Lawrence Free State鈥檚 bid for third straight softball state title put on hold
LAWRENCE, Kan. (BVM) 鈥� Thousands of college and high school seniors had their final season taken from them when spring sports were canceled across the country because of the COVID-19 outbreak.聽
Kansas was one of the first states to make that call at the high school level, which meant one of the top softball programs in the nation wouldn鈥檛 get a chance to defend back-to- back state championships this year. But the Lawrence Free State Firebirds are unlike a lot of teams because they weren鈥檛 going to be counting on seniors to lead them on another title run.聽
鈥淚 feel bad for the programs and the seniors that are leaving that don鈥檛 have the opportunity that we may have a year from now,鈥� Free State head coach Lee Ice said.聽
The top six hitters in the Firebirds鈥� lineup were all underclassmen last year. That includes All-State selections Georgia Rea, Jasmine Brixius, Sara Roszak, Macy Miles and ace Tatum Clopton, who was the 2019 Gatorade Kansas Softball Player of Year. With so much talent returning, they were ranked as the top softball team in the state and No. 22 nationally in the MaxPreps preseason top 25.聽
鈥淲e could鈥檝e even been better than we were a year ago,鈥� Ice said. 鈥淭he skill level of these kids is unbelievable and I鈥檓 very fortunate to have this group. Not to say we were looking past this year, but the kids that are juniors were looking to win four (state titles).鈥�
Junior Kansas commit Roszak was confident in her team鈥檚 ability to make a run at four in a row.聽
鈥淲e always just kind of thought that would be a thing,鈥� Roszak said. 鈥淲e knew we had a chance this year and we鈥檒l definitely have a good chance next year. We had a long way to go, but we knew that by the end of the season we鈥檇 be ready to do it again. … It鈥檚 going聽to be kind of weird to get into it next year. Just not having that four years is kind of hard to think about.鈥�
For Ice, who was in his 11th season as the head coach, it鈥檚 the loss of a full season of opportunities to teach his younger players and the chance to find new leadership among his more experienced players.聽
鈥淲hen we bring back that group, we don鈥檛 know who鈥檚 going to lead,鈥� Ice said. 鈥淲e lost that. Talent is sometimes a little bit overrated. You鈥檝e got to have it, but where鈥檚 that leadership going to come from?鈥澛�
Fortunately for the Firebirds, when they do return to the field next season they鈥檒l have no shortage of talented players who have already experienced what it takes to work together and become a championship team.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have that,鈥� Roszak said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 plenty of schools in Kansas and across the country that don鈥檛 have that and maybe it was their last year to get something really important done. I feel really blessed that we have a lot of girls back who bring a lot of energy and talent especially. I鈥檓 definitely excited to get back on the field with everyone.鈥澛�
