Photo: Robin Golden/Special to Portage Sports

By Roger Gordon

Correspondent

The Kent Roosevelt softball team is not only the talk of the school, they are the talk of the town!

The Rough Riders have won three of their first four games of the season, all against Suburban League American Conference rivals.

That might not sound like reason for serious celebration until you ponder the fact that the program produced four league wins combined over the last three seasons, has posted a Suburban League record of just 12-77 over the last seven seasons and has not enjoyed a winning season since going 12-10 in 2019.

“The program has been down a long time, let’s face it. To be 3-1 is pretty unbelievable. Nobody can believe that we’re 3-1,” first-year head coach Jay Weiss said. “The biggest thing we’ve been trying to accomplish is getting the girls to believe in themselves, and they are, which is nice to see. That’s such a key. I’m proud of the girls and their change in attitude. In the past, if we had a mistake or a bad inning, that would be all it would take for us to get down. We’ve got them understanding that everybody makes an error. You just have to shake it off and come back. And they’re not getting down. They’re battling right back.”

The team’s confidence level has resulted in two clutch one-run wins, both by 7-6 scores, on March 30 in nine innings at Copley and on April 2 at home over Cuyahoga Falls.

Kent Roosevelt pounded out 18 hits against the Indians, including four apiece by senior pitcher Brynn Moser and freshman leftfielder Emelia Gates, who each had a triple and three singles. Moser added three RBIs, while Gates knocked in a run and scored once.

Moser singled in what proved to be the winning run in the top of the ninth, plating senior Aubrey Henry.

“Brynn was phenomenal at the plate,” said Weiss. “Emelia is so polished beyond her years. She’s a superstar right now in my book as a freshman. She’s outstanding.”

With two hits apiece were Walker (two singles) and seniors Skylar Lauck (double, single) and Aubrey Henry (two singles). Walker also drove in a run and scored once, and Henry scored twice.

On the mound, Moser started and went the distance in giving up just one unearned run and nine hits while striking out one and walking six.

In the win over the Black Tigers, the Rough Riders gave up four runs in the top of the third, but bounced back with four runs of their own in the last of the frame. They plated three runs the next inning and withstood a late rally by the visitors.

Gates doubled, singled twice, had three RBIs and scored two runs; freshman right fielder Addy Dunlap doubled and singled; and senior Katlyn Ciolek doubled and drove in two runs.

“Addy is another freshman who is just pushing her way into the lineup, especially at the plate,” the coach said. “She has good speed and a great attitude. We’re fortunate to have her.”

Moser started and again went the distance in yielding four earned runs and 10 hits, while fanning nine and issuing three walks.

“The way Brynn battles is off the charts. There’s no better way to say it,” said Weiss. “She’s going to keep us in the game just by her competitiveness. She is just a bulldog on the mound. She’s definitely a captain and a natural leader for us. She’s tenacious both at the plate and on the mound. She’s definitely a competitor.”

Weiss and assistant coach Meaggan Pettipiece have tried to make softball fun for their players.

“And they’re having fun. That’s what it should be about.”