Rota's Jessie Bray stretches for the ball to make a play at second base during the DODDS Division III high school softball championships in Landstuhl, Germany, on Saturday. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Rota's Jessie Bray stretches for the ball to make a play at second base during the DODDS Division III high school softball championships in Landstuhl, Germany, on Saturday. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Alconbury's Alicia Christensen, left, fields a ground ball and throws to first as Rota's Karen O'Neal advances to third during the DODDS Division III high school softball championships in Landstuhl, Germany, on Saturday. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
Rota's Crystal Mirales slides safely into home as Alconbury catcher Ashley Roy reaches for the ball during the DODDS Division III high school softball championships in Landstuhl, Germany, on Saturday. (Raymond T. Conway / S&S)
LANDSTUHL, Germany — Rota earned its third Division III crown in four years with a 20-8 victory over defending champion Alconbury.
It was the third time that the Lady Admirals captured the crown in a run-rule shortened game.
“We feel like the championship belongs to us,” said Rota senior and tournament MVP Jessie Bray, who has played in the past four European championship games. “Every year, we play for this.”
Rota, which scored 72 runs in its four tournament victories, put the final away early with an 11-run first inning. Despite the lead, winning pitcher Corinne Hall, a freshman who transferred into Rota from Delaware three months ago, claimed she wasn’t coasting.
“It was still nerve-wracking,” she said, “I’ll have three more years to try to do the same thing.”
Rhiannon Messer, Amanda Sizemore, Amanda Lillibridge and Cate Quigley each had three hits for Rota.
Rota reached the final with a 11-2 victory over Lajes in Friday’s semifinal. Rota led just 3-2 going into the final inning before scoring eight runs.
Alconbury reached the final with a 12-2 victory over Baumholder on Friday.
Reva Ballard one-hit the Lady Bucs to hand them their first loss of the season as Ashely Roy had three hits and Ballard two.
