Ryle sophomore Katelyn Stephens couldn't believe she was holding the Ninth Region softball tournament most valuable player award following the Raiders' 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Conner in Saturday's final.
"It's something I would never expect. I'm going to hang it on my bedroom wall," she said. "Having this and winning the way we did is just unbelievable."
Conner couldn't believe it, either. Both of the Raiders' runs in the bottom of the seventh inning were unearned.
"It's a disappointment to see that happen in the last inning," Cougars coach Kristin Koors said. "Ryle did a great job with it. Good luck to them at state."
Conner led 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth when the game resumed at noon at St. Henry following Thursday's suspension because of rain.
With two outs and a runner on second base, Ryle's Kelsey Hammes went to the plate with a 2-2 count and coaxed a walk from Conner pitcher Elizabeth Sims, who had six strikeouts and a four-hit shutout going two days earlier. Conner got out of the inning with a force-out at third and failed to score in the top of the seventh off Ryle pitcher Ali Crupper, who didn't allow a run after the third.
That set the stage for the opportunistic Raiders. With 15 tournament games under their belts against opponents from five states, Ryle coach Patti Oliverio knew the moment wasn't too big for her players, even with the bottom of the lineup due up at the plate.
"They believe," Oliverio said. "And they trust their coaches."
Trouble for Conner in the seventh began with the first batter when McKenzi Dickerson's smash to Sims was played for a throwing error by the pitcher. The Cougars got two quick outs but Ryle loaded the bases on a bloop single to left by Kate Rouse and a single to right by McKell Oliverio. Haylee Smith followed with a grounder to shortstop. The ball was bobbled and Smith beat the throw to first while a pinch-runner scored the tying run.
The bases remained loaded and Sims put Stephens in the hole with an 0-2 count. Stephens, who earlier had struck out, grounded into a double play and flied out, drilled the next pitch into left field for the walk-off, game-winning hit.
The Raiders, ranked No. 1 in the final Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, beat the Cougars for the third time this season and won a third consecutive regional championship, and seventh in eight years. Crupper, Hammes and Rouse were named all-tournament.
Ryle (21-13) plays Christian County (31-6) at 5 p.m. Thursday in a first-round state tournament game at Owensboro's Jack C. Fisher Park. That's excellent news for the team's two seniors, Rouse and Sydney Langsdale.
"We came out pretty positive today. Hopefully, we'll win down there, too, and finish strong," Rouse said.
Conner, ranked second locally, finished 28-12. The Cougars have lost to Ryle in the regional final six times since 2004, including the last three years. Conner's Sims, Katelynn Halcomb and Paige Volz were named all-tournament.
Conner 001 000 0 -- 1 - 6 - 3
Ryle 000 000 2 -- 2 - 7 - 1
WP: Crupper (16-6, 5 K's). LP: Sims (24-12, 6 K's). Leaders: C-Himes 2-3; Sims 2B. R-Hammes 2-2. Records C 28-12, R 21-13. All-tournament: MVP-Katelyn Stephens, Ali Crupper, Kelsey Hammes, Kate Rouse (Ryle); Katelynn Halcomb, Elizabeth Sims, Paige Volz (Conner); Meredith Hartfiel, Bailey Spencer (Dixie Heights); Rachel Hardesty, Casey Kohls (Newport Central Catholic); Katlyn Hoeh (Newport); Abby Jones (Notre Dame Academy); Mamee Salzer (St. Henry); Sierra Whitfield (Beechwood).
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20120602/SPT0302/306020070/
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment