New Carlisle, IN) - New Prairie’s first-ever state championship team gathered for some public recognition of their achievement earlier this week.
At Monday’s school board meeting, the New Prairie community recognized the girls’ historic run. Afterward, head coach Derek Hicks reflected on the team’s biggest accomplishments.
“Of course, winning the state championship is the biggest memory,” he said. “But I’m just really proud of the team as a whole, and I’m proud of the girls that worked so hard to get 55 home runs, which is an amazing number, in 36 games. One-and-a-half [homers] a game is pretty good—tied for 5th all-time.”
Hicks inherited a New Prairie team six years ago that had problems with clutch hitting. This year, nine different players hit homers. Two of them eclipsed the school record, and one of them, senior Abby Robakowski, beat the state’s home run record.
Robakowski said her best experience this year had more to do with family than with home runs. “Winning State with my sister— Randi and I have such a close connection that, you know, doing it with her just meant that much more to me,” said the Indiana State signee.
“Being able to run and hug her after that last out really was a great moment for me.” For the Robakowskis, softball is a family affair, Abby said. “We’ve had softball in our household from day one. My parents met through slow pitch softball, and softball’s just really big in my family. So Randi and I have just been working on the tee outside together, playing catch for as long as I can remember.”
Abby’s sister Randi will be a junior, returning next year with a number of talented girls, including rising junior pitcher Ava Geyer, who has already garnered attention from major collegiate programs. “We should be a very good team next year, should be in contention for the state championship again,” said Coach Hicks.
“Our strong sophomore class certainly will fill in nicely, so I’m thinking the next two years will be really, really strong.”
Following Monday night’s presentation, the team showed off their three state-level trophies, hosted a meet-and-greet in the high school cafeteria, and finished sizing up their fingers for their forthcoming state championship rings.
