Rock Creek baseball and softball expecting results

ST. GEORGE Kan. (WIBW) - The expectation for Rock Creek is to make it to state every single year.

The baseball team is headed back to the tournament for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. The Mustangs are 21-1 this year and beat their neighbors in Wamego in the Regional Championship.

Head Coach Shane Sieben says they brought back eight starters from last season which has helped significantly. This is a team that pulls for each other and wants to win that state title.

”We just got to take care of business and control what we can control and take care of us,” Sieben said. “We’ve talked all year about a nameless, faceless opponent and the only thing that matters is us and we just got to take care of ourselves.”

“One game at a time so really that’s what we’re doing right now,” Senior Ethan Burgess said. “We’re really honing in on Paola and we’re going to see a pretty good lefty arm first probably so we’ve been working on lefty breakers and velocity from the left side so we’re preparing for that.”

Again, that expectation is nothing less other than winning.

“They’re going to be good. They definitely have a dude on the mound we’ll see game one but I’m expecting a win and it’s going to be a dog fight, every game we have left is going to be a dog fight,” Senior Logan Sturdy said.

As for the softball team, they’re appearing in their third straight tournament and they go up against No. 1 Wamego in the first round. This is a rematch from last seasons opening round where the Red Raiders won.

The Mustangs are 11-11 this year and topped Ottawa 16-9 in the Regional Championship. Head coach Jeri Brummett says they lost a big senior class but they’re relying on the teams heart, love and resiliency.

”Find a way. Find a way,” Brummett said. “Don’t beat ourselves. I’ve said it probably 15 times in the last two weeks, get out of our own way. We’re very talented kids, we’re a very talented team but just got to get out of our own way.”

“I think a big focus has been definitely for us to play our game and focus on what we can do to improve and let’s make this about us and not about them and let’s keep working on what we can improve,” Senior Allison Moser said.

“Focusing on that it’s just another game and not to make it bigger than it actually is,” Junior Sam Killingsworth said. “Focusing on us and timing with hitting and keeping it simple. Even though it is the state tournament, it’s just a another game so keeping it team focused and team orientated.”

They believe with some of the experience they have being in the tournament before will certainly help in pressure moments.

Baseball will play Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Dean Evans Stadium in Salina while softball will play Wamego at 5:00 p.m. at Salina South High School.