The softball team advanced to the Class 6A state tournament by beating Topeka 8-6 in the regional championship on Tuesday. The top-seeded Panthers also beat Dodge City 12-2 in the regional semifinal.

“It feels great to move on further into the postseason,” senior Rylee Frager said. “We advanced last year and got third in the state tournament, although I don’t feel like our emotions were nearly as high as they were this time around.”

The Panthers cruised to the 6QA tournament in 2022.

“It wasn’t much of a fight, just a routine game,” Frager said. 

Against Topeka, the Panthers trailed 6-4 after five innings. 

“We managed to pull out a win even though at a time we were down by 2,” Frager said. “And I think that sort of ‘comeback’ is what made this win seem so much more significant.”

The state tourney is in Lawrence on May 25-26.