Ashland-Greenwood wins first Nebraska state softball title

OMAHA, Neb. (KLKN) – Ashland-Greenwood made school history Monday as the softball team won its first-ever state championship, defeating Wahoo Bishop Neumann 2-0 at Connie Claussen Field.

But that wasn’t the only history made.  The win also gave the school its first girls championship trophy in 40 years.

The game was back and forth for the first six innings.

Both defenses played lights out and made key plays when it mattered most.

But in the sixth inning, Ashland-Greenwood found a spark.

Reese Fisher hit a base hit over the shortstop, scoring Joslyn Sargent from third to make it 1-0 Blue Jays.

Then in the top of the seventh, Ellie Stein was up to bat first and launched the ball deep over the left-field wall into the bullpen for a solo home run.

Head coach Morgan Zahnow got choked up when she spoke after the game.

“For our school, we haven’t had a woman state championship team in 40 years,” she said. “Sorry. Just so much pride for our community.”

Stein, a junior, said it’s amazing that this team won the school’s first softball trophy.

“I think that just being able to work with each other and support each other, it’s an insane feeling to be able to get this far,” she said. “And we knew we could from the beginning.”