Republic senior softball player Amanda Snider has signed a letter of intent to play college softball at Concordia University-Nebraska. Snider anchored the middle of the lineup, serving as what coach Mike Thorne called his “RBI machine” for the Lady Tigers.

Snider leaves the Republic program with fond memories of her fellow players, and her coaches, Thorne and assistant Jim Huson. “I absolutely love the coaches,” she said. “They treat me like their daughters, and I know if I needed anything, they’d be here for me.

“I’m so excited. Sometimes I don’t know what to think — if it’s real or not,” Snider said. “But I know that going up there and getting my own little taste of what college should be like will be amazing for me.”

Thorne says Snider earned her nickname, “The RBI Machine,” over the past three seasons. “Every time she came up with people on base, I figured she was going to drive them in,” Thorne said. “I’m really proud of her.”

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The powerful Webb City offense was too much for Republic, as the Cardinals beat the Lady Tigers 9-0 in their district semifinal game. The loss marked the final game for Republic head coach Mike Thorne and assistant Jim Huson, who are retiring.

“We lost to probably the best team in the state,” Thorne said. “I’m really proud of the way we finished the season. We just ran into a buzzsaw.”

Webb City slugged a 3-run homer in the first inning, and a 2-run homer in the second. They led 7-0 after three, and 9-0 after four innings.

Republic had seven hits, but failed to put together many scoring chances. The closest they came to scoring was in the 6th inning, when Payton Appleberry was thrown out trying to score from third during an infield rundown.

Thorne said he’s tried to avoid thinking about the end of the season, but it’s crept into his thoughts over the past few games.

“I’ve been wondering what it was going to be like, just because I’ve always been so intense about softball,” he said. “That probably won’t change. I’ll just be on the other side of it, in the bleachers.”

Republic ends its season with a 19-9 record. Webb City advances to the district finals against the winner of the McDonald County/Neosho game.

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The Lady Tigers softball team banged out 11 hits in a 4-0 win over Joplin in their district tournament opener. Stephanie Eckhoff allowed just three hits and struck out five to pick up the win.

Republic broke on top in the bottom of the 2nd, when Logan Keck singled home Danielle Shelton and Taylor Gold followed with an RBI double that scored Amanda Snider.

The Lady Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 when Bre Hemphill reached on a 2-out error in the 4th inning, and scored on a Payton Appleberry double.

Snider made it 4-0 when she scored on a groundout by Gold in the bottom of the 6th.

The Lady Tigers advance to play Webb City Thursday night at 5pm.

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The Lady Tigers honored six softball seniors, and got a no-hitter from junior pitcher Stephanie Eckhoff, en route to an 11-1 blowout of Glendale Monday.

Senior Payton Appleberry slugged her 10th home run of the year, and added a triple and a walk. Amanda Snider was 3-for-3, and Logan Keck added two hits for Republic.

Eckhoff allowed a single unearned run in the top of the first inning, but was untouchable the rest of the way. She struck out five in five innings.

The senior class of Appleberry, Snider, Keck, Bre Hemphill, Brooke Dutton and Alex Wilkshire have been a part of some of most successful years in Republic softball history. They’ve compiled a record of 81-36 in their four seasons. They’ve also won two district titles, finishing 3rd in the state in 2008, and 4th in 2009.

Republic improves to 18-8 this season with the win over Glendale.

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The Republic Lady Tigers invited back some old friends to celebrate the careers of two coaches Tuesday — and put an exclamation point on the party with a big win over Branson. Payton Appleberry hit two home runs, including a grand slam to lead Republic to a 10-1 win.

But the night belonged to head coach Mike Thorne and assistant Jim Huson, who are both retiring from coaching at the end of this season. More than a dozen former players attended the game, and Thorne and Huson were honored afterwards for their successful careers at Republic High School. Thorne was inducted into the Missouri Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame earlier this year.

“It made me feel proud that they came back. Some of them haven’t been here for 15 years,” Thorne said. “I was just very proud to be their coach.

“It was very emotional. These last few weeks are going to be that way, and I’m just trying to keep myself focused on the team,” Thorne said.

One of the former players who returned was outfielder and second baseman Carlie Campbell, who played on both of Thorne’s Final Four teams.

“He’s just a great one,” said Campbell. “He’s encouraging, and just makes you laugh. He always expects you giving it your all.”

Huson says he was touched to see so many former players back in the stands.

“It means everything in the world to have those kids back, because so many of those kids touch our lives,” he said. “(We have) a lot of time invested in those kids. All you can hope to do is try to help them achieve, and be the best they can possibly be, and that inspires us as coaches.”

Huson credited Thorne and another head coach — former football coach Ed Miller — for giving him an opportunity to be a part of building “two great traditions” in the football and softball programs during his career at Republic.

The softball team is back in action at home Thursday against Carthage in another COC game.

Here’s video of Appleberry’s grand slam. It was her second home run of the night. She finished with 7 RBIs.

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