Kirkwood High softball wins first district title in program history against the Rossview Hawks

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Rossview High Hawks and Kirkwood High Cobras met at Springfield High School for the district 13-4A championship game on Friday night. In this low-scoring contest, both sides saw great pitching, but the game was ultimately decided on a Moana Tuauaga walk-off RBI single, which cemented the Cobras winning their first district championship in program history.

“To build a program from the ground up, take girls from different schools all over the county, all who choose Kirkwood, and build a culture where they play for each other day in and day out. They all bought into the program and what we were trying to accomplish,” said Kirkwood head coach Keli Storz. “And the result, winning a district championship in our second year of existence. Now that is something special and one for the record books.”

Pitching duel

Rossview High senior pitcher Avery Rauscher dealt on the mound early for the Hawks, allowing only one run to score in the bottom of the first, but getting herself out of jams for the next five innings. In total, Rauscher allowed only 5 hits and struck out 7 batters in 6.2 innings pitched.

Meanwhile, her counterpart for the Cobras, Maddie Ratcliff, went blow for blow in the pitchers’ duel. Ratcliff only allowed one run during her outing, as she also struck out 4 batters and gave up 3 hits in seven complete innings of action.

In addition, Ratcliff was also able to get on base to start the seventh inning, and she turned out to be the winning run after Tuauaga was able to drive her in, causing the Cobras to celebrate their first district championship in program history.

“I know personally it was one of my big goals this season, and I’m sure my teammates and coaches feel the same,” Ratcliff said. “To be able to win it in the two short years I was at Kirkwood means a lot, especially coming from a 4th seed last year. I think it really shows how a winning mindset can make you a winner even when you start out as the underdog.”

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