Pat Harty

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – The Solon softball team hasn’t advanced to the state tournament since 2016, which for most teams wouldn’t be a big deal.

But Solon isn’t like most teams when it comes to softball.

Two years without making it to the state tournament seems like an eternity for the Solon players and junior Kayla West is on a mission to help end the mini drought.

She threw a two-hitter and had two hits herself as the Lady Spartans defeated Benton 5-0 in a Class 3A regional semifinal on Friday at Solon.

“We are very confident and we really want state since we haven’t went for the past two years,” West said. “We’re all for it this year.

“That’s very motivating for us. We’ve worked very hard this season just because we haven’t went.”

Their work isn’t done, yet, though, with rival Mount Vernon standing in the way.

No. 11 Solon improved to 23-15 with Friday’s victory and will face No. 13 Mount Vernon (26-11) in a regional final at 7 p.m. on Monday in Solon.

The teams split a doubleheader on June 4.

Friday’s game only took about 80 minutes to complete as West pounded the strike zone and trusted her defense to make plays.

The Solon defense did its part by making no errors.

“I’m very confident in my defense,” West said. “They’ve worked hard all season and they can move and throw the ball. I’m very confident that they won’t make errors. And even if they do, I’ve got their back.”

Solon eight grader Hilary Wilson belted a two-out double in the bottom of the first inning.

Senior clean-up hitter Skylar Stookey then was intentionally walked, but the strategy backfired due to a fielding error at third base on a grounder hit by Solon shortstop Taylor Moore.

The error led to the game’s first run and the Lady Spartans then expanded the lead to 2-0 on Ava Stebral’s run-scoring single.

Solon then scored three more runs in the bottom of the second inning, which started with West hitting the first pitch of the frame for a double.

That was more than enough runs for West as she cruised the rest of the way.

“The girls have been working really, really hard,” said Solon coach Erin White. “They’ve been each day getting better, each day still working on new things and each day still working towards that goal.

“And it’s nice to see that they can transfer it into the game from what they do in the morning in practice.

White praised her team’s mental approach to Friday’s game, and she thinks it helped with the quick start.

 “The girls have really been focused on not getting ahead of themselves and staying in the moment, each quality at bat, each out and each pitch,” White said. “And I definitely think that’s the way we have to keep their mindset.”

Benton   000  000  0  –  0  2  2

Solon     230  000  x  –  5  7  0

W – Kayla West                     L – Katelyn Buscher

2B – SOL: Hilary Wilson, Kayla West, Sarah Heick

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