We are family… Current, former Lady Rangers unite on softball diamond
Published 6:00 am Tuesday, August 6, 2019
BY C.Y. PETERS
Not many times in life did I get to cover a softball game in August but Saturday night on the creek looked like a sub-state game for the Rangers with cars lined up the entire hillside.
It was the biggest game of the summer for the Lady Rangers and a real test for the upcoming season.
They would not only face some seasoned pro’s but would face some of the best players ever to wear the maroon and white.
A hush came over the crowd when former Ranger mentor Ronnie Hicks turned in his line-up and Ryann Musick took the mound for the old-times.
When you hear the word Old-Timers, you think about Wes Holly or Jarfly Dugger but Hicks had put together players to go along with Musick like Megan Heaton, Brittany Arnett, Jermima Rowland and another ace from the mound Dani Williams. He also picked up former Ranger superstar Christina Bowers for his assistant coach who also played first base.
Arnett started the game off with a double to left field but Coach Kenneth Chambers had his team prepared as usual and the defense held Arnett at second as Beth Lowe made a great catch to end the threat.
Musick took the mound for the Old-Timers and for two innings held the Rangers in place allowing no hits and striking out two batters to end the second inning.
Musick would help her team offensively to start the third with a shot up the middle.
After a strikeout, the Lady Rangers turned a double play and the game was still scoreless.
Coach Chambers’ team would score two runs in the third when freshman Lyndie Ramsey got on board and was moved around by McKensie Depew.
Trinity Bowers would account for two RBI’s and the Lady Rangers were up 2-0.
On the night, the Lady Rangers turned two big double plays and saw some of the best pitching they will ever face in Musick and Williams.
It was the first time since her junior season Musick had been scored on.
Her senior year with the Rangers not one team in the conference scored on her through the District or Regional tournaments.
Kylie Blevins got the ball rolling in the fourth with the best bunt I have ever seen. About 15 feet from home play and it just stopped and spun.
Coach Hicks had recruited one of the best catchers possible in Madison Pierce, who accounted for many outs and picked off runners like Johnny Bench.
It seemed the Old-Timers were slowing down and then Trinity Bowers came to bat with the bases loaded.
After battling off seven foul balls at the plate, Bowers connected on a hit that ended up being a grand slam with the Lady Rangers going on to win game one 2-0.
Her hit came in the bottom of the 5th inning. The Lady Rangers already had the game won and should have ended after the Old Timers batted in the top of the 5th.
Kailey Wilson picked up the win for the Rangers.The Lady Rangers had proved they were up to the test and could play with anyone.
As I walked through the crowd after the first game, all the talk was about the upcoming season.
Any doubts about the Lady Rangers were gone and the fans were ready for March.
It was Coach Hicks first lose on the field named for him in many years. Hicks took seven Ranger teams to the state tournament and put together the best Old Timers team anyone could have asked for.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Old Timers won 11-6 with the highlight being Megan Heaton hammering a home run.
Assistant Coach Lewis said, “I was the only player playing from the 80s. Its been a while since I’ve thrown the ball from the pitching rubber.
“It was great hanging out with Coach Hicks and all the girls. I played in a much different era than they did.”
Coach Hicks stated, “I thought the alumni did well not to have practiced any. We won the 2nd game 11-6. Heaton hit a three-run homer.”