Resurrection Christian’s young softball team, in terms of the age of the program and its players, is once again on the cusp of playing past the regular season.
Following a 15-4 victory over Platte Valley on Thursday, the Cougars still have a sub-.500 record, but they are in a solid position to qualify for the postseason for the fourth year in a row.
RCS is 7-10 and No. 18 in CHSAA’s Selection & Seeding Index for Class 3A. The top 32 teams at the end of the season will qualify for one of eight four-team regionals. In the format for Class 3A, the Cougars would only have to win their opening game of a regional to qualify for state.
Do that, and it will be their third state tournament appearance in four years as the Cougars continue to solidify their tradition, culture and status as a consistent postseason contender.
“Being able to be part of this team is more than just playing,” senior shortstop Olivia Martinez said. “It’s seeing people grow, and there’s been so much growth.”
The Cougars made the state tournament last year with a young team that featured three freshmen and two sophomores on its 11-player roster. They had only three seniors, led by Reporter-Herald player of the year Karisa Lippincott.
This year’s team is even younger.
More than half of this year’s roster are freshmen. The team is led by a pair of seniors, Martinez and Madeline Davis, who were the team’s only juniors last season and are the only two seniors this year.
“We have seven newcomers,” head coach Ashlie Rowley said. “So, we’ve changed the identity a little bit this year. With the newcomers, we’ve seen our youth come out in games, but every single game they’ve been fighting, and we’ve been in 90% of the games against every opponent by one or two runs.
“It’s a big learning and rebuilding year, but it’s a good squad. They’re responding really well.”
While several of those freshmen have seen significant playing time this season, two have had a major impact on the team’s success in pitcher Jailah Hamilton and third baseman Portia Hattig.
Hamilton has been the Cougars’ primary pitcher and has manned the circle every game for RCS since a 15-14 loss to Strasburg on Sept. 9. Hattig leads the team with a .466 batting average and 27 hits. She is also in the top three for the Cougars in on-base percentage (.492), home runs (one), stolen bases (five), runs (22), slugging percentage (.690), doubles (four) and triples (three).
“Both of them have just really kind of taken the reins of leadership as young ones, as freshmen,” Rowley said. “You’re a leader on this team through what you do on the field, and they’re excited about that.”
Hattig’s impact as a freshman is similar to what sophomore catcher Taylor Francis did a year ago. Francis was in the top three of most of the major offensive statistical categories last season and led the team with 45 runs scored.
She knows what being a key part of the team as a freshman is like.
“At the end of the day, it’s just a game,” Francis said. “You’ve got to step up. You’ve got to do your best and just go out and have fun and do what you can.”
The Cougars are having fun. Even though their record might not indicate a dominating campaign, they are happy with how it has gone and are looking forward to the final few weeks of the season.
They have had some big wins, like a nine-inning victory over No. 7 Lyons, and tough losses, like the aforementioned game against Strasburg.
RCS trailed 11-4 going into the top of the seventh inning. They scored 10 runs in that frame to go ahead 14-11, only for Strasburg to score the necessary three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game and send it to extras.
The Indians plated the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
“There’s definitely been some ups and downs and a lot of stuff that we have had to work through,” Francis said. “We’re getting there and we’re getting through it as a team and working through it together.”
“Our record doesn’t reflect the players we are,” Martinez added. “It’s just pushing for the new generations to come up and represent RCS softball.”
Next week will be the most challenging of the season for the Cougars. RCS will play at No. 2 University on Tuesday and host No. 1 Eaton on Thursday. The Bulldogs defeated the Reds 8-7 in eight innings Thursday to take sole possession of first place in the 10-team Patriot League.
The Cougars are welcoming the challenge of playing the two best teams in their classification in a span of three days.
“What’s really cool about this is we have nothing to lose,” Rowley said. “Our kids can go into it playing loose. Everything to lose is in the other dugout, which is exciting. It’s fun to play University. It’s fun to play Eaton, and we’re going to go give them everything we have. My biggest message to them is go compete and make them earn it.”
Hence then, the article about prep softball young resurrection christian squad closing in on another postseason appearance was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Prep Softball: Young Resurrection Christian squad closing in on another postseason appearance )
Also on site :