RBHS softball wins 9-0 on senior night, reflects on current seniors

Senior+left+and+center+fielder%2C+Lucy+Sadewhite+%2812%29%2C+smiles+as+her+underclassman+representative+runs+out+to+her.

Maddie Powell

Senior left and center fielder, Lucy Sadewhite (12), smiles as her underclassman representative runs out to her.

Fatimah Yousuf, Staff Writer

The varsity softball team played against Rolla High School Thursday, Sept. 29. RBHS won 9-0 and in the 6th inning all the seniors were subbed out for the remainder of the game to honor their dedication. Between the junior varsity and varsity games, the seniors and their families were invited to the field to say farewell to their high school softball careers.

Head coach Lisa Alvis started coaching the team in 2019, when the current seniors were freshmen. She said the connection between the seniors and her is unique because they were here for her first four years. 

“We’ve been through adversity with losing family members, a pandemic, winning championships, losing championships and everything in between,” Alvis said. “Personally, they’ve seen me go through big life changes—being a new mom [and] nursing with my first son; I was pregnant with my second son during their sophomore season, and I got married. They’ve seen it all.”

Alvis said these last four years together have made Thursday’s senior festivities more touching than she anticipated. Senior pitcher Anna Christ was one of the six seniors honored at the game. Christ is committed to playing collegiate softball at St. Louis University, but finds it hard to leave her high school softball days behind. 

“It is a little bittersweet knowing it’s my last year,” Christ said. “But, I have really enjoyed these past three years playing for Rock Bridge, and have been really excited for this season, even though it is my last. I am really excited for the opportunity to represent Rock Bridge for one more year and to continue the program’s success.”

Alvis said a new identity and leadership will emerge once the seniors leave. Junior first baseman Molly Murphy also reflected on the impact seniors had.

We’ve been through adversity with losing family members, a pandemic, winning championships, losing championships and everything in between.

— Lisa Alvis, RBHS softball coach

“I am really sad to see the seniors leave because they have made such a great impact on my life over the past three years,” Murphy said. “It has been a privilege to be able to play alongside such amazing people and athletes and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”

As of now, the varsity team is 28-1 this season and is heading off to districts in the coming weeks. The varsity team has only lost one home game in the past four years. 

“The thing I want [the seniors] to take away from this program and their time at [RBHS] is that they are always welcomed back,” Alvis said. “I hope we created a place where they’ve gained confidence in who they are as [a] young woman and gained [the] confidence to stand up for what is right and protect those who cannot use their voice for justice.”

Will you support the softball team at districts? Let us know in the comments below.