Hays softball team brings home championship from state tourney

Front row, from left: Cora Milbourne, Rachel Gilliland, Malynn Plumer, Madelyn Waddell, and Emily Schulte. Middle row, from left: Brooklyn Staab, Macee Altman, Kaitlyn Brown, Lexi Gottschalk, and MacKenzie Fagan. Coaches, from left: Ryan Gottschalk, Randy Gottschalk and Joshua Waddell. Not pictured is Coach McKenzie Altman.Photo courtesy Julie Brown.

EMPORIA — The Kansas Smoke 14 & Under fast-pitch softball team earned championship honors at the 2015 Kansas ASA Class C State Softball Championships in Emporia on Saturday and Sunday.

The title was their second consecutive state championship after having won the 12 & Under title last season.

The Smoke was undefeated at the event and recorded wins over the Flint Hills Wind (Council Grove), Kansas Heat (Hoisington), Mud Katz (Salina) and Nemesis (Salina). Their season record stands at 17-3-1, and the team is riding a nine-game winning streak.

Complete tournament results are available HERE.

The Smoke will close their season at the USSSA National Fast Pitch Championships in Topeka July 16 to 18.