Royal Oak

Regional rundown

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Roy Feldman Royal Oak Shrine’s Rosie Konczal fires a throw to first June 9 in a regional final against Allen Park Inter-City Baptist. The Knights fell 8-0. Photo by Roy Feldman Royal Oak Shrine’s Rosie Konczal fires a throw to first June 9 in a regional final against Allen Park Inter-City Baptist. The Knights fell 8-0.

The season came to a close for Royal Oak Shrine softball in the regional final round of the state tournament, as the Knights fell to Allen Park Inter-City Baptist 8-0 June 9 at Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett.

Shrine earned a spot in the final after beating Westland Huron Valley Lutheran 6-1 in the semifinals.

Still, the Knights did end their season with a trophy, winning a district title after beating Southfield Christian, which had beaten them the last two seasons in the final. Shrine did it in dramatic fashion, winning 6-5 in eight innings June 2 at Southfield Christian.

“Southfield Christian is good, and beating them was a big step for us,” senior captain Devin Kinney said. “We hadn’t done it in a while, but we went out with a bang.”

Kinney drove in the winning run with a double and was injured sliding into second base, causing her to miss the regional.

“It was cool getting in the game-winning run as a senior. I didn’t really get to enjoy it at that moment, but looking back, it’s a glory moment,” she said.

“It marks a milestone also,” fellow senior captain Kelly Cobbledick said. “I think it’s a great way to end the season with a district title.”

Kinney said it was the team’s focus that propelled it.

“I think we put our minds to it. We know what we have to do, and we get it done,” she said.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.