Staff writer
It was appropriate that Sammy Koons scored the game-ending run in the second game against Marion Friday in Hillsboro on senior night.
She had a great game. Taking home on a wild pitch was Koons’ third run scored in the contest. Earlier in the inning, she reached base with a 2-RBI single that scored Stephanie Sanders and Kalie Siebert. Hillsboro won 14-4 in the second game and won the first game 18-1.
“I was pretty excited,” Koons said. “I don’t get to steal very much.”
Even more than her talented senior teammates, Koons said softball is her sport. Her love of the game is evident in the constant chatter from first base when in the field. The way she enthusiastically slams the head of her bat against her shoulder when warming up on deck has been a staple of the Hillsboro lineup for three years.
Continuing a solid day of accomplishments, Koons received a scholarship check from the Kansas Amateur Softball Association for $500. Koons will be the only Hillsboro senior to play softball next season; she is planning to attend Bethany College. None of those seniors are even attending the same schools, Koons said.
Koons has been a fixture for a program that has seen immense success over the past three seasons. A 19-1 regular season in 2010 was followed by 19-4 season last year. With wins over Marion, the
Trojans are now 15-2 this season.
Koons said with this group of freshmen players — catcher Bradli Nowak and designated hitter Madison Klein each had multiple hits and scored multiple runs against Marion — this season has been different.
“It’s been a really fun year,” she said.
Koons has played with Sanders, Krista Reimer, Amy Bartel, and Courtney Weber since they were 10 years old.
“They’re the best teammates I’ve ever had,” Koons said. “I think it’s because we’ve played so long together.”
Their camaraderie was evident in an impromptu “Red Rover” game after the softball games were finished Friday.
What would be the cherry on top of the Sundae for those teammates is a state championship in their last sports season together.
“We just want a state championship so bad,” Koons said.