North Rock Creek beat rival Washington, 6-5, in the Class 5A state finals last week to bring home the school’s second straight slow-pitch state championship. The Lady Cougars have made the state tournament all three years they have competed in slow pitch and will return all but two starters for next year. “I came to a great school and they have great kids,” said coach Chance Griffin. “They battled for me every day.” The Lady Cougars had their way with almost everyone this season, but Washington had been their kryptonite, beating them in the fast-pitch state semifinals last year and handing them a 15-13 loss earlier this season in slow-pitch. “I think they beat us six, seven times combined in fast-pitch and slow-pitch and kind of made us like it, so we felt we could get over that hill if we could hang with them one game.
“It’s been a fun rivalry going on, but it was like slaying the giant tonight.”
NRC finished with a 32-8 record and was ranked No. 2 going into the finals against Washington, ranked No. 1.
They opened the state tournament with a 20-0 win over Dickson, then beat No. 3 Tecumseh, 1813, in the semifinals.
Dale, NRC’s Pott County rival, reached the finals in Class 3A before falling to Caddo, 13-8.
The Lady Pirates dispatched Tushka, 13-2, and Haskell, 11-4, in the first two rounds and finished with a 35-6 record.
Prague reached the Class 4A semifinals before falling, 5-3, to eventual state championship Oktaha.
The Lady Devils beat Latta,6-5, in a first-round thriller that was decided on a play at the plate as the Lady Panthers tried to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh inning.