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Grain Valley, MO —
The Grain Valley High School girls softball team is kicking it old school en route to the Eagles’ first Class 3 state final four appearance.
“We're taking a school bus to Springfield,” Eagles coach Jim Oliver said Wednesday afternoon after a brief storm forced his team inside for some work in the batting cages. “Because of the (NASCAR) race this weekend and some other things – there isn't a charter bus in the city that can take us to Springfield.
“But that's OK. We're using it as motivation. Every other Grain Valley team that has made it to state has gone on a charter bus, and they haven't won a championship. Maybe this will break that jinx.”
The nine seniors who helped lead the 24-5 Eagles to the 1 p.m. Friday state semifinal contest against 25-2 Festus don't mind how they get to state – they just want to get there and bring home some hardware.
Eight of the nine seniors met after practice to talk about what this weekend means to them – especially since many of them were part of three former Eagle teams that reached the district title game but couldn't pull off the win to advance to the state playoffs.
Sydney Fry: “It's going to be so exciting to go to state, and share it with all the girls – especially our seniors. We've had success in the past, but not the type of success in the playoffs that we'd hoped for. We all came together as a group this year and now, we want to win state.”
Lexie Worden: “This means so much to be, because I just moved to Grain Valley after going to high school in Raytown. I'm so much closer to the girls on this team, even though I've only played with them one year. I think the closeness we have is one reason we've played so well this season.”
Kelsi Hill: “We've all come so close in the past, then we lose the district championship game. This year, we won district and now, we're going to state. We get along so well, we don't have any quarrels. We all know what we want, what our goal is – and that's winning state.”
Courtney Folk: “This is a blessing. I am so thankful to be a senior and share this with all my friends and teammates. We're not just teammates, we're best friends, and I think that's a big reason we've had so much success this year.”
The Grain Valley High School girls softball team is kicking it old school en route to the Eagles’ first Class 3 state final four appearance.
“We're taking a school bus to Springfield,” Eagles coach Jim Oliver said Wednesday afternoon after a brief storm forced his team inside for some work in the batting cages. “Because of the (NASCAR) race this weekend and some other things – there isn't a charter bus in the city that can take us to Springfield.
“But that's OK. We're using it as motivation. Every other Grain Valley team that has made it to state has gone on a charter bus, and they haven't won a championship. Maybe this will break that jinx.”
The nine seniors who helped lead the 24-5 Eagles to the 1 p.m. Friday state semifinal contest against 25-2 Festus don't mind how they get to state – they just want to get there and bring home some hardware.
Eight of the nine seniors met after practice to talk about what this weekend means to them – especially since many of them were part of three former Eagle teams that reached the district title game but couldn't pull off the win to advance to the state playoffs.
Sydney Fry: “It's going to be so exciting to go to state, and share it with all the girls – especially our seniors. We've had success in the past, but not the type of success in the playoffs that we'd hoped for. We all came together as a group this year and now, we want to win state.”
Lexie Worden: “This means so much to be, because I just moved to Grain Valley after going to high school in Raytown. I'm so much closer to the girls on this team, even though I've only played with them one year. I think the closeness we have is one reason we've played so well this season.”
Kelsi Hill: “We've all come so close in the past, then we lose the district championship game. This year, we won district and now, we're going to state. We get along so well, we don't have any quarrels. We all know what we want, what our goal is – and that's winning state.”
Courtney Folk: “This is a blessing. I am so thankful to be a senior and share this with all my friends and teammates. We're not just teammates, we're best friends, and I think that's a big reason we've had so much success this year.”
Monica Hudson: “So much of our lives have been dedicated to playing softball and now, all the hard work is paying off. It's so cool and crazy to have everyone in the school asking us about state and congratulating us on our season.”
Jordan Orth: “To be a senior, and to go to state is the best way to go out. Whatever happens this weekend, it's our last go-round as members of the Grain Valley softball team and we want to make the most of it. We're peaking at the right time – not just this season, but in our high school careers.”
Mikayla Akers: “This is awesome – the perfect way to go out. And if we win state, I can share something special with my dad, Mike Akers, who was on the Oak Grove state championship baseball team in 1997. We can be a father/daughter state champion team of our own.”
Brooklynne Simbeck: “It just feels so good. It's almost unreal to think that we're going to state. It's cool that everyone is interested in our softball team and a pep bus is going to Springfield. Now, we have to go to state and take care of business.”
The ninth Eagle senior is Jordyn Keeton, who will attend the game, but will not be able to play because she was in a serious automobile accident midway through the season.
“When I found out about Jordan, I couldn't believe it,” Oliver said. “Her accident was on a Friday, and on Sunday (Grain Valley superintendent) Dr. (Roy) Moss called me and asked what he could do to help.
“He got a bus and all the girls on the team went down to the trauma unit at Truman Medical Center to see her. That's how close this team is – the girls really do care about each other and like the girls said, I think that is a big reason for our success.”
