CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Kirkwood High softball team hosted the Dickson County Cougars for the region 7- 4A tournament semifinals on Tuesday. The Cougars took the lead early before a lengthy rain delay and afterward, the Cobras’ offense couldn’t scratch across enough runs to come back, advancing the Cougars to the region championship with a 3-1 win, and ending Kirkwood’s season.
The Cougars got the scoring going in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs with timely hitting. Then, a huge cloud of rain hit the field, delaying the game an hour and 45 minutes. After the rain delay, Kirkwood senior pitcher Maddie Ratcliff was dealing, allowing no more runs on the night. Kirkwood finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of an Iliana Conley RBI double, but that was all of the offense the Cobras could produce.
“We made adjustments, we just made them a little too late,” said Kirkwood head coach Kelli Storz. “They fought hard, but at the end of the day, we didn’t finish. I was proud of the effort, we only let them score in one inning, just couldn’t finish.”
For the Cobras’ second year as a program, their leadership has been from players who transferred from other schools. For Ratcliff, who came to Kirkwood from Rossview after her sophomore year, this program has meant everything to her during her time as a Cobra.
“I learned how to be an underdog here, and to come up out of that role,” said Ratcliff. “We did a lot of things no one expected. I’ve learned how to be a leader here. It means a lot to leave these underclassmen with the belief that they can and will do it.”
Kirkwood earned the program’s first district title in only their second year as a school. As far as Storz is concerned, this has been a season of growth and history.
“Twenty girls finally figured out how to play as one,” said Storz. “That was what we lacked last year. That, to me, is the most important thing: we built a culture. We went from being two and out in the district tournament to winning it in two years. That’s something I’ll always be proud of.”
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