AURORA – Eaton senior Sadie Ross couldn’t have imagined a better final day of her high school softball career.
At Aurora Sports Park on Saturday, the Reds’ two-way star threw a no-hitter in an 11-0 victory over Thomas Jefferson that spurred her team to a second consecutive Class 3A softball state title and its third in the last four years. After missing last season’s title run because of an injury, this latest title was a special one for Ross.
On the field following the victory, her long-awaited jubilation showed.
“I definitely had some butterflies for sure,” Ross said. “I was just so excited to be back on the field. Watching them do it last year was awesome. But, I’m just excited to be in it again. I knew I needed to come out and perform, not just for myself but for my team and just be the best I can for them. I wanted to go out on a high note and leave it all on the field because it’s truly special to play on this field.”
Ross, who also hit a grand slam during an 11-1 win over No. 5 The Academy and finished the season with 13 home runs, was named Sportswomen of Colorado Player of the Game following the title victory and will play for Baylor University next season. In her majestic final performance, she struck out seven batters against the sixth-seeded Spartans lineup.
The Reds took an early lead with three runs in the second inning. They added two more in the third before exploding for six runs in the fourth, paced by a three-run home run from Destrie Greiman. In the state tournament, the Reds hit 10 home over four games and no opponent survived the five-inning, 10-run mercy rule.
Eaton coach Dale Hughes credited Ross and this year’s senior group for the dominant run the Reds have been on over the last four years.
“This senior group has been special,” Hughes said. “I mean, they showed up as freshmen and we won one in 2020. Then we roll it again last year, even though we lost Sadie for the entire year and we lost Zoe Hamilton for the entire year. That group was able to persevere through all that adversity and having all five of those seniors here this year, they kept the ship upright and they kept us facing the right direction.”
Eaton lost just one game this season. That loss was to Holy Family, the 2022 runner-up in 4A and this year’s 4A top overall seed. This latest softball championship is the third in Eaton history.
“Eaton’s special,” Ross said. “They’re going to be good for many years. Just the environment is what makes it so special and it’s an honor to play there.”
In the semifinals on Saturday morning, Thomas Jefferson won 5-2 over No. 2 Strasburg.
Thomas Jefferson, which has never won a state title, finished the season with a 23-5 record and Saturday’s title appearance was the program’s first.
