After winning 7-3 against their league rival, Platte Valley Eaton advanced to quarterfinals last Friday. This was a crucial win because state Softball is a single elimination tournament. Lauren Frink, (19), pitched a shut-out game to defeat last year’s defending 3A State Champions, the Rocky Ford Meloneers, 8-0 to advance to the Final Four for the third time in a row.

Rocky Ford had defeated the Reds last year and went on to win. The game started off  with a bang with Remington Ross, (20), and Jenni Jarnigan hitting singles. Ross was up to her usual, stealing second and third and came home with Jarnigan’s hit. Allie Hobbs, (19), hit a double and Melanie Fye ,(19), drove in both Jarnigan and Hobbs, making the score 3-0, for an early lead. The team added three more in the third and another two in the fourth kept the mercy rule from coming into play.

The loss against Strasburg was a true battle, with the lead trading teams several times. By the bottom of the first Strasburg was ahead by three. The Reds made a comeback in the third and scored five runs. No runs were scored by either team in the 5th but both scored 2 in the 6th. The team had an incredible salon that ended with a thorough battle.

This year was a good as they have seen in a while. The team is set to do well again next year with only two seniors, first baseman Emma Meagher, and third baseman, Celsi Jurgensmeier.