Cooper Softball Makes History On The Way To Best Conference Finish
Dragon Softball is SPC Champion Runner Up!
The John Cooper School softball team went into the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) championships in Dallas on April 27- 28 as the South Zone #4 Seed, fueled by a recent win over the Kinkaid School, a first for the softball program. They completed the SPC Championships in second place, the best conference finish in school history. Along the way, the team had another historic win against St. John’s School, another Dragon softball program first.
“We turned a lot of heads on this amazing journey!” said Nicole Hedden, head softball coach for The John Cooper School. “I am very proud of this group of young women.”
The Dragons came out strong in the opening conference championship matchup, dealing a 15-0 shutout to North Zone #5 Seed, Oakridge School. Pitchers Kaitlyn Harris and Eryn Sanchez teamed up at the mound supported by hits by Grayson Sloop, Nikki Juszczak, Grace Stricker, Emily Coon, Kennedy Moran, Eryn Sanchez, and Kaitlyn Harris.
Next up the Dragons met the North Zone #1 Seed, Fort Worth Country Day School, in the championship quarterfinals. The Dragons jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Moran drove in two with a single. Pitcher Sanchez earned the win, pitching seven innings, allowing seven runs, nine hits, striking out three and walking one. Harris, Sims, Stricker, Juszczak, Sloop and Coon each collected multiple hits for the Dragons and Moran and Harris each drove in three runs to lead the charge for the 11-7 win.
St. John’s School waited for the Dragons at the championship semi-finals, a formidable opponent that the Dragons had never beaten in Cooper history. St. John’s entered the tournament as #2 Seed in the North Zone and immediately captured a lead over the Dragons in the first inning on an error. The Dragons answered that challenge and moved forward for good in the second inning scoring on a single by Coon and an error. Pitcher Sanchez earned the win for the Dragons throwing seven innings, surrendering four runs, five hits, striking out one and walking zero. Multiple hits by Harris, Sanchez and Sims fueled the 8-4 Dragon victory. That win made school history as well as propelling the team to the championship game.
The South Zone #1 Seed, Episcopal High School, met the Dragons in the championship game, where they fell behind in the first inning and just couldn’t get back. The Dragons came away not only with a victorious second place finish, but the best finish in school history.
The Dragons came out strong in the opening conference championship matchup, dealing a 15-0 shutout to North Zone #5 Seed, Oakridge School. Pitchers Kaitlyn Harris and Eryn Sanchez teamed up at the mound supported by hits by Grayson Sloop, Nikki Juszczak, Grace Stricker, Emily Coon, Kennedy Moran, Eryn Sanchez, and Kaitlyn Harris.
Next up the Dragons met the North Zone #1 Seed, Fort Worth Country Day School, in the championship quarterfinals. The Dragons jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Moran drove in two with a single. Pitcher Sanchez earned the win, pitching seven innings, allowing seven runs, nine hits, striking out three and walking one. Harris, Sims, Stricker, Juszczak, Sloop and Coon each collected multiple hits for the Dragons and Moran and Harris each drove in three runs to lead the charge for the 11-7 win.
St. John’s School waited for the Dragons at the championship semi-finals, a formidable opponent that the Dragons had never beaten in Cooper history. St. John’s entered the tournament as #2 Seed in the North Zone and immediately captured a lead over the Dragons in the first inning on an error. The Dragons answered that challenge and moved forward for good in the second inning scoring on a single by Coon and an error. Pitcher Sanchez earned the win for the Dragons throwing seven innings, surrendering four runs, five hits, striking out one and walking zero. Multiple hits by Harris, Sanchez and Sims fueled the 8-4 Dragon victory. That win made school history as well as propelling the team to the championship game.
The South Zone #1 Seed, Episcopal High School, met the Dragons in the championship game, where they fell behind in the first inning and just couldn’t get back. The Dragons came away not only with a victorious second place finish, but the best finish in school history.
“We surprised many this season as we made history for the softball program, starting with a first-ever win in regular season against Kinkaid; a first-ever win against St. John’s in the championship semifinals; and a second place finish,” said Hedden. “They have turned a corner in the way The John Cooper School softball program is perceived. The team’s commitment, determination and poise pushed them to be where we are today.”
–5/2/17
–5/2/17
The John Cooper School
From Curiosity to Wisdom
The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school. Our mission is to provide a challenging education in a caring environment to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifelong learners.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
The John Cooper School seeks to attract qualified individuals of diverse backgrounds to its faculty, staff, and student body. The School does not discriminate against any individual in admissions, educational programs, personnel policies, general practices, or employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, physical disability, or age.
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