The Trinity Lutheran softball team made history this past season, winning the program’s first regional championship and competing in semistate.

A lot went into the Cougars’ success this year, but one of the key contributors, both in the circle and in the batter’s box, was senior Kamzi Gross.

In the 26 innings Trinity played during the postseason, Gross pitched 25 of them. Freshman Grace Lance pitched the final inning of the game against New Washington as Trinity led 11-1.

Due to Gross’ impact and success this season, she has been named The Tribune’s Softball Player of the Year.

“It was amazing,” Gross said of the Cougars’ historic postseason run. “Winning sectional was one of my dreams since freshman year. I’ve always wanted to, and this year was the year to do it. And then once we won sectional, winning regional was amazing. Home field (advantage) definitely helped. Losing in semistate, it was a good game, it was tough, but it was amazing.”

It wasn’t the easiest season for Gross, either. Right before the year started, Gross was in an automobile accident and suffered a hairline fracture on her left hand.

The injury kept Gross out of action for about half the season.

“It was awful. It was terrible,” she said. “It was my senior season. I wanted to play the full season and have the best record I ever had in my high school season. I was out about half the season. It was tough watching my team play without me. But once I got back, it was great.”

Gross had pitched nearly every inning for Trinity in her previous three years, so that made it especially weird for her not being out on the field to start the year. Luckily for Trinity, Lance was able to step in and pitch until Gross came back.

Once Gross made her return, she started out only pitching a couple innings in relief of Lance. She said she could definitely feel the effects of the injury early on.

“Pitchingwise, I could definitely tell I lost a lot of strength,” Gross said. “My wrist still bothered me a few games in, so that was tough to get through that. It also affected my hitting because I couldn’t get my bat around fast enough. Hitting definitely took more time, but once I changed my bat, it helped a lot.”

Despite all of that, it didn’t take Gross long to get back to her normal self.

She finished the season with an ERA of 2.64, pitching 66.1 innings and striking out 78 batters. Her overall record was 8-3.

For hitting, Gross’ bat got hot toward end of the year, as well. She was second on the team with a .431 batting average, led the team with four home runs and nine doubles and was second with 16 RBI.

“It was amazing to make school history,” Gross said. “I’ve been playing since I was about 7, 8 years old, and to win a regional and sectional title my senior year was amazing.”

Gross’ impressive softball career is now over at Trinity, but her athletic career isn’t. Gross is committed to playing collegiate volleyball at Franklin College this fall. Gross helped the Cougars reach the state finals in volleyball during her senior year.

“I definitely wanted to be close to home,” she said. “Once I visited the school, I just loved it. The small campus was just like Trinity. It was perfect for me, and I’m really excited for volleyball.”

Softball isn’t completely in Gross’ rearview mirror quite yet. She might sub for some travel teams this summer, and Gross didn’t dismiss the idea of being involved with softball in some way down the road.

“It was a tough decision (between volleyball and softball), and it’s still a decision in mind to possibly, maybe in the future years see what life brings me, but I’m still loving the sport,” Gross said.

Remaining members on the all-county softball team:

Emily Singleton, Brownstown Central, Sr.: .375 batting average, 36 hits, 14 stolen bases, 24 runs, 19 RBI, .985 fielding percentage

Kelsey Schneider, Brownstown Central, So.: .384 batting average, 38 hits, 17 stolen bases, 26 runs, 12 RBI, 3.11 ERA, 82 strikeouts

Erin Singleton, Brownstown Central, Sr.: .346 batting average, 28 hits, 14 stolen bases, 22 runs, 17 RBI

Zoe Stuckwisch, Brownstown Central, Sr.: .341 batting average, 28 hits, 3 home runs, 23 RBI, 10 runs

Rylee May, Brownstown Central, So.: .373 batting average, 31 hits, 5 home runs, 30 RBI, 20 runs

Kendrick Sterling, Seymour, Sr.: .388 batting average, 26 hits, 2 home runs, 21 RBI, 2.80 ERA, 56 strikeouts

Camryn Sterling, Seymour, Sr.: .333 batting average, 21 hits, 16 runs, 9 RBI, .970 fielding percentage

Sydney Stewart, Seymour, Sr.: .237 batting average, 14 hits, 9 RBI, .932 fielding percentage, 98 putouts, 11 assists

Kynadee Warner, Seymour, So.: .518 batting average, 44 hits, 23 runs, 11 RBI

Kaylee Waskom, Seymour, Sr.: .231 batting average, 15 hits, 13 RBI, 15 runs

Kendall Allman, Seymour, Jr.: .239 batting average, 16 hits, 17 RBI, 10 runs

Bailey Tabeling, Trinity Lutheran, Jr.: .518 batting average, .585 on-base percentage, 28 stolen bases, 29 hits, 28 runs

Ally Russell, Trinity Lutheran, Sr.: .352 batting average, 25 hits, 13 stolen bases, 22 runs, 9 RBI, .938 fielding percentage

Madison Keith, Trinity Lutheran, Fr.: .400 batting average, 16 hits, 2 home runs, 15 RBI

Grace Lance, Trinity Lutheran, Fr.: 21 hits, 21 runs, 21 RBI, 1 home run, 4.57 ERA, 81 strikeouts