Behind the powerful pitching performance of junior Bella Ascanio and some timely hitting and a little small ball, St. Mary's Colgan softball won a Class 2-1A regional title with a 3-0 win Wednesday night over Humboldt at the PSU Softball Field.

Ascanio allowed no runs on three hits (all three singles) with 14 strikeouts and no walks over seven innings. She finished at 112 pitches, 77 for strikes, and struck out all nine batters in the Humboldt lineup at least once.

Kara Osborn led Colgan's lineup with three hits, highlighted by her triple leading off the fifth, and she scored two of the Panthers' three runs. Callie Lundy had two hits. Ascanio, Lundy and Addie Morris each drove in a run.

The Panthers improved to 24-3 entering their 2-1A state quarterfinal Monday. This is a Panther team with no seniors, although Ascanio and her junior battery mate Kylee Kretchmar are now three-time state qualifiers.

The Panthers have won 10 consecutive games, indicative of playing their best at the right time.

"Just a feeling of where these kids started to where they ended," Colgan softball coach Cassie Rhuems said. "I always had confidence in the kids I coach and I knew this group was completely capable of getting to this point. It's been really rewarding watching where they started and where they finished because each and every one of them has improved so much in their confidence, their play, their skill and everything. Man, they're a good ballclub right now.

"They were a force to be reckoned with this season and I think that people thought maybe they were going to be .500 or something like that coming in. They bought in and they worked hard. We had rough days, we had great days but they never quit showing up and they never quit working. They're good teammates to each other and I think they knew what the end was going to be like if we kept climbing our mountain. We keep talking about the mountain we're climbing. We're getting there."

Osborn played on the state-qualifying team last season as a freshman.

"It feels amazing," Osborn said. "We've definitely put in the work and we're excited to go. We've been there before and haven't made it very far, but we're excited to see how much better we can do. We've put in a lot of work. We've been in the gym, especially with weather, and it's just a relief to see how much we've all got better and to see it come together.

"I always feel like there's that underdog feeling. Shattering people is a good feeling, especially whenever you've worked so hard for what you accomplish.

"Second year going, so excited. It's definitely going to be nerve-wracking, but I'm excited to go back and improve and get to that Day 2."

Ascanio allowed one run on five hits with 29 strikeouts and one walk over 14 innings Wednesday against Humboldt and semifinal opponent Oxford.

"We've really focused in on Bella hitting spots," Rhuems said. "We wanted to attack the inside half of the plate. She was a little hesitant about that at the start of the season and didn't have a lot of confidence in it. Our goal was just to continue to build that confidence and she's a dog. She's done a great job for us this season. She's been able to relax a little bit at the latter part of our season and trust her defense. They played great behind her the last 10 games and that's what you want for your kids because your pitcher can relax. She's going to do everything for her team and she's just a great kid."

"Bella is a beast," Osborn said. "We love to have her and still have another year with her. I'm excited to see what we can continue to do this year."

Other regional title winners in 2-1A are Cedar Vale/Dexter (26-2), Mission Valley (26-1), Rossville (22-7), Uniontown (20-6), Central Heights (20-7), Thomas More Prep-Marian (27-2) and Inman (24-2).

The Panthers would seem to be the No. 5 seed and open state against No. 4 Inman.

KSHSAA has designated four sites to host softball quarterfinal games: Salina South High School, the Envista Softball Complex in Topeka, Baker University in Baldwin City and the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia.

"We just have to keep grinding," Rhuems said. "We have to continue to work the fundamentals in practice and trust the short game. That's what won it for us tonight. We took the bat out of Bella's hands twice; she executed the bunt perfectly and we were able to score those two runs. I've always been a believer in small ball and I always will be because I feel like it can be a gamechanger and it was for us tonight."

Rhuems took the Panthers to state in her first season as their head coach. She coached rival Frontenac to five state titles (2016, 2019, 2022, 2024-25).

"It feels great," Rhuems said. "It never gets old winning a regional championship and taking a team to state. Like I told these kids after the game, I'm as proud of them as I have been of any team I've been able to coach because of where we started. It's easier when it's expected; you know you have the kids, you know you have the talent, you know that the skills have been drilled in their head, but here it was something that was a fresh start for them and a fresh start for me. It's been a great experience for me and I love these kids. I just hope they continue to work hard for the next week together."

Colgan 8,

Oxford 1

The Panthers scored three runs in the first, one in the second, two in the third and two more in the fourth during their semifinal win.

Drew Dayton led the Panthers with three hits and three runs scored. Callie Lundy and Bella Ascanio each added one hit and Ascanio's double counted for the Panthers' lone extra-base hit.

Ascanio earned the win and she allowed one run (earned) on two hits with 15 strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.

Oxford committed eight errors and walked three batters. The Wildcats scored their lone run on Madison Mayfield's solo home run to left in the sixth inning.

Humboldt 000 000 0 — 0 3 0

Colgan 002 010 x — 3 6 0

Jo Ellison and Leah Carman; Bella Ascanio and Kylee Kretchmar. W: Ascanio. L: Ellison. 2B—SMC: Callie Lundy, Addie Morris. 3B—SMC: Kara Osborn.

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Oxford 000 001 0 — 1 2 8

Colgan 312 200 x — 8 5 2

Jaylin Shivers, Sophia Bain (5) and Katelyn Gillenwater; Bella Ascanio and Kylee Kretchmar. W: Ascanio. L: Shivers. 2B—SMC: Ascanio. HR—OHS: Madison Mayfield.

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/