Is it fair or is it foul? It was a moment when time seemed to slow down as a bright yellow softball soared above the third baseline at Rockingham Middle School’s softball field earlier this month.
You could not have asked for a better setup. With the game tied 3-3 in the highly-anticipated conference title game between rivals Rockingham and Hamlet Middle School in the bottom of the seventh inning, Rockingham catcher Abby Hinson swung at the first pitch and just by the sheer sound of the contact, everyone in attendance knew that the ball would be leaving the park. The question was, which side of the foul pole would it be on when it sailed over the fence?
Once the umpire signaled fair, the home fans burst into celebration cheering on Hinson as she rounded the bases eventually meeting up with her teammates at home plate to celebrate the win. To add to the moment, it was Hinson’s first career home run.
“This championship game was one for the ages and one that will be talked about for years to come,” shared Rockingham coach Lauren Millen. “I know it’s something that all of these ladies, Lady Rockets and Lady Red Rams, will remember for the rest of their lives. It went exactly how a championship game should. The Lady Red Rams played an awesome game defensively and offensively.”
Millen was approached about stepping into the role of coach at the last minute this season, but credits her support system for helping her and the Lady Rockets on their journey.
“My oldest daughter, Annabelle, has played softball for the Rockets since 6th grade, so I thought I’ll be at the games anyway, so why not?,” said Millen. “I’ve never done anything like this, so I knew I’d need some help. My husband (Chaise Millen) coaches a travel softball team. Claire Clark’s dad (Chad Clark) and Sydney Barnes’ dad (Derrick Barnes) also have experience so I knew that they could help me. They have been a tremendous help this season, I could not have done it without them.”
At first, it didn’t appear that Millen and company would need any late-game heroics in order to win. The Lady Rockets, who had outscored their previous opponents 132-15 including a 10-2 victory over Hamlet earlier in the season, took an early 2-0 leadin the bottom of the first inning. Annabelle Millen and Sydney Barnes hit back-to-back doubles with Barnes’ hit bringing home (Annabelle) Millen for the game’s first run. After a Hinson single put runners on the corners, a single by Laney Taylor plated Barnes.
In the bottom of the second inning a single from Rylee Smith and a pair of walks loaded the bases before (Annabelle) Millen put the Lady Rockets up by three bringing home Smith with a sacrifice hit.
Hamlet pitcher Mackenzie Quick settled after the second inning and did not allow another hit until Hinson’s home run in the seventh. After an uneventful third inning, the tide began to turn in favor of Hamlet in the fourth inning.
Autumn Cooper drew a walk and stole second base. Quick put the Lady Red Rams on the board with a one-out double to bring home Cooper.
In the top of the fifth, Jenna Watson got on base with a leadoff single before advancing to second base on an error. Kaleigh Bowden later brought home Watson with an RBI-single.
Quick led off the top of the sixth with a triple and later came home on a one-out single by Cherise Baker to tie the game. Rockingham loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on a trio of walks, the third of which was intentional, but the Lady Rad Rams’ infielders made some big plays to leave all three Lady Rockets stranded on base to end the inning. This sent the rivals into the final inning knotted-up at 3 apiece.
Hamlet threatened to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning after back-to-back singles from Bowden and Lexi Smith along with an intentional walk of Quick loaded the bases with two outs. However, like the Lady Rockets had done moments earlier, Hamlet’s runners were left stranded on base setting up Hinson’s game ending hit in the bottom of the seventh.
“Due to the team’s performance over the previous two years, I knew when we started the season that we had a good chance at a conference title this year,” Millen shared. “I never could have imagined what a ride this would be.”
“All 14 of the girls who make up the Lady Rockets team played a valuable role in our success this season,” Millen continued. “They are all wonderful young ladies who have a true love for the sport. They supported one another, cheered each other on, and dedicated countless hours and long practice days over the course of the season, which was evident during game time. We may have coached them, but it was their own persistence that led to us being conference champions.”
Rockingham’s Claire Clark struck out 12 batters from the circle in the win, increasing her season strikeout total to 122. Hinson and Taylor led the Lady Rockets with 2 hits and an RBI each. Barnes and Annabelle Millen each added a hit and an RBI.
Quick went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Hamlet, as well as stuck out eight batters from the circle. Bowden had two hits and an RBI, Baker had one hit and an RBI, and both Smith and Watson each had a hit for the Lady Red Rams.
While Millen enjoyed her teams’ run this spring, she looks forward to watching her daughter and all of the area softball players as the transition to high school ball at Richmond Senior High.
“I have said it numerous times throughout the season after seeing all of our in-county middle school softball talent, the future of Richmond Raider Softball is bright. I cannot wait.”
