Rogers takes CL softball title

Prats named tournament MVP as Rams defeat Spartans

5/25/2013

Rogers won a City League softball title for the first time in school history with a 13-9 victory Friday over Start.

The Rams (13-6) scored six runs in the second inning and three more in the sixth, but had to hold off several rallies from the Spartans (11-14) in the CL title game at Scott Park.

“It feels really good,” Rogers coach Kelli Keel said. “The start of the year was a little rough. But they worked really hard to get it together. I'm really proud.”

Gretchen Prats went 2-for-2 with a double and four runs batted in. She was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Rogers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but Start tied it in the bottom of the inning.

The Rams then scored six runs with five walks and a hit batter to take an 8-2 lead.

“They were very patient at the plate and took a lot of pitches,” Keel said.

Start rallied with three runs in the third and one in the fourth to make it 8-6. Rogers relief pitcher Rachel Wagner replaced starter Callie Stull after the third inning.

In the sixth, Della Gibson led off with a triple to spark a rally for the Rams. Prats followed with a double to score Gibson to make it 9-6. Pinch-hitter Chritease Simmons had a sacrifice bunt and Cha'Ron Sweeney scored Prats on a grounder to third. A third run made it 11-6.

But Start scored one more in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Dani Hamann singled and tripled for Start, while Halie Kinor went 2 for 3 with two singles and two RBIs.

“Start put the ball in play and did not stop fighting,” Keel said. “They scared us a couple of innings.”

Rogers tacked on two more in the seventh.

Both teams went 9-1 in the CL during the regular season.