The State Softball Tournament north of Ft. Dodge last week marked the end of the 2014 high school season in Iowa, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to talk about this week when it comes to the Greene County softball team. Coach Tom Kennedy’s Rams finished in third place in Class 3A after winning two of three state tourney games. The only loss for the Rams was by a 4-1 score in the semifinals against eventual champion Clarke (Osceola). The Rams won 2-0 in the quarterfinals against Center Point-Urbana, who finished in sixth place, and they won the third place game 10-3 over East Marshall (Le Grand).

The 2014 Rams had a number of firsts, not only in the history of a Jefferson-based softball program, but for county-based programs as well. This was the first summer state tourney appearance for a softball team from the County. The Rams were 29-8 overall and the number of wins is a record for a Jefferson-based program, as is the 19 home runs the team hit collectively. Also, Greene County homered in its last eight games, including all six in the postseason, again, something Ram teams have not previously accomplished.

Speaking of the postseason, this team played six postseason games, all against opposition ranked 11th or higher by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, while Greene County was unranked the entire season. None of the postseason games were in Jefferson, yet the only loss to the six rateds was to Clarke. The Rams averaged over six runs per game against the high level of competition in the post season and in the five postseason wins, Greene County averaged 9.6 runs per game. Defensively, those same six opponents scored only 12 total runs vs. the Rams for an average of two runs per game.

It’s not likely the 2015 Greene County softball team will go unranked. After all, all 10 starters return.