The reputation of Rye Cove softball continues to grow.
Two seasons after the Rye Cove Eagles won their first Class 1 state championship, a collection of 12-14-year-old girls representing Rye Cove and Lee County claimed the Virginia Junior League state championship earlier this week in Alexandria.
Twelve girls, six from the Rye Cove community and six from Lee County, have gone 14-0 in regular season, District 13 and state tournament play, and will travel next to Irmo, S.C. to play in the Junior League Softball Southeast Regional tournament on July 11-14.
“We didn’t know we were going to go up there and win, we knew we were going to get up there and give it our best shot,†head coach Jesse Wilson said. “I don’t want to say we were surprised to win. We go into every game expecting to win because of the work we put in, but we don’t take anything for granted. If we have to play the Oklahoma Sooners, we are going to go in thinking we are going to win because of the work we put in.â€
They won four games in Alexandria, defeating Richlands 5-3, followed by wins over Warren County (11-0) and two against Olive Branch, 4-1 and, 9-0 in the title game, scoring six runs in the fifth to pull away for the victory.
“We were the champions at the end of the day,†Wilson said. “There was a lot of thankfulness to me personally particularly, a lot of thankfulness to God because we pray before every game. The kids were a little overwhelmed, just a lot of joy. We were just full of joy to be able to be the last team standing.â€
They earned it, finishing 8-0 in regular season play and then claimed the District 13 crown with a pair of wins over Norton, 14-0 and 16-0.
“These kids know the game of softball and they know how important practice is and that is where we put in the fundamental work and where we get our reps in,†said Wilson, who chose the 12 players after being appointed coach of the team. “They are ready on game day to win. They put in a lot of work at practice, at home, a lot of these kids do pitching lessons with other coaches, they do batting lessons. They really put a lot of time into this game so when we show up to play an actual game they are ready to win.â€
Softball begins with pitching and this team has plenty of it. Wilson’s daughter, Brooklyn — who struck out 18 in the state championship game — is just one of many choices for Wilson, along with Gracie Caughron, Hadlee Grabeel, Charleigh Hammonds, Skylar Gibson, Madison Holder and Addison Taylor, while Lily Strohofer is among others beginning to take pitching lessons. Isabella Garcia and Emilee Robbins serve as catchers, while Kinsley McPherson and Riley Fonseca have other roles with the team.
“I can’t be more proud of Brooklyn. She is a big part of the team, just like every single girl is. I am not singling her out, she does great and I am proud of her and she does her role,†said Wilson, who is assisted by Mike Garcia and Lindsey Strohofer. “We are solid from top to bottom (offensively). We rely on every one of them. They all know their job and they all do it...Everybody is willing to go up to the plate and do what they are asked to do, whether it be hit or walk or bunt or whatever, they are willing to do it.â€
Wilson knows this collection of players are looking to follow in the path of Rye Cove’s state championship club, and the same goes for the Lee County contingent. While the Eagles fell short of the state tournament this season, the Lee High Generals reached the Class 2 state quarterfinals.
“I am sure they are. Rye Cove does have a great reputation here, particularly the last several years. Lee High had a really good run this year to state. They look up to the bigger kids and that is great,†said Wilson, whose team has been assistant by Gracie Turner, who was the catcher on Rye Cove’s state title team. “Hats off to the bigger kids for being such role models for these younger kids and make them want to be there one day.â€
They also had plenty of financial assistance to help with what was a 400-plus mile trip to the outskirts of Washington D.C. While the voyage to South Carolina isn’t expected to be quite as expensive, it is still a pricey proposition for travel, hotel rooms, food, equipment, uniforms and more.
“We had a lot of donors to help us to get to Alexandria,†Wilson said. “We had an enormous amount of support of donations. We had roughly 70 donors that put in money for these girls and we can’t be more thankful. I don’t know if we could have done it without them. We raised over $10,000.â€
“We really rely on the community support and donors,†added Wilson’s wife, Stacie. “That is kind of what we rely on.â€
The Rye Cove-Lee County contingent will look to keep its unbeaten streak alive, needing three wins in South Carolina to reach the championship in the double-elimination format. Don’t count them out, they expect to win and they aren’t afraid to ask for blessings from above.
“I am just super proud of these girls. They have bought into what we are trying to do here,†Wilson said. “We have a plan. We know where we are going to be. One thing I am big on is we pray before every game and we accept the fate of what God puts on us. Win, lose or draw, we say it every time, we are going to give God the glory.
“We are OK with what happens, win, lose or draw, it is part of His plan and whatever it is we are going to accept it and go on and so far He has blessed us greatly.â€