Community R-6 softball walked off its home field happy on Thursday and then walked back on with bittersweet emotions.
The Lady Trojans won 10-0 in five innings against Class 1 District 4 foe …
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Community R-6 softball walked off its home field happy on Thursday and then walked back on with bittersweet emotions.
The Lady Trojans won 10-0 in five innings against Class 1 District 4 foe Marion County (5-8) after Chloe Johnson hit an RBI double to trigger the run-rule victory and seal the third shutout victory for Community (11-20). Johnson joined Jocelyn Curtis and Peyton Schafer back on the field with family during Senior Night ceremonies for them and trap shooting seniors Lane Carter and Cooper Rohan.
The impact on Thursday’s game was felt from the seniors as Curtis struck out a season-high 11 while allowing four hits in five innings and finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and one double at the plate, while Johnson had the walk-off double and went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and Schafer had a single and a walk. Head coach Jeff Angel said he knew the trio would be impact players as freshmen, when he was an assistant coach.
“A great foundation right there,” Angel said. “All three of them have done their part on a team. No matter if it was defensively, offensively or both, we could lean on them. They got us through the rough times and kept the younger girls focused.”
Community R-6 had five underclassmen, including four freshmen, in the starting lineup this season as it faced a schedule containing nine games against state-ranked opponents. The seniors led the team to the program’s eighth straight season with double-digit wins and accounted for 65 wins and counting over four years.
Curtis ascended to the No. 1 pitcher role and allowed one earned run in 12 innings against Louisiana and Marion County. Schafer leads the team in on-base percentage and runs as the leadoff hitter and shortstop. Johnson went 6-for-15 with four RBIs over four games, including 2-for-4 in an 8-7 loss at Class 2 No. 5 Montgomery County.
“I’ve seen them really mature and take the next step and become really good players,” Angel said. “When they were freshmen, I knew we had three solid ballplayers we would be able to use over the next four years.”
Curtis, Johnson and Schafer each said there were plenty of emotions on Senior Night, and they were happy they could respond to all of the support with a win. They each said they have more than 10 years of softball experience and most of that time was spent playing together.
“I love the chemistry between us,” Johnson said. “We know what we can and can’t do and pick each other up for what we can’t do.”
Community had back-to-back 20-win seasons during the trio’s sophomore and junior seasons. Curtis said clinching the Central Activities Conference championship at Cairo as sophomores is her best softball memory, but being a Lady Trojan has meant much more to her.
“It’s everything,” Curtis said. “It’s really taught me how to be a good leader and how to keep people together. It’s strengthened me as a player and as a person.”
Schafer has been involved in other activities like the other seniors, including cheerleading and rodeo, and has been around many people. Softball has played a big part in her life, and the people she has been with on the field have made her career enjoyable.
“I love how tight we all get with each other,” Schafer said. “We’re really close. It has shaped on the field and off the field as a person.”
Community R-6 is the No. 6 seed in the district tournament, and the team will play at North Shelby in Shelbyville. The Lady Trojans will play at 4 p.m. Thursday against No. 3 Canton (13-13), whom they defeated 9-3 this season in the Paris Tournament. A potential rematch with Class 1 No. 6 Silex — one of two state-ranked teams along with No. 1 seed and state No. 2 North Shelby — awaits in the semifinals.
Curtis, Johnson and Schafer said they need to continue having fun with high energy to avoid any bad innings in districts. Angel said it is fortunate Community has its own personal scouting report against Canton and believes it can win by putting the ball in play. Regardless, he is happy his seniors won on Senior Night.
“On Senior Night, you’re so ramped up and so excited,” Angel said. “You’ve got family in the stands and you’ve got all your friends and everything so you want to do well on Senior Night. Sometimes, it takes an inning or two to come down off that high. Once you get settled in, it’s just like another game, and you start squaring the ball up.”
