The Class 2-1A Softball Regional at Wathena produced a thrilling Championship Game on Tuesday after two big wins in the Semi-Final games. 

SEMI-FINAL #1: (1) Troy 12, (5) Riverside 2 (6 innings) 

It took some time for the Troy offense to get things going in this game as Riverside jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after scoring in the first inning. 

Troy starter Paityn Engemann kept the Riverside offense in check after that as she posted another double-digit strikeout performance. Engemann also hit a solo home run to get things going in the fourth and was also walked three times. 

Troy was held to just one hit through the first three innings but scored all 12 of their runs in the final three innings to take the win. 

They scored three in the fourth, three in the fifth, and six in the sixth to close out the game. 

Riverside's season ends with a record of 8-15. 

SEMI-FINAL #2: (2) McLouth 17, (3) Valley Falls 0 (4 innings) 

The Bulldogs wasted no time against Valley Falls as they would score five runs on six hits in the first inning. 

They would score three in the second, five in the third, and four more in the fourth to close out the game early. 

Jill Holwick hit a two-run home run in the first inning while Dani Lee smashed a three-run home run to essentially close out the game in walk off fashion in the fourth. 

Carissa Bandel struck out 10 batters as she was near perfect inside the circle. 

Valley Falls' season closes out with a record of 10-11. 

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: (1) Troy 1, (2) McLouth 0 

The top two teams in this Regional sent out their best pitchers in what was an absolute dual between Troy's Paityn Engemann and McLouth's Carissa Bandel. 

Both recently named as part of our "Athletes of the week" in recent weeks and both did not disappoint inside the circle. 

Both teams early in the game would strand a runner in scoring position but that was about all the offense we saw until the seventh inning. 

Each team had just one hit going into the seventh inning with Engemann striking out 12 in the game while Bandel struck out eight. 

McLouth would have a chance in the top of the seventh to get something going but Engemann sat them down in order. In that inning, Dani Lee hit a deep drive to right field that was just a couple feet away from a go-ahead home run but it was caught right along the fence line by Caylee Grable. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Troy got a leadoff double from Paige Hinds on a two-strike pitch down the left field line. 

After a pop out and a strikeout, freshman Emerson Weber on the first pitch ripped a game winning RBI single down the right field line to punch Troy's ticket to Pratt next week. 

The Trojans head to State with a record of 20-0 and will be a top-two seed as Ell-Saline is the only other undefeated Regional Champ in 2-1A. 

The Bulldogs won the NEKL title this season and their season ends with a record of 16-4.