The McLouth Bulldogs softball team is back in the State Tournament with a chance at a repeat title after winning their Regional Tournament Wednesday in Leavenworth. 

Semifinal #1: (1) McLouth 11, (4) Doniphan West 0 (5 innings) 

The Bulldogs were able to take care of business in the first game of the day eliminating the Mustangs and ending their season. 

McLouth got an early run in the second inning on an RBI single from Cresinda Bandel but blew the game open with seven runs in the third inning. Two RBI hits in the inning for Bandel, Dani Lee, and Leighanna Patz. 

Lee, the reigning 2-1A Player of the Year, threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts and allowing only one base runner via a walk. 

Doniphan West finished their season with a record of 10-10 and that was an eight game win improvement from 2023. 

Semifinal #2: (2) Valley Falls 4, (6) Riverside 2

The Dragons wasted little time with three runs in the first inning and ultimately that is all they would need against the Cyclones. 

Valley Falls got RBI hits in the inning from Lauren Brown and Cassidy Frakes and they also added a run on a wild pitch. 

Riverside was held scoreless until the fifth inning and they would get two runs on four hits with RBI's from Alexis Scott and Mia Jackson to cut the game to 3-2. 

The Dragons got a big time insurance run off the bat of Renay Myers in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run over the fence in left field. The 4-2 score would hold until the end with the Cyclones leaving the bases loaded in the last inning. 

Opportunities were missed by Riverside as they loaded the bases and were unable to score in each of the first two innings and they left 11 on base in the game. 

Championship: (1) McLouth 4, (2) Valley Falls 1 

Dani Lee once again the headliner in the Regional Championship game against the Dragons as she allowed just one run with 15 more strikeouts in seven innings of work. 

The Bulldogs got some help with the Valley Falls defense coming up with five errors in the first two innings allowing McLouth to get out to a 3-0 lead. 

They would extend the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third inning on a sac-fly by Marissa Caray. The Dragons were held hitless until the seventh inning and were able to get two hits and their lone run on an RBI single from Lauren Brown. 

McLouth will enter the State Tournament in Pratt next week with a record of 25-2 and will look to win their second straight State Title. 

The Dragons season ends with a Regional Title game loss and will finish 2024 with a record of 16-7. 

Postgame audio w/ McLouth head coach Ballard Patterson