High school softball: Wildcats win game dedicated to their coach

WOODS CROSS — Steve Drott sat by himself in a lawn chair, separated from the team he loves, the team he inspired, by a chain-link fence.

Cancer has weakened his body, but it has not diminished his admiration or affection for a group of Woods Cross softball players who wore pink T-shirts with "Strong for Drott" across the shoulders in a Pink Game played against cross-town rival Bountiful on Friday afternoon.

"These Pink games are more than one person," Drott said in a written statement that TV/sports radio broadcaster Alema Harrington read to the crowd before the game. "They are about awareness, courage and hope. I want to thank the good fans, coaches and players of Bountiful for being part of today's game. By the way, nice win yesterday. Hopefully, today we can turn the tables on you."

The Wildcats did just that, as they had 16 hits en route to an 11-5 victory over the Braves.

"That was a huge win," Drott told his team from beyond the fence as they gathered to thank him for coming. "I'm proud of you. You stepped it up today. ... Hang in there and play hard."The Wildcats were led by Xojan Harry in an eye-popping offensive outing. After striking out twice and going 0-for-4 in Thursday's loss to Bountiful, the sophomore centerfielder went 4-for-4 Friday and had two home runs, a double and knocked in three runs.

Pitcher Kelsey Plowman earned the win and kept the Braves off-balance much of the contest. For Harry, revenge was made even sweeter because it came during a game they'd dedicated to their coach.

"I thought about it too much yesterday," she said. "Today, I just went in ready to hit. It was nice."

Harry and her teammates were grateful to the Braves for participating in their Pink Game, the proceeds of which will go to the Drott family. The Pink jerseys were paid for by the Payson softball team, which also hosted a Pink Game.

"Thanks to them, we got to have this game," said Harry. "It was so cool of Bountiful to come out and play this game, and it was even better to come out and win."

Senior shortstop and pitcher Niki Fernandes also expressed her gratitude to a team she doesn't know at all and a team she knows very well.

"I am really thankful for (Payson)," she said. "That was so generous. ... It was nice to see coach Drott. I don't know if it made us play better, but it made us more excited. We played our hearts out for him."

Drott said one of the most difficult aspects of fighting cancer has been being separated from his players.