After an exciting regular season, the Patriots softball team came into their district A-5 tournament as the top seed, followed by Millard West, Omaha Burke, and Omaha Central. The Patriots easily handled Central, but then ran into some trouble against Millard West. The Patriots ended up losing that game 10-2. This pushed the Patriots to the losers bracket, being out of state contention if they lost one more.
Undeterred by their defeat the day before, the Patriots moved to play Omaha Burke to get to the district finals. After giving up 1 run and being shut out, the Patriots came into the top of the 7th inning down 1, and not having any luck from the plate. Luckily, seniors Jalyn Noelle and Taylor Hrabik got the Patriots going on their 7th inning scoring spree, eventually putting up 7 runs over the Bulldogs, which was enough to win that game.
“During the first game, we heard that the top overall class A seed (Gretna) was losing at their district. That took the wildcard out of the equation. Knowing that made our focus laser sharp,” head coach Steve Kerkman said.
The team headed into the final against their Q Street rival Millard West with their work cut out for them.
“We knew we had to win to keep our season going,” Kerkman said.
Playing with a chip on their shoulder, the Patriots started the game giving up one run in the first inning, which they later got back. Tied, the game went into extra innings, where both teams traded scores, bringing the game into the 9th inning. Catie Rodenbiker started off the inning by delivering a big blow to the Wildcats, as she hit a 2 run homerun, advancing to 4-2.
“It was a surreal feeling,” junior Catie Rodenbiker said.
The Wildcats were unable to tie up the game, allowing South to make it to a winner takes all final game against the Cats.
This final game was a much higher scoring affair, as the Patriots are used to. Off of Nevaeh Williams’ 2 homeruns, the Patriots propelled to a 10-8 final, taking the district title. After taking the District A5 title, the Patriots headed to their 21st state championship, 2nd most, only to Papillion LaVista.
“Winning districts was an exciting and exhilarating time,” Rodenbiker said. “No words will ever do justice to the feeling of raising that District Championship plaque.”
“It was really difficult to come back down after districts and focus on the state tournament,” Kerkman said.
Coming into state, the team knew it would be tough to continue playing hard like they had against West. Kerkman knew that the hard work hadn’t ended though, as the teams in the state tournament were just as tough.
Kerkman had to remind the team: “there were many teams who were just as good as us who didn’t qualify and have the opportunity we had to compete for a title.”
The Patriots played their hearts out, yet they fell short, dropping a game to Millard North, then beating Papio LaVista South and then losing to Papillion LaVista, ending their 2021 campaign.
The seniors Taylor Hrabik, Jessie Bestenlehner, Maddie Gerace, Jayln Noelle, and Maddie Carley all are going to be missed as their impact on the program has been immense.
“They [the seniors] were amazing,” Kerkman said. It wasn’t just on the field, however, “They were great leaders and great student-athletes,” Kerkman added.
Although the Patriots did not go on to take the state title, they did play to the very end, finishing off an amazing season, going 23-12, and winning the District A-5 title.
Looking back over the season, Kerkman said there were many favorite memories. The big wins, the comeback victories, and even their book study during the summer were among his favorites.
“Hopefully these memories will stay with the players for the rest of their lives,” Kerkman said.
