Eagles Punch Ticket to State Tournament with Three Dominant Postseason Victories
May 25, 2026
The Colby High School softball team is headed to the state tournament after a commanding postseason run that saw the Eagles win three consecutive games by a combined score of 39-7. Colby opened regional play with a 16-1 victory over Holcomb before traveling to Scott City and defeating Beloit 10-4 and host Scott City 13-2 to claim the regional championship and secure a berth in the Class 3A State Tournament. Their next challenge comes Monday, May 25, when the Eagles take the field in Salina at 5 p.m.
Colby wasted little time establishing control throughout the postseason, beginning with a dominant performance against Holcomb in the opening round. The Eagles scored twice in the first inning and added four more runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run home run from Myka Nolan. The decisive blow came in the third inning when Colby erupted for nine runs to put the game completely out of reach.
Ellie McCarty delivered two hits and three RBIs in the victory, while Nolan finished with a home run, double, three RBIs and two hits. Maddie McCarty crossed the plate three times and drove in two runs. In the circle, Ryler Carter was outstanding, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out seven batters over four innings as Colby rolled to the run-rule victory.
The Eagles then traveled to Scott City for regional championship play and opened the day against Beloit.
Colby grabbed an early lead in the first inning and steadily added to its advantage throughout the contest. A double from Morgan Hills in the second inning helped produce a run before the Eagles broke things open in the third. Ellie McCarty drove in a run with a single, and Emily Flanagin followed with a two-run single to give Colby a comfortable cushion.
The Eagles continued to apply pressure offensively, scoring two more runs in the fourth inning and adding insurance throughout the final three frames. Hills provided one of the biggest moments of the game when she blasted a solo home run in the fifth inning.
Hills led the offense by going 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Ellie McCarty collected three hits, scored twice and drove in two runs, while Flanagin added two hits and two RBIs. Carter threw a complete game, allowing four runs while striking out six to secure the 10-4 victory and advance Colby to the championship game.
Awaiting the Eagles was a familiar opponent in Scott City with a state tournament berth on the line.
Colby struck first when Hills launched a leadoff home run in the opening inning, but Scott City answered with a two-run homer in the third to take a brief 2-1 lead.
The Eagles immediately responded.
Beginning in the fifth inning, Colby's bats came alive. Morgan Hills doubled home a run to tie the game before Myka Nolan followed with an RBI double to give Colby the lead for good. Ryler Carter, Kenley Moss and others added key run-scoring hits as the Eagles plated six runs in the inning to seize a commanding 7-2 advantage.
Colby never looked back.
The Eagles scored three more runs in the sixth inning and added another three in the seventh to put an exclamation point on the regional championship. Ellie McCarty delivered a pair of run-scoring singles during the final two innings, while Moss contributed a two-run double and two RBIs overall.
Hills paced the offense with four hits, three runs scored, a home run and two RBIs. McCarty drove in four runs with two hits, and Moss added two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Carter continued her strong postseason performance in the circle, limiting Scott City to two runs while helping close out the 13-2 victory.
Over the three postseason victories, Colby's offense produced 39 runs and repeatedly delivered timely hits throughout the lineup. Hills was particularly dominant, collecting eight hits, two home runs, seven runs scored and six RBIs across the regional tournament. McCarty added seven hits and nine RBIs during the three-game stretch, while Carter combined strong pitching performances with key offensive contributions.
Now regional champions, the Eagles will turn their attention to Salina and the state tournament, where they will look to continue their impressive postseason momentum when they take the field Monday at 5 p.m. for a chance to keep their season alive.