Kingwood Park strong-arms Crosby to make region semis

Kassidy Rhoudes is a fighter.

Crosby’s senior pitcher totaled 239 pitches in two games Friday and then came back a day later to throw another complete game and hold Kingwood Park to a lone run.

But the Panthers’ Ronni Grofman was a little fresher, and that proved to be the difference.

After resting during Friday’s second game, the freshman silenced the Cougars’ bats Saturday, allowing only two hits while striking out six in a 1-0 victory that moved Kingwood Park into the Class 5A Region III semifinals.

“All the credit goes to my kids,” Panthers coach Sara Koym said. “We had a game plan, and they stuck to it.”

Kingwood Park (26-12) made the third round of the playoffs for the first time last year. Now, the Panthers are headed to their first regional semifinal, where they will face District 20-5A champion Willis next week.

“That’s huge,” Koym said. “We talked to these kids about this since August. This was on their calendar. This was where they wanted to be, so I couldn’t be more proud of them right now.”

Kingwood Park had to go through a district rival to make history.

The two evenly matched teams split two games in 21-5A play and then split their two playoff matchups Friday, with the Panthers winning the first game 6-2 with Grofman in the circle and losing the second game 11-10 without her.

“A majority of these kids play together on the same team all summer long, so they know each other inside and out,” Koym said. “They’re friends off the field, but on the field they go to battle.”

Grofman was ready to return Saturday.

Kingwood Park used four pitchers in Game 2 and, though the Panthers lost, they made Rhoudes work while Grofman relaxed. And it showed in Game 3, with the rested Grofman retiring 12 consecutive batters at one point. She allowed only two singles and two walks on an efficient 89 pitches.

“She spins the ball well and mixes it up,” Koym said. “She’s got a series of pitches, and she uses them well.”

Kingwood Park scored the game’s only run in the fifth inning.

Mackenzie Purcell doubled to start the inning and then scored on Jessica Husband’s fielder’s choice, beating the throw home.

The Panthers won despite stranding 11 runners, leaving the bases loaded twice.

Rhoudes had two strikeouts, three walks and two hit batsmen in 90 pitches, totaling 329 for the series.

Kylie George was 1-for2 with a walk for Crosby (25-7).

“It could have gone either way, so hats off to them,” Cougars coach Troy Fox said.