By DAVID WOOD, for The Democrat
Under a light drizzle and bleak, grey sky on May 1 the girls varsity softball team struggled to find the same momentum they’ve become accustomed to.
Empty inning followed empty inning and every promising play crumbled.
Their monstrous, 17-game win streak finally shuddered to a halt at the hands of Edgewood — the same team they shut out 13-0 the day before.
The final score: 10-1.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]“Tonight was rough. I think we got complacent,” pitcher Emma Summers said.
“We had gotten so used to winning that it was kind of a reality check.”
It was the team’s first loss since last May’s sectional tournament where none other than Edgewood dashed their post-season hopes.
“It’s tough because we’ve not had a loss since last May to end the season. They’ve almost gone a calendar year without losing a game in softball and that’s tough to do,” Head Coach Kevin Greve said.
“We have a pretty mature group, so they’ll bounce back. I’m confident.”
Greve was unable to attend the second of the team’s two back-to-back games against Edgewood due to a pregame protocol violation.
“We had a situation where a girl bought a new bat recently, and it’s now the coach’s job to check them and make sure that they’re cleared. I wasn’t aware that there was a new bat, so I didn’t get to look at it,” Greve said.
During the first game, Edgewood called up the bat for inspection. Under IHSAA rules, the failure to previously check equipment results in an immediate ejection plus a one-game suspension for both the coach and player in question.
While the bat was IHSAA approved, Greve faced the consequences.
“It’s not because there was unsporting behavior or the bat was hot. It wasn’t any competitive advantage, just a rule,” he continued.
“Rules are rules, and I take responsibility for that.”
Down a head coach and teammate, the suspension created a difficult situation for the squad, Greve pointed out.
“Against a team like Edgewood, you have to have all hands on deck. If you’re behind a little bit in personnel and things are a little off, it can make it difficult on the girls. It puts a little more pressure on them,” he said.
However, despite the immediate ejection, they still won the more important of the two back-to-back games against their now firmly cemented rival.
The team’s first 13-0 win over Edgewood earned them first place in the East conference and a chance to repeat as Western Indiana Conference champions on May 14.
“I believe Northview is winning the division, so maybe they have the path to a rematch of last year’s Western Indiana Conference game. They’re who we beat last year to win the championship, so it could set up a fun little rematch in a couple weeks,” Greve said.
Junior Allison Stogsdill feels confident in their ability to retain the title.
“I definitely think that goal of beating Northview is reachable. We did it last year, and we also just played them and beat them 4-0,” she said.
Naturally, Stogsdill and company also have eyes on sectionals and the chance for redemption against Edgewood.
Further, she’s hoping to change the narrative attached to Brown County sports.
“There always seems to be a stigma that we’re only ‘Brown County good.’ I think this is the first time, at least in my high school career, that we’re catching other people’s eyes and think that we can actually go to state,” she said.
“The community has hopes for us and it definitely feels great to be part of a team that has that ability.”
Emma Summers agreed with Stogsdill and further highlighted their growing rivalry with Edgewood.
“I’m excited for sectionals. I think we have a lot of potential and we’ll definitely face Edgewood again,” Summers said.
“They’ll be our biggest challenge and we’ll have to step up to it. I think this game was a big motivator because we won’t want to feel like this again.”
