and Lady Trojans.