MCPHERSON – Larned’s storybook season was three innings away from a postseason surprise. Abilene spoiled Larned’s fun by rallying from a 5-0 deficit for a hard-fought 8-6 regional 4A softball victory. Larned ends a remarkable 10-10 season.

McPherson defeated Abilene 11-0 for the 4A regional championship.

Larned staked starter Madison Wood to a 5-0 lead after four innings. Kenzie Reinert singled home Kaydence Kendall in the second inning. Madison Reinert and Emma Thompson scored on a Karley Lemuz third-inning double.

Kenzie Reinert scored on an error and Teagan Walker scored on a Madison Reinert groundout for a 5-0 lead after four innings.

Abilene’s Brooklyn Haaga and Adin Bruna delivered RBIs in the fifth inning and Haaga scored on a wild pitch. Zoey Debenham scored on a wild pitch and Hannan Walter drove home a sixth-inning run for a 5-5 tie.

Debenham drove home a run after three singles to start the seventh inning. Bruna scored on a steal and Debenham scored on a wild pitch for an 8-5 lead.

Lemuz capped a 3-RBI game with a seventh-inning single to score Alexa Ryersee. But Haaga retired Kaydence Kendall to strand the tying baserunner at second base.

Abilene 000 032 3 – 8 10 3

Larned 012 200 1 – 6 9 2

Debenham, Haaga (5) and Signer. Wood, Madison Reinert (6) and Hope. W—Haaga, 7-4. L—M. Reinert, 2-1. 2B—A—Haaga, Deberham; L—Kenzie Reinert, Lemuz.