Eli Barnes, the senior right‑hander for Rossville, stood on the mound as his team took a 3‑0 lead over Riverton Parke in a regional championship showdown.
The atmosphere was tense, yet Barnes kept his composure even when the bases were loaded with no outs, nursing a slender 2‑0 advantage. A hard‑chopped ball from the Panthers’ No. 6 hitter was snared by Barnes, who turned it into a 1‑2‑3 double play that swung momentum decisively.
A senior's cool under pressure
Right fielder AJ Kelley added a crucial steal, rescuing the Hornets from a two‑on, no‑out jam. Later, Zac Wainscott capitalized on an error that should have been a routine double play, scoring on Evan McDonald’s clutch hit. In the fifth inning, Wainscott’s sacrifice bunt paid off with a fly to center that brought home Andrew Woollen, extending the lead.
Coach Brad Scott praised the seniors’ dedication and experience, noting that the group has been together since they were eight, nine or ten years old. Their shared journey, from watching the 2017 state championship run to now chasing a semi‑state berth, gave the victory a historic weight — Rossville’s first regional title since 2019.
The Hornets, ranked tenth with a 19‑11 record, will next face top‑seeded Kouts (29‑1) on June 13 in the Class A semi‑state. The matchup pits the seasoned seniors against a powerhouse program, promising another chapter in their intertwined baseball saga.