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The De Soto High School softball team is all smiles as they pose for a photo after wining the Frontier League Championship title with a sweep of Eudora on Tuesday, May 10. by Laura Herring

The DHS softball team clinched the Frontier League championship with a sweep over the Eudora Cardinals Tuesday night, 8-4 and 11-1. Winning the first game was all that was necessary to claim the league title, which gave the team an additional reason to celebrate on senior night. The Wildcats, who ended the regular season 16-3, head into regional playoffs next Monday at Baldwin as the number one seed.

"This season was the result of good team work and everyone doing what the team needed her to do," said head coach Junelle Woolery. "Whether it was hard work on the field or cheering a teammate on, every one of these girls did it and that's what it takes to win."

In game one, the Wildcats scored runs in pairs in the each first two innings, and extended their lead to 7-0 with a three-run third inning. Freshman Ashley Mars drove in the two runs in the first, scoring junior Makenzi Shackley and freshman Cassidy Berry. Berry drove in the two runs in the second, with a double-scoring senior Brittany Brewer and Shackley. In the third, Brewer drove in sophomores Sophia Templin and Allie Flinn, and freshman Kaelin Walsh scored on a single by sophomore Hunter Klamm. The Wildcats defense shut out the Cardinals through the fourth inning, but in the fifth Eudora scored a run on an RBI single hit just out of reach of Klamm at shortstop. The Wildcats scored one more to bring the lead to 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Brewer reached base on a double, and advanced to third on a passed ball. She was driven in by senior Kyndel Reeves' sacrifical fly to center. DHS allowed the Cardinals to rally in the top of the seventh, scoring 2 runs on errors, but pulled it together and closed the frame with a final score at 8-4.

Between wins, the team recognized the four seniors who have contributed to the team over the years. Those seniors are: Brittany Brewer, daughter of Carlos and Chris Brewer; Hannah Jokisch, daughter of Linda and Dave Jokisch; Kyndel Reeves, daughter of Pat and Tami Reeves and Shelbie Todd, daughter of Bobby and Samantha Todd.

"This season has been awesome but what I'm going to remember is the closeness we had, not the wins," Brewer said.

In game two, the Wildcats scored two in the first, yielded one run in the second on two errors, but came roaring back in bottom of the third, sending 14 batters to the plate and scoring eight runs to bring the lead to 10-1. Klamm led off the third, followed by a hit parade of Berry, Mabe, Ashley Mars, Brewer, Walsh and Shackley. Mars, Flinn, Brewer and Shackley all recorded RBIs in the inning. The Wildcats scored one more in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Sophia Templin scored after suffering interference from Eudora's third baseman on a single by Walsh. Templin's run was enough to invoke the run-rule after the Wildcat defense closed out the top of the fifth.

"I think the thing our team has to be proudest of is the young age," said Jokisch, who has been on the injured list recently and was unable to play in her final game as a senior. "When you look out at that field and see only underclassmen in the infield, that's incredible, it's going to be exciting seeing what they do in the future."

Templin pitched both games yielding only two earned runs on the night. She ends the regular season with a 15-2 record, with 88 strikeouts in 14 complete games.

Official regional seeding will be released Wednesday, at which time the Wildcats first playoff opponent will be revealed.