Photo by Holly Netzley Russell-Tyler-Ruthton junior Kya Alderson pitches against Murray County Central during the Knights’ 1-0 win over the Rebels in Tyler on May 19.  

Russell-Tyler-Ruthton pitcher Kya Alderson is the Marshall Independent’s softball Player of the Year. The win marks the junior pitcher’s first time receiving the award.

Alderson went 19-4 with an 0.35 ERA and had 278 strikeouts, all improvements from last season’s numbers. Alderson also set the school’s single-game season record in strikeouts with 19 in a 2-1 playoff win over the Benson Braves. She also led the team in batting average with .512 and in RBIs with 35. The Knights were the only team in Class A to beat the state champion Edgerton/Southwest Minnesota Christian softball team all season. They were one of two teams to shut out the Flying Dutchman as well this season.

“I feel really good,” Alderson said. “You have to play really good to get to that spot. I played my heart out the whole season. I think what helped me this season was going to a college trainer and getting more spins off my riseball. Working on my spots, working on my speed helped too. Our thoughts as a team coming into this year were we are going to state. We are going to push our limits, try to get to state and see what happens.”

RTR went further in the playoffs than they did last season but ultimately fell to the Wabasso Rabbits in a heartbreaking 6-5 loss, ending their season. The Knights had four losses all season, three of which came against the Wabasso Rabbits. Wabasso’s total margin of victory over those three games was four runs, 17-13.

“We need to minimize our errors,” Alderson said. “We could have beaten them but we have to limit our errors. I want to work on my changeup more, I’m working with a lot of people to get it down.”

Next year will be her final season as an RTR Knights and wants to close out her high school career with an appearance at the state tournament.

“I really want us to go to state,” Alderson said. “That’s the goal. Just being there and seeing what happens. The experience with my teammates as well. Just for us to experience it would be fun.”

Head coach Darren Baartman spoke on Anderson’s season and team success.

“Kya Alderson put together an amazing season this past spring from both pitching and hitting aspects of the game,” Baartman said.” She went out each and every game and gave our team a chance to win. The season Alderson put together is certainly deserving of being honored as the Marshall Independent All-Area Player of the Year”