By Chad Wingert (Contact / Staff Bio)

Originally published June 16, 2009, 03:49 p.m. EST. Updated June 16, 2009, 03:49 p.m. EST

By Chad Wingert

Sports Editor

BATTLE CREEK — Just one run.

One run seems so small, but ask any member of the Reese Rocket softball team and they will tell you exactly how big one run is.

Reese saw 1-0 on the scoreboard for the third straight game this postseason Saturday night. Except this time, they came out on the losing end.

“Normally, we can come back from one run in the first inning, but today we didn’t,” Reese head coach Andy Behmlander said. “We faced a good pitcher and a good team. We had our opportunities, we just didn’t capitalize on them.”

And just to make that one run stand out even more, it was the only run the Rockets had given up the entire postseason and it came in the first inning of the Division 3 title game.

“They scratched out one run with some good hits. I give them the credit,” Reese senior pitcher Abbey Harrington said. “We just could not do it today.”

All it took was two hits from Gladstone to post the one run. A leadoff single, a stolen base and another single later, Gladstone took the lead and never looked back.

“We had our chances, and we didn’t score. That’s the way this game goes,” Behmlander said. “Gladstone is a very good team and we knew that coming in. They scored in the first inning, and we didn’t. We know that the first inning is very important.”

After the first inning, Harrington settled down and retired the next 11 batters, hoping to give her team the chance to get back in the game. However, Harrington was not afraid to admit her pre-game jitters.

“There were a lot of fans here and that made me a little bit nervous,” Harrington said. “I knew our team could hold them on defense, we just didn’t pull anything out on offense. But, I know everyone tried their hardest.”

Harrington finished her Rocket finale by allowing one run on four hits while fanning 17 on the mound.

Reese’s offense was held in check by Gladstone pitcher Mackenzie Shepeck, who held the Rockets to just two hits while striking out five and walking two. Jillian Gerow and Amy Kaufman posted the only hits for Reese.

The Rockets left three girls on base at crucial moments in the game. But, as Behmlander said, this team is not perfect.

“We never ask that these kids be perfect, we just want them to play the best they can,” Behmlander said. “These girls should not be disappointed in the way they played, I certainly am not. They should be proud of what they did here today.”

Despite the loss, one thing is for sure: these girls are a family on and off the field. And it showed as the squad embraced each other and shared their tears after the game.

“Our team clicked really well this year. I know a lot of people say their teams are families, but we really were,” senior center fielder Alex Toma said. “There is no way we would have been here without every single one of them on our team. We worked so hard to get here and it’s great because I think this group of girls really deserved it.”

And as Coach Behmlander looked beyond the fences of the diamond to see all of the Reese fans supporting his squad, he talked about his love for the best squad in school history.

“This group is a family. We always have a large group of fans, home or away, and most of these girls are best friends, if not related,” Behmlander said. “As coaches, we love these girls and they love us right back. It’s just too bad they couldn’t go out on top and only one team goes home happy.”

One thing is for sure, title or no title, Behmlander’s group of six seniors will still go out as members of the greatest team in school history.

“This is the best team we’ve had and the most complete team Reese has ever had. Our team is senior dominated, and that is who I feel bad for,” Behmlander said. “The younger kids will have another chance, even though it’s not as easy as some of the younger kids think. Their first year on varsity and they make it to Battle Creek. It’s just a tough loss for the seniors, I feel bad for them.”

As Gladstone celebrated not far behind the Rockets’ crowd, Harrington still felt that she and her teammates ended the season the next best way to do so.

“This team has accomplished so much this year. This is the farthest we have ever gotten, and I’m really proud of my whole team,” Harrington said. “We would have loved to win, but this is a nice way to go out, too. We lost in the last possible game you could play.”

“It’s a great feeling and we have worked so hard this season,” Toma added. “These are the best teams in the state and to be here playing against these teams is a great opportunity.”

Through the sweat and tears, Harrington still felt confident in the group of girls left behind for the 2010 Rocket squad, saying there is still hope for next year.

“I know a lot of these girls that us seniors are leaving behind have what it takes to work hard and get back here next year,” Harrington said. “It just feels good, coming from a small town, to make it this far. It’s been pretty amazing.”

Chad Wingert is the Sports Editor of the Advertiser and can be reached at Sports@tcadvertiser.com