BACK-TO-BACK! Topeka High beats WRHS in 6A softball title game

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Topeka High won their second-straight 6A softball state title Friday with a 2-1 win over Centennial League rival Washburn Rural.

It was a defensive battle in the first three innings with Rural’s Emmerson Cope and Topeka High’s Nija Canady controlling play at the mound. The two were dealing strikes, very few balls, and allowing their defenders to make easy plays if the ball was hit into play.

Alesia Alvarez got the Trojans on the board first, sending Adisyn Caryl home in the top of the fourth with an RBI single.

“We’ve had some great bats and I’m so glad we got them going. We really needed this win against Washburn Rural. There’s been a lot of talk about who is going to the championship and who is going to win. The odds weren’t really in favor because they beat us this year but I think this is definitely where it counts a lot more,” said Alvarez.

Caryl told Alaverz she was going home as soon as she saw the blooper land in left field.

“We wanted to win so bad,” said Caryl. “The way we worked hard because we had a lot of people that doubted us, didn’t think we could get back here and we proved them wrong I think. That’s our character, we’re really strong.”

Elycia Joyce brought home run number-two with an RBI single in the top of the sixth.

“We weren’t the same team as last year so we had to find what we do best. Pitching and defense were the best for us, but our timely hitting. I mean, we scored 18 runs and gave up one run in the state tournament so it shows our bats came alive at the right time,” said Topeka High Head Coach Shane Miles.

The Junior Blues answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a Cope one-run single. The momentum swayed, but it didn’t shift completely over to Rural at this moment.

T-High senior pitcher and Stanford commit Canady battled with dehydration all game, taking multiple timeouts throughout innings. She said she wasn’t going to come out of the game and was playing through it for her team.

“Getting two runs, as a pitcher, feels incredible. I just want to thank them, insurance runs are important in this game. My team brought that for me,” she said.

Canady’s last pitch as a Trojan was hit to right field where the pop-up was caught and the game concluded. The Trojans secured the final out, locking in their second state title in program history.

“It’s just great for our program. We have some freshman and sophomores that got some experience now and we want to be back here next year, ok, we’re building a program and we want Topeka High to be noticed,” said Miles.

The Trojans finished the season 23-2, while the Junior Blues fell to 23-2.

“It’s legendary. I walk the halls with some of these girls and to know that we went out and won a state title together. Topeka High class of 2022 is always going to remember that,” said Canady.

Full Highlights of the Championship game:

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