Despite a 10-run deficit in the fourth inning, (down 11-1) Rock Creek almost made a huge comeback and had their chances, eventually falling 14-13 to Clay Center in game one on Friday. The mustangs notched eight runs in the fourth inning. Leighton Herrman, Brook Dillon, Laney Scott, Sydney Montgomery, and Maddi Figge each had RBIs in the frame. Searle took the loss for Mustangs. She went two and two-thirds innings, allowing 11 runs on 11 hits, striking out one and walking one. Carmen Mallon pitched in relief. Rock Creek hit two home runs in the 1st game. Kunkel had a four bagger in the third inning. Montgomery had a long ball in the fourth inning. The team collected 13 hits in the game. Tatum Brunkow, Figge, Kunkel, and Scott all managed multiple hits. Figge and Brunkow each collected three hits. Rock Creek stole eight bases during the game, Prockish led the way with two.
Four RBIs from Demi Kunkel weren’t enough as Rock Creek fell to Clay Center 25-6 on Friday. Kunkel drove in runs on a home run in the first, a home run in the second, and a double in the third. Despite the loss, Rock Creek did collect 11 hits in the high-scoring affair. Unfortunately, Clay Center had 20 hits on the way to victory. Rock Creek had an early lead, up 3-2 at the end of the 2nd, but Clay Center took the lead for good with 11 runs in the third inning. Rock Creek used all three varsity pitchers in the game, Morgan Searle took the loss for Mustangs. She lasted one and one-third innings, allowing seven hits and nine runs while striking out one. Carmen Mallon and Gracie Ward finished up the game. The mustangs collected 11 hits again, Kunkel, Brunkow, and Montgomery all collected multiple hits. Kunkel went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead with 2 homeruns, a triple and a double. “As a team, we don’t want to ever believe that we are out of any contest, so our resolve and resilience in game one, to hit like we did and give ourselves a chance, was nice to see. The reason, however that we are in that situation is self-induced; poor mound presence, weak defensive awareness and a general lack of communication are sure signs that we lacked what it took, and that continued into game two. We should, with the players that we have, expect more of ourselves, and demand it from one another. We had 24 hits on the night, but give up 40, and that doesn’t include our errors and walks. We have to get some things ironed out if we expect to make a regional run.”
Rock Creek has a heavy schedule coming up. Today (Monday vs. Abliene in makeup games), tomorrow on the road to Wabaunsee tomorrow, and then Senior night Thursday at home against Silver Lake.