East Aurora freshman Lauren Rodgers knows the story.
It begins with two struggling teams — 17th-seeded East Aurora at 16th-seeded Batavia — in a Class 4A Yorkville Regional quarterfinal game.
But the Tomcats and Batavia, entering with a combined six wins, have a connection that runs deeper than wins and losses on a softball field and it was evident Monday.
Batavia softball coach Torry Pryor has tutored many of East Aurora’s players, having coached them in the winter as a varsity assistant to girls basketball coach Lee Clayborn.
“He’s a part of the East Aurora Tomcats family,” said Rodgers, who plays both sports. “I really do look up to (Pryor). He’s a great coach. It’s an honor to have him at East Aurora.”
Rodgers was the starting and losing pitcher Monday for East Aurora in a still-new position to her during a 17-0 four-inning setback to Pryor’s team that ended the Tomcats’ season.
It sends the Bulldogs (5-28) to a 4:30 p.m. Tuesday semifinal in the Yorkville Regional against the top-seeded host Foxes (30-2).
Rodgers can count on one hand the number of times she’s been in the circle, being pressed into action after the departure of several players from the Tomcats (2-16).
“Lauren has only been pitching for about half an hour of her whole life,” East Aurora coach Edward O’Reilly said. “She’s going to be good. She’s just 14 or 15 and strong.”
Batavia’s 14-hit attack, meanwhile, featured two apiece from Emily Reagan, Bella Zagotta, Katie Schroeder
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and Julia Peterson.The Bulldogs also had 11 more runners reach on either walks or being hit by a pitch.
“This is my four or fifth time pitching for East Aurora, all on varsity,” said Rodgers, who played varsity basketball, too. “It’s definitely a challenge, but I like challenges.
“When someone tells me I can’t do something, I want to do it even more. Getting out there and showing I know what I’m doing a little bit, it’s like an honor, especially as a freshman on varsity. That’s really big for me.”
Rodgers credited O’Reilly for keeping the team together.
“He’s a big part in motivating us, which is really appreciated,” Rodgers said. “Some sports are not like that. Everyone is down all the time. He makes sure we keep our chins up.”
After the teams finished their respective postgame meetings, Rodgers led O’Reilly and the Tomcats across the field to Batavia’s team and presented Pryor with a small, wooden plaque.
“We had it burned form him, basically acknowledging what he does as a coach over at Batavia but letting him know he’s still family at EA,” O’Reilly said. “That was the message.
“He knows half a dozen of my girls really well from basketball.”
The two coaches have also bonded.
“I’m trying to get a softball program off the ground, and you can see we’re really struggling,” O’Reilly said. “The only reason why half these girls are playing is because of the basketball connection, so I owe him a lot.
“We have lots of conversations and I’ve learned a lot about softball and basketball. Torry is like not a colleague — he’s way beyond that. He’s family.”
Center fielder Molly Giesen, who had an RBI double Monday, is one of five Batavia seniors. She believes the team has improved after a rough start due to injuries.
“We play pretty good defense, but we struggle at times with our hitting,” she said, pointing to the sophomore combo at middle infield in shortstop Gwen Shouse and second baseman Grace Sartain as keys to a future turnaround. “My goal is to go seven innings (with Yorkville). I want to finish off strong.”
Pryor was surprised by the Tomcats’ postgame gesture.
“I love ’em — they’re good girls,” Pryor said. “This was a bit more personal for me because I know a lot of those girls and I want the best for them.”