By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Emmerson Cope’s no-hitter led the Washburn Rural to a 10-0 victory over Blue Valley in Thursday's Class 6A state quarterfinal softball game.
Everything was clicking for Washburn Rural on Thursday at the Shawnee Mission District Softball Complex. The defense was nearly perfect and the offense took care of its business in just five innings of work.
Junior Emmerson Cope pitched a no-hitter with eight strikeouts as Washburn Rural opened the Class 6A state tournament with a 10-0 win. [File photo/TSN]
“We came out and made a statement,” Washburn Rural coach Liz Stover said. “Our girls have been working to get to this tournament the entire season. I’m proud of the way they came out and showed everyone what kind of team we are. It was an important win for us and we are shifting our focus to tomorrow’s game.”
Cope cruised through Blue Valley’s lineup on Thursday morning. Cope fanned eight Tiger batters, didn’t allow a hit, didn’t give up any free passes and boosted the Junior Blues' momentum in the quest for a state title.
Cope worked her way through several full counts and high-pressure scenarios by throwing devastating strikeout pitches and letting her defense take care of business.
“I just needed to keep my composure today,” Cope said. “Blue Valley came out right away really energetic and hyped. I knew I just needed to settle down and let the defense do the work. Last year we didn’t make it past quarterfinals, so today I needed to do my best to make sure that we weren’t going home today.”
At one point in the contest, Cope was trying to pitch her way out of a full count against Blue Valley's first baseman Ava Bloyd. In the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Washburn Rural catcher Ryanne Rapp called a crucial timeout. Rapp’s intelligent timeout and Cope’s arm sat down Bloyd and that would set the tone for the remainder of the day.
“Emmerson (Cope) is always impressive,” Stover said. “For someone like her to go out there and step up the way she did, it means the world to this team. Her performances over the year and today make it easier for our offense to relax at the plate. We can relax because we know we have stellar pitching behind us.”
Washburn Rural had a pair of four-run innings that provided serious insurance for its defense. Cope, Campbell Bagshaw and Mikaila Herring each plated two runs. Baylee Dial, Kaci Bath and Emily Louderback each brought in a run as well
“I was really proud of how well our team hit today,” Bagshaw said. “We are well aware that we are facing the best pitchers in the state this week and we need to play our best. To come out and hit like we did today gave us confidence for the rest of this week.”
As good as the hits were for the Junior Blues on Thursday, Washburn Rural’s plate discipline was just as stellar. Not a single Junior Blue struck out and their eye at the plate allowed them to draw six walks.
“We could always improve, but we had a great start,” Louderback said. “This senior class has been together most of our lives and our goal is to win state. For us to win state we need to do everything that is necessary to get there. We did a great job of getting on base and swinging at good pitches today. We are going to keep focusing in, doing the correct fundamentals and keep up our good energy.”
It didn’t take Washburn Rural any time to settle into the big moment of the state quarterfinal game. Cope fanned two batters in the top of the first inning and the Junior Blues were able to get some traffic on the basepaths in the bottom of the first.
While Washburn Rural didn’t score a run in the first inning, the confidence was at a high level. It was apparent that the Junior Blues had the potential to inflict damage to Blue Valley’s offense and defense.
The Junior Blues would hang four runs on Blue Valley in the bottom of the second. Bath would walk in a run on bases loaded, Bagshaw would hit a sacrifice-fly and Cope would bring in two runs on a single.
By the time the third inning concluded, Cope already struck out five Blue Valley batters. Her velocity on her fastball and devastating off-speed pitches created timing issues for the Tigers.
Washburn Rural would make it nearly impossible for Blue Valley to mount a comeback as the Junior Blues racked up another four-run inning in the bottom of the fourth.
Herring’s two-run double, Louderback’s 1-run triple and Dial’s 1-run single gave Washburn Rural an eight-run lead by the time the fourth inning was over.
Bath and Bagshaw would plate in one run each in the bottom of the fifth inning as Washburn Rural would walk things off with a 10-0 decision.
“We are taking things one game at a time and we are looking forward to tomorrow’s game,” Stover said.
Up next, Washburn Rural (22-1) will face the winner of the Gardner-Edgerton and Derby game on Friday at 10:00 AM at the Shawnee Mission District Softball Complex.
WASHBURN RURAL 10, BLUE VALLEY 0
Blue Valley (13-10) 000 00 – 0 0 1
Washburn Rural (22-1) 040 42 – 10 10 1
2B: Washburn Rural – Herring. 3B: Washburn Rural – Louderback.
