Kansas high school state softball schedule: Clearwater back for first time since 2015
It’s not lost upon Clearwater softball coach Tyler Hampton that not many outsiders would have believed his team could have the best record in Class 4A entering the state tournament.
The Indians were a good team last season, but didn’t reach the state tournament and graduated several of their top players.
Not that anyone could tell from Clearwater’s play this season, which has bordered on dominant at times in a 21-1 campaign that has seen the Indians win a share of the AV-CTL Division IV championship and punch their ticket back to the Class 4A state tournament for the first time since 2015.
Clearwater plays Clay Center (15-5) at 3 p.m. Thursday in the opening round of the state tournament hosted at Salina South.
“We felt like we still had a number of kids who were still going to make us competitive, but I do think we’ve probably exceeded expectations to get to where we are now,” Hampton said. “That’s a credit to my seniors. They’ve played a lot of softball for our program and they’ve had a lot of success and they’ve done a tremendous job of showing our younger kids how to do things the right way.”
Clearwater’s success starts with a trio of seniors who have been full-time starters since they arrived in the program in Hayley Gerberding, Tess Winter and Kayleigh Herdman.
Winter has been the team’s ace in the circle, while junior Brecken Whitney has given Clearwater one of the top No. 2 pitchers in 4A.
Their job is made easier by an offense that averages 11.9 runs per game, second-best in 4A. While Gerberding is having an elite season hitting over .500, Clearwater has also had key contributions from sophomore Elizabeth Tjaden, freshman Kaylee Hampton and junior Carli Carlson.
“We’ve pitched the ball really well and we’ve defended really well all season, but I think the key for us to make a run up in Salina is going to be if we can consistently hit the ball hard,” Hampton said. “We’ve done that pretty often this season and we’ve got a lot of players who can really hit the ball hard. If we can keep that up, then we’re going to be able to compete.”
Kansas high school state softball schedule
Class 6A (at Shawnee Mission District Softball Complex)
No. 1 Washburn Rural (21-1) vs. No. 8 Blue Valley (13-9), 10 a.m. Thursday
No. 4 Gardner-Edgerton (19-3) vs. No. 5 Derby (19-3), 12:15 p.m.
No. 2 Shawnee Mission North (20-1) vs. No. 7 Wichita Northwest (17-5), 2:30
No. 3 Topeka (19-3) vs. No. 6 Olathe North (18-4), 4:45 p.m.
Class 5A (at Wilkins Stadium in Wichita)
Opening round games were postponed until Friday due to inclement weather.
Class 4A (at Salina South)
No. 1 Wamego (21-1) vs. No. 8 Rock Creek (16-6), 3 p.m. Thursday (Field 6A)
No. 2 Clearwater (21-1) vs. No. 7 Clay Center (15-5), 3 (Field 4B)
No. 4 Andale-Garden Plain (20-2) vs. No. 5 Bishop Miege (17-3), 5 (Field 6A)
No. 3 Eudora (20-2) vs. No. 6 Ottawa (16-5), 5
Class 3A (at Twin Oaks Complex in Manhattan)
No. 1 Hoisington (22-1) vs. No. 8 Santa Fe Trail (19-4), 5 p.m. Thursday (Field 1)
No. 2 Scott City (20-1) vs. No. 7 Prairie View (19-4), 5 (Field 4)
No. 4 Kingman-Norwich (21-2) vs. No. 5 Frontenac (20-3), 7 (Field 1)
No. 3 Council Grove (21-2) vs. No. 6 Rossville (20-3), 7 (Field 4)
Class 2-1A (at Green Sports Complex in Pratt)
No. 1 Ell-Saline (23-0) vs. No. 8 Pittsburg-Colgan (11-12), 5 p.m. Thursday (Field A)
No. 2 Troy (21-0) vs. No. 7 Belle Plaine (11-8), 5 (Field B)
No. 4 Spearville (21-2) vs. No. 5 Mission Valley (20-2), 7 (Field A)
No. 3 Bluestem (22-1) vs. No. 6 Central Heights (14-7), 7 (Field B)
