Pittsburg softball earned its eighth consecutive win and improved to 17-4 overall and 10-1 Southeast Kansas League with Monday's 9-1 win against host Independence.
Breck Slaughter won in the circle and she allowed one run on three hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks over seven innings.
Kenleigh Warford led the Purple Dragons with three hits and three RBI. Brette Pasteur and Slaughter each had two hits and Pasteur and Laney Trisler each had two RBI. Pasteur homered and doubled, Slaughter tripled and Pasteur, Warford and Trisler each doubled.
Warford and Pasteur each scored two runs. Leah Niederklein and Warford each stole two bases.
The Dragons close out league play Tuesday on the road against Labette County. Pittsburg defeated the Grizzlies 13-6 last Tuesday in Pittsburg, highlighted by three-RBI performances from Pasteur and Trisler.
Pittsburg can clinch at least a share of the SEK with a win Tuesday. Fort Scott closes out league play Thursday at Chanute with a chance for the Tigers to earn their league title share.
Pittsburg and Fort Scott split their games nearly a week apart in April, Fort Scott winning 4-3 in eight innings April 9 and Pittsburg winning 5-1 on April 17.
Pittsburg returns home Thursday to close out the regular season with a doubleheader against Ottawa. The Dragons entered the day Tuesday third in the Class 5A East Regional standings and winning out their last three games could have Pittsburg leapfrog St. Thomas Aquinas for the No. 2 seed; Aquinas (19-3) closes out Thursday against Bishop Miege (6-16).
At any rate, Pittsburg should be hosting a regional with a good chance to return to the state tournament.
KSHSAA announces the seeds for 5A on Saturday.
Pittsburg 301 020 3 — 9 10 3
Independence 000 010 0 — 1 3 2
Breck Slaughter and Peyton Morey; Trinity Wickline and Zoie Raida. W: Slaughter. L: Wickline. 2B—PHS: Brette Pasteur, Kenleigh Warford, Laney Trisler. 3B—PHS: Slaughter. HR—PHS: Pasteur.
This sports reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/fund/support-local-journalism-project-fund/
