Sometimes it really is a shame that someone had to lose the game.  That was it Wednesday when we finished our season with a gritty 7-6 win over Roosevelt.

We were playing for Falcon Pride, and for our seniors on their Night.  Roosevelt was playing for a spot in the Kingco Tournament.  Game on.   The Roughriders came at us with both barrels loaded, jumped out to an early lead, then pulled off a three-run rally to tie it the last inning, before we won it in the bottom of the eighth.

The seniors----Jade, Maria, Kelsi, Gina and Cat----made their final appearance on their home field, where their three-year record is now 29-2.  Fittingly enough, each contributed solidly......

Roosevelt's superstar Izzy Batayola led of the game with a crushed line shot down the right field line, but Gina made a beautiful running catch for the out.  

Jade started at second and made several solid plays. 

Kelsi started in center and had two hits.

Maria went the distance and struck out 16 in eight innings, picking up her 11th win of the season.

And Cat had three hits and three runs batted in, with a long sacrifice fly in the bottom of the last inning that moved Mak from second to third, from where she scored the walk-off game-winner on Katie's grounder to short.

Roosevelt can hit the ball, and scored a run in each of the first two innings, before, inevitably, our bats heated up.   Finally we took control and headed into the last inning up by 3.   With two outs and nobody on, the top of Roosevelt's order showed its own competitive fire.  Izzy drew a tough, tough walk, fouling off four vicious two-strike drops from Maria before finally getting ball four.   The next batter chinked a soft wedge into short left for a base hit, bringing up Dianna Hermansen, one of the most dangerous hitters in Kingco.  

Baseball/softball people sometimes debate this quesiton:  Is a good pitch EVER hit well?   The answer is:  Sometimes.   With a 1-2 count Maria threw as good a pitch as any of the evening, a knee-high drop that licked the outside corner, but Dianna got her bat on it and it sailed down the right field line for a triple.  The next batter hit a soft grounder with eyes that snuck through, and Roosevelt had tied the game. We went down in the bottom of the inning and suddenly it was an extra-inning game.

Just as suddenly, it was over.   Maria struck out the side on 11 pitches in the top of the eighth.  Then Mak led off our half with her fifth hit (and second double) of the game.    Cat followed with a sky-high fly ball to left.  The left fielder made the play, but Mak tagged and sprinted to third ahead of the throw.   Katie stepped in and hit a grounder to the shortstop and Mak, breaking on contact, scored easily to give us the win.

After the game we honored our five seniors.  Mak's Dad and former Head Coach Jim Weir was master of ceremonies and it was an evening of laughter, tears and love.  The underclass players each presented gifts, and shared "special" memories of the seniors.  The booster club presented caricatures done by local artist and softball coach Jeff Johnson, and the ceremonies concluded with the seniors signing under their names, now posted forever on the Senior Sign.

This year's graduating class fashioned a three-year record of 56-11, and are looking for a repeat appearance in the State Tournament.

Thank You for three years of effort and excellence!

                  Jade Bowman

                  Kelsi Lakey

                  Maria Gau

                  Gina Tuthill

                  Cat Williams