The first day of the 2022 state softball tournament began on Wednesday in Hastings.

Six teams went 2-0 and advanced to the winners bracket. Five of the six unbeaten teams are either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in their bracket. In Class A No. 1 seed Gretna and No. 2 seed Omaha Marian were unscathed. Class B No. 1 seed Blair went 2-0 and No. 3 seed Northwest advanced with a walk-off win over No. 2 seed Wahoo. In Class C, No. 1 seed Hastings St. Cecilia and No. 2 seed Yutan/Mead are unbeaten.

Class A

Alexis Jensen, P, Gretna: The No. 1 seed Dragons got a dominant pitching performance from Jensen in their two wins. The sophomore pitched nine innings giving up six hits, no earned runs and had 19 strikeouts. At the plate she was 2-of-4 with 2 RBI and one home run. 

Ansley Gydesen, INF, Gretna: Gydesen had a near perfect day at the plate going 4-of-6 with two home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored. 

Rhiannon Martin, C, Lincoln East: The Spartans hit four home runs in the top of the fourth inning in the opening round win (12-8) over Millard North. Martin had one of those home runs and finished the day 3-of-6 with four RBI. 

Maddia Groff, P, Omaha Marian: Groff went 2-0 with 25 strikeouts while giving up just two earned runs and eight hits. At the plate she was 2-for-5 with one RBI and drew threw walks.

Class B

Ava Laurent, P, Northwest: Laurent went 2-0 with 22 total strikeouts in her two wins — 14 came against Wahoo in the winners bracket game Wednesday evening. In the first game of the day the senior pitched a no hitter in a 9-0 win over Seward. She pitched 12 total innings giving up seven hits and three earned runs. At the plate she was 2-for-6 with a home run and two RBI. 

Ava Lausterer, INF; Jaiden Swanson, INF, Wahoo : Lausterer, a junior,  was 4-of-7 from the plate with three RBI and two runs scored helping Wahoo finish 1-1 on the day. Swanson, a senior, was 5-of-7 with a home run, double and three RBI. 

Taryn Spady, Sr., CF, Scottsbluff: Spady was 4-for-5 with three RBI in and two runs scored in the Bearcats 14-13 opening round loss to Wahoo. 

Kalli Ulven, P, Blair: The junior went 2-0 in the circle with 18 strikeouts and one earned run helping the Bears reach the winners bracket game on Thursday. At the plate she was 3-for-6 with two RBI and two doubles. 

Class C

Shaylyn Campbell, P, Yutan/Mead: Campbell had 23 total strikeouts, gave up just one walk and no earned runs in the Patriots two Wednesday wins. In the 3-0 win over Wahoo Neumann she had a clutch 2-RBI single in the top of the seventh. 

Maycee Hays: Jr, C, Yutan/Mead: Hays scored three runs, was a perfect 4-of-4 at the plate including a double and a stolen base. 

Jerzie Schindler: Jr, P, Central City: Schindler pitched a complete game striking out 11, giving up one earned run and five hits in the Bison’s 11-3 win over Malcolm. 

Jordan Head, P, Hastings St. Cecilia: Head was 3-of-6 with five RBI and two home runs in the two Bluehawks wins.