Though they didn’t make it to the divisional tournament this year, the Troy High School softball team is only showing promise as a growing and improving program.

The Trojans fell to Eureka in the play-in game 11-1, despite holding the Lions to only base hits all game, Monday.

The Trojans had strong starts to both of their losses to Plains in the doubleheader last Saturday, but they were unable to keep up the momentum.

In the first three innings of the second Plains game, Trojan fielding improved substantially, showing how big of a difference a strong defense behind junior pitcher Mazzy Hermes could make.

For two innings, Troy held the score down, 0-0, but in the third, small errors snowballed, and the Trotters made 4 runs.

“It’s the same thing we said from the start of the season,” said Troy Head Coach Keith Haggerty. “If we hit the ball, catch the ball, and throw the ball, we can beat anybody. But they have to get over those innings.”

In their final game against the Lions, the Trojans had a brief 1-run lead in the top of the first inning, after a base hit for senior Cami Finley brought in senior Kaylee Tunison.

But Eureka scored 2 runs in the bottom of the inning, and kept edging up the score, inning by inning, for the rest of the game.

Haggerty said he felt the Trojans could compete against Eureka. But, they have been plagued by struggles with their mental game.

“It’s just in their head, and they just have to work through it,” Haggerty said. “They have times where they play like a star, and then other times, it’s just too much for them, it seems like. But, they have to get over it.”

Despite a losing season, Haggerty agreed that Troy’s program has still progressed even since last season.

“The younger kids we have coming up, they’re a big bright spot,” Haggerty said. The junior varsity team has been playing very well throughout the year, and constantly improving.

“That’s a step above what last year’s kids were doing — and the year before — the younger ones,” Haggerty said. “So, we’re pretty excited, and there’s a few coming up for next year. And the year after that, is looking even more promising.”

Haggerty said that the current players have an important role in keeping the players who are on their way up interested and excited.

“As long as these ladies keep fighting, the younger kids see it — they want to be a part of it,” he said. “So, we can keep that program, the culture going — and growing. That’s what we want. To grow it more.”

Saturday, May 11

Game 1

Plains 17, Troy 2

P 031 (11)2 - R:17 H:11 E:1

T 200 00 - R:2 H:5 E:11

P: Syd Jackson 5-3, 1R, 3RBI, 1K; Natalee Deschamps 2-1, 1R, 1RBI, 2BB, 1K; Genna Deschamps 0-0, 1R, 1BB; Sage Jackson 5-0, 1R, 1K; Kassidy Kinzie 3-1, 2R, 2BB; Dakota Butcher 4-0, 2R, 1RBI, 1BB; Skylar Bergstrom 3-1, 2R, 2RBI, 1BB; Madison Elliott 3-2, 2R, 6RBI, 1BB; Kelsey Standford 2-0, 1R, 1BB; Izzy Butcher 0-0, 3R, 1BB; Kenzie Angle 4-3, 1R, 2RBI.

T: Kaylee Tunison 2-1, 1R, 1BB; Izzy Ramirez 3-1, 1K; Talise Becquart 3-1, 1R; Cami Finley 1-0, 2BB; Tristyn Winebark 3-1, 1RBI; Mazzy Hermes 1-0, 1RBI, 1BB; Olivia Ramirez 1-0; Annie Day 3-1, 1K; Harlee Huisentruit 2-0, 1K; Paige Chapel 2-0, 1K.

Batting: 2B - Bergstrom; Day; Grand Slam - Elliott; TB - Jackson 3, Deschamps, Kinzie, Bergstrom 2, Elliott 5, Angle 3; Becquart, Day 2, Ramirez, Tunison, Winebark.

Pitching: W - Vonheeder 5, 91 P, .549 S%, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 SO, 4 BB; L - Hermes 4, 146 P, .562 S%, 11 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 2 SO, 7 BB, 1 HR; Day 1, 26 P, .346 S%, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 SO, 3 BB.

Game 2

Plains 10, Troy 0

T 000 00 - R:0 H:3 E:6

P 004 15 - R:10 H:6 E:1

T: Kaylee Tunison 3-0, 1K; Izzy Ramirez 3-1, 1K; Talise Becquart 3-0, 2K; Cami Finley 2-0, 1K; Tristyn Winebark 1-0, 1BB, 1K; Annie Day 2-1; Mazzy Hermes 2-0, 1K; Harlee Huisentruit 2-1; Paige Chapel 1-0; Adeline Roesler-Begalke 1-0, 1K.

P: Syd Jackson 2-0, 1R, 1BB, 1K; Natalee Deschamps 3-1, 1R, 2RBI; Sage Jackson 3-1, 1R, 1RBI; Kassidy Kinzie 3-1, 1R, 1RBI; Dakota Butcher 3-0, 1R; Skylar Bergstrom 3-0, 1R; Madison Elliott 2-1, 2R, 1K; Kelsey Standford 3-0, 1R, 1RBI; Kenzie Angle 2-2, 2RBI, 1BB; Mackenzie Elliott 0-0, 1R.

Batting: 2B - Deschamps, Elliott, Angle 2; TB - Deschamps 2, Jackson, Kinzie, Elliott 2, Angle 4; Day, Huisentruit, Ramirez.

Pitching: W - Kinzie 5, 92 P, .620 S%, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 8 SO, 1 BB; L - Hermes 4.2, 79 P, .646 S%, 6 H, 10 R, 3 ER, 2 SO, 2 BB.

Monday, May 13

Eureka 11, Troy 1

T 100 000 - R:1 H:2 E:10

L 242 012 - R:11 H:8 E:0

T: Kaylee Tunison 1-0, 1R, 2BB, 1K; Annie Day 3-0, 1K; Talise Becquart 3-0, 1K; Cami Finley 2-1, 1RBI, 1BB, 1K; Tristyn Winebark 3-1; Montana Rice 3-0, 3K; Izzy Ramirez 1-0, 1K; Mazzy Hermes 2-0, 1K; Harlee Huisentruit 2-0, 2K.

E: Maya Carvey 3-2, 1R, 2RBI, 1BB; Riannah Hawkins 4-1, 1R; Avory Escobar 3-0, 2R, 1RBI, 1BB; Katie Schmidt 2-1, 1R, 1BB; Cierra Miller 4-1, 1R, 2K; Haylie Hall 3-0, 1R, 2K; Reena Truman 3-1, 2R, 1BB; Mar Zins 3-0, 1RBI, 1K; E Persson 0-0, 1BB; Micheal Shea 4-2, 2R, 2RBI.

Batting: TB - Miller, Schmidt, Shea 2, Truman, Hawkins, Carvey; Finley, Tristyn Winebark.

Pitching: W - Escobar 6, 88 P, .636 S%, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 11 SO, 3 BB; L - Hermes 5.2, 128 P, .539 S%, 8 H, 11 R, 3 ER, 5 SO, 5 BB.