From The Capital-Journal:
MANHATTAN — Bat met ball, a thunderous ping followed, and Rossville softball coach Adam Roorbach knew several good things had come to an abrupt end.
His first season at the helm. The Bulldawgs’ perfect record. The team’s shot at a state title.
By the time Riverton freshman Camryn Compton’s walkoff three-run home run cleared the fences in center field, everyone in attendance Friday afternoon at Twin Oaks Softball Complex came to that same realization.
“It hasn’t landed yet,” Roorbach later deadpanned.
Rossville’s Sara Shinn was perhaps the last to know. The center fielder tracked the jolt until the very last moment, then turned and collapsed to her hands and knees as the ball sailed over her head.
Riverton had earned a 4-1 victory in the Class 3A championship game, its second straight state crown by way of its second straight title game walkoff home run.
“We’ve seen a lot of those fly out for us,” Roorbach continued. “She’s a great hitter, and it was gone. Honestly, I didn’t see if it landed. I was headed out to shake their hands.”
With the score tied at 1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Rams rallied on a leadoff, line-drive single from second baseman Jaylee Hopkins, a walk from starting pitcher Taylor Compton, and the walkoff blast with one out by her younger sister Camryn.
“Hats off to Riverton,” Roorbach said. “That is an amazing ball club. That team knows how to win.”
The Bulldawgs (22-1) led the matchup of the unbeatens 1-0 after a defensive miscue in the top of the sixth inning. Taylor Compton —
last season’s walkoff hero — fielded a chopper but airmailed the throw to first base, allowing Rossville’s Shinn to score the go-ahead run.
But the lead wouldn’t last for long as the Rams (26-0) took advantage of a Bulldawg mistake in the bottom of the sixth. Rossville third baseman Giorgia Miliorini threw wild to first on a chopper that would’ve ended the inning, and designated player Zoey Mitchell followed with a two-out, game-tying infield single she capped with a head-first slide into first base.
The Bulldawgs finished the contest with two hits, both singles, as Taylor Compton hurled a complete game.
“We had a ground ball, but one single player error doesn’t win or lose a game,” Roorbach said. “We had multiple chances to make some things happen this game. … In softball in 2017, if you score one run in seven innings you’re not going to win.”
Star starting pitcher Amanda Hill walked a tightrope in the title tilt, surrendering three hits and four walks, but the senior worked around the damage to throw four scoreless innings. All told, Hill struck out 19 in 11 innings between two starts Friday, including a 6-3 victory in the semifinals over Marysville.
After the game, Roorbach and Hill embraced and the two shared a seemingly out-of-place chuckle when the coach asked his ace if she wanted him to re-attach her arm. Entering the tournament, Roorbach said the Bulldawgs would go as far as Hill took them, and that ultimately represented a nearly flawless record, a Mid-East League title and a second-place finish in their first state title game since 2000.
“I can’t say enough about what Amanda Hill has done for us all year,” Roorbach said. “She left her arm out there in the circle. I think it’s still sitting out there.”
On the other end of Rossville’s despair was Riverton’s jubilation. The Ram players huddled and sang a bit of “Hotel California” by The Eagles, then, during a team picture, got doused in a Salvy splash-inspired Gatorade shower.
Watching his beaming players, Riverton coach Brian Mitchell couldn’t help but remark how surreal the Rams’ dramatic path to back-to-back title victories feels.
“They always say, ‘Hard work pays off in the end,’” Mitchell said. “We like to think that, and that’s all I can really attribute this to.”
Across the diamond, the
Rossville players fought back tears spurred by the most painful of sports defeats. By the end of the team’s five-plus-minute postgame huddle, though, Roorbach had many smiling — and even a few laughing.
“I don’t feel like it’s really a loss when you get to this point,” Roorbach said. “It’s going to hurt. We told the girls, ‘If it doesn’t hurt you, it doesn’t mean anything,’ and I know it means a lot by the look on their faces. But they’re going to be hungry to get back, and we’re going to be back.”
MARYSVILLE 3, PERRY-LECOMPTON 1 — The Bulldogs’ third-place finish represents what coach Bert Lord described as the next step in the program’s steady ascent.
“I’m thrilled to death for the girls,” Lord said. “They’ve worked so hard all year and it’s just great to see them be successful. They haven’t had a lot of success through high school, and these seniors went out winners. I couldn’t be happier.”
The Bulldogs (20-5) got three runs in the second inning, limited the Kaws (22-4) to a single run in the next inning, and held on thanks to a solid effort from sophomore starter Shelby Downard, one of five returning starters for Marysville.
Championship
RIVERTON 4, ROSSVILLE 1
Rossville … 000 … 001 … 0 … — … 1 … 2 … 1
Riverton … 000 … 001 … 3 … — … 4 … 7 … 2
A. Hill, Kippes (5) and L. Shinn. T. Compton and Greniger. W — T. Compton. L — Kippes. 2B — Riverton: Higinbotham. HR — Riverton: C. Compton.
Records — Rossville 22-1, Riverton 26-0.
