By ISAAC DEER
TopSports.news
Rossville’s softball squad has eased into an undefeated 6-0 start to the 2022-2023 campaign without a hiccup.
It was no secret that this team could be a force this season.
Rossville junior Hailey Horton is batting over .500 for the 6-0 Bulldawg softball team this spring. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Senior pitcher Brinley Dyche picked up the win in Tuesday's 8-2 first-game victory over Riley County. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Rossville junior Kinsey Perine (2) is congratulated by junior Katie Spielman (18) after scoring a run in the Bulldawgs' twinbill sweep over Riley County. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
With very few seniors departing from last year’s unit that advanced to the Class 3A state tournament, this team has the capability to make a run this year.
“We’ve been playing really good, and we’re pretty deep,” Rossville coach John Nitsch said. “If any girls are down, we have other girls that are more than capable of stepping up. This year the depth is really starting to show.”
Rossville has handled opponents in their three doubleheaders thus far.
Jefferson West was first on the list with an 8-2 and 9-6 sweep. Then, the Dawgs avenged their state tournament loss to Santa Fe Trail last year with a pair of wins and added to their undefeated start with an 8-2, 5-3 sweep over Mid-East League foe Riley County on Tuesday at Rossville.
Defensively, Rossville’s two starting pitchers have helped the team to its hot start. Senior Brinley Dyche is 2-0 to start the season, while junior Katie Spielman is 1-0. The duo has combined to allow 1.8 runs and 4.5 hits per contest.
“Even if we struggle, our team always finds a way because we work well together,” Dyche said. “Our defense behind us either when I’m pitching or when Katie’s pitching has been great. Pretty much everything right now is working.”
Spielman agreed with Dyche’s statement about the successful defensive play.
“I think our defense and team chemistry is amazing,” Spielman said. “Our team chemistry with volleyball and basketball is good, too. But when I think it gets to softball, it’s just a different atmosphere that we do well in. It’s just a great feeling with everyone playing well with each other this season.”
At the plate, Rossville doesn’t have a batter in the lineup that bats under a .273 average. However, Hailey Horton (.562), Spielman (.500) and Shyanne Haehn (.444) are crushing the ball, combining for 18 of the team’s 30 runs batted in this season.
In addition to Horton, Spielman and Haehn’s success at the plate, Rossville has five more batters hitting above .300.
“We can’t let teams hang with us when we know we can play better,” Rossville junior Kinsey Perine said. “We can’t underestimate anybody, especially in our league. But we’re doing a good job of keeping high energy in the dugout. If we keep supporting each other and having fun, we will keep winning.”
In Rossville’s latest twinbill sweep against Riley County on Tuesday, the Falcons challenged the Dawgs.
In Game 1, Rossville didn’t have much of an issue against its Mid-East League rival. The Dawgs cruised to an 8-2 victory with a tremendous offensive attack and lights-out pitching from Dyche in the circle.
“I thought I did pretty good pitching today,” Dyche said. “Pitching-wise, I thought it was a good day and feeling great. Our team never gives up on each other, which gives me confidence.”
It took a two-run rally to break a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning for Rossville to hold on for a win in the second game. Riley County played well, but Rossville’s situational hitting and baserunning were the key for the Dawgs to stay undefeated.
“I thought Katie (Spielman) settled in well after giving up the first two runs,” Nitsch said. “We need to make our adjustments at the plate a little better, quicker. I think the key for us rolling so far this year is our pitching staff. We have two pitchers (Dyche and Spielman) that are great, and I even have two more (pitchers) that people haven’t seen yet that can throw at any given time. They’ll keep us in any game.”
Rossville (6-0) will host Mid-East League’s Wabaunsee for a doubleheader on Thursday. The first pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
