ELLIS — Ellinwood's underdog softball team forced a 7-7 tie with a 6-run fifth inning. Ellis (14-5) rallied for three sixth-inning runs with two out for a hard-fought 10-8 regional victory over the scrappy Eagles (6-17).
Maleah Vine hit a 2-run single and Brooke Starns and Jersee Fabrizius hit an RBI singles for a 5-0 Ellis lead. Starns added an RBI groundout for a 6-0 lead.
Ellinwood's Addison Stucky scored on Bennet Jacobs' double for a 6-1 score. Railroader Jennifer Cunningham scored on an error for a 7-1 lead.
Ellis' defense collapsed in a 4-error fifth inning. Shyria Quintana singled in Emma Nienke. Addison Stickney, Jacobs, Quintana, Morgan Shinliver and Kyndal Moore all scored on errors for a 7-7 tie.
The Railroaders rallied with three sixth-inning runs with two out. Emily James scored on a passed ball. Alyssa Rome and Cunningham delivered RBI singles.
Shinliver scored Ellinwood's eighth run in a passed ball.
Ellinwood 001 060 0 — 8 5 4
Ellis 511 003 x — 10 14 9
Jacobs and Shinliver. Haag, Rome (3) and Cunningham. W—Rome. L—Jacobs. 2B—E—Shinliver, Jacobs; ELLIS—Seibel 2, Cunningham.
2-1A SYLVAN—Hays TMP 7, Sylvan/Lucas 6; Ellis 10, Ellinwood 8; 5-14—Ell-Saline 13-5 vs. Salina Sacred Heart 5-15; 5-14—Little River 10-11 vs. 5 Bennington 8-12; 5-15—SEMIFINAL—TMP 19-8 vs. Ellis 14-5, 4:30