North Rock Creek wins back to back titles for first time in school history

May 5, 2023

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Pictured above is the North Rock Creek Lady Cougars with the state champions trophy

The North Rock Creek Lady Cougars are the defending state champions of Class 5A from last season, The Washington Lady Warriors are coming off a championship in Class 4A last season so let’s set the scene here. North Rock Creek has been a team on the rise in softball for the last couple seasons. 2020-21 was their first year for both fastpitch and slowpitch and since then Chance Griffin has built the program up into a contender, The Washington Lady Warriors are one of many teams you think about as one of the blue bloods of high school softball having made state in fastpitch every season since 1998 and slowpitch since 2006 having won a combined 21 titles, Nine in fastpitch and 12 in slowpitch. The two teams have played each other frequently the last few seasons, In an earlier meeting the Lady Warriors won 13-12 on a walkoff home run. The last two seasons they was both in the same district for fastpitch including a matchup in the state championship.

Pictured above is Washington’s Tinley Lucas on the ground after making a diving catch for an out

The Lady Cougars would get on the board first in the first inning on an RBI single from Katie Larson to right field to score Laynee Joiner then again in the second inning on an RBI single from Caty Baack on a line drive to center field to score Sophie Morris. The first three innings would be scoreless for the Lady Warriors but they was making good plays on defense. Bottom of third the Lady Cougars would score a run from Laynee Joiner despite an out at second on a fielder’s choice and an RBI single from Morgan Campbell. Top of fourth the Lady Warriors get on the board on an RBI single from Elly Allison to score Ellie Loveless. Bottom of fourth the Lady Cougars would expand the lead again this time on a two run home run from Caty Baack. Top of fifth the Lady Warriors would score again on a sacrifice fly that gave Emjay Lucas the chance to score. Top of sixth the deficit would be cut to one on a three run home run from Skylar Wells but the Lady Cougars would come up big on defense in the top of the seventh to hang on and clinch their second consecutive title.