After nine innings at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln, Arlington High School softball coach Janelle Lorsch's Red team had earned a 19-3 Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star Game win against the Blue squad.
She didn't feel it mattered too much.
“I don't think so,” Lorsch said afterward Monday night, feet still planted firmly on the Huskers' home field.
The opportunity to be along for the ride with fellow Red team coach Travis Unzicker of Millard North is what meant the most.
“These are an honor. Truly,” the Eagles' coach said of the all-star matchup. “These are the best softball players in the state and it's so fun to just watch them, to be apart of that.”
The Red team scored first and again and again after the Blue team plated its first run during the second inning. The victors led 6-2 after four innings, 10-2 after five and 15-2 after a five-run seventh frame.
The Red roster included players set to play Division I college softball for the UMKC Roos (Norfolk's Payton Schnoor), the South Dakota Coyotes (Norfolk's Emerson Waldow) and the Omaha Mavericks (Kymmia Roberts-Brown of Millard North and Omaha Marian's Reagan Dreibelbis). Charity Curtis of Marian and Omaha Mercy's Mackenzie Groninga are headed to Midland University, too, which their coach — a Warriors hall-of-famer — appreciated.
Altogether, Lorsch appreciated the chance to watch the players compete.
“They don't need us in these moments,” she said. “They know the game. They love the game and you just smile watching them. It's fun.”
