The softball rankings by Max Preps were published on April 21. However, missing data makes the results highly questionable.
"That's probably the biggest difference in why were successful compared to last year," said Bradley.
Experience spurring season
At this point last season, the Rossville baseball team held a 7-5 record with four doubleheaders remaining in the regular season.
Now, after the wins over Santa Fe Trail on Friday, they've dropped just one game and are in a good position to secure the first league title since 2014.
"The whole year we kept filling out lineups and just noticed how many juniors we were putting in it," said Bradley on last year. "(We knew we) had the opportunity to be pretty good next year. You knew it wasn't gonna be a rebuilding year or a setback year.
"There's always that experience we would use to improve on what we would do last year and so far that's held true."
Despite losing two key contributors from last year's team in designated hitter Bo Reeves and right fielder Parker Kennedy, the team returned seven starters this year and 80 percent of its innings pitched. It's the most Bradley has returned in his five years as head coach, besides maybe the COVID canceled year.
"This is by far the most experienced lineup we’ve had," said Horak, the centerfielder. "Our freshman year we had 4-5 freshman that played often/started. Having 7-8 seniors that can play consistently is huge, especially at a 3A school."
The DH position has moved around on this year's team, and Tegen Kippes has stepped into the starting role in right field.
"Tegan Kippes, he's stepped in, and was kind of competing with Parker last year for the job," said Bradley. "This year, he's stepped up massively, huge improvement from last year."
While the bats have been hot, returning experience on the mound is another key to this team's success thus far.
Catron and Garcia, along with sophomore Camden Horak, who saw playing time as a freshman, are leading the way on the mound for Rossville.
Heading into the doubleheader against Santa Fe Trail, Catron had a .54 ERA with 14 strikeouts, Camden Horak had a 2.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts and Garcia had a 2.15 ERA with 13 strikeouts.
Of the seniors this year, five saw good playing time as part of the 2019 team that placed third in 2-1A, and that experience is important for a team that has a good mix of experienced underclassmen and talented underclassmen.
After losing their sophomore year to COVID and losing in the second round of regionals last year, going out with a deep post-season run in baseball would be the cherry on top for the senior class after most were part of the latest state football title in the fall.
"With football this year, how that finished was great," said Catron. "Being able to finish with a baseball state title would be amazing too."
Contact Seth Kinker at skinker@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @SethKinker
