Softball: 'Rock' Leads Lincoln Into Regional

EDITOR'S NOTE: This feature originally appeared in the May 5 edition of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Her nickname is "Rock" and she's been rolling for Lincoln's softball team.

The Lady Wolves (17-6) are riding Ashtyn Rothrock's right arm and an 11-game winning streak into the 4A North Regional opener against Clinton (23-6) in Prairie Grove.

"We're hitting well and we're playing good defense behind Ashtyn, so we feel good about it," said Lincoln coach Beau Collins. "I've got them set on taking care of that first game because one win sends us to state.

The early start time won't faze Rothrock, a senior and self-described "morning person."

"I'm not really concerned," Rothrock said. "I've played with all the girls all my life, and we've always done well playing any time of the day.

"We just have to make sure we eat before every game because we do better when we eat."

That said, the team plans on meeting for a 7 a.m. breakfast at Burgerland in Lincoln. Rothrock said she'll probably have eggs over easy, toast, bacon and hash browns -- if hash browns are on today's menu anyway.

Rothrock has feasted on the mound and at the plate in helping Lincoln earn the No. 1 seed from the 4A-1 Conference. She struck out 10 and allowed one earned run on five hits in an 8-3 win over rival Prairie Grove in the conference tourney title game Monday. She also went 3 for 4 with a single, double and two-run triple that put the Lady Wolves on the board in the first inning.

This season, Rothrock (13-5) has thrown two no-hitters while posting a 3.02 ERA with 136 strikeouts -- the second most in the 4A-1. At the plate, she leads the league with a .435 batting average and five home runs to go along with 28 RBIs and 21 runs.

"She's been hitting well for us all season, but her bat has really come alive the past two weeks," Collins said.

By throwing 81 strikes in 117 pitches, Rothrock staved off each Tigers rally attempt in Monday's final. After Brooke Ketzler smashed a two-out, RBI double in the fifth to trim Lincoln's lead to 5-3, Rothrock got a strikeout to escape the threat.

Rothrock utilized her five-pitch arsenal, including a 58-mph fastball, to strike out a career-high 13 batters in a 7-3 win against Prairie Grove during the regular season.

"[Rothrock's] a very good player," said Prairie Grove coach Dustin Beck. "She managed her [pitch] count well, and she hit spots when she got behind to give herself a chance to get out of jams. And she hit the ball really well."