The McLouth Bulldogs softball team won their second straight Class 2-1A State Championship on Friday in Pratt dominating the field with wins over Pratt-Skyline, Inman, and Cedar Vale/Dexter. 

Semifinal: (1) McLouth 11, (4) Inman 0 (5 innings) 

After defeating 8-seed Pratt-Skyline 15-0 in three innings on Thursday in the first round of the tournament, the Bulldogs continued the run with another run rule win against Inman in the semifinals. 

They would score two runs in the first inning on a two RBI single from Marissa Caray and would add two more in the second inning on an RBI single from Cresinda Bandel and an RBI groundout by Charley Coffin. 

The game was blown open with seven runs in the third inning which included a Dani Lee solo home run which was her third long ball of the tournament. Lee would add another run in the inning on a single and Leanna Larson got in the mix with and RBI double. 

The Inman defense didn't help the cause as a couple of errors allowed a few of those runs to score in that frame. 

Lee was dominant inside the circle circle pitching a perfect game and striking out 12. Bandel finished with two hits and two RBI's. Eight of the nine Bulldogs in the lineup scored a run in the game. 

Championship: (1) McLouth 6, (2) Cedar Vale/Dexter 0 

The first State Championship for the Bulldogs in 2023 was a 3-0 win over St. Marys with the title in 2024 being a 6-0 win over the Spartans of Cedar Vale/Dexter. 

McLouth would get all six runs in the first two innings scoring two in the first off the bat of senior catcher Leighanna Patz producing a two RBI double. 

They would score four runs in the second inning on four hits as they would get a two RBI double from Dani Lee along with RBI singles from Patz and Somer Wyatt. 

The Spartans got a couple of base runners early in the game but were unable to get their first hit off Lee until the sixth inning. Lee finished the title game with 12 strikeouts allowing just three hits in seven innings. 

Lee, the reigning 2-1A player of the year and Liberty University commit, finished her junior season with 288 strikeouts. She also hit three home runs in the tournament and finished the season with 18 home runs which tied a single season state record. 

Head coach Ballard Patterson now has 342 wins in his coaching career and adds the second straight banner for McLouth softball. 

McLouth caps the incredible season with a 28-2 record and have won 70 of their last 76 games dating back to the start of the 2022 season. The seniors on the roster were Elizabeth Subelka, Leighanna Patz, Marissa Caray, and Somer Wyatt. 

Postgame interview w/ head coach Ballard Patterson

Postgame interview w/ senior Leighanna Patz

Postgame interview w/ junior Dani Lee