Area Softball Leaders

BATTING

Home Runs

Beam, Royal Valley, 10; Robertson, Perry-Lecompton, 9; Stringfield, Wellsville, 8; S. Shinn, Rossville, 7; Swift, Chase County, 6; Downard, Marysville, 5; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 5; Harrison, St. Marys, 5; Orender, Osage City, 5; Carson, Clay Center, 4; D. Hess, Burlington, 4; Klamm, Wellsville, 4; Lundin, Rossville, 4; Morgan, Riverside, 4; Oliver, Wabaunsee, 4; Thorp, Burlington, 4; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 3; Johnson, Wabaunsee, 3; Kirkwood, Valley Falls, 3; Lowe, Oskaloosa, 3; Migliorini, Rossville, 3; Miller, Council Grove, 3; Pacha, Marysville, 3; Allen, Council Grove, 2; Cobb, Silver Lake, 2; Dailey, McLouth, 2; Gillen, Silver Lake, 2; R. Hess, Burlington, 2; Honas, Council Grove, 2; Lamprecht, Silver Lake, 2; Lee, Tonganoxie, 2; Murray, Abilene, 2; Rogers, Wamego, 2; L. Shinn, Rossville, 2; Sloyer, Burlington, 2; Van Ausdall, Holton, 2; Vandegrift, Chase County, 2; Willson, Tonganoxie, 2.

RBI

Robertson, Perry-Lecompton, 37; Beam, Royal Valley, 36; Bassett, Oskaloosa, 34; Orender, Osage City, 32; Stringfield, Wellsville, 30; Swift, Chase Conty, 28; Honas, Council Grove, 27; Carlson, Council Grove, 24; R. Hess, Burlington, 24; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 23; Kirkwood, Valley Falls, 23; O’Connor, Perry-Lecompton, 23; Lundin, Rossville, 21; Brintle, Council Grove, 20; A. Folks, Perry-Lecompton, 20; Lowe, Oskaloosa, 20; Miller, Council Grove, 20; S. Shinn, Rossville, 20; Downard, Marysville, 19; Klamm, Wellsville, 19; Allen, Council Grove, 18; Harrison, St. Marys, 18; New, Royal Valley, 18; Bond, Holton, 17; Fluderer, Wellsville, 17; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 17; D. Hess, Burlington, 17; Hodges, Council Grove, 17; Miller, Tonganoxie, 17; Morgan, Riverside, 17; Van Ausdall, Holton, 17; Dailey, McLouth, 16; Oliver, Wabaunsee, 16; Porras, Holton, 16; Fisher, Lebo-Waverly, 15; Kearney, Valley Falls, 15; Migliorini, Rossville, 15; Mitchell, Lebo-Waverly, 15; Oswald, Lebo-Waverly, 15; Phillips, Holton, 15; Barnhardt, Oskaloosa, 14; Bryan, Royal Valley, 14; Filkin, Council Grove, 14; Sage, Osage City, 14; L. Shinn, Rossville, 14; Showalter, Wellsville, 14; Willson, Tonganoxie, 14; Wright, Jefferson West, 14;

Stolen bases

Orender, Osage City, 18; Carlson, Council Grove, 14; Peterson, Chase County, 12; Dillon, Rock Creek, 11; Higgs, Chase County, 11; McDaniel, Wellsville, 11; Degenhardt, Holton, 10; Myers, Holton, 10; Ricklefts, Riverside, 10; Mead, Santa Fe Trail, 9; Miller, Council Grove, 9; Stevens, Osage City, 9; A. Folks, Perry-Lecompton, 8; G. Folks, Perry-Lecompton, 8; Hettinger, Central Heights, 8; Hickman, Oskaloosa, 8; Hultgren, Osage City, 8; Moore, Lebo-Waverly, 8; Pacha, Marysville, 8; Parnell, Atchison County, 8; Pryor, Oskaloosa, 8; Rhodd, Holton, 8; Schrater, Chase County, 8; Tackitt, Lebo-Waverly, 8; Bolyard, Osage City, 7; Lutz, Holton, 7; Miller, Oskaloosa, 7; New, Royal Valley, 7; M. Nordhus, Nemaha Central, 7; Overstreet, Jefferson West, 7; Parks, Holton, 7; Porras, Holton, 7; Smith, Lebo-Waverly, 7; Whalen, Osage City, 7; Willson, Tonganoxie, 7; Argabright, Sabetha, 6; Booth, Holton, 6; Burson, Central Heights, 6; Butts, Riverside, 6; Fisher, Lebo-Waverly, 6; Hootman, Tonganoxie, 6; Kearney, Valley Falls, 6; Kippes, Rossville, 6; Marshall, Tonganoxie, 6; Ogden, Royal Valley, 6; Sage, Osage City, 6; Schraad, Nemaha Central, 6; Soyez, Council Grove, 6; Tucking, Atchison County, 6; 

PITCHING

Wins

Orender, Osage City, 10; Downard, Marysville, 8; Carlson, Council Grove, 7; Crawford, Chase County, 7; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 7; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 6; Hill, Rossville, 6; Kearney, Valley Falls, 6; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 6; Allen, Council Grove, 5; Bond, Holton, 5; Erickson, Perry-Lecompton, 5; Fluderer, Wellsville, 5; Hammett, Rock Creek, 5; Harrison, St. Marys, 5; Kippes, Rossville, 5; Pemberton, Wellsville, 5; Stithem, Royal Valley, 5; Blake, Clay Center, 4; Davis, Jefferson West, 4; Lutz, Holton, 4; Neiberger, Valley Falls, 4; Vicory, McLouth, 4; 

Earned run average

Bassett, Oskaloosa, 0.78; Stitehm, Royal Valley, 0.78; Blake, Clay Center, 0.99; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 1.09; Crawford, Chase County, 1.22; Vicory, McLouth, 1.30; Carlson, Council Grove, 1.40; Jones, Marysville, 1.56; Kippes, Rossville, 1.64; Hill, Rossville, 1.68; Bond, Holton, 1.83; Kearney, Valley Falls, 1.96; Downard, Marysville, 2.10; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 2.46; Davis, Central Heights, 2.48; Orender, Osage City, 2.50;

Strikeouts

Crawford, Chase County, 71; Downard, Marysville, 63; Hill, Rossville, 53; Harrison, St. Marys, 53; Hammett, Rock Creek, 52; Orender, Osage City, 51; Bond, Holton, 49; Davis, Central Heights, 48; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 46; Pemberton, Wellsville, 46; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 45; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 44; Phillips, Sabetha, 38; Neiberger, Valley Falls, 37; Carlson, Council Grove, 32; Siebenaler, Lebo-Waverly, 30; Reynolds, Tonganoxie, 29; Duer, Chapman, 27; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 27; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 27; Hoelscher, Chapman, 27; Lafferty, Royal Valley, 27; Allen, Council Grove, 26; Parnell, Atchison County, 24; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 23; Kearney, Valley Falls, 23; Kippes, Rossville, 20; Bassett, Oskaloosa, 19; Blake, Clay Center, 19; 

Delores Floersch Passes Away

Dolores M. Floersch, 88, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

She was born August 27, 1928 at St. Marys, one of 13 children of the late John and Mary Brunin Dohrman.

Dolores was employed by USD No. 321 at the Delia Schools many years.  She was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville and had been a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Delia before it closed.  She had lived in the Delia and Rossville communities many years.

Dolores was united in marriage to Joseph C. Floersch in 1956 at St. Marys.  He preceded her in death on August 13, 2003.  She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Crow on March 31, 2015 and her son, John Floersch on April 25, 2015.  Dolores was preceded in death by her brothers, Bill, Ray, Jack, Paul and Leo; her sisters, Sally, Mary, Veronica, Monica, Catherine, Germaine and Margaret.

Survivors include her daughter, Kathy (Bob) Olejnik, Rossville grandchildren, Kasey (Kim), Neil (Adrienne), Dane (Kenzie), Kelsey, Makayla, Emmy (Jason) and Austin; 7 great-grandchildren.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 29, 2017 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville.  Inurnment will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, St. Marys.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday, April 28, 2017 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys where there will be a rosary recited at 7:00 P.M.  Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes or the Rossville Library and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536.

Silver Lake Invitational Golf Tournament

Following are team scores for the Silver Lake Invitational golf tournament at Lake Shawnee Golf Club on April 25.

Burlington     351
Santa Fe Tr.   386
Rossville        404
Hayden          407
Silver Lake    426
Lyndon          492 

Dawgs final scores and placings were:

Andrew Hudson       96     9th (T)
Cory Hadsall          101  14th (T)
Trey Anderson        102  17th (T)
Fred Schuler           105  21st 

New Willard Bridge Photos

Rossville Invitational Track Results

     The Rossville Invitation Track and Field meet was held Friday, April 21.  No team standings have been made available,  but the individual resutls can be seen at:
   http://www.kawvalley.k12.ks.us/schools/rjshs/athletics/Track.htm

2017 Prom Pictures

     Rossville High held their prom on Saturdy night, April 22, in Wamego at the Iron Clad.          The Prom King and Queen are pictured below.   Remington Wehner and Emily Woodcock were crowned King and Queen for the 2017 Rossville High Prom.

   Photos of the people arriving at the event can be seen at:
http://beta.spotted.cjonline.com/mediadetail/29170785/?gId=682737

Softball Team Sweeps Oskaloosa

    The RHS softball team picked up their 11th and 12th straight wins Friday against Oskaloosa.  The Lady Dawgs won the first 12-2 and the nightcap 15-0.

Baseball Team Loses To Sabetha

The RHS baseball team lost two games to Sabetha on April 20, 11-4 and 11-5.

Area Softball Stats

Softball Stat Leaders For Season

HITTING

Average

Va Ausdall, Holton, .826; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, .792; Beam, Royal Valley, .720; Shyrock, Tonganoxie, .704; Bassett, Oksaloosa, .667; Bond, Holton, .667; Lee, Atchison, .667; Schraad, Nemaha Central, .667; Courter, Oskaloosa, .636; Deters, Nemaha Central, .636; Lowe, Oskaloosa, .625; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, .621; Swift, Chase County, .621; Hettinger, Central Heights, .619; Phillips, Holton, .615; G. Appel, Atchison County, .600; Hawkins, Riverside, .600; Downard, Marysville, .593; Messer, McLouth, .591; Gray, Tonganoxie, .583; Perkins, Riverside, .579; Stringfield, Wellsville, .579; Willson, Tonganoxie, .577; Orender, Osage City, .571; Hay, Silver Lake, .545; Lundin, Rossville, .545; Patterson, McLouth, .541; Pope, McLouth, .535; Shue, Riverside, .533; L. Shinn, Rossville, .531; Cobb, Silver Lake, .529; Porras, Holton, .529; Morgan, Riverside, .526; Scott, McLouth, .523; Carlson, Council Grove, .515; Dailey, McLouth, .500; Harrison, St. Marys, .500; Kippes, Rossville, .500; Koranda, Riverside, .500; Murray, Rossville, .500; Serna, Osage City, .487; Crawford, Chase County, .484; Migliorini, Rossville, .484; Daugherty, Royal Valley, .481; Hammett, Rock Creek, .481; Albright, Royal Valley, .480; Mead, Santa Fe Trail, .480; Lee, Rock Creek, .480; Miller, Tonganoxie, .478; Klamm, Wellsville, .476; Schuetz, Royal Valley, .474; Anderson, Rossville, .471; Miller, Silver Lake, .458; Davis, Jefferson West, .455; Schroeder, Concordia, .455; R. Hess, Burlington, .452; Pacha, Marysville, .448; Sloyer, Burlington, .448; Larson, Marysville, .444; Leonard, Nemaha Central, .444; Lutz, Holton, .444; Parnell, Atchison County, .444; Peterson, Chase County, .444; Seager, Atchison, .444; Debenham, Abilene, .438; Brintle, Council Grove, .436; Montgomery, Santa Fe Trail, .435; S. Shinn, Rossville, .433.

Home runs

Beam, Royal Valley, 8; S. Shinn, Rossville, 7; Stringfield, Wellsville, 7; Swift, Chase County, 6; Orender, Osage City, 5; Downard, Marysville, 4; Harrison, St. Marys, 4; D. Hess, Burlington, 4; Lundin, Rossville, 4; Morgan, Riverside, 4; Robertson, Perry-Lecompton, 4; Thorp, Burlington, 4; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 3; Migliorini, Rossville, 3; Dailey, McLouth, 2; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 2; R. Hess, Burlington, 2; Klamm, Wellsville, 2; Lamprecht, Silver Lake, 2; Lee, Tonganoxie, 2; Oliver, Wabaunsee, 2; Pacha, Marysville, 2; L. Shinn, Rossville, 2; Sloyer, Burlington, 2; Vandegrift, Chase County, 2.

RBI

Orender, Osage City, 29; Beam, Royal Valley, 24; R. Hess, Burlington, 24; Stringfield, Wellsville, 24; Swift, Chase Conty, 24; Bassett, Oskaloosa, 23; Lundin, Rossville, 21; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 20; S. Shinn, Rossville, 20; Honas, Council Grove, 19; Harrison, St. Marys, 17; D. Hess, Burlington, 17; Dailey, McLouth, 16; Brintle, Council Grove, 15; Migliorini, Rossville, 15; Miller, Tonganoxie, 15; Carlson, Council Grove, 14; Filkin, Council Grove, 14; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 14; Hodges, Council Grove, 14; Morgan, Riverside, 14; L. Shinn, Rossville, 14; Gilman, Burlington, 13; Klamm, Wellsville, 13; Thorp, Burlington, 13; Downard, Marysville, 12; Miller, Council Grove, 12; New, Royal Valley, 11; Serna, Osage City, 11; Allen, Council Grove, 10; Anderson, Rossville, 10; Bond, Holton, 10; Crawford, Chase County, 10; Fluderer, Wellsville, 10; Higgs, Chase County, 10; Murray, Rossville, 10; Roberts, Marysville, 10; Sample, Tonganoxie, 10; Showalter, Wellsville, 10; Shyrock, Tonganoxie, 10; Delgado, Wellsville, 9.

PITCHING

Wins

Orender, Osage City, 7; Downard, Marysville, 6; Hill, Rossville, 5; Allen, Council Grove, 4; Carlson, Council Grove, 4; Crawford, Chase County, 4; Hammett, Rock Creek, 4; Harrison, St. Marys, 4; Kippes, Rossville, 4; Pemberton, Wellsville, 4; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 4; Vicory, McLouth, 4; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 3; Fluderer, Wellsville, 3; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 3; Pressgrove, Silver Lake, 3; Stithem, Royal Valley, 3.

Earned run average

Hamm, Oskaloosa, 0.00; Stitehm, Royal Valley, 0.35; Bassett, Oskaloosa, 0.64; Vicory, McLouth, 1.30; Harrison, St. Marys, 1.38; Kippes, Rossville, 1.64; Hill, Rossville, 1.68; Crawford, Chase County, 1.70; Hammes, Nemaha Central, 1.75; Carlson, Council Grove, 1.87; Bond, Holton, 2.25; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 2.33; Hammett, Rock Creek, 2.41; Davis, Central Heights, 2.45; Downard, Marysville, 2.49.

Strikeouts

Hill, Rossville, 53; Downard, Marysville, 52; Crawford, Chase County, 47; Hammett, Rock Creek, 43; Harrison, St. Marys, 41; Orender, Osage City, 41; Pemberton, Wellsville, 35; Davis, Central Heights, 34; Schreiner, Wabaunsee, 30; Bond, Holton, 25; Gallagher, Tonganoxie, 23; Carlson, Council Grove, 21; Duer, Chapman, 21; Hamm, Oskaloosa, 21; Fast, Perry-Lecompton, 20; Hoelscher, Chapman, 20; Kippes, Rossville, 20; Allen, Council Grove, 19; Lafferty, Royal Valley, 18; Phillips, Sabetha, 18; Pressgrove, Silver Lake, 17; Reynolds, Tonganoxie, 16; Fenoglio, Tonganoxie, 14.

Class of 1962 Reunion

    The class of 1962 will be holding their 55th year Reunion on the weekend of June 2-3, the same weekend as the annual school alumni reunion.  If you are a member of that class,  contact other class members for details.

Jim Fulton Passes Away

Jim Fulton, 81, passed away Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the Onaga Health and Rehab Center.

He was born July 6, 1935 at Dwight, Kansas the son of Cecil James and Josephine Hammond Fulton.   He was raised in the Dwight and Council Grove communities.   Jim graduated from Dwight High School in 1953 and attended Emporia State University where he played football.  He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Butzbach Germany from 1958-1960.

He loved spending time with family and friends.  Jim enjoyed all sports and was an avid Royals, Chiefs and K-State fan.  He enjoyed gardening and especially growing tomatoes.  Jim enjoyed playing cards with friends and co-workers.

Jim was a hard worker and took pride in his work as a logger and later at Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Topeka as an earth mover tire builder until he retired.  He had lived in Rossville, Silver Lake and Topeka.  Jim had been a member of Jimmie Lillard American Legion Post No. 31 at Rossville and Post No. 400 in Topeka.

He married Jeanine Penny in 1962 at Elks Pointe, SD. They later divorced.  He married Barbara Huske Miller on September 24, 1987 at Miami, OK.  She preceded him in death on July 11, 2000.

Jim was also preceded in death by his parents, siblings, Elinor Morgan, Rita Heller, Frank Fulton, Joan Hoyle, Marilyn Engstrom, Carolyn Fulton and Clyde Fulton.

Survivors include his children, Lori (Tim) Boswell, Onaga, KS., Gina (Steve) Statzel, Ft. Worth, TX, and Mike (Kristen) Fulton, Omaha, NE; step-children, Tony Miller, Glendale, AZ, Todd (Kelly) Miller. Surprise, AZ. and Troy ( Laura) Miller, Peoria, AZ; his sister, Hazel Cox, Eureka Springs, AR;  22 grandchildren;  23 great-grandchildren.

 Funeral Services will be at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Rossville Christian Church.  Interment will be in the Silver Lake Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Fulton Memorial Fund and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536.  To leave an online condolence, please go to www.piperfuneralhome.com.

Fred Wehrli Passes Away

     Frederick Wesley Wehrli, 77, Rossville, died Monday, April 17, 2017, at Saint Francis Hospital, Topeka. 
     He was born August 28, 1939, in Holliday, Missouri, the son of Cloyd Henry and Georgia Pearl (Embree) Wehrli. Fred spent almost 32 years of service in the military, retiring as an E-8 from the Kansas Air National Guard. He farmed south of Rossville. He enjoyed Muskie fishing from Missouri to Canada and the Sprint Car Races at Knoxville, Iowa.
       He was married to Scherry Ann Brucker on August 15, 1969, in Topeka. She preceded him in death on May 10, 1992. He was also preceded in death by two daughters: Scherry Kimberly Wehrli on September 7, 1980, and Kelly Pearl Wehrli on October 25, 1985; and a granddaughter: Alyssa Anne Wehrli on March 29, 2005. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law: James Louis and Tanya Wehrli of Silver Lake; six grandchildren: Matthew Wehrli, Jessica Wehrli, Matthew Wagner, Ryan Wagner, Rebecca Wagner, and Sarah Wehrli; and a great-granddaughter: Raylee Engroff. 
      The Kansas Air National Guard will conduct military graveside honors at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 21, 2017, at Rossville Cemetery. Fred will lie in state after 3:00 PM, Thursday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Avenue, Topeka, where the family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the College of the Ozarks, P.O. Box 17, Point Lookout, MO 65726- 9986 or Muskies, P.O. Box 5, Hermitage, MO 65668. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com. Frederick Wesley Wehrli

Rock Creek Track and Field

Best performances on girls team.

Laura Gillum

4.  Discus

8.  Shot put

Danielle Mason

7.  Shot put

Mary Shults

5. Discus

Jordan Bittner

4.  100 M Hurdles

7.  300 M Hurdles

Taylor Bittner

1.  1600 M

2.  800 M

Megan Huston

5.  1600 M

Alice Sinnah

7.  3200 M

Best performances on the boys team.

Holden Hurla

6.  1600 M

6.  800 M

Ben Price

7.  400 M

Stephen Cooney

7.  800 M

Shinn Twins Lead Team

From the Capital-Journal

Sara (on left) and Lora Shinn lead the Lady Dawgs in batting.  
Sara has 7 home runs and Lora has be better batting average.

As sisters, there’s always been a natural competitiveness between Lora and Sara Shinn.

As twin sisters, that level of competitiveness really knows no limit.

“We’re beyond competitive,” Lora Shinn said, with Sara quick to back up that sentiment.

“I agree,” she said. “We’re just really competitive all the way around — in the classroom, on the field, everywhere.”

Everywhere?

“It can literally be competing for which twin looks better for dress-up day,” Lora said. “It can be anything. Which twin gets to the microwave first. It can be pretty bad.”

It can also be pretty good.

In trying to out-do the other, the Shinn sisters have been a driving force in a 10-0 start for the Rossville softball team. Hitting back-to-back in the Bulldawg lineup, the Shinns have put together an impressive start at the plate, each hitting well above .500 for a Rossville team averaging 12.1 runs.

“They really push each other and they’ve drug the underclassmen along with them,” Rossville coach Adam Roorbach said. “We have a really good senior class who felt like they kind of left some things on the table last year.”

In position to return to the Class 3A state tournament last year for the first time since 2013, Rossville was upset 4-2 in the regional title game by Council Grove, ending an 18-4 season in which the Bulldawgs went undefeated in Mid-East League play.

Both Shinns had solid junior seasons with Lora, a catcher, hitting .356 with 16 RBIs and Sara, a center fielder, hitting .352 with 19 RBIs. But each went into the offseason determined to have big senior seasons with the main motivation doing everything they could to try and get Rossville back to the state tournament.

“I wanted to get my team somewhere this year and I knew my batting would be a big part of that,” Lora said. “I really just wanted to be a leader and take my team back to Manhattan. I wanted to have a better batting average than I did last year — I kind of had a slump — and this year I’ve definitely surpassed it.”

Spending the offseason constantly working on the fundamentals of her swing, Lora has seen the fruits of her labor. Through eight games, she was leading Rossville with a .615 batting average hitting out of the No. 6 spot in the lineup. She already has 14 RBIs and might have more if Sara wasn’t being so productive in the No. 5 hole right ahead of her.

Entering this season, Sara had one career home run. Even that came as a bit of a shock, she admitted.

“It came in the regional game with Silver Lake and everyone was like, ‘Wow! Sara hit a home run!’” Sara said.

An offseason spent working on not only her fundamentals but also strengthening her upper body has paid dividends for Sara. Big time.

Though eight games, Sara already had seven home runs and 20 RBIs, easily eclipsing her previous bests.

“I didn’t expect seven home runs in the first eight games and I don’t think anyone did,” said Sara, who is hitting .542. “I’m excited to see how many more I end up with.”

So the question begs to be asked: Who is the better hitter?

Lora quickly raised her hand, but then qualified her reaction.

“I’ll say it’s me because I have a better batting average — though that doesn’t always mean you’re better,” she said.

Given their competitiveness, one would have expected Sara to jump in and argue her case. Instead, she somewhat deferred to Lora’s assertion.

“She hits the ball really hard and gets a lot of runs for us,” Sara said. “For me, it’s usually one or the other, a little dinker or a home run. But she constantly hits the ball really hard. I agree actually.”

Even Roorbach couldn’t really pick between the two.

“They each have similar things about their swings,” he said. “Lora makes a little more contact; Sara has a little more power. But it’s kind of splitting hairs with each of them hitting as well as they are this year.

“We’ve talked about moving them up in the lineup, but they’re pretty comfortable there. I think there’s a lot to be said for getting settled in and we’re scoring a lot of runs that way. That’s not to say we won’t change things later, but right now it’s clicking pretty good for us.”

The twins do have moments where they clash. Take early in their softball careers.

Lora began her career playing third base while Sara played other positions. That soon changed, however.

“Here’s where the competitiveness comes into play,” Lora said. “I started at third and Sara was like, ‘I want to try that.’ She ended up kicking me out (of the position) and I became a catcher. She thought that was too hard.”

Sara moved from third to the outfield last year and both Shinns will continue their playing careers at Highland Community College next year, even though that wasn’t the original plan.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to go to the same place,” said Sara, who recently committed to Highland after Lora had previously done so. “But I knew I couldn’t do it without her. She’s my support system and she’s pretty much my backbone.”

Their bond has helped form the backbone for Rossville’s unbeaten start. Now the Bulldawgs are looking for the special finish.

“I think we’re both very encouraging of each other and all the girls,” Sara said. “We just want the best out of all of us. The girls have really stepped up. We lost some really good players from last year, but the young ones have stepped up and done well.

“We’re really driven to get farther than we did last year. Last year came to kind of a sudden halt. We want to get back to Manhattan, that’s the ultimate goal. We know we’re a pretty good team, but it’s more than just saying it. It’s showing it.”