Team chemistry propels Rose Bud to another title

The Rose Bud softball team celebrates a 7-3 win over Genoa Central on May 20 during the Class 3A state softball championship game at Bogle Park at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
The Rose Bud softball team celebrates a 7-3 win over Genoa Central on May 20 during the Class 3A state softball championship game at Bogle Park at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

ROSE BUD — Over the past four seasons, Rose Bud’s softball program is 123-16 (.884) and has reached four state-title games and won two championships.

Led by senior third baseman Joley Mitchell, who set the state record for career home runs with her 58th in a 7-3 win over Genoa Central in the Class 3A state-championship game at the University of Arkansas’ Bogle Park in Fayetteville, the 2019 Lady Ramblers finished 35-1, falling only to four-time Class 5A champion Sheridan, 3-1.

“I have played softball for 13 years, and I don’t think I have ever seen a team chemistry like this one,” Mitchell said. “The only loss was to a reigning state champ, and I thought it was good for us to see a higher level of competition and to see how we would compare to them. It helped us to get better. We learned our weaknesses and were able to make something happen later in the season.”

Rose Bud coach Scotty Stark said it felt good to come out on top again.

“We won in 2017, too, so odd numbers are good for us,” he said.

In 2016, the Lady Ramblers finished 27-8, falling to Bald Knob in the state-championship game, 1-0.

In ’17, they went 30-5, winning their first state title when they avenged that loss to Bald Knob with a 6-4 victory.

In ’18, they finished 31-2 with another state runner-up finish after falling to Haskell Harmony Grove, 4-2.

That title-game disappointment served as motivation for their stellar 2019 — and as motivation to return to Bogle after the 2018 championship game was played at Benton because of a conflict with the Razorbacks playing host to an NCAA regional.

“This season was a blast,” Starkey said. “We were still upset at losing in the state final last year. We knew coming into our first practice after basketball season that we had a chance to be pretty good after we saw how versatile everybody was.

“That made us excited about the upcoming season.”

• • •

In the 2019 championship game, the Ramblers took an early 4-0 lead, but the Lady Dragons pulled within 4-3 in the fourth.

“We had a discussion before we went to bat,” Starkey said. “I told them, ‘They’re not going to lay down on you.’ We came back and got two runs back in that inning when Joley hit that huge home run.”

Mitchell went 3-for-3 at the plate with 4 runs scored and 3 RBIs, including the home run that set the state record. Senior Gracie Hartle allowed 3 hits, struck out 7 and walked none and was named MVP. She finished 26-1 for the year.

“This was my third year to play at Bogle for the state championship,” Mitchell said. “The first two years were very nerve-racking, but this year seemed to be a little different. We didn’t get to play at Bogle last year for the state championship, so I think that motivated our team to make it back so we could experience it one last time.”

Center fielder Hailey Vaughn rounded out the senior class.

“Oh, man, those three — they were huge for us this year,” Starkey said. “Joley’s going to play for Notre Dame. Gracie is phenomenal. Hailey is a great all-around player. She can play anywhere. We’re definitely going to miss them. She’s going to North [Arkansas College], and Hartle is undecided. She’s definitely got opportunities.”

Mitchell, he said, “is the best I’ve ever seen.”

The Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year batted .717 with 55 RBIs, 85 runs scored and a .786 on-base percentage.

“She’s as good as advertised,” Starkey said. “She can hit for power or play small ball. She’s fast and has got speed. She’s an unbelievable talent.”

Mitchell originally committed to Missouri but looked elsewhere after a coaching change.

“My journey has been kind of crazy, but Notre Dame is absolutely where I want to be,” she said. “The campus is so beautiful, and everyone you meet is so welcoming. I love the atmosphere and would not want to be anywhere else. I cannot wait to start my journey as an Irish softball player and to get an education at one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

• • •

Starkey grew up in Rose Bud, where he participated in every sport available — baseball, basketball and track — before graduating in 1990. He went on to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway for a couple of years before taking a break when he started a family.

“I’m a late bloomer,” he said, chuckling. “I worked in a factory and thought, ‘This is not what I want to do for the rest of my life.’ My family sacrificed a lot for me to go back, and we were able to manage. I’m glad it all worked out.”

He resumed his education at Arkansas State University, where he finished his degree in middle school education and coaching. A math job came open at his alma mater, and he returned.

“We started football, so they asked if I’d be a football coach, and that’s where I got started,” he said. “I did football, baseball and track, and finally the job came open for softball, and I’ve been there ever since.”

He has been head coach for the past six seasons.

What has been the secret to the Lady Ramblers’ success?

“Talent helps a lot,” Starkey said. “We’ve had some great ballplayers. We knew we had something special coming up when they were in junior high. We seem to lose a great class, but we gain a good class of young ones. They do a great job of bonding as a team.”

The plan is for that trend to continue.

“We think we’ve got a good rising freshman class,” said Starkey, adding that in extended high school play following the season, a rising freshman hit two over the fence. “We’ll return six starters. We feel pretty good that we’ll have a chance to compete next year.

“I hope that streak doesn’t stop anytime soon. Rose Bud is on the softball map, so everybody knows who we are, and they’re coming after us.”

He said he’d never seen a group like the 2019 squad.

“They’re like sisters; they’re family,” he said. “It makes it so much easier to coach a group like that that gets along. There’s no jealousy; they want everybody to succeed.

“It’s been a blast — one of the most fun seasons we’ve had.”

Added Mitchell: “I am super proud of my team and our state-championship title. It was just so exciting to walk out as a state champ again.”

Upcoming Events