Stars align for trip to Lone Star State: KCU softball wins region to advance to NCCAA World Series

Kentucky Christian’s softball Knights have had their eyes on something big as they collected 11 wins in their last 14 games: the state of Texas.

The Knights are one of eight teams competing in the NCCAA World Series beginning on Monday in Grapevine, Texas.

Third-year KCU head coach Mark Ritchhart said his team departed for the Lone Star State around 3 a.m. Friday. It’s the second time he’s led the Knights this deep into the postseason. In 2024 in Kansas City, KCU went 1-2 in the double-elimination format.

To get to this point, KCU beat Grace Christian twice and Alice Lloyd twice in the Mideast Regional.

“I’m so thankful for the girls to get this opportunity,” Ritchhart said. “We’ve had ups and downs, but it’s always been a great group. I’m grateful we could finish strong.”

In the Mideast Region championship against Alice Lloyd, Hannah Melton recorded a game-tying single, plating Rebecca Engler in the seventh inning. It prompted extra frames.

In the eighth inning, Engler and Alyna Ruiz reached base to bring up Melton again. She ripped a two-run single to center to lift KCu to a 4-2 lead and ultimately the win. Melton had three RBIs. Engler scored three times.

Sara Bays and Abby McPherson combined to pitch eight innings, allowing two runs while striking out four.

Bays and McPherson together have 22 wins from the circle this season — McPherson has 12 victories and Bays 10. Bays is a Boyd County graduate. Kendra Jennings has made 18 appearances in the circle.

All three are transfers, Ritchhart said, who contacted him within a four-day period expressing interest in coming to KCU.

“I have a good relationship with all of them,” Ritchhart said. “I’m calling pitches, and I always tell them the best pitch they can throw is the one they believe in the most.”

Freshman third baseman Ariana Adams leads the Knights in hitting with a .401 average, seven home runs and 50 RBIs.

“She’s been a really good leader as a freshman,” her coach said. “She wants to win. She’s been a real hard worker, has a great personality, and has given some pep talks as a freshman. She’s definitely produced. That desire to win is hard to put into people.”

Ritchhart said Adams’s defense at third base has been as stellar as her bat. She made two plays in the championship that were of the game-saving variety, he said.

Ruiz and Alexis Holleman are the team’s two seniors. Holleman has a team-best 20 stolen bases. She bats .391 with a team-high 22 walks. Ruiz bats .376.

Rebecca Engler and Kylie Mathes each have 37 RBIs — tied for second on the Knights.

Ritchhart said he is blessed with a well-rounded roster and high-quality assistants — Jim Shelton and Chad Case.

“I don’t really have captains, but there are people I count on in certain circumstances,” Ritchhart said. “Across the board, my program is designed to teach leadership all the way around.”

The team’s theme is the three G’s — God, Gratitude and Growth — and “focused fun,” Ritchhart said.

Ritchhart has an interesting background. Once a professional water skier, he lived in Florida for a while and thought he would eventually coach baseball.

“But God gave me two girls,” he said with a chuckle.

Over his 35-year career, Ritchhart has coached in Tennessee, Florida and Kansas. He grew up in Iowa.

He was in Jackson, Tennessee, before relocating to Grayson, Kentucky. He and his wife had intentions of heading back to Florida for family reasons, but a few former coaching peers encouraged him to apply for the KCU job.

“My wife and I both love it here,” Ritchhart said. His wife of nearly 40 years teaches at Olive Hill Elementary.

Their daughters live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Lakeland, Florida, respectively.

KCU (28-25) will take on Southwestern Christian on Monday.

“They come from a really hard conference,” Ritchhart said.

KCU has spent the last week-plus raising funds for the trip. They’ve conducted clothing sales and depended on family members and friends to donate. They’ve been active on social media getting assistance for the trip.

“It’s been quite a week,” he said, “but this doesn’t happen every year. It’s great to have the opportunity to go again.”

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