The Oskaloosa softball team is headed back to the state tournament this week for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.  They were state runner-up a year ago and placed fourth in 2016.  The Lady Bears improved to 21-2 this year by winning the McLouth Regional last week.  Oskie beat defending 2-1A State champ Alma-Wabaunsee 10-7 in the semifinals and then topped Mission Valley 9-7 to claim the Regional title.  The Bears split Class 3A qualifier Silver Lake and their only other loss this year was to Perry Lecompton.  

Oskaloosa started this year sweeping Burlingame by scores of 6-0 and 5-4 and as the #2 seed at 2-1A State, will rematch against the #7 seed Bearcats (12-7) at 5:00 PM on Thursday, May 23rd at the Green Sports Complex in Pratt.  The state game will air live on KAIR 93.7 FM and free online at www.mscsports.net.

Sophomore, Regan Curry leads Oskaloosa with a .657 batting average with eight home runs and 41 RBI.  Paige Lowe (senior) is hitting .509 on the season with five homers and 11 doubles.  The Lady Bears have also been aggressive on the bases while repeating their Northeast Kansas Leaegue title for the eighth straight season this year as Sophia Rockhold (sophomore) has 15 steals and Megan Miller (senior) 14 steals.  Reese Curry, another sophomore, is batting .443 and the team has a batting average of .431 with 22 total home runs and 18 triples.  

A trio of sophomores have done all the pitching with Ellie Stember (8-2, 3.38 ERA, 70 strikeouts), Asa Kesinger (7-0, 3.57 ERA) and Faith Lowe (3-0, 4.34 ERA) all having great success under Coach Lisa Braun.