Lucas Caps Perfect Season With K-18 State Softball Crown

The Lucas Lady Cougars softball team put the finishing touches on an undefeated season by defeating WaKeeney 6-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Lucas Ballpark and capturing the K-18 State Softball Championship in the tournament's seventh edition.

Lucas, under head coach Mike Nelson, entered the tournament as the #1 seed and outlasted Phillipsburg in their first game on Saturday, 15-7.  The Lady Cougars then turned in a dominant performance in their semifinal contest as they dispatched Osborne 15-0 before winning the state title with the victory over #2 seed WaKeeney.

While Lucas won the State Tournament, Osborne was awarded the Sportsmanship Trophy.

Lucas (10-0) becomes the second team from Russell County to win this tournament since its inception in 2020, joining Russell, which took the state title in 2021.  Plainville, which entered the tournament as the three-time defending champions was eliminated in their first round game on Saturday with a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to Lincoln, which went on to win Sunday's third place game over Osborne, 13-5.  Plainville had won nine consecutive tournament games before bowing to Lincoln.

K-18 State Softball Tournament Results:

Saturday, July 11

Lucas 15, Phillipsburg 7
Osborne 11, Oakley 3
Lincoln 10, Plainville 9
WaKeeney 15, Hoxie 2

Sunday, July 12

Lucas 15, Osborne, 0 - Semifinals
WaKeeney 11, Lincoln 3 - Semifinals
Lincoln 13, Osborne 5 - Third Place Game
Lucas 6, WaKeeney 2 - Championship