Tigers beat Chanute, 7-4, in 1st round

Fort Scott pitcher Jenna Harper (5) prepares to deliver a pitch to a Chanute batter as second baseman Kenzie Heatherly gets ready in a first-round Fort Scott Class 4A Regional Tournament game at Chanute Monday afternoon. Harper allowed one earned run and struck out 4 as the Tigers defeated the higher-seeded Blue Comets and earned a semifinal berth against Girard in Wednesday's semifinal, which will be held at 4:45 Wednesday at Don Hewett Field. (Jason Peake/Chanute Tribune)

CHANUTE -- Fort Scott High School's softball team earned a return trip home in their own Class 4A Regional Tournament by defeating No. 3 Chanute 7-4 in a first-round game here Monday.

Although Don Hewett Field, the Tigers' home, is the site of the semifinals and championship -- which will take place Wednesday afternoon -- FSHS had to go on the road in the first round since it was the lower-seeded team.

The Tigers (6-11) responded with an 18-hit offensive performance. Jade Weeter had 4 hits in 5 at-bats for Fort Scott while Kenzie Heatherly was 3 for 5 and drove in 2 runs.

Morgan Tourtillott went 3 for 4 while Hannah Tourtillott was 2 for 5. Erin Coffman and Kelsey Middleton were both 2 for 4. Coffman had 2 runs batted in. Shelby Maycumber scored 2 runs.

Fort Scott pitcher Jenna Harper (6-10) allowed 1 earned run on 4 hits and 2 walks. She struck out 4 Comets.

Five runs in the top of the third inning gave the Tigers a 5-3 lead. The Comets, whose season came to an end with a record of 11-8, score once in the bottom of the third but never again,

Fort Scott was the only lower-seeded team to win Monday. At Altamont, Southeast Kansas League champion and No. 1 seed Labette County defeated winless Coffeyville 4-2. No. 2 seed Girard routed No. 7 Independence 15-0 at Girard. And No. 4 Parsons got by No. 5 Columbus 7-6 at Parsons.

Action on Wednesday opens with Parsons (10-9) taking on rival Labette County (19-2) in the opening game at 2 p.m. The Tigers and Girard (17-2) will follow at approximately 4:45 p.m.

The winners of the first two games will meet for the championship at 6:30 p.m. The winner of that game is Regional champion and advances to the Class 4A State Tournament, which will be held May 28 and 29 at the Bill Burke Complex in Salina.

WP -- Harper (6-10). LP -- Gard.