Emporia High School softball was downed by Topeka High School in a Tuesday softball doubleheader. The Lady Trojans triumphed 4-1 and 11-1. Emporia falls to 6-14. In game one, Bailey Schlesener was 2-3 and teammate Atlyn Heffron, also went 2-3, but the Spartan lineup was RBI-less. Shortstop Molly Williams scored their lone run.

“In the first game, we pitched a really good game, but the few errors are what cost us,” said Emporia coach Tommy McClure. “We had players in scoring range but couldn't break through to drive in runs.”

The Lady Spartans did not experience success in the second matchup either, as the Lady Trojan pitching held them to two hits. Williams went 1-3 and scored Emporia’s only run. Chloe Steele singled and stole a base in the loss. Alivia Bartlett struggled from the circle, allowing 11 hits and eight earned runs.

McClure said his squad is striving to overcome stranding runners on base and mitigate defensive mistakes that could prove costly in regional play.

“In game two, we struggled to find timing with their second pitcher, and our defense struggled as we had several playing in new positions due to injuries,” he said. “The goal is to keep working for gains and get to a point where we score with runners on, and defensive mistakes don't turn into big innings for opponents by the time regionals come around.”

The Lady Spartans host Wichita West High School Friday at Peter Pan.

Top-three results from the Topeka Invitational held Tuesday. The Lady Spartans finished second overall with 353 points.

200-yard IM 3, Ava Podrebarac, Emporia, 3:06.01.

200-yard free relay 3, Emporia (Taryn Woydziak 30.01, Podrebarac 31.17, Brooke Monroe 29.43, Camryn Spafford 29.34), 1:59.98.

1-meter dive 1, Allisyn Weiss, Emporia, 512.85, 20 points.

The Emporia High School girls soccer team dropped to 7-6 Tuesday after getting scorched by Washburn Rural 8-0. Additional game information was not immediately available.

The 13-9 Southern Lyon County baseball squad split its games with Northern Heights High School Tuesday evening. SLC dramatically prevailed in the first outing, 20-6, but the Wildcats picked up their first win this season in the nightcap, defeating SLC 10-9. In the opening contest, where do we begin? Several SLC players smashed and grabbed as they collected 16 hits and 20 RBIs. Eli Markowitz and Brayden Lienemann led the offense, both logging three hits with three runs batted in and four runs scored. Lienemann also parked one over the centerfield fence. John Musick went 3-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. James Kimberlin and Deron Leonard each registered a pair of hits and three RBIs. Ryker Windle also tallied three RBIs with one hit. For the Wildcats, TJ Dean hammered out a hit, compiling three runs scored and three stolen bases. The score favored the Wildcats in the second game as Northern Heights put together a five-run seventh inning to seize the victory. Kelton Bish doubled and singled, driving in a run and scoring one. Gus Phillips went 1-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while teammate Leo DeDonder belted a critical 3-0 single in the Wildcats’ prolific seventh frame, knocking in two runs. SLC’s offense cooled off some in round two as Ryker Windle led the team with a hit, three RBIs and one run scored. He also struck out seven batters from the mound. Northern Heights improved to 1-15 and visits Chase County Friday. SLC hosts Burlington Thursday.

The Chase County Golf Team recently won the Western Plains Tournament in Hays. Caleb Dexter was the tournament champion, shooting a 9-over score of 79. Piper Vogel placed second after prevailing in a scorecard playoff to break a tie.

Area track and field athletes turned in some state-worthy performances at Tuesday’s Burlington Invitational, particularly in the field events, where Northern Heights High School thrower Jaitlyn Johnson, Madison High School’s Colton Isch, and Chase County High School’s Madelyn Wilson and Luke Budke showed out. Double-event winners included Lilly Sklaksy of Olpe, Johnson and Colton Isch. The most notable result of the meet came from non-area athlete Brody Anderson of Burlington High School, who smoked the field in the 200 meters, sprinting a hot 21.46.

1600 meters 1, Lilly Skalsky, Olpe, 5:28.11.

Shot Put 1, Jaitlyn Johnson, Northern Heights, 35-10. 3, Madelyn Wilson, Chase County, 35-3.

Javelin Throw 1, Wilson, Chase County, 117-7. 2, Jalynn Weakley, Madison, 114-8.

400 meters 2, Wyatt Griffin, Chase County, 53.97.

800 meters 1, Carson Schroer, Chase County, 2:03.56.

1600 meters 1, Kaleb Arnold, Olpe, 4:27.76.

300 Hurdles 1, Octavian Dean, Madison, 42.58.

High Jump, 1, Colton Isch, Madison, 6-0.

Pole Vault, 3, Luke Budke, Chase County, 13-0.

Javelin Throw 1, Isch, Madison, 142-7.