Lee’s Summit softball off to fast start

CHRIS OBERHOLTZ | The Kansas City Star

Blue Springs South’s Dominique Wright (5) tried breaking free from the grasp of Rockhurst’s Jalen Montgomery during Friday’s game. The Hawklets intercepted five passes and won 35-13.

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Lee’s Summit started the softball season by accomplishing a feat the team has never done before. On Saturday, the Tigers won the Gold Division of the Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference softball tournament by taking down the defending Class 3 state champion Platte County Pirates, 3-1.

Lee’s Summit won four of the five tournament games (Blue Springs South, Park Hill, LS North and Platte County) and coach Tracy Bertoncin said it was the first time the Tigers had won the 24-team invitational.

“They’re playing team ball, they’re backing each other up,” Bertoncin said. “They’re a really fun crew to be around right now. I told a friend of mine they’re playing so well my job as a coach is to just stay out of the way. Because they’re doing very well. I’m very proud of them.”

Junior Lisa Weeda, taking on a new role as ace pitcher, played a week that was “out of this world” by Bertoncin’s standards. Weeda hit .545 with six hits, three doubles and three RBIs while also tearing up the base paths with four stolen bases and seven runs scored. As a pitcher, Weeda won three games, including the championship in which she allowed her only earned run of the week.

Weeda, voted as the team MVP last season, did not pitch two years ago due to shoulder surgery but now wants the responsibility as No. 1 pitcher.

“She’s come back this year very strong,” Bertoncin said. “She wants to take on a load and she has a good strong support staff behind her.”

Weeda’s co-stars include sophomore catcher Kennedy Merrell who drove in half of the team’s 16 runs last week while hitting .461, and sophomore leadoff hitter Aly Mosier who scored four runs and hit .462.

Grain Valley can boast claim to ruining Lee’s Summit’s perfect run. On Aug. 25, the Eagles won 2-1 behind the pitching of sophomore Sydney Fairfield.

Although her line against Lee’s Summit was impressive — just three hits allowed and six strikeouts to one walk — her performance against LS West was even better.

Fairfield threw a no-hitter against the Titans in the Silver Division consolation game, striking out five in the 13-0 victory.

Also over the weekend, the defending Class 4 champion Blue Springs Wildcats won the Joplin tournament. Pitchers Kelsey Kessler and Alex Abernathy were nothing short of spectacular. Kessler got four of the Wildcats’ five victories and Abernathy picked up the other with a no-hitter against Springfield Hillcrest on Friday.

Sion tennis in WichitaThe Notre Dame de Sion tennis team traveled across state lines last weekend and survived the challenging Wichita Collegiate Classic.

The coupling of senior Emmy Bird and freshman Brydie O’Connor won the No. 1 doubles bracket while senior singles player Amy Barnthouse easily advanced to the finals but lost to a Kansas rival.

“It’s a learning lesson for state,” coach Karen O’Neill said of Barnthouse, a previous state-qualifier.

Besides the Wichita win, Sion also swept the season-opening dual matches against Bishop Miege and Liberty. To O’Neill, the Storm’s summer work has paid dividends.

“Our entire team practiced all summer,” O’Neill said. “When they came out for tryouts, I was amazed at how everybody improved. It shocked me.”

Lucky 13 for Rockhurst soccerThe two-time defending Class 3 soccer champion Rockhurst Hawklets opened the new season Friday with a 3-0 win against Pembroke Hill. The shutout continues the Hawklets’ consecutive streak to 13, dating back to last season.

“I thought the kids looked well,” coach Chris Lawson said. “The key to first game and first few games is to remind yourself (that) you don’t want to have as much rust as your opponent. But whether you win or lose you want to be getting better.”

The Hawklets return five starters including senior Bryan Jantsch who anchors the defense and has committed to Drake. Junior Grant Wilson also returns as a lockdown defender while senior Jack Russell leads the attack up front along with sophomore Derek Schrick and junior Doug Stevenson in the midfield.

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