Ryan didn't choke, just got beat
It's easy to say the Ryan Lady Raiders choked and didn't live up to the lofty expectations that come with having the majority of a team back that made the state title game the year before.
Frankly, Ryan just got beat. Watch out, Guyer. You're going to have your hands full with the Lady Owls.
Joshua was able to get enough hits off Brysten Luster and Tara Tague. It is one of the best base-running teams I've ever seen. And pitcher Kayci Wilson was simply heroic, pitching all but three innings of the three-game series and shutting down one of the hottest offensive teams in the state in games 1 and 3.
You can point the finger at the lackluster offensive performance that cost Ryan Game 3 as the reason why the Lady Raiders aren't getting ready for Guyer, but it all goes back to Ryan's loss in Game 1.
I don't think the Lady Raiders showed up for that one. Ryan losing to any team 7-0 is simply shocking. Even in losses to some of the best teams in the state no matter what class they were in, Ryan was never blown out of a game like that.
To do it in their first playoff game of the year is unfortunate timing for the Lady Raiders. Rumblings around the area suggested Ryan would have its hands full with Joshua. Play well and Ryan would win was what I was told.
Obviously, Ryan didn't have its best game in any of the three games. Without Whitney's Haynes' clutch 3 RBI double, the Lady Raiders wouldn't have even pushed it to Game 3. Why the Lady Raiders didn't have their best is anyone's guess. As many coaches have told me, getting teenagers to stay focused for a whole season is the toughest part of the job.
The worst interviews I have to do in my job is after a team is eliminated. Interviewing a team that was favored to go the distance that just lost in the area round is a whole other animal. Aimee Foutch did her best to hide her disappointment, but I know this one is going to sting for Ryan for a long time.
Still, Ryan has a lot to be proud of. Winning back-to-back district titles in 5-4A isn't easy. Going undefeated in district play in both years is remarkable. Unfortunately it ended the way it did.