Evie Thomas was rightfully emotional Monday..
Thomas and the Holy Cross softball team had a few thousand reasons to be excited – they upset Ryle, 3-1, in the semifinals of the Ninth Region tournament at Thomas More Field.
Thomas was the main reason the Indians meet three-time defending champion Highlands for the title at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday – her 11 strikeouts sent Holy Cross to the regional final for the first time since the Kentucky High School Athletic Association offered fast-pitch softball in 1996.
“Once we started putting runs on the board, we were just happy,” Thomas said. “We were all up. I mean, I was just happy to be here with my girls. And yeah, this is history.”
Holy Cross coach Courtney Turner said the search for a pitcher ended ended four years ago.
“Since Evie came here, we’ve been trying to find our pitcher, and it’s always been Evie,” Turner said. “She’s just gotten better and better, and as she’s gotten better, we’ve developed a team around her.”
Holy Cross already has a regional title – the Indians won the Ninth Region All “A” tournament in March.
“We’re prepared, that’s all I’ve got to say,” Thomas said.
Ryle coach David Meier said after the game that Thomas’ curveball gave the Raiders the most trouble. During the game, he wasn’t as certain.
“I don’t know what she was throwing,” Meier said. “We stayed off her rise ball early, so I thought we did a good job of that. We fouled off a lot of pitches. I don’t know if she was throwing a screwball or curve or drop curve, but whatever it was … was going away from our right handed hitters.”
What you may not know: Thomas played with a shin splint fracture in her left leg she suffered against Ryle in a 9-0 loss May 7 in Union.
That’s 11 games, 64 innings pitched – and a lot of pain and ibuprofen.
“It was so painful,” Thomas said. “I had to go get MRIs done, and they told me it was in my bone … four ibuprofen every day. And I raised my foot up when I go to sleep.”
Holy Cross (17-12) opened the scoring in the third when Madison Urlage singled home Zakyah Ryan, who reached third on an infield single, passed ball and wild pitch.
Suzette Klaiss and Jordyn Reiselman provided the rest of Holy Cross’ offense in the fifth. Ryle pitcher Laci DeLauder hit Klaiss, scoring Urlage, and Reiselman’s infield single plated Urlage.
Ryle (18-9) scored its lone run in the sixth when Kiley Patterson came home on Korlin Rechtin’s single to left.
The Raiders’ last hope faded after that. Thomas struck out Rayne Patsel looking to end the sixth and fanned DeLauder, Hannah Dunn and Brooklyn Roland in the seventh.
“This game has been the best game I’ve ever played in my life,” Thomas said.
Highlands, a 2-1 semifinal winner over Notre Dame, looks like an overwhelming favorite. That’s fine with Thomas.
“Being the underdog really motivates me, and coming from a small school, I think it motivates all of us,” Thomas said. “So we’re just excited to play on Wednesday.”
HOLY CROSS 3, RYLE 1
HOLY CROSS 001 020 0 – 3 7 3
RYLE 000 001 0 – 1 2 1
Thomas and Baker; DeLauder and Steiber.
WP-Thomas (16-11). LP-DeLauder (11-5).
Records: Holy Cross 17-12, Ryle 18-9.