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REPUBLIC, Mo. — To have success, it helps to have people who are among the best at their craft.
Republic softball has this asset.
They sport one of the best home run hitters and strikeout pitchers in state history. Rachel Rook has to fan 10 more batters to become the fourth pitcher in state history to reach one thousand strikeouts. Kami Holt’s 27 home runs are a Republic record and place her in the top ten in Missouri for a career.
For Holt, who does not fit the look of your standard home run hitter, the quickness of her swing comes from years of perfecting it in the backyard with her dad.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone up there and heard: ‘Watch out for the bunt!’ Then, I don’t bunt,” she said.
After a 19-6 regular season, the Lady Tigers nabbed the top seed in the Class 4, District 12 Tournament, which starts Thursday in Joplin.
That takes a team.
Yes, those assets mentioned will do you some favors, but a tight-knit dugout is just as important, and this group fits that description. Holt and Rook are two of five seniors (Sydney Phillips, Taylor Holland, Alyssa Roth) that pace the Lady Tigers in their quest for their second district championship in three years.
“Our seniors are the ones who have tasted it when they were sophomores and they want to get back there,” head coach Lee Dishman said.
Phillips benefits from batting second in the lineup behind Holt. She carries a .329 batting average with 21 RBI in her final campaign and is a key part of a group that has, in the players’ words, remained drama-free as opposed to years past.
“A lot of us have been playing together for such a long time and we’ve been wanting to get to state for so long. “We just get along together really well,” she said. “We thought we got cut short last year and so we are ready to go out there and make it even further this year.”
The Lady Tigers put those long-standing relationships on display this week when they honored former softball coach Mike Thorne, who is battling lymphoma. The teamed donned pink shirts and collected money from fans during their game against Rogersville on Monday.
A handful of players have known the coach since he taught them in middle school. It hits even more close to home given that his daughter, Megan Thorne, is a sophomore on the team.
But, just like her father, the girls say she has still contributed to an upbeat vibe on the field.
“This is her escape from everything, I think,” Dishman said. “She really likes being around the girls and they just gravitate toward her and take care of her.”
Dishman is accustomed to this positive energy from Coach Thorne, having faced his teams often when he was the head coach at Hillcrest.
“He’s got a positive attitude about everything. You can see it walking down the halls. That’s how he’s going to battle this. He’s just going to have a positive attitude and he and his wife will get through it with their girls.”
Thorne was indeed in good spirits on Monday, being surprised by the tribute he received. It’s helped the Lady Tigers grow even closer, something any coach would be happy to help contribute to.
“When things like this happen, a family comes together and carries each other.”
This group of friends plans to keep carrying each other as long as this season lasts. That, for their money, will be well into the postseason.
