Malden senior having a fantasy-like postseason

It’s highly unlikely that MSHSAA softball has any fantasy leagues being played throughout this spring. However, if there were, drafting Malden High School senior Rachel Rommel with the number one selection wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“She is everything,” first-year Green Wave coach Kyle Jones said after his team won the MSHSAA Class 2 District 1 Tournament recently. “She is our leader.”

That isn’t some post-victory hyperbole.

Rommel put up offensive statistics through the three postseason games that seemingly are… well, fantasy-like.

Malden (17-10) will host West County (22-3) in the MSHSAA Class 2 Quarterfinal 1 on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at Malden.

Rommel opened the District tournament with four hits in an 11-1 rout of East Prairie, and those hits included a double and a home run.

If you think it is impressive that Rommel connected for a double AND a home run in the same game, well, just wait, because she did it again in the championship game.

“She is the hardest worker on our team,” Jones said. “And personally, I think that she is the best player in the District. I mean no disrespect to anyone else in the District, but she is the best player in the District.”

That opinion is difficult to argue after watching Rommel dominate the pitching in the tournament, and we haven’t even gotten to her defensive ability yet.

Against the Eagles, Rommel also scored two runs, drove in six runs, and showed her athleticism by stealing a pair of bases.

“I’m privileged to coach her,” Jones continued. “She is a great kid and a great leader.”

In the 4-3 semifinal win over Senath-Hornersville/Southland, Rommel had a hit and a run, but her work behind the plate in managing freshman pitcher Alyssa Broom was her most impressive feat that day.

Earlier in the season, the Lions had pounded Broom for 20 hits and 15 earned runs in a 16-8 Green Wave loss. However, Rommel calmed the young pitcher down in the rematch and Broom threw a complete game and allowed six hits, three earned runs, one walk, and struck out nine Lion hitters.

“I don’t call the pitches,” Jones said. “I let Rachel do that. I have all of the trust in the world with Rachel. I let her call the pitches. She works with the pitchers.

“She doesn’t let anything get past her and she has a good arm. Nobody likes to test her, really.”

To seal the Green Wave’s first District title since 2019, Rommel was nearly perfect against the host Bulldogs.

In five plate appearances, she had five hits (yes, a double and a home run), scored four times, drove in four RBI, and stole another base.

The home run was her fifth this spring.

In all, she had 10 hits (two doubles, two home runs), seven runs scored, 10 RBI, and three stolen bases in the tournament.

Having said that, Jones still couldn’t say enough about her defensive play in the tournament.

“Behind the plate,” Jones said, “she is a lot more valuable than she is hitting, to me, because with her back there, it just makes our defense so much better.”

For good measure, if you want consistency out of a player, try this statistic on for size.

“She hasn’t struck out all year,” Jones said of the 100-plus at-bats that Rommel has had this spring.

“And last year, she had one.

“She is not a big home run hitter. She is a line-drive hitter. But somehow, she gets them out. She is a great contact hitter. She is aggressive (at the plate) and I love the mentality that she has.”