Ask any Lyon County softball player about this season, and they will tell you they are playing with a purpose. That purpose is Kendra Craft and her daughters Kyra and Kerstin.
Kendra lost her quick battle with cancer on March 31. The prototypical softball mom who was involved with her daughters’ play at every level, Kendra left behind her husband Jason and twin daughters Kyra and Kerstin, sophomore members of the Lyon County softball team.
At that point, the Lady Lyons, the school, and community rallied around the Craft family with the mantra of playing with a purpose. And have they. Lyon County is 23-6 since the team members served as pallbearers at Kendra’s funeral, wearing their Lady Lyon uniforms.
It began with an upset win over No. 3 Christian County on April 4. It continued into an All-A Classic region title, a district championship, and a first round win over Caldwell County — a team that had beaten them 16-2 earlier in the month.
On Tuesday, the cards seemed stacked against the Lady Lyons as they trailed 1-0 to region favorite Webster County in the region semifinals on the Lady Trojans’ home field. Then the sixth inning happened. Hadlie Butler led off with Lyon County’s first hit of the game. Rachel Coursey laid down a sacrifice bunt. The normally solid Lady Trojan defense couldn’t get the out. Sydney Melton was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Two batters later, Calista Collins fouled off eight pitches before depositing the tenth into short left field for a two-run single that proved to be the game-winner.
Did Lyon County have a little extra help in getting the win? The players will say yes. Kyra and Kerstin will say yes also. Whether or not Lyon County’s run continues to the state sectionals Saturday or ends Wednesday one game short of the school’s first-ever region softball title, both Kyra and Kerstin acknowledge something special is happening with this year’s Lady Lyon team and know their mother is involved, just as she would be had cancer not robbed us of her during the first month of the season.
